Karma police Izzy's POV

"Now Izzy, remember." My mom told me, as she straightened my jacket. "This is your first day of high school. Just be the perfect gentlemen you are, and I'm sure you'll do fine."

"Don't worry mom." I smiled jovially. "You don't have to be so worried about me!"

"But how can I not?" she said, starting to tear. "You're my little boy, and I'll always be worried about you!" she began to cry proudly, as I threw my arms around her.

"You know. You're the best mom in the entire world. I couldn't have prayed for someone better."

"Oh Izzy." She sniffed. "And you're the best son a mother could ask for!"

"Mom!" I flushed. "You're embarrassing me!"

"But there's no one around Izzy." She smiled quirkily.

"Well if there was, then you'd be embarrassing me." I retorted quickly, smiling happily.

"And he's sharp to honey!" my dad laughed. "I know you're going to fine son!

Make some friends, and you know you can have them over whenever you like!"

"Thanks dad." I sighed. "But if you guys keep fussing over me, I'm going to develop a complex!"

They both laughed lightly, and watched as I walked to the door. Before I reached out to grab at the doorknob, I turned around, and ran back to them, giving them both the biggest hugs.

"You guys are seriously the best parents in the world. I can't even imagine my life without you."

My mom tensed up under my fierce hug, and began to quiver. As I looked into her dark eyes, I saw the thin trails of water that were streaming down her cheeks.

"Oh Izzy." She cried, grabbing onto me even tighter. "I don't know what I would do without you. You are my miracle. My reason for living!"

"Now, now dear." My dad said touching her shoulder lightly. "Izzy's going to

be here for a good while longer! And if you keep talking, he's going to be late!"

"Oh my! Look at the time!" She exclaimed. "Get a move on!"

I smiled as I gave her another hug. "You bet. And I'll see you after school okay?"

"Count on it!" my dad promised.

"Bye mom! Bye dad!" I yelled, as I opened the door to our apartment, and sprinted lightly down the hallway.

I figured that it would take more time if I waited for the elevator, so I jogged over to the stairs. But as I passed, the elevator doors swung open, and a man with brown hair, and a woman with flaming red hair stepped out.

Well, since the door was open, might as well take it I figured. On the way past the woman, I accidentally bumped into her shoulder.

"I'm sorry." I apologized. The woman turned around and smiled at me. "No problem!" she giggled. She was shockingly beautiful, but had a thin, slightly pink scar on her right cheek.

"Come on dear." The male muttered quickly. He reached out to grab her hand, revealing a twisted scar on his left arm.

I found it slightly odd that both of these people had scars, but I shrugged it off. The excitement of the first day of school was etched in my mind.

I quickly pushed the button on the elevator that would take me to the ground floor, and waited patiently as the machine stopped.

Without thinking, I bolted out, and bumped right into Tai. I guess I wasn't the most graceful in the morning.

"Yo Iz, watch it! You're gonna kill someone!"

"Aren't you excited?!" I blurted out all at once.

"Not really." He replied, looking at me as if our collision had knocked a few brain cells out of my head.

"Oh." I muttered idiotically.

"All I'm looking forward to is seeing Sarah and Kate."

"I should have known. The only reason the great Tai Kamiya even bothers to go to school."

"And soccer." He corrected me. Pointing his finger at me. Everything about him this morning was way off.

He usually bothered to look presentable, but today he was just really sloppy looking. His hair was all over the place. Not even his goggles kept it tidy. His shirt was untucked, and his jacket fitted his shoulders wrongly.

"Tai, you okay?" I asked.

"Barely." He mumbled.

"What's up?"

"I have to go back to school!" he cried dramatically, flinging his head back.

"Oh, I see. Give Matt a run for his money? Class rebel!"

"Hardly. I'm staging a protest."

"Really. Please explain!" I spoke, biting my tongue. Anything Tai had planned had to be either really serious or really stupid. And the word Tai and serious in the same sentence is just funny.

"As good as I look in this outfit, it really sucks." He said proudly. "And me being the sweet, caring…"

"You forgot modest." I inserted, as we finally reached the exit. The doorman greeted us warmly, and opened the door as we exited.

"As I was saying," Tai hissed, looking at me viciously, "is that we have no individuality! None! We need to be ourselves! Freedom man!" he rambled on.

I hit my head, sighing as he continued on, about his type of justice. I had a hard time keeping my laughter in check. I mean. Here he was. First day back, and he's already going to get into trouble.

But there was something about him that I was compelled to listen on. Maybe it was the fact that I was stuck with him for an entire summer, or that I've known him for so long.

Cause I was positive that any other person would have given up on him a long time ago. I looked over at him again, and he was now having an intense conversation with the air, flailing his arms about wildly.

I laughed. I couldn't keep it in anymore. My stomach was beginning to hurt, as I laughed on.

"I really don't see what's so funny." Tai fumed, as he looked at me crossly.

"That's because you can't see yourself!" I exploded. Tears were streaming down my face, as I brushed them away. I inhaled deeply, gasping for air as I regained my posture, and walked off.

"Hey!" Tai mocked, as if he was hurt. "Leaving me behind!"

"If it'll get you to shut up then yes!" I snapped good-naturedly.

"You just wait…" Tai began to say, but the sound of the school bells going off, brought us both back to our senses.

"School!" we both shouted, as we tore off down the sidewalk. Being late the first day. Not a great way to start off the year.

Normal POV

"He's a great kid. Really polite." The man with the brown hair said, as he took a sip of his tea.

"He's the greatest." Izzy's mom replied sadly, as she set her cup down on her saucer.

"I'm sorry Amy. Allan." The woman sighed sadly, as she reached out and squeezed her hand.

"Christina, it's not that." She said, as a tear rolled down her cheek. "It's just…"

"We understand." The man said. "I can only imagine what you're going through right now, but you do realize…"

"I know!" Amy exploded. She was crying rapidly now, and her bottom lip was trembling. She held onto her side of her chair tightly, so she didn't break down.

"We've been dreading this moment for fourteen years. You cannot possibly know what we're going through." Allan snapped.

"And what about us!" the man yelled. "What do you think it's been like for us! Knowing that we'll never see him again! Knowing that all this time he's thought we were dead! When we were really just too afraid to come clean with him! He's our son!"

"And we've raised him! He's our son now!" Amy belted out. She began to sink lower into her chair, and she wrapped her arms tightly around herself.

"Technically, yes. Biologically, no." Christina pointed out. "I know that this isn't the best time in the world right now…"

"Then tell me Chris, when is the best time to tell someone that you're here to take away their child?!" Allan spit.

"We didn't come here to argue with you." Christina spoke loudly.

"Then leave!" Amy cried, pointing to the door. "Leave this place now! Scott, Christina, have a safe journey back to wherever you're living now!"

"One floor beneath you." Scott smiled. "We're staying for good this time. We're going to get out son back!"

With that, the couple got up, and walked out the door, shutting it behind them. As soon as the lock clicked shut, Amy collapsed on the floor, sobbing.

"We're going to lose him! We're going to lose Izzy!"

"No we won't honey." He assured her, as he took her crying figure in his arm. But deep down inside him, he knew that she was right.

Izzy's POV

"You know Tai. I don't even know why I still bother to hang out with you. I think that you've gotten me in more trouble in the three years I've known you, than in my entire life!" I grinned, as we walked down the corridor.

"You know. If you keep telling yourself that I'm the one to blame, then you just might start believing it."

"You know I will!" I answered giggling.

"Yo guys! S'up?" Matt replied, as he sailed down to us, from the hill. He draped his arms around our shoulders, and smiled happily. "How's school life been treating you so far?"

Tai began to burst out laughing. "Dude! What you do to you hair? Looks like Tweedy bird didn't get away from you fast enough!"

His face scrunched up painfully. "Jennifer says it looks hot."

"Is Jennifer blind?" Tai chuckled. "Cause man that is just some messed up hair!"

"Like you're one to talk!" Matt replied happily. He punched his arm playfully, as a huge smile crossed his face.

"Kate and Sarah seem to like it fine, thank you very much!" he stated, holding

his head up high. "And speaking of girls that love me, ladies!" Tai shouted, as he caught sight of them. "Later!"

"Whatever!" Matt smirked.

"See you at the apartment later Tai." I waved.

"Right…" he replied evilly, as he strode over to the two girls, taking both their hands, and then pulling them away.

"You gotta admire that guy." I breathed. "Couldn't give a damn about school, but ask him about the girls in the school…"

"And he gets an A+." Matt finished. "That's Tai for ya! Our fearless, and brainless leader."

"Yet, he still has the most fun." I added.

"That's in the eye of the beholder!" Matt challenged.

"Oh really?"

"Yep! And I should know!"

"But I'm never wrong!" I joked.

Just then, Jennifer came up behind Matt, and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Hey there!" she said sweetly. Her voice was calm and soft, almost mysterious.

"Hey beautiful!" Matt smiled as he reached over and kissed her cheek. "Jen this is Izzy. He's a good friend of mine, and the brains of our group!"

"It's nice to meet you Izzy. I'm Jennifer." She beamed, extending her hand.

"Well it's certainly a pleasure to meet you." I said truthfully, taking her hand and kissing it lightly.

"Aw! You're so sweet! Why don't you ever kiss my hand Matt?" she joked, as he took her hand in his.

"Because I'd rather kiss your face. And quite frankly, Izzy putting the moves on my girl makes me a little mad!"

"Jealous Matt?" I ventured leering. Before he had a chance to answer, Jennifer spoke.

"Well he should be. I have a thing for smart gentlemen."

"Well then Matt, the lady has spoken." I said, pulling her away from him. We all laughed happily, as Jen looked at me.

"You know. You'd be so perfect for my little sister!"

"Really?" I uttered.

"Yeah! She's like, totally your type! She's really smart, and she's cute!"

"Is she?" I said taken aback. "Well then!"

"Oh! Here she comes! Allison! Over here!" she hollered.

A figure instantly began running over to us, and stopped right in front of Jen, panting slightly.

Her shoulder length blond hair was left to flow over her slender shoulders, and two small strips were tied back in a small ponytail.

"Hello." she said happily. "I'm Allison."

"Hi." I muttered, holding my breath. Allison was incredibly gorgeous.

Anybody could see that. She had shocking blue eyes that set off her long pale hair.

She extended her hand, and I grasped at it over eagerly, and she just smiled. Her smile made my heart beat a little faster, and my palms were beginning to sweat.

"It's nice to meet you Izzy. Maybe I'll see you around."

"Yeah, maybe." I mumbled incoherently, as I watched her walk off, and join a bunch of her friends.

Matt instantly looked over at me, and was grinning widely. "You so like her."

"You won't see me denying it..." I said airily, unaware of Jen's presence.

"Ooh! You like my little sister! Izzy, this is so great! I just know you two will make a killer couple!"

"You think?" I asked weakly.

"I know so!" she replied giddily. "But don't worry! You know I won't tell her!"

"Thanks Jen." I said nodding my head. "That's really sweet of you."

That was all I really remember of the conversation. I just smiled and nodded. But it didn't turn out horrible.

Jennifer went home, and she somehow got Allison to like me. She says that she didn't do anything but mention my name, but I don't believe her.

But I really didn't care. Allison and I started to see each other, and we had a great time. I never knew there was someone out there that liked all the same things I did.

We loved school, hated evil teachers, liked soccer and computers. She was like my other half! The person I told everything to!

And she was mine. I could honestly say that she was mine, and that nothing could come between us, because the bond was so strong!

But hey! Even geniuses are wrong sometimes.

"So Iz. What do you want to do this weekend?" Allison asked, as she kissed my cheek.

"Go see a movie!" I said, as I held out two tickets to the screening of 10 Things I Hate About You.

"I hope you're not trying to tell me something." she smiled.

"Naw. You're perfect." I said leaning over to kiss her.

"Hey love birds!" Tai yelled, as he walked over to us, with Sarah and Kate on his arms.

"Hello Tai." Allison smiled sweetly. Inside I knew she was just as mad as I was.

"Listen, I have ventured over cafeteria ground unknown to invite you to my party this weekend. It'll be a blast!"

"Sorry, but we already have plans." I rejected politely.

"Shoot. Well, whatever then! You have three days to rethink your response. Invite's still open. Later."

"Yeah. Whatever." Allison whispered in my ear. "Like I'd give up a night alone with you, to go to Tai's stupid party!"

"Likewise." I whispered back, as I finally kissed her.

"Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly. "Did I tell you what happened to Mr. Long?"

"No. What happened?"

"He had a heart attack yesterday! They had to find a substitute! Oh, but they found one! I heard that he used to teach Trig in college!"

"Wow. Poor Mr. Long. But I bet that the sub is great! Hey! I have him last period!"

"Me too silly." she giggled. "I'll see you there then."

"Count on it!" I grinned. "I have computers now!"

"Lucky you! I'd give anything to be a student in that class." Allison pouted.

"Who says I'm a student?" I smirked, as she lightly pushed me. "Oh, re you staying for my soccer game? It's against the team I scored against!"

"How could I forget? But I have to get going now! Bye Izzy!"

"Bye Allison." I murmured as I watched her enter the large school.

"Hey!" Alex shouted, as he walked over to me. "Was that Allison Nah?"

"Yeah." I stated proudly. "Yes it was."

"Wow. She's a babe. You think she'll go to Tai's party with me?" he asked, taking a seat near me.

"No. No I don't." I said sternly. My face was slightly flushed, and I began breathing a little harder.

"Why?" he demanded.

"Because. She's going with me." I sizzled. "She's my girlfriend."

Alex began laughing. "You're funny. Really, really funny." he quickly hopped up, and began walking over to exit doors.

"Why is that funny?" I demanded to know. I personally didn't see anything funny about it.

"Dude. You're a geek. Why would a babe like Allison go out with you?"

"Maybe because she likes me!" I declared.

"Keep dreaming man." Alex chuckled, as he punched my shoulder, and went off to his class.

I was so mad! I wanted to do something really horrible to him, but it just wasn't me. I couldn't do anything like that.

I was kinda depressed as I walked over to the computer lab, dropping my book bag on the chair, and turning on the PC.

"Mrs. B is absent today!" I heard a bunch of my classmates exclaim happily. Nobody liked our teacher much. She was really bossy, and had no clue what she was doing.

"And did you see our new teacher! She's really hot!" a few boys shot around. "Wouldn't mind getting someone on one lessons with her!"

I smirked. I mean, you have to hand it to some of the kids here. No concept whatsoever of professionalism.

The bell went off, silencing the swarms of busy students. Just then, the door opened, and the woman I had bumped into on the first day walked in.

"Hello class. My name is Christina, and I'm going to be your teacher today! Now, before we lose any time, open your books to page 48, and start reading. As easy as it seems, simple problems can arise out of the unexpected, and you need to know how to fix it!"

I thought that, that tactic had to be one of the best I've ever heard. Hell, my computer book was collecting dust in my bag! I flipped it open to the assigned page, and began reading. Well, it was more like skimming for me, since I had been able to operate a computer since I was four, but I did it to humor her.

She let us read for about five minutes, before asking us to preform the task. Hands were shot up in the air faster than bullets, and I was sighing inside. There was no way she could help out everyone in the class.

"Koushiro Izumi. Are you here?" she asked, looking at the class list.

"Yeah." I said raising my hand.

"Is it possible that you could assist me? I've heard wonderful things about you from your teacher."

"Sure!" I exclaimed, getting up. She pointed to a section of the class, where a few kids were having problems. In simple English, I explained to them what they were doing wrong, and how they could fix it.

"Wonderful! Simply wonderful! You have a real knack for computer Koushiro." she praised.

I found it weird how she said my name. I mean, I've heard people call me Koushiro before but that was only when I was in really deep trouble. But, the way she did it, was just eerie.

It rolled off her tongue, as if she had spent several years just pronouncing it. Crisp, but soothing. It made me feel warm inside, like she was already a close friend. After class, she stopped me before I left.

"Your name. It's unique. Might I ask how you came around to getting it?" she swallowed, plastering a fake smile on her face. She started to lose her calm composure, but not in a way that others would notice it easily.

"My mom gave it to me. But she's dead now." I replied lamentably.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"Oh no. don't apologize!" I blurted out. "She died before I had a chance to get to know her. A car accident. But my foster parents tell me she was really nice."

"Don't believe everything you hear." she muttered under her breath. "Koushiro. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure! Go ahead!"

"What would you do if you found out your real parents were still alive?" she asked hopefully.

"To be perfectly honest, I don't know what I'd do. But I do know that I would be kinda mad at them. That is, for not coming to see me, and just abandoning me all this time."

"But what would happen if they had no choice but to abandon you!" she exclaimed. "There are some circumstances that people get scared, and they don't now how to react!"

"True, but 14 years of hiding!" I cried debatingly.

"People don't hide. They get scared!" she shouted, grabbing onto my shoulders lightly, yet firmly. "Everyone is human! We all fear something!"

"But then tell me how some people face their fears, and don't run away! People do it every day, and they still keep their children! If they couldn't fesse up to the fact that they had a child, then they shouldn't have decided to have one!"

"You can't possibly mean that." she whispered sadly.

"My parents had me. And then they died in a car accident. It was a natural phenomenon I survived. And if I ever found out, that somehow, by some miracle they didn't die, I would be so mad at them. I can't exactly explain it, but if you understood what it's like to lose something that close to you, then you'll get what I mean."

I didn't feel much like continuing our small debate, so I picked up my school bag, and walked out of the class.

As I shuffled off, feeling horrible for arguing with my teacher, I heard her crying. And it wasn't sad tears, like the ones you get when you lose your favorite computer game. It was the kind you get when you lose a piece of your soul.

I wanted to go back and apologize to her, but I realized she needed some time to herself.

But I couldn't for the life of me figure out why she would get so worked up over our conversation. But I had more important things on my mind, and I had to run really fast so I didn't miss math.

I met up with Allison and we entered the classroom together. We quickly took out seats in the front of the class, as our teacher walked in, and began rattling off problems on the blackboard.

As soon as the bell rang, almost half the board was covered in bright white numbers and letters.

"Good afternoon my peers." he smiled widely. "My name is Mr. Iz..." he gaze fell on me, and he instantly shut his mouth.

A bunch of the students began to whisper and gossip quickly, as he cleared his throat and began talking again.

"Well, just call me Scott. And for today, and the rest of the week, I'll be your substitute math teacher."

"Yeah." Alex whooped sarcastically.

"Now, I've had years of practice, and personally, I'm probably the best math teacher you'll every have, so I suggest that you, LISTEN UP, and PAY ATTENTION!" he yelled.

Everyone in the class was taken back. Some, were too afraid to move! The sudden change in mood even scared me.

But it grabbed at my attention, in a way I never knew. Now I can see why people held him in such high regards. He put his chalk to the black board, and directly began teaching.

As the class droned on, students that hated math, suddenly began paying attention. Everyone was just drawn to him! His words made so much sense, and his logic was astounding!

When the bell rang, students groaned. They actually groaned! Personally, I wanted the class to go on longer, but that was just me.

"Isn't he amazing!" Allison shrieked contently, as I walked her home.

"Yeah! He's something else!" I agreed.

"And he was kinda cute! Sorta like you!" she giggled.

"Funny sweetheart." I grinned, as I kissed her cheek. "I have to get home now, so I'll see you later. Okay?"

"You got it." she pouted flirtily. "Until later then."

"Au revoir mon amour!" I rambled off the only French sentence I knew.

"Bye Izzy." she said shutting her front door.

I began to walk home, taking a short cut through the parking lot of the mall. Halfway through, I saw Scott and Christina. They were standing near a black convertible, and Christina was crying.

I walked over to them, because I felt that the whole thing was my fault. I fumbled for words to say in my head, and by the time I reached them, I had drawn a complete blank.

"Oh. Izzy. It's nice to see you." Scott smiled lightly, as he put his arm around Christina.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked flatly.

"No." Scott said quickly. "Nothing wrong here." but as I looked into Christina's teary eyes, I knew that there was something more.

Her bottom lip began to tremble, and before Scott could stop her, she flung her arms around my shoulders, and pulled me close to her.

I was shocked. Frozen almost. And I had no clue what to do. She began to cry on my shirt, mumbling things I couldn't hear through my collar.

"What was that?" I inquired, looking at Scott. He was stressed. He tried to pry his wife off me, but her death grip on my body stopped him.

"Izzy, I'm so sorry. I didn't ever mean for you to hate me." she bawled. Her words were laced with sadness and grief, but for some reason, I felt this deeper meaning to it all.

"Izzy, you're everything to me, and I didn't mean for this to go on for so long! I just needed time!" she tried to explain rapidly.

"Chris that's enough!" Scott ordered.

But she had already said too much. The wheels in my head finally started to turn and work. The puzzle pieces finally fit.

And my body went numb. So numb, I couldn't move. But through it all, my brain was still functioning.

"Mom." I muttered. My body went completely numb. Paralyzed. Frozen solid.

"Izzy." she cried, as she squeezed me tighter. But I pulled away. I broke out of her grasp, and backed up.

"You... you..." I muttered, as a I pointed my index finger at her shakily. My mind was racing so fast, it was making me sick. But I had to get out of there.

"Izzy please... I know you might be a little angry..." she started, as she brushed away one of her tears.

"A little angry!" I exploded. "A little angry! How dare you!" I spat viciously. "How dare you just waltz into my life an do this to me!"

"Amy warned us about this." Scott mumbled as he crossed his arm.

"Amy... what does my mom have to do with this?" I stuttered, as I fought against crying. I refused to cry.

"I'm your mother Izzy!" Christina pleaded. "I was the one that gave birth to you! I was the one that loved you unconditionally!"

"You will never be my mother! My mother died in a car accident fourteen years ago! My mom abandoned me! My mother left me when I was a baby!" I shouted at her, as I turned and ran.

"Izzy wait!" she screamed through her tears.

But I didn't care. She could cry me a god-damn river and I wouldn't care. But I had to get home. I didn't want to listen to her anymore.

Soon, my legs began to regain their feeling, and I bolted off even quicker. I was trapped in my own world, and everything was crashing down on me.

My parents were alive. They were here. They were back. And I wanted them to get the hell away from me. Far, far away from me.

"Izzy!" Allison cried out. She had a book in her hands, and was running over to me.

"What?" I screamed. Before I knew it, I was crying madly. I collapsed in a heap, and started to bawl.

"Izzy! Oh my God! What happened?" she gasped, as she rushed over to my side, and grabbed my shaking body.

"Go away!" I hissed, as I pushed her away. She stumbled to the ground, scraping her hands badly from the impact.

"Izzy..." she said, holding her injured palms tightly. A light layer of blood began to form, as she rubbed them on her light blue jeans.

"Get the hell away from me!" I screamed. "I don't want to see anybody!"

"What's wrong?" she whispered, as she began to cry lightly. But I had seen to many tears today, and they no longer affected me.

Odd though. My brain was telling me to leave her. Just get away from someone else that I cared about with all my heart and soul. Then there was those two very things, my heart and soul. They were telling me to not hurt her. And the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her. God it pained me to see her cry, and I wanted to run over to her, taking her close in my arms, an apologize like a fool.

But before I answered her, I walked away. Just like the cold hearted bastard I was.

Allison was smart. She didn't even bother to chase me. Cause how soap opera would that be. But a soap opera was the only thing I could compare my life to right now.

I made it the whole way home, not saying a word. I bumped into several people that got in my way, and I didn't bother to apologize.

What people thought of me was the last thing on my mind. It was funny. I had so many things dashing inside my brain, that I was getting a migraine. But at the same time, my head was empty. Devoid of though.

"You Iz, my man! S'up?" Tai greeted me, as Sarah and Kate giggled breathlessly. Both were clinging on his arm like he was their only support, and the undying affection both were shooting out at him was overwhelming.

"Get away from me." I said flatly, as I pushed open the door to our apartment complex, and walked hastily over to the elevators.

"Dude. What is the matter with you?" Tai asked again.

"Yeah Izzy." Kate smiled peacefully. "You can tell us!"

"We're your friends!" Sarah smiled. "We can help!"

"I don't want your help! I don't want anyone's help! Just leave me alone! I can deal with this!" I bellowed, as I abruptly jumped into the elevator, and jabbed at the close door button.

When the doors shut, leaving my friends outside, slack jawed at how my disposition had changed since the morning.

But I was happy then. God, they have no clue how long if had taken me to get over the thought of my parent's death.

I cried myself to sleep, every night since the day I found out. That tragic day I snuck out of bed to get a glass of water, was the day my life changed for good.

But the thing that make me sick to my stomach, was the fact that after one day. One encounter with them, they expected me to welcome them back with open arms, and just forget the past ever happened.

I punched the wall closest to me. My hand stung at the impact. But leaving the pain slightly was better than dealing with it head on.

"This isn't like you Izzy." I muttered to myself, as I inhaled deeply. "You face your fears. You don't run away from them! You're a coward!" I screamed at myself.

The doors clicked open, and I ran out. I ran down the hall, and over to my house, where my mom was. Wait. That's not right. I ran over to where Amy was.

I threw my bag down on the floor, letting the contents spill out, and crash against the hardwood.

She jumped, shocked slightly, as she dropped the wooden spoon she was using.

"Oh Izzy. It's you." she smiled, as she bent down and scooped it up. "How was your day son?"

The words stung at my ears as my body filled with an unknown sense of rage. I had no clue how she had the heart to call me that.

"You lied to me." I muttered, not knowing anything else to say. I looked at her blankly, as she fumbled for words.

"What do you mean Izzy?" she finally uttered after a period of dead silence. I noticed that she began to tug at the end of apron, which was her tell-a-tale nervous move.

"What do I mean? What do I mean! You know perfectly well what I mean! Why didn't you tell me they were still alive!" I hollered at her.

All the color drained from her face. Her mouth opened, and she took her hand to cover it. "Izzy, no! It's not what you think!"

"But it is! They were still alive this whole time, and you didn't tell me! I had to find out today! After fourteen years of them being dead, they suddenly turn out to not be! What the hell were you trying to pull?"

"Izzy please calm down!" she pleaded, as she rushed over to me, ans grabbed my balled fists. "You don't know the whole story!"

"What makes you think I care?" I replied coldly. "The only thing that I can figure, is that you kept the truth from me. You lead me to believe, that they had perished. That they were never coming back."

"No! That's not true! You have to let me explain!"

"Save it for someone who cares." I snapped, as I stormed off to my room. Before I entered, I turned around, and looked her straight in the eyes.

I was filled with a sudden courage, that made my stomach lurch. Before I could stop myself, I started to say what was in my heart, for the first time that day!

"You know. I thought that after all this, I would be mad at them. I mean, you were the ones that loved, sheltered and fed me. You were there to witness me take my first steps. The ones that helped me get through my fear of doctors. Hell, you were there for me through think and thin."

"Izzy..." she chocked, as she stepped closer a step.

"No!" I commanded, halting her. "And I thought that if they ever, by some miracle were alive, that I would hate them for abandoning me. But now that everything in theory is coming true, my logic is screwed. And right now, I can't hate them. I just can't hate them at all. And that's because my hatred for you is blinding me from everything else."

"No... you can't mean that..." she muttered, as she fell on her knees, and started to cry lightly.

"Since when do I not mean what I say?" I spat, as I slammed my door, and locked it.

I heard her sorrowful sob through my door, and I smirked. I reduced Amy to tears. An evil sense of pride attacked my every moving muscle, as I relaxed on my bed.

That night I didn't do anything. The comforting feelings I used to have were shot. I realized that I was alone now.

Hell, how could me friends understand what I was going through? They weren't adopted. They never knew the feelings that come with losing something so close to you. They all had both their parents.

Now, enter Izzy. The reject. The one with two sets of families. The lowly little computer addict that only talked when he got permission. The pathetic weakling that was only used for his smarts.

God how I envied that person. That boy had no problems. Everything was served to him on a silver platter.

And now enter the new me. The one who had all the problems. As much as I hated to admit this to myself, I realized that I had two choices.

One, stay with the two people that were there for me my entire life. The two people I thought I could trust with my life. And two. Go with the other people that left me, yet still loved me.

Yeah, I know the choice seems obvious to everyone else. Stay with the people that were there for me. Amy and Allan. But to me, there was something nagging at my tortured soul. As much as I loved my adoptive parents, there was this urge to go with Christina and Scott.

And it was yet again, a battle between my heart and my head. Which one would come out victorious, I don't know. But it will certainly put the phase, love conquers all, to the test.



When I woke up in the morning, I didn't want to go to school. I didn't want to have to see Scott, or Christina, or have to deal with Allison.

So I stayed in bed. Amy didn't dare knock on my door to wake me up. She knew that I needed my space.

But I wanted to go. I wanted to go and apologize to Allison. I spent a great deal of time thinking about her. More than usual actually. And I felt so bad for what I did.

I wished life was like a puzzle. You know, something that you can solve with your brain. But life was everything but a puzzle.

In the long run, your brain is useless. You have to follow your instincts, and your emotions as well. Common sense and logic were brushed aside, and discarded.

But I couldn't not go. There were too many questions that I had to get answered. Too many why's that needed explanations.

So I quickly threw on my uniform, and rushed out the door. Surprisingly, I wasn't late at all. I made it there with plenty of time.

As I entered the large gates, I spied Tai. Sarah and Kate still draped over his arms, and he was talking to Matt and Jen.

They were all smiling, and Jen spotted me, waving her hand frantically, beaconing for me to join them.

I wasn't in any type of mood to try and fight them away, so I shuffled over slowly, and smiled politely.

"Yo Iz." Tai smiled. "So now listen up. Tonight, is the night. The party, that got postponed will take place. Now, I have selected what we will wear." he said looking at Kate and Sarah, as both of them sighed, and hit him simultaneously.

"Dream on." the both said in unison, as they smiled at each other.

"You girls are so brave for putting up with him." Matt sighed.

"Jealous that I got the two hottest girls in the school on my arm?" Tai grinned mischievously.

"Not." Matt said flatly, as he placed his arm around Jen. "And besides then. I have the third hottest girl. I mean, if he goes by what he said, not that they're prettier than you Jen." Matt tried frantically to explain.

"Hey!" Sarah and Kate exclaimed, as they placed their hands on their hips.

"Shit you two are alike." Tai muttered. "Down to the movement."

"Damn right!" they both laughed.

I couldn't take this worthless drivel anymore, so I tapped Jen's arm, and asked her where Allison was. She told me through fits of laughter that she was in the science department, finishing up her chemistry project.

Before she even had time to finish her sentence, I was out of there. I practically ran over to where she was, trying to formulate a proper apology.

I thought about telling her the truth. Let her in on it. But I was scared she would laugh at me.

As soon as I saw her, I was at a loss of words. All the breath escaped from my body, as I went completely numb. Simply because she was there.

She was sitting in the lab, carelessly fiddling with a piece of her golden hair and haphazardly mixing some liquids together.

Not wanting to disturb her, I snuck in, softly shutting the door behind me. She reached over for a bottle of dyed green liquid, but her arm accidentally knocked over an empty beaker.

Quickly, before it fell, I caught it. She then noticed that I was standing next to her, and she jumped up.

"Hey." I smiled weakly.

"Hey." she replied emotionlessly. She inhaled deeply, as she looked at me.

"Listen. Just, please listen to me for a minute." I said, as I squeezed my eyes shut. "I have to apologize. And not one of those lame excuses people throw at each other, a true, sincere apology. I never meant to hurt you."

"Time heals all wounds." she stated, as she showed me her palms. There were long scratched across them, and they were still a bright red. "Happy now?"

"No. God no!" I swallowed. "Allison, you have to believe me! I didn't mean for you to get hurt! That was the last thing I wanted!"

"Tell me why I should care Izzy." she retorted nastily. "I tried to be there for you, when you were in a horrible state. I wanted to be there beside you, because I care about you!"

"And you think I don't care about you?" I asked her seriously. "Allison, you mean so much to me. Hell, you'll never understand how much I truly care about you!"

"And I love how you repay me there Iz." she lipped sourly.

"Don't make this harder on me please." I begged, as I walked over to her.

"Harder on you?" she spat. "How dare you!?" she retorted, as she stepped close up to me, and slapped me across the face.

I held my stinging cheek for a moment, then looked over at her. "I am sorry. I really am. Allison, I care about you so much, that it gets me scared. I worry everyday that by some twisted joked, I wake up, and you aren't there."

She started at me, with her eyes set in an uncaring glare. It was obvious that I wasn't going to get any sort of sympathy from her.

"And I say this now, not as something to make you feel guilty, or insulted, but you don't know what I just went through. My whole life has just been turned upside down, and everyone I trusted proved to be nothing more than backstabbing liars. And I prayed that you would be the hope in the pandora's box, but you turned out to be nothing more than a clone of those I can't depend on. And I'm sorry for that as well."

With that, I sulked out of the room, and down the hallway. The fake smiles on people's faces made me sick.

Through all this, they could still keep a smile on their faces. They could still laugh and grin, while I had to watch as my whole world crumbled before my eyes.

But then I realized they didn't have the same pain as I did. Their world's were still intact. They still had people they could trust. Unlike myself.

Just then, Scott cut across my path. He stood right in front of me, and blocked off the exit. His hands were crossed and a tight scowl was pressed against his face.

"We need to talk Izzy." he said as his features de-contorted.

"I have nothing to say to you." I spat, as I brushed him aside angrily. He grabbed onto my arm, and held on fiercely.

"If not me, then what about your mother?" he sighed, as he let me go. "This has been killing her Iz. She's never been this way before. Even when we gave you to Allan and Amy she was more calm."

"Pity." I retorted bitterly, as I walked away from him. I had no intention of listening to his sob story; but I already had. And I felt a sense of responsibility to go and see her.

I was battling my conscience the whole way there. I knew that I should talk to her. Find out why. But on the other hand, finding out why, was what scared me the most.

And by the time I had made it to her computer room, I knew that there was no turning back. I breathed in as much oxygen as I could, and knocked on her door.

She opened it with a pleasant smile, but when she saw me, her mood instantly changed.

"Izzy... what are you doing here?" she asked shakily. I stepped in without her saying another word, and she shut it behind me.

"Why. Just tell me why." I said, bitting my lip. I wanted to keep all my tears in, and it looked as if I wouldn't be doing such a great job at that.

"There are a lot of why's Izzy. And I don't know if I can answer all of them..."

"Just tell me why you gave me up." I said spinning around to look at her. Small tears were forming in the bottom of my eyes, and were threatening to fall at any given second. "Was it because you didn't want me... that you didn't love me..."

"No! God no Izzy! Your father and I loved you unconditionally! We would have never given you up, under any circumstance... but then, the unthinkable happened, and we were forced to. Izzy, believe me when I say, you were the ray of light in my otherwise bleak life..."

"What happened then... I want to know!"

"Oh corse. God... where do I start..."

"The beginning..." I whispered, as we both took a seat.

"Well, 13 years ago, your father and I were very happy. We had it all!" she exclaimed joyfully. "And then, it all vanished. It started off when Scott's mother died. Now, Scott's dad died when he was very young, and his mother supported him throughout his entire life."

"My grandmother..." I said numbly.

"When she passed away, Scott lost it. He began to become depressed, and there was another teacher taking over his classes, until he recovered. What should have been three weeks, turned into three months. The school ended up firing him, and my job as a teacher couldn't support us. Since I was on maturnity leave, there was no money coming in."

I soaked it all up. Listening to what seemed like the first few chapters in my life. A life I had no idea existed until a few weeks ago.

"To make a long story short, the banks foreclosed on our house. They were threatening to evict us. And then I took ill. It was driving to the hospital, that we had gotten into the car accident. You see Izzy, we really did have an accident. And it nearly killed us all. I got this as a result of it." she motioned, pointing to her cheek.

"And Scott's arm." I figured, remembering the scar.

"You were born prematurely, and we all had to go under sever surgery to keep us alive. To cut to the point, afterwards, we were thousands, and thousands of dollars in debt. And we both new raising a son with that would be impossible. We were a failure as parents already."

She sighed, holding back a few tears, and she reached over to her purse, and grabbed a few items inside, showing them to me.

"We had no other choice but to give you away. Because if we didn't you would have had our foolishness, painted all over you. And I didn't want that burden on my son. When we heard Amy and Allan wanted to adopt you, we had to. We gave you to them knowing you would be better off. But I made a promise to you, just before I left, that when we were stable, and I didn't feel like such a failure, I would come back, and get you."

Suddenly, after she had explained everything to her, something inside of me changed. My feeling for her changed. My feelings about everything changed.

I felt whole again. Almost like a part of me that had been missing forever, was suddenly replaced. I threw myself at her, hugging her tightly. I cried into her shoulder, just like I used to do when I was younger.

"Izzy. I'm so sorry..." she cried, as she hugged me back.

"No. I'm sorry... mom."



I found myself in my room, packing my bags. The two huge suitcases were stuffed to the brim with clothing, and other personal items that I had acquired over the years.

I felt horrible for leaving Allan and Amy behind, but deep in my heart, I knew that what I was doing was the best. I had to be with the people that I was supposed to be with.

A light rapping on my door, broke me from my thoughts, as I turned around, and smiled.

"Izzy..." Amy smiled weakly, as she tried not to cry.

"I have to thank you." I said comfortingly. "You were the one that loved me from day one. And I will never find another person like you."

"Izzy..." she sobbed. "Please don't leave me... I need you." she said collapsing in my arms.

"Sh." I hushed. "I can't. And you know it. I finally found where I'm supposed to be. And as much as I wished, it's not with you."

"Izzy..." she cried harder, as she squeezed me more.

"Like I said. You're the best mom in the world. And someday, you're going to make a terrific mother yourself. But I have to go."

"I love you." she managed to smile. Her eyes shone with an understanding warmth, that made me smile.

"And I will always love you. But I have to go now." I said, pulling the strap to the case down. I picked up the two heavy bags, and walked out of my old room.

"Please don't forget me..." she whispered.

"How could I." I smiled. "I'll write you everyday. And please promise me something."

"Anything." she smiled, drying her eyes.

"Don't hate them." I asked.

"Okay." she promised. "And if you ever need anything..."

"I know." I finished for her. "I love you so much."

"Goodbye Izzy." she muttered, letting a fresh batch of tears stream down her cheek.

When I got in the car, and we started to drive away, I turned back. My old life stood there, watching me drive away. Allison was there too, but it was too late. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to her. Tell her how much I loved and needed her in my life.

But I knew what I was doing, was for the best. For everyone. Now, they didn't have to goon worrying what will happen, and I didn't have to keep worrying about what if.

"Goodbye Izzy." Amy sniffed once again. The most important part of her life was leaving her. Going on to a new life, far away from her. "Goodbye forever."

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