Never Broken Promise

My clothes fell to the floor as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled

me closer to him. The moment reminded me of something my mother once told me...

She said: “Sometimes the best music is the music you hear beating in your lover’s

heart.” I smiled and placed my ear over his chest, listening to the sweet rhythm.

/ tradition /

“Run, Isaac, Run!” I yelled.

Isaac turned his head around but kept running. “Don’t make me turn around.”

“If you turn around, I’ll win!”

Isaac just kept running, but faster. It was really hard for me to catch up.

Let me explain why we were running in the first place. Okay, Isaac and I have been friends, (best friends but even bester, Zac would say) since we were born. Every Friday, we held a race from our neighboring houses to the Tulsa Tiny Trinket Shoppe. It was ironic that it was called Tiny, because it was actually quite huge. It had a coffee/ice cream shop, play room and a banquet room.

Of course, he beat me every race, which was about 180 races. We’ve been racing since we were twelve years old. We are both fifteen years old now.

“Beat you again!” Ike shouted, as we stopped at the store.

“What else is new?” I smiled.

“You’re just jealous!” he smiled, back.

“Pshh! Jealous of what?”

“You wish you had a body like mine.”

“Oh yeah, Ike. I dream every night about having your body. I really wanna look like a guy.”

He smiled, “Yeah, I know you do. I can read your mind, remember? I know about ALL those naughty thought you have about me.”

“24/7, Ike. 24/7.”

We smiled and walked into the store. Then, we walked to the cafe in the back of the store.

“Hey Michelle, hey Zac,” we both said.

“Hey! Who won today?” Zac asked.

“Zac, do you even have to ask. You know it was me!” I said.

“Dream on, Devon,” Michelle said.

I rolled my eyes, “What if I would happen to win one of these days. No one would believe me!”

“That’s cause it would never happen.”

“Gee, I love how much faith you have in me, Zac. It touches me, really.”

“You know I love you man!”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll get our drinks.”

I walked over to the bar and got two cappichinos and two root-beer floats. Zac and Michelle were too young to have cappinchinos. They were both ten and always hyper so they didn’t need the coffee.

Michelle moved here from California when she was seven. She was a lonely child, and since my sister was away at college, I kinda adopted her as my younger sister. And we’ve always thought of each other as sisters ever since. Then, I introduced her to the Hanson family and they all became friends.

I carried the drinks back to the table without spilling them.

“Hey Devon? Did you find out if you can make it to our Blue Rose Cafe performance tomorrow?” Ike asked.

“Yeah, I took off work. So, I can definitely come.”

“You didn’t have to take off work,” Ike said.

“Are you crazy? I wouldn’t miss this performance for the world.”

Zac and Ike smiled, “Thanks.”

“So, how is work, anyway? Is that guy still bothering you?” Michelle asked, stirring her float.

I looked at Michelle and gave her a hard stare, that clearly read “now is not the time.” She looked at Ike, then Zac, then back to me. I nodded at her. Her eyes got wide when she realized she shouldn’t have said that.

“Sorry,” she mouthed.

“What guy, Devon?” Ike asked.

“Michelle!” I hissed.

“Sorry!” she said, aloud.

“It’s nothing really. Just a guy that creeps me out. That’s all.”

“Yeah, that’s all,” Michelle said, trying to be helpful.

Ike looked at me, straight in the eyes. I had to turn away, because if I didn’t, I would break. I looked back and he was still staring at me, concern filling his eyes.

“Devon... why don’t you and Michelle come over to our house tonight?”

I sighed. I knew I was going to have to tell him everything. So, I agreed as did Michelle.

/ tell all /

Michelle and I walked onto the Hanson’s porch. I rang the doorbell and about a minute later, Jessie opened the door holding Mackie.

“Please take this creton from my hands!” Jessie put Mackie down and he ran over and pulled on my skirt.

I smiled and picked him up. “Hey Devon! Ikey, and Tay-Tay, and Zackie are down in the basement practicing.”

“Thanks sweets. You coming down or are you staying up here?”

“Let’s sneak down,” he whispered.

I turned around to ask Michelle, but she already took off with Jessie. I turned back around to Mackie and we crept downstairs.

“... and just remember, for every tear the falls, from your eye. Two tears fall from mine...”

We walked down and heard Isaac singing, with Taylor and Zac joining in. I sat down on the steps and Mackie sat on my lap.

When they finished, we clapped, whistled and shouted. They looked over at us.

“Wow! You guys, that was awesome!”

“Yeah, that was good guys,” Mackie said.

“Thanks,” Ike said, coming over.

Mackie held his arms out to him. Ike picked him up and flew him around like an airplane. Mackie squealed with delight. “Higher, Ikey, higher!”

Isaac lifted him higher, then brought him back down. He ran upstairs, laughing.

Zac ran over and hugged me. I looked at him wearily, “What’s this for, Zac?”

He looked up at me, “You better sit down.”

I was getting scared. I sat down, slowly. I looked at Taylor and he had a confused look on his face. I looked at Ike and he seemed the same way. I looked back at Zac and he had a huge grin on his face.

“Scared ya, didn’t I?”

I let out the breath I was holding. “Oh, you’re getting it now!” I tackled him to the ground and tickled him. When I stopped, I looked at him. “Please, don’t ever do that again. ‘Cause you know what I’ll do?”

He smiled, “What?”

I leaned down and whispered something in his ear so only he could hear.

“Oh, Devon’s seducing him! Where’s my camera?” Ike asked, jokingly.

I looked down at Zac and his eyes were wide. “Comprendo?”

He nodded his head and gulped.

“Good.” I kissed his head and got off him. I extended my hand towards Zac and pulled him up.

“Yo, Zac, you look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Taylor said.

“Yeah, what did she say to you?” Ike asked.

Zac gulped again and looked at me.

I smiled and walked upstairs, but not before I heard Zac squeak out, “She said if I did that again, she’d make me really look like a girl. If you catch my drift.”

Isaac and Taylor both busted up laughing.

“You know she could do it, too,” Isaac said.

“I know, that’s what I’m afraid of.”

I smiled and walked into the kitchen, where Diana, Jessie, Avery, and Michelle were.

“Hey guys.”

“Hey Devon,” the girls said.

“Hey sweetie,” Diana said, kissing my cheek.

She always treated me like one of her own children. Maybe that’s because I spend more time at her house then I do at my own.

Everyone was soon settled at the dinning room table. Isaac, Taylor and Zac sang “Amen” and then we ate.

After dinner, everyone except Ike and I, went out in the yard. We walked up to the boy’s room.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“I think you know.”

I sighed and sat down on his bed. He sat down beside me and grabbed my hand. “Devon, you always could tell me everything. If something’s bothering you, please tell me.”

I looked into those eyes. Those eyes that I’ve trusted for the whole fifteen years of my life.

“I’ve been having some... trouble at work. This guy, I think he’s 28 or 29. Has been coming in every day. And he just stays there, watching me, for hours at a time. He writes stuff in a journal. I think it’s about me because everytime I get near him, he shuts the book and stares at me. He’s really starting to creep me out.”

“How long has this been going on?”

I thought for a minute. “About three or four months.”

“Devon! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“You’ve been really busy lately and I didn’t want to bother you with my problems. Plus, you know I would have told you right away if he was hurting me. But he’s only watching me.”

Isaac sighed,” I don’t want it to lead to something physical. If he even taps you, I want you to tell me. I don’t care how busy I am, I’ll make time. You know I’ll always make time for you.”

I smiled, “Thanks Ike. That means a lot to me.”

We hugged then walked downstairs to be with the others.

/ death threat /

“HANSON! HANSON!” People chanted outside the Blue Rose Cafe.

“Wish me luck!” Zac shouted.

“You don’t need luck, but good luck,” I said.

“Yeah, good luck guys. We will be cheering for you,” Michelle said.

“Thanks,” they all said.

We ran out into the crowd as they ran out the “stage” door and onto the stage. (well, patio if you wanna be technical). The shrieking became twice as loud.

They started by playing their newest song, “Two Tears.” Then, they played, “MMMBop,” which totally got the crowd going.

Just when you thought the screaming couldn’t get any louder, Ike started playing Stone Temple Pilot’s “Interstate Love Song.” That got all of the girls to rush over to him, if they weren’t already there, and scream their heads off.

I smiled. Everytime he played that song, all the girls were like magnets. I looked at Michelle, and she smiled.

The played four more original songs and then they played three covers. Then, they walked off stage. After about two minutes, they rushed back out and took their places at their instruments.

“The next song is a new song that we wrote for a friend of ours when she was in the hospital. But she’s here today, alive and healthy, and we’d like to play this song for her,” Ike said, smiling.

Then Zac stood up on his seat. “So you better wake up and pay attention, Devon.”

I laughed, then looked at Michelle, wide-eyed. “Did they just say what I thought they said?”

Michelle nodded, “Yeah, so you better pay attention.”

I turned back to the “stage” and listened.

“If I’m gone when you wake up, please don’t cry...”

I listened to the whole song and was practically hysterical. “With You In Your Dreams” was such a pretty song. It was the first time I ever heard it. It’s been five months since I’ve been in the hospital for severe dramatic stress. They said it was so bad that I could have died. The reason I was in there, was because my mother died in a car accident, and I kinda lost it after that. But I’m doing much better now.

When they finished the song, I ran backstage and hugged and thanked them.

“Geez guys, you got me crying,” I said, rubbing my eyes.

“Did you like it?” Taylor asked.

“Like it? God, I loved it!”

“Cool,” Zac said. He and Taylor went over and got a drink with Michelle.

I turned around to look at Ike, and when I did, someone caught my eye at the bar and I gasped.

“What’s wrong?”

I turned my head away quick and walked over to Michelle and them, with Ike following, confused.

“Devon,” he said, grabbing my arm, “What’s wrong?”

I stood in front of him so the guy couldn’t see me. “Look over at the bar, third seat.”

Isaac looked over quickly then looked back. “Is that him? That guy watching you?”

I nodded my head.

“Hey Devon, why is that guy staring at you?” Zac asked.

“It would take too long to explain, Zac. Hey, I’m going back outside. I didn’t like how he was looking at me.”

As soon as I turned around, I jumped backwards and gasped. Ike put his arm around my waist, Zac picked up the pen I dropped and Michelle grabbed my hand.

The guy bent over and picked up the CD he dropped. “Can I have your autograph?” He asked the boys but stared at me.

Taylor was the first to speak up, oblivious to what was going on. “Sure, why don’t you go and wait in the line outside and we’ll be there as soon as possible.”

The guy turned around and started to walk outside. Michelle let go of my hand and Zac gave me my pen back.

The guy ran back. “Look, that line is huge. Can I please just get it now so I can leave?”

I kinda liked the idea of him leaving. Okay, I really liked the idea.

“Oh, I’m sure these boys won’t mind signing that right now. For a warm-up,” I said, shakily, trying my best to smile. I looked at Ike and he understood.

“Sure, just let me go get a pen.”

“Here, this young lady has one,” he said, pointing to me. He put his hand over mine and slowly took the pen, smiling the whole time.

Just his hand touching mine made me sick, so I pulled away. He gave the pen to Ike, who signed it and passed it to Zac. Finally, Taylor signed it.

“Well, thank you. I’ll be off now.” Then he took off.

“Hey, he took off with your pen!” Zac exclaimed.

“I’m not so sure I wanted it back.”

“What’s going on, why were you so freaked out by that guy?” Taylor asked.

I explained everything to Taylor and Zac.

Zac slapped his forehead. “Duh! I should have guessed, by the way he was looking at you. I just didn’t expect him to look like that.”

“You mean, you knew about it?” I asked.

“Yeah, Michelle told me about it yesterday.”

I looked at Michelle and she looked down to the ground.

“Wait a minute! You mean, Zac and Isaac knew, but I didn’t!” Taylor asked, angrily.

“Taylor! Jesus God! Someone’s stalking Devon and all you care about is who found out first. That’s low,” Ike said, disgustingly.

Taylor blushed and looked down, bashfully. “Sorry, I guess I was a little mad that you didn’t tell me.”

“It’s okay, Taylor. I just told Isaac yesterday and I didn’t know that Zac knew. So...”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry though.”

“Well, you guys better get out there or they’ll come in here looking for you,” Michelle said. Michelle and I sat at a table while they went out to sign autographs.

“Hey Devon. I’m really sorry I told Zac. But he really felt left out.”

“Michelle, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal. They all know now anyway.”

“Really? No worries?”

“No worries,” I smiled, patting her hand.

We talked for a little, then I felt like someone was watching me. I looked at Michelle, and she had the same expression on her face.

“Do you feel like...” Michelle started.

“Someone is watching us? Yeah, I was just about to ask you that.”

We looked around, then I spotted him at the dart board and pool table. I closed my eyes and turned back to Michelle. Apparently, she saw him because when I opened my eyes she had a concerned look on her face.

“I thought he left,” Michelle said.

I felt like crying. “I don’t know Michelle, but I’m really starting to get scared. Can we please go out there were there’s more people?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

We got up and walked towards the door. I looked over and saw he was coming towards us.

“Michelle, run!” I grabbed her hand and started running. Right before we got to the door, he jumped in front of me. He pushed Michelle to the ground and clamped his hand over my mouth before I could scream.

“Listen to me, and listen good.” He let go of my mouth and grabbed my hand when I tried to run. He dug his nail into my skin. It was really starting to hurt. I looked down and saw it was bleeding. It hurt even more when I moved, so I had to stay very still.

“Good, now listen. I see how you hang all over those Hanson boys. You’ve probably screwed them all, even the little one. Right? Right, now listen you little whore. You stay away from them boys. How will my daughters ever have a chance with them if you are constantly around them. You know what will happen if you disobey me? Well, I’ll tell you. I’ll kill you and your father just like I killed your mother.” And with that, he pulled out a knife.

I was already crying but when he pulled my wrist up and slit it open, I cried about ten times harder. “Stay away from them.”

He took off out the bar door.

Michelle crawled over and put her arms around me. “It’s going to be okay...”

“No! Michelle, don’t say that! It will not be okay! Didn’t you hear him! He killed my mother and he’s going to kill me and my dad!”

I took off running out the stage door. When I ran out, I accidentally bumped into Ike’s shoulder but I kept running.

“Hey Devon!”

I slowed down, turned around and began walking backwards. “Ike, please. Just stay away.”

Isaac saw me crying, and saw that I was holding my wrist, but there was blood coming between my fingers. I looked around and saw all the fans were staring at us. Then, I saw him again. He was standing behind a van, holding his knife.

I looked back at Ike and saw he was soon caught up to me. I turned back around and started running.

I ran faster than I ever had. Faster than all those races. The races. They would most definitely have to stop. What am I saying? I can’t even talk to them. I started crying even harder, which I didn’t think was possible. I was crying so hard that I had to stop running. I sank to my knees on the pavement. I buried my head in my hands. A few seconds later, I felt strong arms go around me.

I screamed and tried to break free but the person held me down.

“Devon, Devon. It’s okay. It’s just me.”

I turned my head around and saw it was Ike. I looked around quickly and when I didn’t see the guy, I flung myself into his arms and hugged him tightly. I thought he was going to say something about me hugging him to tight but he didn’t. Instead, he just held me back.

A few minutes later, he pulled back slightly. “What happened?”

I wiped away the tears but they kept falling. He started wiping them away, softly. But they kept falling.

“I think we need a bucket.”

I laughed lightly and they soon stopped.

“Okay, the guy came back and he told me I have to stay away from you guys. He was calling me a whore because he thinks I slept with all of you. Then, he said that if he even catches me talking to any of you, he’ll kill me and my father like he killed my mother. He killed my mom. He was the one driving the car. He killed my mom, Ike!” I choked out between sobs and I was soon in hysterics again. Ike wrapped his arms around me tightly.

“I’m so sorry, Devon. Did he say why you can’t talk to us?”

“Yeah, he said because his daughters won’t have a chance with you guys if I’m always around. Then, he slit my wrist.”

Ike picked up my wrist and looked at it. He made a disgusted look. “That guy is messed up. Come on, we have to get this checked out.”

“No Ike. Thank you for caring and everything. And you know I love you for it, but we can’t be seen together. He could skitz out and go on a frickin’ killing spree. It would be better if we stayed away from each other.” I only let a few tears fall.

“Is it really that easy? I can’t just stop seeing my best friend. Please tell me you just did not say that,” He said, letting his own tears fall.

“You think it’s that easy for me. This is one of the hardest things in the world for me to do. You know how hard it’s going to be for me not to run to your house every day?”

“I have an idea,” he whispered.

I looked down and sighed, “I’m sorry.”

He grabbed my hand. “No, I’m sorry. I guess I was being selfish.”

“No, Ike, you have nothing to be sorry for. This is my...”

“No, don’t even say this is your fault. Listen, you have to check your wrist out. If I can’t go with you, promise me you’ll get someone to look at it.”

I smiled,slightly, “I promise.”

We stood up. “How will I know if you’re okay?”

I thought for a minute. “I can tell Michelle, then Michelle can tell you.”

He nodded and looked down. “If you ever need anything, somehow, I don’t care how. Let me know, okay?”

I smiled, “Okay, and thank you again... well, you better get back before they really start to worry. Plus, the fans might get the wrong idea,” I smiled and winked at him.

He smiled and kissed my hand. “I just hope this soon ends. You know I’ll be waiting.”

I smiled and hugged him for a while.

I turned around and started walking home. When I got about ten feet, I turned around. “Hey Ike!”

He turned around and stared at me. I felt very bold all of a sudden. I ran over to him and kissed him softly. I pulled away and he smiled. “What was that for?”

“For always being there, and for wanting to be here now. Thanks.”

I turned around again and ran home.

/ too hard to say goodbye /

When I got there, Michelle was sitting on my bed. “Oh, thank God! Where did you go?”

“Isaac caught up to me. I had to explain everything to him. God! Michelle, you don’t know how hard it was to say that we couldn’t be together anymore.” I sat down on the bed and Michelle put her arm around me. I put my hand on her knee and patted it.

“Hey, where’s my dad and Dudley?”

“Uh, your dad left when I came. He said he had an emergency at the firm. And, uh... I don’t know where your dog is. I’ll help you find him.”

“Thanks. Do you remember when we got him?”

Michelle laughed, “Yeah, he would keep licking you and Isaac, but then we would attack Taylor. You and Ike kept saying, ‘Attack Taylor! Good boy! Attack!’ ”

I smiled and laughed, “Yeah, that was funny. I love my dog.”

We walked down to the backyard.

“Look, he’s in his doghouse,” Michelle said.

We walked over to the doghouse. I sat in front of it and patted my knees. “Here, Dudley. Here boy!”

After awhile, I pulled the chain out and screamed so loud. Dudley was completely mutilated. There was a knife in his body, with a note.

“Kissing Isaac was the worse mistake of your life. Be prepared to pay tonight,” Michelle read.

“Oh my God, Michelle! I have to get out of here.”

“Where are you going to go?”

“I don’t know. But help me pack quick!”

We ran back into the house. I grabbed a blanket and quickly ran it out and out it over Dudley. Then, I ran up to my room.

I quickly packed a few clothes, a journal and some writing utensils, lots of money and a couple other things.

“Listen, I won’t be able to contact you or anyone. So, I’m going to need you to tell my dad. I’m going to stop and tell Isaac goodbye and explain a little, but you have to explain everything else to him, Taylor, Zac and my dad only. Okay? Please?”

“Of course I will. God, I’m going to miss you,” she said, hugging me.

“You know I love you more than I love my sister, right?”

She laughed lightly while crying. “Yeah, I love ya too.”

“Okay, I gotta jet. Tell everyone that I love them and that I’ll miss them.”

“Okay.”

I ran down the steps while putting on my bookbag. I ran out my back door, through my yard and into the Hanson’s. I saw a van pull into the driveway so I waited a few minutes till I knocked on the door. When I did, Diana opened the door and smiled.

“Hey sweetheart,” then she frowned, “Were you crying? And why is your arm bloody?”

I looked down and gasped. “Shoot, I forgot to clean this up. I don’t have time now. Is Isaac around?”

She grabbed my good hand and pulled me into the house. “Honey, you are going to clean that up first.”

She pulled me over to the bathroom and cleaned my cut up for me.

“Hey Mom? Who are you talking...” Isaac started, but stopped when he saw me. “Devon? What are you doing here? I mean, I’m glad you are, but...”

“I’ll be going now,” Diana said.

“Thanks for cleaning this for me.”

“No problem,” she said, then left.

“I have to run away, Ike.”

His eyes got wide. “What? Why? I thought we just couldn’t communicate for a while..”

“He saw us on the sidewalk. He killed Dudley and he said he’s coming after me tonight.”

“God Devon, I’m sorry.” He hugged me tightly.

After awhile, I pulled away. “Okay, if I stay here any longer, I’ll never leave.”

“I wouldn’t mind,” he whispered, looking down.

“I know.” I lifted his chin. “Either would I. You know I love you, right?”

“Yeah. You know I love you, right?”

I nodded my head slowly. “Well, I better say goodbye to Taylor and Zac quick. Um, could you do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Don’t tell your parents, Jessie, Avery, or Mackie about this. Okay? If they ask, tell them I went to live with my grandfather, who needed someone to take care of him. But tell them I’ll miss them and that I love them and that I’ll never forget them.”

“I will. They are going to miss you like crazy. Especially Mackie. He still thinks we’re married.”

I smiled, remembering the time Ike and I watched the kids and Mackie insisted that Ike and I get married. So, we performed a fake marriage. It was cute.

I sighed, “God, I’m going to miss you guys.”

“Well, you know, we’ll always be here. If you ever need anything, just come to us.”

I looked up into those eyes. I had that feeling again. This was going to be our last time together. I leaned up and softly kissed his lips again. He wrapped his arms around my waist. We broke apart and rested out foreheads against each others.

“I have to go,” I whispered.

His grip on me tightened. “I don’t want you to leave.”

I hugged him tighter. “I don’t want to leave, but I have to.”

We reluctantly walked out of the bathroom. Zac and Taylor ran up to us. They both hugged me. I kissed Zac’s forehead and Taylor’s cheek.

“I have to go, guys. I probably won’t see you for a long time so good luck with everything. Ike and Michelle will explain everything to you.” I started to walk towards the backdoor.

“Devon, wait!” Ike said.

I turned around.

“Zac, go get the box.”

Zac ran up the steps and within seconds he was back. He handed me a box. “Open it.”

“What’s this for?”

“Well,” Taylor started, “We were going to give it to you for you’re birthday but this is probably a better time.”

I smiled lightly. “Oh, okay. Thanks.”

I slowly opened it and pulled out it’s contents. There was a silver chain with a heart-shaped locket, mini-compass and a cross attached to it. I opened the heart and was greeted with a beautiful picture of all three boys and I on one side and the inscription “Friends Forever And A Day” on the other side.

“So, you won’t forget us.” Taylor supplied.

I looked up, teary-eyed. “I could never in a cabillion lifetimes, forget you guys. We’re the four musketeers!”

“The compass is for when you get lost, you can always find your way back to us. And the cross is for when you feel like you’ve lost everything, you know God is there.” Ike said.

I smiled and hugged them all again. “I love you guys so much.”

“Bye Devon,” Taylor said.

“We’ll miss you,” Zac said.

Ike walked me to the door. “Here,” he said, taking off his ring. “Just a little reminder.”

“Thanks.” I put it on the chain they just gave me.

I hugged him again and walked out the door. I turned around once to wave goodbye, then took off towards the bus station.

/ success and freedom /

One Year Later...

“Hey Devon, check out the TV.”

I looked up from my journal, to the TV, on my position on the couch.

“...Can you tell me? Which flower’s gonna grow?...”

My eyes got wide and I started crying. “Oh my God! They did it!”

I looked at Andrea, who was staying with me in the hotel. She too, was a runaway. I met her in Montana and we decided to travel together. I showed her the picture of the three Hansons that I had in my locket, so she knew what they looked like. I told her everything and she told me everything. She ran away because her father abused her, sexually.

“You were right, Devon. They did make it happen. So, that one... there! That’s your best, best friend, right?”

“Yep, that’s Ike. The one playing the keyboards is Taylor and the one playing the drums, is my baby, Zac. Well, not my baby-baby, because Mackie is my baby-baby, but...”

“I understand, Devon.” Andrea laughed.

The song ended and the “10 to the hour news” came on. Serena Altchul started talking. “As some of you may know, the hottest new band around is a band of three heartthrob brothers from Tulsa. Their name is Hanson and they already have a number one hit single, even before any of them can legally vote. Speaking of Tulsa, a man was captured yesterday. The man was only known as John. He stalked young girls, who ironically, followed Hanson closely.”

They showed the guy and I gasped. “That’s him,” I whispered.

“That’s all for now. We’ll have more at ten to the hour, every hour.”

I looked at Andrea and she was smiling at me. “Do you know what that means?”

“Devon! You can go home!” She ran over and hugged me.

Later that night, I packed up all my things and ate my last dinner with Andrea.

“You know, if you’re ever in Oklahoma, please come and visit me. You are always welcome to my house.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it. But I don’t think I’ll need to. I got this letter in the mail today. My dad was sent to jail for assault, and my mother is in the hospital. So, I’m going home.”

“Oh Andrea! I’m so happy for you but I’m sorry about your mother. How did you know? I thought your friend couldn’t mail you anymore?”

“Yeah, well he did, I guess because it was an emergency.”

“This really has been a great day.”

/ heading home /

The next morning, I took off towards Tulsa. Considering I was in Nevada, I had a long ways to go.

Surprisingly, it only took me three days to get there. I hitch-hiked three times and walked the rest of the way.

When I turned onto the street I lived on, I stopped dead in my tracks. “Oh my God,” I whispered to myself and smiled. Isaac, Taylor and Zac were playing basketball on their garage/court. They all looked so different, yet the same. Ike shot up about four inches, had a darker complexion, and his hair was about an inch longer; Taylor grew about two inches and his hair was about three inches longer; and Zac grew about an inch and his hair was about four inches longer.

I never realized how much I really missed them until now. Just watching them brought back so many memories. I slowly got up and walked towards them, wiping away the happy tears. I picked up my pace and soon found myself on the court. The first thought that ran through my head was, ‘Thank God, I’m home!’

They didn’t notice me yet. Good, because I wanted to watch them for a little longer.

Ike stole the ball from Taylor, passed it to Zac, then picked Zac up so he could slam it in. When he turned around, we made eye-contact. He practically dropped Zac, from shock.

“Devon?”

At the mention of my name, Zac and Taylor’s heads shot over to my direction.

I nodded my head, threw off my book and extended my arms. “I’m home.”

They ran over and we all hugged for what seemed like hours.

“Thank God you’re home. You have no idea how much we missed you.” Ike said.

“I have an idea.” I smiled. “Hey, congratulations! I told you guys that you would make it big.”

All the guys smiled, proudly. “Thanks.”

Zac smiled, mischievously. “Yeah, you’re always right about everything, aren’t you?”

“You know it!”

“Well, come on, there are a bunch of people who want to see you.” Taylor said.

“Yeah, Michelle’s here.” Zac said.

“Michelle’s here?...” I asked, just as someone shouted, “Devon!” from the house.

I looked towards the house and saw Michelle jump off the porch and run towards me. I ran towards her and we hugged each other tightly.

“Devon, you’re back!”

I just nodded. Isaac, Taylor and Zac came up behind us. Isaac grabbed one of my hands and Taylor grabbed the other. Zac grabbed Michelle’s hand while Ike slung my bookbag over his shoulder.

We all walked towards the house and went in.

“Mom! Dad, Jessie, Avery, Mackie! Come here please!” Isaac yelled.

Within a few seconds, everyone was in the living room, staring at me.

“Devon! Devon! You’re back!” Mackie yelled, and ran over. I got down on my knees and hugged him. Jessie and Avery ran over and I hugged them all.

When I stood up, Diana and Walker come over and hugged me. “We’re glad you’re back.” Walker said.

I smiled. “It’s great to be back. Hey, I need to go see my dad. Do you know if he’s home or on a business trip?”

Everyone in the room, except the younger kids, gasped and clasped their hands over their mouths.

“What?”

“Devon, we have some bad news.” Michelle said.

My smile faded, instantly. “What? What’s going on?”

Isaac squeezed my hand and I looked at him. “Your dad was killed in a car accident two days...”

Whatever Isaac said after that, I didn’t hear. I passed out cold on the floor.

/ realization /

The next thing I remember was someone rubbing my head and playing with my hair. I looked up and saw it was Isaac. His eyes were closed and he was leaning on his other arm. I guess he didn’t realize he was still rubbing my head. I looked at the clock. 11:41 pm. Holy monkies! He stayed down here, in the living room, the whole time with me. I smiled and he opened his eyes. He smiled back and I sat up so he could sit beside me on the couch.

“Hey, how are you holding up?” He took my hand in his.

I sighed. “Okay, I guess. I mean, I feel horrible because I don’t feel horrible. I mean... uh, nevermind,” I said, frustrated with myself.

“No, tell me how you feel.” He ordered, gently.

“Okay, it’s like. You know, I feel horrible that he died. Honest, I do. But... I don’t feel half as bad as I did when my mother died. It’s just, of course I love him and I’ll miss him, but I was never close to him. I saw him maybe once or twice a year. I don’t know, does that make me a horrible person?”

Ike put his arm around me. “No, of course not! It just means that you were closer to your mother than you were your father. And it just means that you can deal with his death better.”

I leaned against his shoulder. “How comes you always know the right things to say to me?”

“Years of practice... from you saying the wrong things.” He laughed and I hit him with a pillow.

“Funny, ha ha!” I smiled.

“I thought it was too.”

I rolled my eyes and settled back against him. He picked the blanket off of the floor and covered us up. “Night Devon.”

“Night Ike.”

We fell asleep in each other’s embrace.

/ confessions in a journal /

I woke up when I felt little hands tugging on the blanket. I opened my eyes slowly and smiled. “Hey babe! What are you doing up so early?”

Mackie laughed, “It’s 9:00! It’s not early.”