"What happened?" I said, crying and freaking out. Something happened to Evan, and by the looks of things (and my rotten luck), it would end up with hospitals and comas and death and sadness. Which I didn't want.

"If there's another car crash, I swear to God..." I said to myself. Elle sighed and said, "No, it's not a crash, but it's not exactly...good news."

"Of course it's not 'good news!' You wouldn't wake me up at midnight to tell me that Evan won the jackpot in the lottery and we're all going on a luxury vacation to Bermuda, would you?" I snapped. Elle and Jessica just stared at each other in silence.

"No, um, Sunshine..." Elle said, struggling for the right words. "Um, Evan's apartment caught on fire last night."

"WHAT?" I yelled, sobbing. First Elle getting sick, then the crash, then Alice's coma, and now this? Why does all the bad stuff happen to my family?

"I knew it. I knew that would be her reaction." Elle said, putting her head in her hands. It was 3 in the morning, and I had just gotten some of the worst news of my life. God, I wanted to punch something.

"Yeah, of course that would be my reaction! What did you think would happen, I would be dancing a jig around the kitchen? No!" I said. I took a deep breath to calm myself, and looked at Elle and Jess. They both looked shocked, with tears forming in their eyes. That did it. I started breaking down into a heap of tears.

"I'm so sorry..." I said, and Elle and Jessica wrapped me in a group hug, which felt super good. I let go, a little bit calmer, and said, "Is Evan going to be okay?"

"Let's hope for the best. He's in a...a coma." Elle said. That was the 3rd time I've had to hear those words in the past five months. Elle cleared her throat and then continued. "T-they might have to put him on life support."

"L-li-life support?" I said, about to break down into sobs. "S-so you're s-saying that there's a c-chance he'll...he'll d-die?"

"It's...likely. Not very likely, but still. We just have to have hope, Sunshine." Jessica said. I wanted to break down into sobs right at that moment. It was too hard to stay positive.

"Do you want to go visit Evan in the hospital in a few hours?" Elle asked, and I solemnly nodded. "But wait, Seussical's t-this weekend. Will he be alright for Seussical?" I asked. If he missed the show I've been looking forward to for months, I'd be crushed.

"I hope so. But if he can't come, we'll find a way." Elle said.

"WHAT IF HE'S DEAD BY IT? WHAT IF MY BROTHER DIES WHEN I'M ON STAGE?" I yelled. I never get angry at Elle or Jess, it only happens when I'm terrified. Jessica looked at me and said, "That is not going to happen, I promise you. It's not like...um, I need a good analogy."

"It's not like the crash?" I asked.

"Yeah. It's not as bad as that. He's just in a coma." Jessica said.

"Just in a coma?" I snapped. "You two are no help with making me feel better!" I ran to my room, wanting to run away, out of my house. But I didn't want to make Elle and Jessica more worried than they already were. So I hid in my closet, crying into a pillow.

I heard some knocks on the door, and I yelled "Go away! Please just go away!" to every single one. I rolled my eyes and went back to my crying session.

Ever since Heathers closed, I haven't had a safe place to run to when things turned tough. I'd always run to the theater, I had a key. But now, I was out of places to turn to. Except my room.

"Sunshine, baby, you have rehearsals tomorrow. Go to sleep." I heard Elle say. Shoot. Dress rehearsals. I wiped my tears and decided to stay strong. For Evan.

_______

"Cat? Are you okay? Something's off with you." Red said at rehearsal. I sighed, not wanting to relive it.

"No, I'm fine. I just didn't get much sleep last night." I said, which was partly true. "Sorry if I seem grumpy or something."

"Catlynn?" our director said. "Can I talk to you? In private?"

I froze up and got scared. More bad news.

"So, um, I got an email from your mom last night. Is it true you've been through some trauma lately?" he asked. I nodded slightly, and wondered why Elle hadn't emailed the director earlier. "Um, actually, I got some pretty traumatic news last night."

"Okay then. Just letting you know that I'm sorry for what you've had to go through." I nodded, but I was slightly annoyed on the inside. That was it? Just an I'm sorry? Nothing about that nightmare song or that crash line?

I headed backstage and changed into my costume and took some selfies with my friends. I sent them all to Elle and the others, feeling pretty pained that Evan couldn't see them. Or respond. I started to cry, pushing my pigtail behind my shoulder.

"What's wrong, Kit?" Red asked. I sighed and decided to tell her the truth.

"My brother's in the hospital. His apartment set on fire last night." I said, trying not to break down into sobs.

"Cat..." Red said, and I scooched away from her.

"No. Don't give me that fake sympathy that everyone seems to love giving me. Don't hug me. Don't say 'I'm sorry' or 'It'll be okay.' Because I'm smarter than that. I'm smart enough to realize that it won't be okay. Because when one horrible event ends, another one starts. It's...I just hate it." I said, starting to snap. Why was I getting mad at rehearsals, the one place that I loved more than anything lately.

Oh yeah. Because of that nightmare song and that stupid crash line. Even theater has come back to haunt me.

"Hey, Cat. You're on." Red said.

"They can do Biggest Blame Fool without a JoJo. Big deal." I said.

"Are you sure you don't want to do rehearsal today?" Red asked, putting a bit more pressure on me.

"No! Okay, my brother's in a coma right now and rehearsing is the first thing on your mind?" I asked. "Just leave me alone!"

I started crying again, for the third time in the past 24 hours.

AN: Back with the evil plots, I see. Just warning you, evil things are gonna happen in my other two books as well. Hope you enjoyed! Catch ya later!