“Your parents…” Amy uttered those words, her delicate form still wrapped about my chest.

“They....” She shuddered again, her body shaking as she sobbed heavily.

“They...what?” I urged, gently pulling away slightly and tilting her head so I could look her into the eyes. One arm was still wrapped around her, to provide comfort as she was obviously upset.

Of course, I had an idea of what she was crying about, but I didn’t want to accept that reality yet. Not until she said those words.

“There...There was an accident. A plane crash. I’m sorry. So so sorry, Clay.” She uttered, shaking a little. The tears had stopped now. Her eyes were reddened from the sobbing, but I could still see the clear blue of her irises.

I stepped back a bit, pulling my hand from her shoulder. I smiled, I have no idea what she saw in my face but it was enough for her to start crying again. She grabbed my hand and pulled. I allowed myself to directed up the stairs and into my room. It was dark, but it didn't matter. She gestured for me to lay down and I did, climbing into bed fully clothed. I didn’t say anything and nor did she as she slid in with me. She held me, silently. Not a word was said. I don’t know how long it was before I started to cry, and still, she stayed with me, holding me tight and caressing my face and arm. Eventually, sleep came, embracing me, and I went into its arm’s willingly.

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It was a short while later when I awoke, the sun beaming through the open window and onto my face probably aided with that. There was a weight upon my chest, and blinking away the sleep I saw Amy laying beside me still, dozing peacefully and letting out the occasional snore. Not that I would ever mention that to her. I knew about self-preservation.

I stared at her for a bit. She was pretty good looking after all, and pleasant to look at. I didn’t have romantic feelings for the girl, but after the support she lent me last night, something had changed inside. I had an entirely new outlook on her. I truly appreciated it, and the fact she had stayed with me all night further reinforced what a wonderful person she was.

I smiled, despite myself, and pulled myself out of bed gently to avoid waking her. I needed to shower, I hadn’t even got undressed yesterday. I walked into the bathroom, in a house like this, everyone had their own en-suite and started running the shower nice and hot just how I liked it. Whilst waiting for the water to heat up, I undressed and threw my creased clothes into the laundry basket. I glanced at myself in the mirror. A tired teenager, with puffy eyes and messy brown hair, stared back at me.

It had been a couple of minutes since I had started running the shower and the steam from the hot water was starting to fog up the mirror. I turned and stepped into the shower enclosure, sighing in enjoyment as the hot water, almost scalding, poured onto my skin.

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I savored the heat, enjoying what I planned to be a long shower.

I tried to avoid thinking about last night. Tried being the keyword.

I wasn’t really close with my parents, they spent most of my life away on business. Sometimes I only saw them a few times a year. But still, they were my family, my parents. I loved them, even if I never really showed it, and I’m sure they loved me even with their slightly cold demeanor.

Tears began to well up in my eyes, and this time it wasn’t just sadness but frustration. And then anger.

Why did they have to die? Stupid. Why did they always have to work, be away on business? Fuck. Why couldn’t we just be a normal family? Failure. That’s what I was, a failure. That must be it, right? Surely they had a reason for always being on the other side of the world from me.

As I asked myself each question, I pounded my fist against the ceramic tiles after each answer. And then I continued long after those thoughts fled my mind. Ten times. Fifteen. I stopped when I noted the water had started to tinge red, and glanced at my fist. Raw and bloody from the punishment it had just dealt against the wall.

A voice shook me from my mindless state of staring at my blood as it dripped into the war and swirled about before flowing down the drain.

“Clay, are you in there?” It was Amy. Guess the shower or the constant pounding had woke her up.

“Yeah, just a minute.” I reply.

I can’t let her see me like this. I turned the shower off and scurry out towards the handbasin. I washed my hand and thankfully the wounds weren’t too deep and the flow of the crimson liquid was already slowing.

A knock on the door made me jump.

“Clay. Clay, I’m coming in.” Amy announced and the door swung open.

“Wait! I’m naked!” I shouted, or screamed toward the now open door and figure standing there. My hand’s instinctively went to cover my private protrusions down below.

“Relax, It’s not anything I haven’t seen before.” She said, as her eyes trailed up and down me a few times.

I thought I caught her staring at my abdomen, but she quickly glanced at my face and then back towards my bloody hand which was providing much need protection from the eyes in front. Oh crap, I was in deep shit.

“Your hand. What happened?” She asked, her face was stern and serious.

“I...uh...I got...mad.” I said lamely. It was true. I was and still am angry at them for leaving me, alone on this earth. For dying on me, across the ocean in some stupid country.

“You got...mad?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow. “Well whatever, get dressed, we have things to do. See you downstairs by 11, and not a second later.”

“11?” I asked. Was it really that late.

“Yup. We overslept quite a bit so no point in going to school. So instead we are gonna have some fun.”

“Fun?” I questioned and let an involuntary groan out for which she gave me a light punch in the arm.

“Live a little, Cooper. Come along for the ride if your not too chicken to skip school that is?” She said, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to back down now.

“Of course not. I’ll see you at 11.” I grinned despite myself as she left the bathroom to get ready herself.