“Here By Me”
Chapter 1


Our story starts with two young children running through a yard as they hear their parents call for them. They run toward the house laughing and smiling as they clasp hands,

“We will be best of friends forever won’t we Izzy?” Sebastian asks the young girl as she smiled at him replying.

“Always and forever Sebastian you will always be my best friend.”

Isabella was a 7-year-old little girl with golden brown long hair, eyes of blue her father would tell her that God must have found the prettiest blue sapphires in heaven and gave them to her for eyes, and her smile was sweet as honey. Isabella was carefree and had a heart of gold for a little girl her age.

Her best friend Sebastian was eight he had short red hair and green eyes that sparkled like an emerald, he was a normal 8-year-old little boy always getting dirty and getting into messes that he should not be in, and he could always get Isabella to join him in his fun. Their parents went to high school together being the best of friends. Raising Sebastian and Isabella together in the small town they lived in.

Both kids run into the house looking for their parents as Isabella calls out,

“Daddy where are you?” Her father steps around the corner of the living room as she ran to his side. Sebastian runs past them to his father.

“Sebastian you know you are not supposes to be running in the house.” His father tells him.

Sebastian looks up at his father as he says, “I am sorry father it is just Izzy and I were racing and she was running in the house too.” Sebastian points at Isabella.

“Do not go passing the blame Sebastian you know the rules.” His father says. Isabella giggles at Sebastian as he is being scolded.

“Yes father…” Sebastian says hanging his head, he looks over at Isabella and sticks out his tongue as she giggles at him again.

“Well young lady are you ready to get back to the house? We still have a few last minute things we need to get packed before we can leave tomorrow.” Isabella’s father said.

Isabella looks up at her father as she says, “Daddy are we ever going to come back here?”

“Of course we will Izzy, we will be back to visit as much as we can.” Her father tells her.

“I sure hope so I would really miss Sebastian if we never came back.” Isabella says.

“Do not worry Izzy when you cannot come see us we will come see you.” Sebastian tells her giving her a big hug.

Their fathers laugh at them as Isabella’s father says, “Well Doug we need to get back to the house the movers should be there soon and like I said we still have a few odds and end things to get together.”

“I understand Jon… Well if you need anything let us know we will be glad to help an in anyway.” Doug tells him.

Jon extends his hand to him as they shake hands, “Thanks Doug you and Linda have always been there when we need you.”

Doug laughs as he says, “I think you and Joan have been there more for us then us for you. It is only proper we pay you back.”

“Hey that is what friends are for remember, ‘Friends Always and Forever’ that’s a motto we have lived by.” Jon tells him.

Doug laughs as he pats Jon on the back he says, “Since the 7th grade we have said that. I think we even got the wife’s saying it.” Jon starts laughing as they walk out to where their wife’s were.

“You ready to go honey?” Jon asks her.

Joan turns smiling as she says, “Yes we need to get going before the movers get to the house.” Joan turns hugging Linda as Linda says,

“Now you are going to be here tomorrow for lunch before you leave for New York right?”

“Oh yes we would not just run out of here without saying good bye to our best friends and I do not believe Isabella would ever forgive us if we did that to her and Sebastian. They have to be able to say good bye to one another.” Joan tells her.

Linda leans into Joan giving her another hug saying, “Then we will see you tomorrow at 12.”

Joan walks away from Linda as she takes Isabella’s hand and they leave to go back to their home to finish packing.

Jon Alder Isabelle’s father was the Vise President at a big company not far from where they lived. When they opened the new branch hundreds of miles away in New York, they asked him to go head up the new branch. He could not turn down the money they were offering him. Therefore, he took the job knowing that uprooting Isabella was something he never wanted to do.

Doug Masters was the CEO at the same business both men went to the same collage, as well as the same high school. When they returned from collage, they went into the same corporate business together slowly climbing to the top of the ladder. They married their high school sweethearts and raised their kids in the same town they grew up in. Hoping Isabella and Sebastian would be the best of friends as well.

As their children and lives grew, so did the business. They could see a move like this was something that one of them might have to face one day, but hoped it would never happen. In fearing of taking Isabella and Sebastian apart after getting so close to one another and if it did happen, they hoped the two kids would have been older so they would be able to understand it better.


While back at the Alder home, Isabella’s parents were talking while Isabella played out in the yard. Isabella’s mother stood there looking out the back window watching her daughter play when she said, “Do you think Izzy will like her new home and school?”

“Izzy is still young dear she will adjust fine.” Jon says while packing a box.

Joan turns looking at Jon as she says, “I just hope she dose not hate us for taking her away from Sebastian.”

Jon laughs as he tells her, “Izzy is not going to hate us for taking her away from Sebastian. After all we will come back and see them it is not like we are moving to the moon.”

“I know I am just so scared what Izzy thinks about all this. New York is such a big city.” Joan says.

Jon goes to his wife giving her a hug as he says, “Everything will be fine Joan quit worrying so much.”

Joan smiles up at him as she tells him, “Your right… Everything will be great.”


The next day both families were together spending their last lunch together for sometime, both Isabella and Sebastian were outside, Isabella was on the swing as Sebastian was pushing her on it. Sebastian grabs the seat on the swing stopping it as it drags him across the ground Isabella turns looking at him as she tells him,

“I was not done yet why did you stop me?”

Sebastian cast his eyes down at the ground as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a long blue silk ribbon. He looks up at Isabella and extends his hand out to her with the ribbon in it he says, “Here I got this for you, so you will always remember me. I looked everywhere for a color of blue that would match your eyes, but this is as close as I could get.”

Isabella looks down at the ribbon as she smiles taking it from him she says, “Thank you Sebastian it is very pretty. I will wear it everyday in my hair so I will never forget you.” Isabella lifts her hands up over her head as she warps the ribbon around her long hair tying it in a bow on top of her head.

She lowers her hands and gets up from the swing she steps closer to Sebastian giving him a hug she says, "Thank you… you will always be my best friend and I will never forget you. Please tell me you will never forget about me while I am gone.”

Sebastian hugs Isabella tighter as he says, “I will never forget about you Izzy I like you to much to forget about you.”

Isabella smiles and tells him, “I like you too Sebastian.”

Just then, Sebastian’s mother called out to them, “Sebastian… come on you two… it is time for you to go Isabella.”

Isabella and Sebastian look toward the house then turn back looking at one another a sad look comes over their faces as Isabella takes Sebastian’s hand and they walk to the house. Once back inside the house Doug, Linda and Sebastian walk Jon, Joan, and Isabella out to their car. They all say goodbye and give one another hugs wishing the other luck and saying they will stay in touch and will see one another again very soon.

Isabella starts to cry as she jumps into Sebastian’s arms he stands there holding Isabella in his arms as a tear comes to his eye he tells her, “I will never forget you, Izzy… you’re my best friend…”

Sebastian pulls away from the hug looking at Isabella he moves the hair from her face as he tells her, “I like you Izzy please come back to me.”

Isabella cries harder as she falls into Sebastian hugging him tight she tells him, “I like you too Sebastian and I will come back soon… I promise.”

Their parents stand there watching them as their mothers start to cry as well giving one another a hug. Jon and Doug shake their heads as Jon says, “Alright everyone that’s enough. Well will be back this summer to see everyone it is not like we will never be back.”

Jon picks Isabella up as he says, “We will be back this coming summer I promise.” Isabella hugs her father as she cries she looks at Sebastian and gives a small wave to him as her father places her in the car.

Sebastian hears Isabella say, “I will write you everyday Sebastian I promise…”

Isabella’s father closes her car door, climbing into the car himself. Sebastian steps forward reaching out to her as his father stops him by placing his hand on his shoulder Sebastian looks up at him then turns back to watch Isabella and her family drive away.

Sebastian looks up at his father as he asks him, “Izzy will not forget about me will she dad?”

“Noooo Izzy will never forget about you Sebastian.” His father bends down and picks him up as he turns walking back into the house he says, “After all you and Izzy are the best of friends.”


As the days pass into months and the months pass into the coming summer Isabella did just as she said she would. She had written Sebastian everyday telling him about her new life and new friends she had made in New York. Sebastian was excited for her, but missed her very much through the year. When one day Sebastian received a letter from Isabella telling him they were coming up to see them for that summer. Sebastian was excited and could not wait for their arrival.

When Isabella and her family arrived in Rockwell, Sebastian was overly excited to see Isabella as was Isabella to see Sebastian. Their parents found it very hard to get them to spend time with their families and other friends, the only way they would do so is if they were together with one another.

As the weeks faded and their departing date drew, closer Isabella and Sebastian became harder and harder to get apart, when the day finally came the tears were worse then the first time they left.

“Daddy why do we have to leave so soon?” Isabella asks him.

“So soon Izzy?! We have been here for 3 weeks sweetie. Daddy has to go back to work sometime.” Jon told her.

“But I do not want to go I want to stay here with Bastian.” Isabella tells him.

Jon kneels down in front of Isabella touching her cheek he tells her, “I know you do sweetie, but you will see Sebastian next year we will come back next summer, I promise.”

Isabella smiles as she turns around to Sebastian and gives him a big hug she says, “I will be back next year Bastian and I will still write everyday… Ok I promise.”

“Ok… and I will write you. I cannot wait till next year Izzy I will miss you.” Sebastian tells her hugging her tighter.

“I will miss you too Bastian. Tell TJ I said bye since he was not able to be here before we left. ” Isabella tells him hugging him tight as well.

“I will tell him he is going to be upset that he missed you again.” Sebastian says.

“Yeah he was not here last year either was he?” Isabella says.

Sebastian shakes his head as he says, “He was upset about it too.”

“Well tell him I said bye and I will write him as well.” Isabella tells Sebastian.

“Ok I will Izzy.” Sebastian replies. They hug again and Isabella gets into the car. Sebastian stands there watching the car drive away he waves as Isabella waves out the window back at him.

Now 7 years have past and Isabella and Sebastian write and go visit one another every year just like they always have, seeing one another a few Christmas and one birthday each.

It was the last summer when Isabella was 13 and her family and she came back to Rockwell to see everyone there was a tragic accident right after Isabella’s 14 birthday; Doug received a call from Jon the call was anything, but a call of good news.

When Doug got off the phone with Jon, he called his wife and Sebastian to the living room to talk with them about the news he just received from Isabella’s father. When they all got to the living room, Doug was pacing the floor wondering how to break the news to Sebastian with out a scene on his sons’ part.

“What is it Doug you are acting really shaken by that call you just received?” Linda asks him.

Doug looks at his family as he said, “That call was from Jon and there has been a dreadful accident.”

Linda’s eyes widen as she asks him, “Is everyone alright… was it the business… what happen Doug?”

Sebastian starts to look worried as he says, “Dad what happen to Izzy?”

Linda looks at Sebastian and says, “Sebastian what makes you think something happen to Izzy?”

Sebastian looks at his mother as a tear comes to his eye he says, “I have had this really bad feeling all day and I cannot stop thinking about Izzy.”

Sebastian looks at his father as he says, “Please dad tell me Izzy is alright?”

Doug takes a seat in the chair across from them as he drops his head into his hands he says, “What kind of animals do we have in our world. What would make someone do something like this?”

Sebastian gets up going to his dad; he places his hand on his fathers shoulder as Sebastian starts to cry. His father reaches up and grabs his son pulling him down to him and hugging him tight as he says, “Isabella’s Junior High School was attacked today by a group of men they opened fire on a few of the classes and Isabella’s class was one of them. Then they set off a bomb destroying the entire school when they would not meet their demands, they are still looking for survivors, but Isabella has not been found yet.”

Sebastian drops to his knees as a blank expression comes across his face he could not believe what he had just heard come from his fathers’ mouth. Sebastian finally breaks as he huddles down into a ball on the floor and starts to cry his mother goes to him trying to comfort him as tears come to her eyes as well Doug cries along with them.

Between sobs, Linda says to Doug, “Poor Joan, and Jon I cannot imagine what they are going through right now.”

“Jon said he would keep us updated on the progress of the search….” Doug pauses as a tear makes its way down his cheek he says, “I pray to God they find Isabella safe and alive.”

Sebastian sets up on the floor as he looks at his father his face is red from crying and tears still flow down his cheeks as he says, “I know Izzy is still alive they have to find her dad they just have to.”

“They will son… They will.” Doug tells him placing his hand on his shoulder.


The next few days where bad on Sebastian and his family as they waited for that dreadful phone call telling them Isabella was not found. Days turned into a week as Linda asks Doug, “Do you think we should call them?”

“I was thinking the same thing, but I am worried I might bring them more grief by calling if they have not found her yet.”

“I hate this waiting game. I want to know something… Izzy was like our daughter as well.” Linda says.

Doug goes to Linda as she starts to cry he wraps his arms around her as he says, “Yes I am as worried as you… Sebastian has not been the same since I gave him the news he has barely left his room in the last week, But as soon as they know something we will know something.”

“Yes your right… I know and I am just so worried about all of them.” Linda replies. Doug hugs his wife tighter as the phone rings.

They hear Sebastian running for the phone as he picks it up saying in an excited tone, “Mr. Alder…” Sebastian pauses as he gets a look of disappointment in his eyes he says, “Yes he is here…” He hands the phone to his dad as he walks back up to his room.

“Hello…” Doug says.

“Oh Mr. Jones…” Doug pauses for a while as he listens to Mr. Jones.

“That’s great…” Doug exclaims.

“Yes, yes please do and I will tell the family right away. They have been just as worried as the rest of us.” Doug says. Linda stands there watching them talk as he hangs up the phone. Doug spins around yelling up the stairs for Sebastian to come down quickly he turns back to his wife as he grabs her by the shoulders and exclaims,

“They found Izzy… She is alive and doing well. She suffered a few injuries and a nasty bump on the head but she is doing well.”

Sebastian hears what his father was saying as he fell to the stairs taking a seat there; he looks up at the ceiling as they hear him say, “Thank you Lord… Thank you so much…” A tear rolls down his cheek.


Weeks past into months and months past into years as the Alder family was still trying to over come the tragic accident that happened to Isabella. They had Isabella in and out of hospitals and councilors trying to get her back to the old Izzy they all know and loved. Until one late night 5 years later, a knock came at the Alder door.

Jon was awoke by the butler as he came to life he looks at him asking, “What is it Henry?”

“It is Isabella and the police they are at the front door wanting to speak with you.”

“WHAT!! Isabella and the police?!” Jon exclaims as he jumps up from the bed waking his wife he grabs his robe at the foot of the bed,

“What is it Jon… What is wrong?” She asks him.

“The Police are at the door with Izzy.” Jon says.

“What?!” Joan exclaims as she too gets up grabbing her robe. They rush down stairs as they see Isabella and the police standing in the foyer. Isabella is hanging her head to avoided eye contact with her parents.

“What is going on officer?” Jon asks as he walks toward them looking at Isabella.

“Well sir we caught your daughter here with a bunch of boys that were trying to rob a Pawn shop in town.” The officer says.

“WHAT!!” Jon says becoming angered now instead of worried.

“Izzy what has gotten into you?” Her mother asks her.

Isabella looks up at her mother with a look of disgust on her face as she says in a hateful tone, “Stop calling me Izzy it is so childish and stupid on top of it.”

“Young lady do not take that tone with your mother. What were you thinking when you decided to do this little robbery with your friends may I ask.” Her father barked.

“Well now Isabella was not really in on the robbery. She was sitting in the car in the back seat. The boys fessed up and told us they were taking her home and told her they had a little stop to make first before they took her home. So she was just along for the ride she did not know what they were going to do.” The officer told her father.

“Still she was hanging with a bunch of trouble makers and it is probable the same bunch we told her to stay away from because they were going to get her into trouble one day.” Her father exclaims.

“Well I am not sure what bunch you are talking about sir, but the young man that told us they were taking her home was Miles Evens.” The officer replies.

Isabella’s father gets a very upset look on his face, “One of the young men we told her to stay away from.” Her mother says.

“Well Mr. Alder the bunch she was with has been in and out of trouble the last few years and keeping your daughter away from them is a good thing, but when kids are out on their own we never know what is going on until something like this happens.” The officer says.

“Yes you are completely right there officer.” Her father says.

“Well folks we will be on our way. Sorry for the rude awaking so early in the morning.” The officer says tipping his hat to them.

“Thank you officer and this will never happen again…” Her father says looking over at Isabella as he walks the officers to the door bidding them a good night.

He closes the door behind them as he turns looking at Isabella he says, “I am mad… I am tired… and I am highly disappointed in you young lady. We will disgust this in the morning when I am not so angry with you. Go to your room now…” Jon tells her.

Isabella smiles a malevolent smile as she turns to walk up the stairs she feels her father grab her shoulder. He turns her to look at him he exclaims, “Smile all you want now, because after tomorrow if you see the outdoors again besides going to school it will be a miracle on your part and if you push your luck too much you will find yourself in a private school or home tutored.”

Isabella stomps her foot and huffs in disgust as she spins around running up the stairs. Her father watches her run to the top of the stairs going to her door as she opens it he yells, “And do not slam…” However, he was too late Isabella slams the door to her room as her father finishes, “the door…”

Joan walks over to Jon as he has his hand to his forehead she asks, “What are we going to do with her Jon she is getting so unruly lately?”

“I knew this day would come soon I have an idea that I have been talking about with my Boss, but we will talk in the morning my head is killing me after this. I just want to go back to bed.” Jon tells her leading her back up the stairs to the room.



Here By Me Chapter 2