I wanted to kill someone.

Someone was shaking me.  It was rude enough to shake someone awake, but to shake them with such ferocity, such violence—this was just uncalled for!  I mean, they seriously expected me to listen to them when they were acting this way?  I didn’t even know who it was, and I really didn’t care.  I wasn’t going to open my eyes for them, no matter what they said.

“Brianne, Brianne, wake up!”

I pushed whoever it was blindly away from me, pulling my sleeping bag over my face.  “What the hell do you want?” I snapped sourly.  “Are you aware of what time it is?”

Wait.  I didn’t even know what time it was.  What time was it?

All of a sudden the sleeping bag was ripped away from my face.  I blinked, opening my eyes.  Britain stared down at me with a wide, frightened gaze.  I blinked again.  Why was Britain so scared?  Why was he shaking?  What could possibly have scared him so much?  I tensed, completely on edge now.  “What happened?”

“Vincent is missing!”

I shot up in my sleeping bag.  Vincent—Vincent was missing?  My Vincent was missing?  I felt my insides go cold as a sheer panic raced through me.  Did someone take him?  Did he run away?  No, he couldn’t have possibly run away.  What reason would he have?  Was he abducted in the middle of the night?  I wanted to ask Britain all of these questions, but instead I settled on a frantic, “What?”

I kicked my covers off before hopping up and searching frantically for my shoes.  I rushed over to them, struggling to get them on.  Britain stood there, watching me with wide, watery eyes.  He and Vincent had always been close.  If anything happened to Vincent, I had no idea what Britain would do.

“What do you mean he’s missing?” I demanded, grabbing my sweatshirt off of Britain’s bed and throwing it on. 

Britain brought a hand anxiously through his hair.  “He’s not anywhere!” he cried.  “Apparently he got in a fight with Maria and then he took off!”

I was going to kill that stuck-up thirteen-year-old.

I stomped toward the door, stepping over Kyla as I went.  I paused a few steps from the doorway, stealing a glance at Dannon.  He, like Kyla, was passed out, using one of his arms as a pillow.  Hair fell into his face, almost covering his eyes.  I bit my lip.  Should I wake him up?  He was probably the only one who wouldn’t be cranky and would actually help me.  I quickly decided against it and hurried out of the room, storming toward Maria’s room now.

“Maria!” I hissed, throwing open her bedroom door.  Maria, like Britain, had her own room (it was common in this household to share a bedroom).  However, unlike Britain, she’d demanded one.  Spoiled brat much?

Maria lounged on her bed, doing her nails.  That only pissed me off more.  Vincent could have been anywhere, and she was sitting there trying to look pretty?  What an asshole!

“What?” she demanded coolly, barely sparing a glance at me as she worked.

I shoved my hands under my armpits, clenching my teeth as I tried to contain my bubbling anger.  It wasn’t working very well.  “What the hell did you do to Vincent?” I spat. 

Maria looked up now, her hazel eyes flashing.  She struggled to flip her dark, straight hair—she straightened it excessively because apparently it was bad to have curly hair—dramatically as she glared at me.  “I didn’t do anything,” she snapped.  “The little brat came in here demanding one of my stuffed animals.  Wouldn’t leave me alone until I gave him one.”

A stuffed animal.  She’d refused to give him one of her stuffed animals? My eyes snapped to the small crate in the corner of the room filled with her unused beanie babies and another stuffed things that she owned.  Maria hadn’t touched anything in the crate in years.  “You are probably—no definitely—the most spoiled girl in the planet!” I seethed.

I turned on my heel and ran out of the room before she could reply.

I sped-walked to the kitchen and checked the time on the small clock on the oven.  It was almost eight in the morning.  Where could he possibly go at almost eight in the morning?  “Aunt Jill!” I shouted, jogging to the living room area.  “Aunty!  Where’s Uncle Rick and Uncle Dorner?”

Aunt Jill sat on one of the couches, crying into her hands.  My mom sat beside her, hugging her tightly and whispering comforting things in her ear.  Aunt Jill looked up as I entered, her face tear-stained.  “They went out to look for Vincent,” she mumbled, her voice thick with tears.  “They told me to stay here, but—”

“Are they checking the woods?” I interjected.

“Vincent wouldn’t go in there,” Aunt Jill said immediately, shaking her head.  “He’s terrified of the woods.”

“If he’s crying would he really care where he was going?” I froze as the words escaped from my mouth.  What if he had seriously gone in the woods?  The woods weren’t huge, but they were big enough to get lost in.  And if Vincent had gone in there, we could be looking for hours.

Aunt Jill’s eyes widened in shock.  “Oh my—”

“I’ll go look for him,” I assured before Aunt Jill could think to ask someone else.  I gulped down my fear of the woods in the backyard and nodded.  “I’ll be back!”

I spun, pelting it toward the front door.

“Brianne, wait!”

I didn’t stop.

“You shouldn’t go in there alone!”

Even then I didn’t stop.

I threw open the front door and hurried down the front stairs, taking them to steps at a time.  I skidded in the mud as I veered onto the lawn.  Had it rained last night?  From the damp grass getting my pants wet, I was guessing so.

“Vincent!” I hollered, dodging the toy trucks Peter and Gracie had been playing with yesterday.  The lawn was littered with different toys that no one had bothered to clean up.  Trucks, bouncy balls, action figures, shovels and pails.  I hopped over a toy ball before shouting out his name again.  “Vincent!”

I tripped over a water gun, cursing as I fell into the grass.  Pain shot up my arm.  I shook it off, scrambling up and running faster toward my destination that was growing ever-closer.

“Vincent!”

The edge of the woods had an ominous aura.  I paused—barely—before hurrying into the woods, shaking off my fear.  Finding Vincent was more important than my stupid fear of forest animals.  It was . . . yeah.  It was.

I pushed branches away from my face as I ran.  I probably shouldn’t have been running while frantically searching, but I was too scared to stop.  If I stopped, I would be more likely to hear leaves crunching and branches snapping.

I whirled around, thinking I heard something.

Great, Brianne.  Nice work.  Get yourself all worked up over a squirrel. 

There was something wrong with me.  There really was.

“Vincent!” I called out, my hands going to the sides of my mouth.  Wasn’t that supposed to make your voice bigger or whatever?  Like a megaphone?  Or was it actually muffling it?  My eyes narrowed as I thought it over.  After a moment I let my hands drop, deciding to chance just having my voice alone to rely on.

“Vincent!”

Was he even in here?  Maybe he hadn’t come in here after all.  What if I was just getting myself lost?

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts. . . .            

How the hell was I supposed to think of happy thoughts when I was awake at eight o’clock in the morning with a missing cousin and I was stuck in the woods? 

The glass was half full this morning, yeah!

“Vincent!” My voice rose hysterically and crows flew out of some trees.  I slapped a hand to my mouth, muffling a shriek that escaped. 

I hated crows.

They were scary.

I slowed to a walk, clutching my side.  Dammit.  A cramp had pulled me down.  Wow, I was so unfit.  Or maybe I’d just run really far.  Yeah, that was it!

“Vincent, where are you?” I screeched.

I came to a stop as I heard footsteps.  I turned slowly, praying to God that it wasn’t a bear.  If it was a bear I was probably going to die before it even got to me.  Dying from fear was possibly right?  Oh gosh, what if it was a coyote?  Oh my—

I groaned as my eyes locked on a rabbit.

A rabbit.

Why was it always a rabbit?

It’s okay, I thought to myself.  I’ll just look for a few more minutes and then I’ll go home.  Aunt Jill will make me some hot cocoa . . . I can chill with the fam, call the cops for Vincent.  Yeah, great plan.

I began walking again, slowly.  I looked around fervently, searching for any sight of my favorite little boy.  But there was nothing besides trees, trees, trees, and more trees.  I felt a panicked cry shake me.  What if none of us could find him?  What if Vincent never came back?  “Vincent, honey!” I shouted.  “I’ll get you a stuffed animal!  Come on, hon!”

I paused.  Why was it so cold?  Five minutes ago I was not shivering, and now I was freezing despite my sweat shirt.  True, I’d been running, but still.  It was odd.

I carried on for a few moments before I spotted the source of the drop in temperature: a brook. 

Well, that kind of explains it.  Wasn’t it cooler around water?

I squinted as I saw something near the brook’s edge.  It was a form that looked oddly human.  I took a step forward.  Was it just me or did it look a little like . . . “Vincent!” I shouted, hurrying forward, growling in frustration as trees blocked my way.

Vincent turned.  As he did, he slipped on something and toppled backwards in the water.  “Bri!” he shrieked before a huge splash blocked out the rest of his cry.  Within seconds he disappeared under the water.

I froze.  Oh.  My.  Gosh.  “Vincent!”

Without even stopping to think, I rushed forward, hurling myself into the brook after him.  My eyes popped open as I searched frantically for him, willing myself to find him before it was too late.  My eyes burned as I twisted around.  The brook was so filthy.  Dirt kept getting in my eyes.

I lurched back as I spotted him a few feet away, attempting to doggy paddle his way to the surface.  Vincent didn’t know how to swim.  I pushed forward, weighed down by my clothes and shoes.  Why hadn’t I at least taken off my shoes before jumping into water?  Why hadn’t I thought about the consequences? 

I grabbed Vincent by his torso, pulling him up.  Vincent grabbed hold tightly, his tiny fingers clawing into my arm.  I struggled to bring us both toward the surface, but it proved too difficult.  With his thick clothes, his army boots that he decided to throw on before running away, plus my weight, we didn’t really stand a chance.

No.  I would not let pessimistic thoughts take me down now.

I would save Vincent.  If not myself, I would save my favorite little boy.  

I dug my nails into Vincent’s side and threw him upward, hoping we weren’t deep enough where he wouldn’t be able to grab ahold of something.  My heart fell when Vincent just tumbled back, sinking down.

I grabbed him again, my lungs aching.  I needed air, and I needed it now.

Panic seared throughout me.  If I needed oxygen, then Vincent himself must have been out by now.  Did he tumble because he was unconscious?  Turning him around, I saw that his eyes were closed.

Holy shit!

I pumped my legs hard, trying my best to reach the ledge while dragging him behind me.  But I was already weak and the extra weight wasn’t helping.  I scrunched my face up in pain.  Everything hurt.  My arms.  My legs.  My lungs.  My chest.  My eyes.  Everything.

I blinked slowly.  My lids were heavy, as though I was ready to go to sleep.

I wasn’t though.  I really didn’t want to.  All I wanted to do was burst into tears.  I was so terrified that I was going to die here with Vincent in my arms.  Please don’t let me die!  I begged the Lord.  Please let me save Vince first.

Two sudden splashes sent me reeling backward, my grip on Vincent releasing.  I opened my mouth in shock, only gagging when water found its way into my mouth.  Of course gagging only made it worse and more water got in.

Strong hands gripped my armpits, pulling me up.  I didn’t fight as I was dragged out of the water and onto the ground.  I coughed ferociously, water coming up my throat and out of my mouth.  Damn.  How much water did I swallow?

“Brianne!”

I blinked, looking up to see Britain staring at me.  Tears were burning in his eyes.  “Britain,” I mumbled weakly.

“Oh my God, Brianne.”  He brought a hand to my cheek.  His eyes were wide, and I couldn’t help but expect them to pop out of his skull.  His hair and clothes were matted to his skin, making him seem more like a drowned puppy than anything else.  “When I saw you and Vincent in the water—”          

I shot up, all the pain in my limbs forgotten.  “Is he okay?”

I glanced over to see Uncle Dorner shaking Vincent, hard.  I scrambled up and knelt down next to him.  I let out a strangled cry.  Vincent looked so tiny, so fragile as he flopped around like a rag doll.

“Stand back, hon,” Uncle Dorner murmured softly.

I inched backward, my eyes locked on Vincent’s body.

As I moved back, Uncle Dorner moved forward.  My eyes widened in horror as I realized what he was doing.

He was performing CPR.

CPR!

I just stared in shock, feeling hollow.  I couldn’t cry.  I couldn’t feel worried.  I couldn’t do anything but stare as Uncle Dorner brought his hands to Vincent’s chest and pushed. 

Britain knelt beside me and brought one of his arms around me, pulling me closer.  I think it was more to comfort himself than me.  I didn’t know how it could possibly comfort him.  I wasn’t able to hug back or do really anything besides shiver from the cold and stare.

Right as I was about to give up hope, Vincent began coughing, water sputtering out of his mouth.  I almost fell back with relief.  “He’s okay,” I whispered.

And as Vincent sat up and wrapped his small arms around Uncle Dorner, I could truly believe my words.

Vincent was okay.  He was alive.

And so was I.

| It ♥ All ♥ Started ♥ With ♥ An ♥ Apple |

“Brianne!”

I looked up.  We’d just stepped out of the woods and onto the backyard.  You have no idea how much I appreciated grass and toys and people.  I was never going into the woods again.  Never again would I go into a body of water without supportive floaties.  Never I tell you!

My eyes widened in surprise as a figure came rushing towards me.  “Dannon?” I whispered.

A body came crashing into mine, arms wrapping securely around me.  I hugged him back, forgetting for a moment that he was one of the most annoying people on the planet.  I rested my head on his chest, taking in his heat.  He was so warm!

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” Dannon demanded softly, holding me tightly.  “I could have come with you—”

“I was going to,” I whispered, “but then I decided against it.”

“Why?”

I shrugged, digging my face into his chest.  Anyone else would have thought it was weird that I was hugging him like this, but I didn’t feel weird at all.  I didn’t really understand why.  But hugging Dannon actually wasn’t that bad.  Even when he absent-mindedly brought a hand through my hair it didn’t feel weird.  As long as he kept me warm while I was freezing out here, whatever.  I was fine.

Dannon sighed, shaking his head.  “You have no idea how much everyone freaked out when Dorner called saying that you and Vincent almost drowned in the brook.”

I thought back to when we were walking home.  Dorner had produced his phone out of his pocket, exclaiming that the Lord was with him because it hadn’t been destroyed by the water.  And then, after attempting to wipe it off with his shirt—which didn’t really work out very well since his clothes were soaked—he proceeded to call Rick. 

Well, he’d always been the blunt one of the family.

“Well, we’re okay,” I murmured.

“Brianne!”

Dannon and I pulled away immediately.

I turned and watched as my mom hurried toward me, her arms outstretched.  I opened my own as she wrapped her arms around me, muttering stuff like, “Oh, I thought I lost my baby!  My poor baby!”

I glanced at Dannon from behind my mom’s back.  He was looking at the ground, a thoughtful expression on his face.  For a moment I wondered what he was thinking about.  Did he feel awkward?  Did I get him wet?  Well of course I’d gotten him wet, I’d been in the—

Suddenly a force stronger than anything I’d ever encountered before knocked into me, almost causing me to topple onto the ground.  Kyla screeched in my ear, pushing past my mom, blubbering into my ear.  She let out a swift apology—that she obviously didn’t mean—to my mom before blubbering again.

“Hello, Kyla,” I said nonchalantly, trying my best to breathe under the amount of pressure she was putting on my stomach. 

“I’m not even going to yell at you for not waking me up for something so important,” Kyla hissed, her nails digging into my back.  “I’m going to yell at you for almost dying, you idiot!  Don’t you ever do that to me again.”

I grinned, pushing her away.  I breathed deeply, grateful to be finally out of the man-hug.  “Okay.”

Kyla glared at me, her hands going to her hips.  “This is not a laughing matter,” she growled.  “I almost broke Dannon’s arm with worry.”

I tossed a glance at Dannon.  He shrugged dismissively.  “I don’t see why you guys are making such a big deal,” I said, turning back to Kyla now.  “They called you after we were out and okay.”

“Yeah, ‘cause that changes everything,” Kyla snapped sarcastically.

I smiled.  “Of course it does!”

| It ♥ All ♥ Started ♥ With ♥ An ♥ Apple |

It was completely silent.

I looked around at everyone in the room.  Aunt Jill had gathered every single person in the house into the living room, making us all sit in a circle formation.  It had been hilarious in the preparation for this—well, whatever this was.  She had to push all the furniture out of the way.  And, after a few futile attempts to push the recliner into the far corner, she’d called out for some help.  It had been amusing watching Britain attempt to move the couch.  He looked so constipated!

I was seated (yes, she actually assigned seats to us) next to Hartin and Lexi.  Apparently we all needed to learn to get along with everybody.  And, in order to do that, we had to hang out with everybody.  Translation?  We weren’t allowed to choose who we sat next to anymore.

Aunt Jill sat at the head of the circle—or what I was calling the head—her legs crossed over each other.  She stared around at all of us, her expression more stern than I’d ever seen it.  The events of this afternoon affected her extremely.  She’d all but lost it when she saw Vincent looking like a drowned rat.  “My lovely family,” she started, her eyes darting around.  “The disagreements around here have gone too far.”

“It wasn’t—”

My glare cut Maria’s voice off.  She stuck her tongue out at me before falling silent, her arms crossing around her chest.  She snuck a glare in Vincent’s direction, who’d been seated next to her, before turning her gaze back to her mom.

“Maria, I don’t want to hear it from you,” Aunt Jill snapped.  “Your selfishness almost cost two loved ones’ lives today.”

Everyone was silent.

“Now, I want you to know that I love you all very much.  Even the ones who aren’t related to us.”  She smiled at Kyla and Dannon.  They sat across from each other on opposite sides of the circle.  In fact, Aunt Jill had placed Dannon, Kyla, Britain, and I all on different sides.  How rude.

“But this arguing has to stop!”  Her eyes met with everyone’s before continuing.  “When someone asks you to share something, you share.  When someone asks for help, you help.  And gosh dammit, do not insult anybody in this house.  Are we understood?”

We all nodded, mainly out of shock that she’d just cursed.  I’d been around her my entire life, and this was probably the third time I’d ever heard her swear.  She didn’t believe in cussing.  She thought it was dirty, juvenile, and all around inappropriate.  But, apparently, this situation made the cut for a slip-in of a swear.

Aunt Jill sighed, sagging as she relaxed.  “Good.  Glad we understand each other.”