After our parents died, Katelyn went off to live with one of her friends and I started to wander around the country. Of course, we stayed with Jessica and her family for a while. But, since I brought so much danger to the people around me, I wandered off one day about a week after the death of our parents. I wandered for almost two months until Jessica called me back home.

I got up to the front porch of Jessica's house and she ran at me and tackled me within a hug. She held on to me for over a minute and didn't let go. I pried her off of me and we went into the house. As I walked in, the smell of cake filled my nose. I walked over to it as I saw it in the kitchen and took a big sniff. I exhaled in delight but Jessica pushed me away from it and blocked me. 

"No cake right now. You're going to tell me where you've been!" Jessica exclaimed sternly. I sighed and walked up to her. I clung to her body and stayed there. She hugged me back and she kissed my cheek. My eyes widened and she let go of me. I let go and looked at her, her face a bright red.

             A couple hours later after I'd explained where I'd been, I sat down in a chair and sighed with relief. My tattered dark blue scarf draped over the back of the wooden chair and my midnight black jacket's right sleeve covered my right hand. Jessica sat across from me and smiled at me. 

"What's with all the smiling and blushing? Are you that happy to see me after only two months?" I asked as I arched my right eyebrow. 

"Yeah, why would I not be?! You're the only one I have now besides Katelyn!" Jessica exclaimed as tears welled up in her eyes. 

I paused for a moment. "Wait... What about your parents?" I asked. 

Jessica put her head in her hands and I knew what happened. I stood up from my chair and walked over to her. I pulled her into a hug and she started crying as soon as my arms wrapped around her. We held onto each other for a few minutes before she started to calm down. 

"You OK now?" I asked her. 

"Yeah, I'm fine." Jessica said sniffling. We let go of each other. 

"I'm gonna go see my sister, ok?" I said. 

"Alright, be back soon though." Jessica said. 

"I will." I said while nodding.

As I got to the door of Katelyn's friend's house, I knocked on it and waited. Katelyn opened the door and stood there for a moment. Her eyes widened with joy and she tackled me within a tight hug. She ruffled my hair and then pulled me inside the house. As she shut the door, everyone came to the door and stared at me. 

"So you're Katelyn's brother? Thought you'd be taller." one girl said. 

"And what's with the eye?" another girl asked. 

I sighed and walked up to them. I stuck out my right hand for a handshake. 

"Hi, I'm Zach." I said. 

They both shook my hand and stepped back. I walked past them and looked around. 

"So this is where you've been staying? I expect you've been treating Katelyn well." I said. 

"We have, trust me." a guy said from the top of the stairs. I glared at him intensely and I could see him step back a little. 

"Who're you?" I asked. 

"I'm Jason." he said while walking down the stairs. 

"Well Jason, I'm glad to hear that you've been treating my sister well. But, I do have something to ask." I said. 

"What would that be?" Jason asked, crossing his arms. 

"Did you engage in any inappropriate activities?" I asked. 

Jason's eyes widened. "No, we didn't." Jason said. 

"Good. Now, I'm gonna go see y'all later." I said putting my hands in my pockets and walking towards the door. 

"You're just gonna walk out like this?!" Katelyn exclaimed, throwing her arms up in exasperation. 

"Well what else am I supposed to do?" I asked her while I shrugged my shoulders. 

"Hm, let's see. Tell me where you've been for the past two months!!!" Katelyn screamed. 

I sighed and turned to look at her. "Fine, I'll tell ya. I owe you that much." I said. 

"Thank you." Katelyn said, calmed down. After I told her everything, she let me leave and go back to Jessica.

As I got back to Jessica's house, she was on the front porch, sleeping in a rocking chair. I smiled slightly and took my jacket and scarf off. I put the scarf on her and put the jack over her in the place of a blanket. I sat next to her in he other chair and dozed off as well.