Danny's family sat at the table talking to him and as for me, nothing was intriguing. Except for the food being pushed around on my plate, it was mashed potatoes and chicken. Now the potatoes had strokes of the sauce that rubbed off the chicken. His parents were staring at me now and it caught the attention hidden in me.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" "We were wondering if you have ever tried smoky lava cake, it's a specialty of ours but we just hadn't known if you have maybe for some reason tried it." "Nope, never heard of it, why is it dessert?" "Yes, we will grab it now. Let me just take your plate." His father helped her clear the table and they disappeared to the kitchen.

"Are you going to the funeral?"

"Yes."

"Are you still mad at me for leaving the party Sunday?"

"No, not really."

"Well what is it?"

"Amy is dead. She isn't coming back, and all I am saying is it is a little odd how it happened. I feel like maybe someone in the room did it. Which is horrible to say. To assume I guess."

"yeah that is bad ro assume. You're right." He said sounding a little angry.

A long awkward silence filled the empty void between us and left me to get out of my chair. "Where's the bathroom?" I asked changing the subject,"Just down the hall to your right." "Okay."

Making my way down the hall it was dark and cold. Familiar but not human like noises came from the door on the left, but it didn't phase me too much now. After using the bathroom, a part of me figured I had to know what was in the room.

Making sure noone was around was simple, then I opened it and inside was furniture covered in white sheets. It smelt like old wood and dust filled the air, what was this place?

My eyes fell on a picture in a frame propped on a piano. It was a young Danny standing with his parents, but there was something disturbing about this photo. Something disturbing about how they were standing with him. Before I could examine it any further, voices suddenly got louder. I ran out the room and hurried down the hall and sat in my seat, "sorry just had to use the restroom." His mom waved her hand in the air with a thin smile. "It's alright, you're here now." The cake was in the shape of a cup valcano. It was chocolate with a dark brown sauce spilling out that had red specks. Smoke disputed from it, the first bite was rich and smooth and spicy.

And each bite after that got better, it wasn't untill it was halfway gone that I realized my mom wanted me home by now. I leaped out my chair and left them with a goodbye and ran home trying to get there before my mom killed me.
...
It was another day of school that caused me to leave somewhere fun after. I was at the salon debating on the thousands of new looks that could compliment my face. I ended up getting shoulder length white strait hair that was cut to perfection. It was new for me, but went well. I left a tip and put on my baby blue jacket before heading outside into the cold November air.

My light brown skin gained small goosebumps along the surface and made me close the coat even tighter. Cars went on by as I waited to cross the street to the safety, my feet scuffed the road and then stopped at the lush green grass. The store was open, it looked inviting so I made my way in the direction.  When my feet stopped on the tile floor as I got into the building the sound of beeping rung through the perimeter. Kids were clinging to parents begging for candy and sugary cereals. All that was in my craving was some chips. 

Down the isle I went and saw multiple carts either moving or at a holt, the thought of that odd room in Danny's house popped into my head, it didn't make sense. Maybe it was just an old room, but that left many unanswered questions still. There were only two bags left of the TAKIS that I wanted, I grabbed one and a bottled water. It was only a fair five dollars and then sent me out the door and headed back home. 

The chips made my tongue water from the small hints of spice that dared penetrate my taste buds. Water helped here and there or sometimes made it worse, it depended on how spicy the chip was.

The front door opened without me having to unlock it, as soon as I got it, that was my first instinct. Upstairs was nothing more than my mom taking a small nap on her bed and me heading to my empty room where all the memories of pain had been bulldozed or sent away.

There was no way I could count all the times I have missed my dad and brother on one hand.

My brother's room was still down the hall and no one has been in it since two years ago, when we found out how it happened. It was no easy swallowing that pill and it, and the idea still messed with my head until this day.

Mom started snoring and it was like a huge siren to me, in this house we haven't been used to sounds. We only heard loud things and stuff breaking when the boys were around, we no longer had the fun part. Just the broken one. Mom had gotten the depression bad, mine wasn't as bad, but not good either. And that's the harder pill. Careful to swallow that one folks.