Decisions are made (Chapter 5)

Andrea snapped back to reality as she saw a familiar face walking outside her window. She saw someone she knew, but couldn’t quite put her finger on who it was. The wondering stopped once her doorbell rang.

Her little brothers were sleeping so they wouldn’t answer the door and she saw her father taking the car out of the driveway. He either went back to work or went to check up on her mother. She wiped the tears of her face and pulled her sleeve down covering the scars she made. She regretted doing what she did. It made her feel disgusted with herself. It also made her feel very lightheaded.

Andrea ran down the stairs as the door bell rang twice more. She still continued to wipe the tears of her face. She felt as though she was living a dream, her sister was…dead.

She opened the door as the familiar face outside the window jumped on her for a big hug.

Almost instantly, she let go of Andrea and said, “Oh Andy, how are you? I read about what happened with Cassie and Jon, I’m so sorry. My mother also came back from the hospital telling me about Mrs. McPherson. Listen sweetie, I won’t pretend to know what you are going through and how you’re feeling, I just wanted to sit with you and make sure you were ok, you know, just like we use to.”

The voice, the face all seemed so familiar, all though she had changed, Andrea remembered who it was. It was Raina, her childhood friend. Raina and Andrea were about three years apart, but knew each other since before they were even born. Raina’s mother, Samantha, knew Nichole since they were kids. Though Raina was older, Andrea and she were great friends.

Andrea missed Raina; they hung out in the summer all the time when Cassandra was busy with college or Jon. However, Raina’s parents were doctors as well, so they move around California all the time. Therefore, Andrea and Raina were never able to keep track of the changing phone numbers.

Andrea sniffled a bit and when the words came out she said, “Hey Raina, umm yeah I’m fine. I just found out about Cassie and Jon being dead like two hours ago, my father yelled it at me when we were fighting, but I don’t even know how they died. Would you happen to know how they died?”

“Sweetie lets first go make something for you to eat, your blood sugar is going to drop and you know that’s not good for your diabetes. Then, we’ll take the food up to your room, turn up the music and talk about it all.”

“I’m not hungry though, but I do feel dizzy so okay.”

Andrea went into the kitchen and made for Raina and herself pastrami sandwiches. Andrea took for herself a can of diet Dr. Pepper while Raina took a can of Pepsi. The grabbed a couple of tissues and ran upstairs to Andrea’s room. Andrea plugged her iPod into her speakers, put it on shuffle and pressed play. Instantaneously, a song by Rascal Flatts started to play,


What hurts the most,

Was being so close,

And having so much to say,

And watching you walk away,

And never knowing,

What could have been,

And not seeing that loving you,

Is what I was trying to do.


Immediately, Andrea broke down crying after hearing this song. This song, What Hurts the Most, was Cassandra’s favorite song. Even worse, it was about death.

“I miss her so much, Raina. This is a nightmare, I miss her a lot. I want her to come back. I just can’t believe that she’s…She’s d-d-de-dead. It’s not really, it’s not happening.”

Raina walked over to the center of the room, where Andrea had fell on her knees crying and hugged her again. “Aww sweetie, you know you’re always going to love her. And you know that she always loved you. Andy, she’s not gone, she’ll always be in your heart, and no one can take that away from you. And I know that at this very moment she’s watching over you. And if she’s watching over you, I’m sure she wouldn’t want to see you crying. I know that she loves your smile, she hates to see those baby blue eyes cry.”

Andrea tried her best to make a smile, she just couldn’t. She couldn’t smile, tears wouldn’t stop coming out of her eyes.

“Andrea sweetie, come and stay with me. Come at stay with me and my mother; you know we’d love to have you staying over with us. Plus, it’s just me and her and it gets kind of lonely.”

“Ray, I appreciate the offer, but I wouldn’t feel right being over at your place. Your mother and you are happy together, I’d feel like an outcast or an invasion if I just dropped in suddenly.”

“Andy don’t you dare give me any of this shit. ‘Invasion of privacy’ my ass! I want you to come over and stay with us, I’m not leaving you alone like this; I wouldn’t feel right.”  

“You know that you’re the best Ray, but I just can’t.”

“Okay, well I have a good idea; you have savings in the bank don’t you?”

“Yeah, like 20 maybe 30 thousand, why do you ask?”

“What do you say we rent an apartment by the beach? The school there is only five minutes away walking and plus you have a car. The school is free since it’s a public school. You can call ACA and ask them to send you your transcript; you can apply there and be there by Monday. You’re intelligent so you can make it to Stanford on a college scholarship. You and I can split the rent; I’ll pay half and you pay half. Plus, it’s down by the beach; I still remember that’s your favorite place ever.”

Andrea pondered for a minute or two. She liked the idea. Actually she really liked it. Raina was right; Andrea loved the beach, and everything she said made sense to her.

“Ray, you’re genius. I’ll think about it, but I doubt that my mind will tell me to tell you no. Give me your new phone number and I’ll call you today. But Ray, the boys are all I have left; I can’t live without them, at least not now.”

“Sweetie, Andy, their school is  a block away from yours, you can pick them up everyday, drop them off here and then stay with them; maybe help them with there homework or even eat lunch with them. The apartment is like ten maybe twenty minutes away.”

“That’s a wonderful idea, I love it. Okay, I’ll do it. Do you think your mom is going to go for it though?”

“Heck yeah! Well, at least she better. She started dating again and even though I’m twenty-one, it’s like disgusting watching them doing stuff in our living room. Blech!”

Andrea laughed. She actually laughed; she had to admit, other than Cassandra, Raina knew how to get right through her hard-shell. “Okay then, it’s decided, we’ll rent an apartment down by the beach. I’ll drop the bomb on my dad tonight at dinner.”

“Okay, I’ll call the guy who owns the apartment and well you get your stuff gathered by tonight and we can move in there tomorrow.”

“That fast?! I mean, tomorrow?!”

“Yeah, why not? I know the guy who owns the apartment and he’ll give it to me tonight if I wanted.”

“Okay, so tomorrow I’ll be ready by 12 o’ clock, one at most. I’ll be in my car and you’ll be in yours. My father wants me out of here anyway. I’ll drop the bomb and hope he doesn’t jump up in excitement right in front of my face; that would kind of suck.”

Raina got up, grabbed her purse off Andrea’s well made, French designer bed, made her way to the door, and asked, “What’s your phone number?”

“(714) 546-9987.”

While Andrea was reciting her cell phone number, Raina punched the number into her cell phone. “Okay, I’ll call you. Hurry up and gather your stuff. Oh and I’ll call the moving van, should I schedule them for tomorrow at eleven?”

“Yeah, sure, that’ll be good.”

“Okay sweetie, I’ll see you later.”

Right as Raina walked out the door, Andrea broke down crying. She missed Cassandra. She knew Raina was trying, but she couldn’t stop crying. She doesn’t even know how her sister died. Raina thought that Andrea had forgotten about her question, but she hadn’t. But there was a time for everything. Once she had a better sit down with Raina, she’d ask her.

She felt unwelcomed in her parent’s house; her father wanted her out anyway. Her mind was made, she’d move out with Raina tomorrow. The thought of living by the beach made her feel a bit better, but she was still crying. She felt as though her soul has just been sucked out of her. She knew the pain would subside, but just not now. Now, she just wanted to cry.

She got onto her bed, grabbed her pillow, and cried herself to sleep.
Andrea woke up from the sweet smell of the food being made downstairs. Apparently, her father was actually cooking. Thank God she hadn’t slept until the morning. She had to tell her father about her decision and whether he agreed or not, she was leaving. The decision was made and so was her mind.