January 2013
1 post
17 tags
Tristan 29:
Panic. It consumed me all of the sudden. As Amy walked back to her house I couldn’t breathe. I laid down and tried breathing deeply but it didn’t help. I ran inside and upstairs to my room.
I grabbed the bottle of pills. My hands were shaky and they spilled all over the floor. I grabbed two of them and ran to the bathroom and swallowed them with some sink water.
I laid down on my bed drenched...
September 2012
1 post
21 tags
Tristan 30:
(Jaquiline)-
Jaquiline looked up from the magazines she’d been reading in the green pastures. A young man was walking up to her. She’d seen him once before, but she couldn’t place it.
“Hello Jaquiline, it’s time,” he said holding out his hand. Jaquiline stared at his hand stuck in confusion.
“Who are you?” The boy laughed as if it must be the most obvious thing on Earth.
“I watched you...
August 2012
2 posts
Amy 29:
“Amy Amy Amy!” I heard Ian running down the stairs the next morning. He turned the corner at a fast pace and was suddenly sitting upon the bar stool in the kitchen. Ian’s face was beaming like it would be on Christmas morning.
“You’re super excited about today aren’t you?”
“YES! DUH!” He said the last line with emphasis.
We were going to the zoo for the first time here and I had heard it was one...
Amy 28:
The rock led me to the campfire; next to the campfire was a log that had another riddle on it which led me to the fridge. On the fridge was a magnet “The birds and the bees, true love is all you need. Your mom is a blessing to me. In the night, by only starlight, we’d say our prayers and sleep.”
I walked over and searched under the bed, then under the mattress. It was there I found his...
July 2012
7 posts
13 tags
Tristan 28:
“You really should go try and talk to her,” Josh was throwing a ball with Koda on the beach. I was sitting at the piano just playing a never ending melody.
“Josh I’ll do it when I’m ready to.”
“The longer you wait the harder it gets bro.” Clayton was sitting with Lynn in the hammock they were holding hands.
“Thank you Clayton.”
“Tristan he’s only trying to help. Amy told me last night that...
Amy 27:
It wasn’t enough that he had completely ignored me today, then I get awoken to screaming outside and now I find out that he has killed my last adult link to my parents. I had just started to get to know Eddy and there were so many questions I wanted to ask him about my dad. I thought Tristan was different. I felt such an instant connection with him and felt as if he and I shared something special....
16 tags
Tristan 27:
Aaron-
It was black. No one around, no sounds, just blackness. Aaron was lying down on his back. He sat up.
“Hello?” No one answered. His voice trailed off rather quickly in fact absorbed by the blackness.
“Hello!” He tried again. A desperate plea with yet again no answer. Aaron got up and started to run, but no matter how fast he ran, nor how far, the blackness never ended. He fell to...
Amy 26:
“I just can’t believe he took off like that.” I sat down on the couch next to Lynn. She had just gotten home from work and Ian was still outside dancing around the fire.
“So you have no idea why he was running around out there?” She questioned.
“No, none at all. He just looked at me and then took off. It was almost as if he didn’t even know me. I mean we’re a couple now, he should be able to tell...
9 tags
Tristan 26:
Josh-
The ambulance sped along Mill Creek road to the hospital. Aaron laid on the stretcher unconscious. Josh’s mind was a blur. All he remembered was looking out the window at the sea and smiling about how everything in life was going so great for a change and then Kathy screamed.
Josh didn’t have time to react he went flying to the opposite side of the back seat slamming into Aaron with a...
11 tags
Tristan 25:
(Kathy)-
“Remission,” Kathy whispered. The doctor looked at her, his smiling not fading. Kathy felt like she was going to pass out.
“You mean it’s gone?” The doctor started to laugh.
“We did it Kathy. We beat it, the scans are all clean. There’s not a single trace of it anywhere in your body,” the doctor pulled the scan and handed them to Kathy. Kathy grabbed them and stared at a cancer free...
Amy 25:
“You’re who?” I asked again. The man just stood there and looked at me for a moment.
“My name is Eddy, I’m here to inspect the damage from the fire and finish out the adjustment claim for you from your insurance company.”
“Oh yeah, now I remember.” The past two weeks had been so long I almost nearly forgot about the side of my house being burned.
I let the man walk into my house and directed...
June 2012
48 posts
14 tags
Amy 24:
I was not expecting that kiss, but as he laid his lips on mine it was as if nothing else mattered anymore, it was just Tristan and I. There was an energy shared between us. With his hand in mine, everything seemed right, everything seemed perfect. His hand gently caressed mine, lacing our fingers together. It sent a flame of energy burning up the side or my arm, then immediately raced all the way...
12 tags
Tristan 1:
“Tristan! Do you want some lunch!” Aunt Kathy was right on time with her lunch cue. Twelve o’ one on the dot and never a second later.
“Yeah I’m on my way down,” I call back. She responds with an okay. I climb out of bed and put down my latest piece of work. Writing was never something I expected to do, but I had become semi-successful with it. After being honorably discharged from the Coast...
11 tags
Amy 1:
This was it, the day had finally come. Times were changing fast and I was hoping this would be the last major event in my life for awhile, and my brothers as well.
I pulled up to the rugged old beach house around lunch time. The building was at least forty years old and had been vacant for the past five years since my grandparents died. When I was a child I spent some time here with them during...
11 tags
Tristan 2:
As soon as my eyes closed the dream started. The same dream I’ve had since it happened. The dream about Jaquiline. The chopper’s sounds were completely drowned out by the rain pounding on its hard exterior. The rotor blades desperately trying to stay airborne. I was sitting on the jumping zone gear on and ready to go.
“Five minutes out Vandt!” The pilot has to scream into his head piece just to...
11 tags
Amy 2:
As I cleaned up after dinner, luckily I had packed some sandwiches and chips for the trip; I started to feel the effects of such a long, hard day.
“Ian, it’s been a rough day. I think you should get ready to go to bed.” I told my brother.
“But AMYYYYY” he whined, “I’m not tired!”
“Alright, you can play in your room for one more hour and then to bed ok?” I bargained.
“YAY!” Ian pushed back his...
11 tags
Tristan 3:
“Eat up,” Aunt Kathy says. She’s made her famous spaghetti and meatballs with broccoli. We ate in silence mostly. The light house next to our house was flashing a beacon of hope to any stranded or lost boats in the vast and cruel ocean. After dinner I help Aunt Kathy clean the kitchen.
“That has been the worst round of chemo yet,” she says. I never know how to respond to her remarks about the...
11 tags
Amy 3:
As I stepped into Ian’s room I saw him pointing at the wall by the window. There was a tiny little spider crawling up towards the ceiling. Ian’s face was filled with terror. I grabbed a nearby book and smacked the spider making a funny sound effect. I turned to Ian showing him the dead creature stating “I AM the bug MASTER!”
He giggled at me and as I turned back to the window I saw a figure from...
11 tags
Tristan 4:
“Whoa it was never my intention to brag to steal it all away from you now, but God does it feels so good…” I slide the screen turning my alarm off. Haleigh William’s voice stops instantly. It’s nine in the morning already and I’m still exhausted. I hadn’t been up too late last night. I mean I finished another three chapters in book three of The Solar War series…I guess I was up for a while. I put...
11 tags
Amy 4:
I stepped into the house. It seemed quite different since the last time I had been over here. Although I was taking in everything around me my mind kept spinning about what Tristan had asked me. Was he asking me on a date? Odd for the first time ever meeting someone, but I was thankful that he was willing to help me out with the movers and allow Ian to go with him. He’s a smart kid and...
11 tags
Tristan 5:
Klutz I thought as I closed the shade. I didn’t know what to think of Amy but Ian and I had bonded so quickly I already found him like a younger brother. Something about Amy seemed off, she was hiding something and I was curious to find out what it was.
“Well that was pleasant,” Aunt Kathy came from the kitchen. I shrugged.
“She’s changed so much it’s a shame her parents died six months ago,”...
11 tags
Amy 5:
UGH, I can’t believe him. The nerve. Why would he do such a hurtful thing? I threw down my stuff and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge.
I wanted to leave that day be, leave it in the past and not go back to it. As my past reflected in my mind I saw that guy sitting there in the hospital. I ran up to him.
“You, why couldn’t you help them?!? You are trained to save people. They should’ve...
11 tags
Tristan 6:
“I’m sorry about that,” I tell Josh as we finish our first round.
“You’d think I’d be used to it by now, the resentment people throw at you when you can’t save them,” Josh mumbles.
“It’s a really small world down here in North Carolina,” I joke. Josh smiles but doesn’t laugh.
“It was the only weekend I volunteered for search and rescue. I only needed eight more hours of volunteer rescuing to...
11 tags
Amy 6:
“Take my hand” Gavin said as I hopped off the sailboat and onto the dock. It was a beautiful day and I was happy where I was. As I helped him tie the boat up he threw me one of his smiles that were always so intoxicating.
“Amy dear is that you? Dinner’s ready!” Me-Maw called from the house. “You can bring your friend too.” Then she walked back inside.
“You up for it?” I said.
“Dinner with the most...
11 tags
Tristan 7:
“Those were some good hot dogs I gotta hand it to ya bro,” Josh said smiling. He was right for some reason these hot dogs did have a better taste, maybe it was the ocean breeze.
“You know you could just go over and apologize for being an ass earlier instead of staring,” Josh says. He catches me off guard. Next door a fire has started and Ian is jumping around smiling while they make s’mores no...
11 tags
Amy 7:
“That was an excellent meal Gavin, thank you!” beaming like a buffoon I managed to express my gratitude. It was nice to have someone do something for me for a change. I could just relax and not have to worry about the hassle of it all.
“Smore’s, Smore’s, Smore’s ,Smore’s,” Ian began to chant.
“hahaha. Now there’s a boy who knows what he wants. Come on Ian let’s go get us a roaring fire started out...
11 tags
Tristan 8:
Josh never cared much for living. In fact given the choice between living and dying he chose death. Not intentionally, he just felt ready to crack under the expectations and pressure. He picked one of the hardest jobs in the world for a reason after all, and that reason was that no matter what no life would get left behind. So far he’d let seven lives go, and had decided to take the weekend off...
11 tags
Amy: 8
Thursday went by so fast because of my excitement for my date tonight night with Gavin. I had woken up to a cute good morning text from him which fueled me with enough energy to get through that day. We continued to talk throughout the day as I worked with Ian on the outside of the house cleaning up the garden and lawn area. It took a lot of work, but it was starting to look pretty descent. With...
11 tags
Tristan 9:
“Tristan!” Ian’s face gleamed with excitement.
“Hey bud!” I said. I turned to Amy.
“So I really appreciate this and just do me a favor Tristan,” Amy said.
“I thought I kind of was,” I said with a small smile. Amy nodded.
“Of course you are, I just meant please if he gets upset around Josh just give him space,” Amy said. I nodded, and she turned and left.
“Thanks again,” she turned and...
11 tags
Amy 9:
“Are you ready to go out on our date?” Gavin inquired.
“Yeah, just let me grab my purse and put these flowers in some water”. I walked across to the kitchen and found an old purple vase in the cupboard. Carefully I placed the dainty flowers in there and filled it with water. Then I put them on the counter, grabbed my purse and locked the door on our way out.
We walked out to his car and he opened...
11 tags
Tristan 10:
“Tristan look back here,” Josh was outside on the back porch. I walked out of the kitchen away from my breakfast and headed out the back door.
Josh was lifting a cover off of an old piano. It was black and sleek and despite how old it was it looked new.
“You still write music and songs?” Josh asked looking at the seat expectantly.
“I haven’t written any music since the Coast Guard,” I...
11 tags
Amy 10:
I petted Koda’s soft fur and played fetch with him for awhile. He was cute and very well behaved. Tristan must have just gotten him because I don’t remember seeing him before and I really don’t remember Aunt Kathy saying anything about a dog. He jumped up and licked my cheek.
“See I love how much Tristan describes all the planets when he writes about them in his book.” I overheard Ian telling...
11 tags
Tristan 11:
“Gavin!” Amy squealed with delight. She wrapped her arms around him and planted a kiss on his lips. I turned towards the beach following Ian and Josh.
“Looks like you’re going on a swim. Good thing I wore my swimming suit,” Gavin said. Amy smiled and grabbed his hand. They walked down to the shore with us.
“Josh wanna make a sand castle?” Ian asked. Josh grabbed a handful of the mushy sand and...
11 tags
Amy 11:
“Now come sit down with me and let me hold you in my arms” Gavin said.
I walked over to the couch and cuddled up next to Gavin. His arms wrapped around me as my head rested against his chest. I felt safe and secure in his embrace.
“I’m so sorry again about Ian’s behavior and my neighbor Tristan’s as well. It was seriously just an accident though” I stated.
“Well, Ian’s a kid, and he’s been through...
11 tags
Tristan 12:
(Kathy)-
Alaska felt colder than the last time she was here. The air outside seemed thinner, in fact Kathy felt like she was choking on the brisk night air. The plane ride had been anything but joyful. They had a six hour delay in Washington due to severe winter weather. Kathy often wondered why they didn’t just refer to winter weather as heavy snow fall.
“Ma’am you almost forgot your phone,”...
11 tags
Amy 12:
I cried for at least an hour nonstop, maybe even longer than that. All the while Tristan held me tight and tried to calm me down. Josh took Ian inside our house and read to him in there.
“They won’t take him away from you” Tristan said soothingly. “We won’t let them. You are the best thing for him and we’ll find out who told that lie and deal with them. I promise”
I tried to slow down my heart...
11 tags
Tristan 13:
(Josh):
Josh was bleeding bad. His eyes were swollen shut and his bottom lip was cut and swollen. His ribs were screaming in pain. The blows kept coming.
“So Josh have you had enough, or are you still going to run off and tell Amy?” Josh groaned in pain. He hadn’t seen the guy coming when he walked out of the hospital his mind was somewhere else, focusing on what he had just seen inside. It...
11 tags
Amy 13:
The clouds moved in and the wind began to pick up. Storms were brewing, such perfect timing for how awful I felt right now. The one connection I had left of my family had been ripped away from me and I felt utterly heartbroken. Had I really been that bad of a provider? I honestly thought I was doing so much better since we’ve been here. Who would tell the woman that? And all that stuff that...
11 tags
Tristan 14:
Friday. The house was so quiet. Josh had gone home for a couple of days to help his mother. I had made a bowl of cereal for breakfast and as lunchtime loomed around I headed out back to the piano.
I had been playing for thirty minutes when a yellow cab pulled into the driveway. I got up wondering why on earth Josh had taken a cab back from his parent’s house. As I walked closer to the cab I...
11 tags
Amy 14:
Friday, June 8th 2009
Dear Mom and Dad,
Today was amazing. Amy and I are doing great here at me maw and pa paws old place. The house doesn’t look as nasty and old as it did when we first got here. We’ve even decided to start working on that old boat that was sitting in the back. Today we went and got supplies for it. Amy even let me pick out the paint; she said I could choose whatever colors I...
11 tags
Tristan 15:
“Amy’s here!” Ian was yelling from the living room as he watched Lynn’s car pull up into the driveway. Sure enough less than a minute later there was a knock on the front door. I walked to the door and opened it.
“Hey Tristan I am so sorry, but thank you so much!” Amy looked like she was about to cry. I opened the door and invited her in. Almost instantly Ian ran up to her and gave her a big...
11 tags
Amy 15:
Ian’s little hand was warm in mine. I squeezed it tight and almost in unison we smiled together out of pure joy for now being reunited. Lynn followed us closely behind as we walked back over to our house.
As we neared the front door I realized a figure sitting on the porch, it was Gavin. Last night I couldn’t sleep because I had been thinking about everything Lynn, Josh, and Tristan had told me...
11 tags
Tristan 16:
My family started piling in at ten am and by noon they were all there. My grandma and grandpa arriving last. The house was in chaos. Josh stayed by me trying to keep the room calm.
“Tristan it’s so good to see you,” my grandma walked up to me for a hug.
“Look I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I don’t hate all of you, but I am going to make this as peaceful as possible for my mom. So...
11 tags
Amy 16:
The next morning I woke up early. As soon as I was up I had a crazy wonderful idea. This idea was brilliant and was going to lead to an exuberant and fantastic weekend. It was time for a getaway. I immediately grabbed my phone and called Lynn.
“Hey!” I said into the receiver.
“Girl it is six am. What in God’s green earth are you doing calling me at this hour?” She exclaimed with the sound of...
11 tags
Tristan 17:
Josh and Aunt Kathy looked at the letter both of them had looks of shock and disbelief on their faces.
“Wait so, we’re like brothers?” Josh asked. I nodded and looked at Aunt Kathy.
“All these years she knew and she never told me or you,” Aunt Kathy said. Aunt Kathy put the letter down and sat on the piano bench.
“Talk about a small world getting smaller,” I said. No one laughed. Aunt Kathy...
11 tags
Amy 17:
About 5pm we pulled up to the nearest Pizza Hut, had dinner and then checked into our hotel an hour later. The hotel room we had was ocean front. As we walked into the room, it turned down a hallway. There was a huge room on the left with a mini balcony that had a queen sized bed on it. The room on the right had two full sized beds with red quilts and one window. Although the window didn’t look...
10 tags
Tristan 18:
The house had burned with an incredible rage. The back porch completely covered in black soot. The boat had been brought onto the back lawn a couple of days ago and now was nothing more than ash.
“What the hell happened here?” The Fire Marshall was standing next to me.
“I have no idea we were up on the light house we saw the smoke and ran over,” I answered.
“Well we will be able to save the...
Amy 18:
The next morning we all went down to the lobby and had a nutritious and delicious breakfast made by the hotel chefs. By ten we were out at the Broadway at the Beach. It is a huge strip of fun shopping stores, eateries, and lots of entertainment.
“What are we going to do today Amy?” Ian asked with enthusiasm.
“Well,” I said getting out of the car, “we’re going there.” I pointed to the Ripley’s...
16 tags
Tristan 19:
A rock being thrown at my window woke me up. I grabbed my phone and checked the time. It was twelve o’nine, Monday morning. I walked to the window and saw a boy, probably a couple of years younger than me. He had white skin, and looked strong. The face looked familiar, and then it sank in. I walked downstairs and opened Josh’s door.
“Josh get up,” I said. Josh groaned and turned so I gave him a...
Amy 19:
“Ian, Ian wake up.” I shook his shoulders trying to get up.
“What?” He said. “What time is it?”
“It’s ten. Get up and pack your stuff and get on your swim trunks.”
“Why do I need to pack my stuff?” He sat up in the bed.
Lynn popped her head into his room. “We’re going back home, but first we wanted to get a few more hours of fun sun time on the beach!” She went dancing back into her room across...
