Kidnapped

Chapter 9: The Argument

"Did you see the news?" the voice asked. Taking a deep breath, I said yes. "You believe me now?" the voice squealed in delight.

"Okay hold up," I said. "Just because I watched the news, doesn't mean that I still trust you." "Okay then," the voice sighed. "What can I do to change your mind?"

"I don't know, Sherlock." I said, mimicking his voice. "Do the math!" I hung up on him and toss my phone on the bed. "Cole," Mom began. She knocked softly on the door.

"May I come in?" "Sure," I nodded. Mom opened the door and saw me exhausted. Worried, she asked me what was going on. "Nothing," I replied. "I just got stuck on this Math problem and I don't know what to do."

Mom sat on the mattress with a worried expression on her face. "Do you want some help?" she asked. "If you want, I can get you a tutor." I smiled then shook my head.

"No thank you," I answered politely. "The answer will come to me." Mom smoothed the hems of her nightgown then sighed. "Charlie told me what happened in the bathroom," Mom explained. Her eyes remained concerned.

I wished they would stop staring at me like a long lost puppy. "Did you two kiss?" Mom asked. "Are you having a relationship with Luke?" I gave her a long stare. "Ew, Mom!" I shrieked. "I don't even know him that well!"

"I'm asking these questions, because I don't think you are telling me the truth." Mom argued. "Oh. My. Gosh!" I yelled. "We weren't doing anything wrong! We were just talking about the field trip!"

"The field trip?" Mom repeated. "I heard the news, Cole! That art teacher is a robber!" "Mom," I groaned. "Please stop." "Stop what?" Mom snapped. "Being a mother?"

This was getting frustrating. "No," I cried. "For being ignorant!" Mom snorts a laugh. "Ignorant for what?" Mom cried. "For dating weirdos, looking like the type of guys you would find in prison!" I cried.

Mom groaned as she rubbed her forehead. "Ever since you and Dad broke up," I continued. "You like to live in this stupid fantasy that a guy, twice your age, can be the perfect husband. But he's not!"

"Cole," Mom sighed. "I am trying to make this work." I laughed bitterly. "You know that's the same stupid line that Dad always says whenever he tried to used you."

Mom didn't say anything after that. She rose up from my bed then left the room with a quiet slam. I stood there like a tree, unable to move.

I went over to my bed and screamed into pillow. It felt nice taking my anger at it, but I still felt guilty for yelling at Mom. Later, I heard commotion that was coming downstairs.

It seemed to me that Charlie and Mom were arguing. To be honest, those two have never argued as well as shout or scream. Curious, I leaped out of bed and left my door open just a tiny crack.

"This is all my fault," Mom was saying. "I should've been more understanding to Cole. No wonder she was so upset with me." "Willow," Charlie went on. "This isn't your fault, all teenagers behave like that."

"I know," Mom insists. "But this wouldn't happen if she-" Unable to hear this, I closed the door. I ran my fingers through my hair as I turned off the lights and fell asleep.

Maybe tomorrow, I would tell Mom my apology. The next morning, I woke up very excited. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and changed into my favorite blue shirt, denim skirt, and black boots.

But as soon as I walked downstairs, Mom was sitting on the couch in her business suit, looking pale and bitter while Charlie was sitting next to her. Swallowing a gulp, I went up to Mom and told her my apology.

But Mom wouldn't hear it. "Don't apologize," she said to me. "I have already forgiven you, but you need to be honest with me and Charlie." Charlie nodded in agreement.

"Okay," I said. I told Mom everything, except the weird phone calls that I have been getting. "You and Luke were just talking about the field trip?" Mom repeated. "Yes, we weren't making out." I replied.

Mom nodded while Charlie's face remained unconvinced. "Are you sure you-" "Yes Charlie," I snapped. "But it would be nice if you stop accusing me of things I didn't do."

"Cole," Mom began. "Charlie is here to help you." I eyed him with suspicion. "Really?" I said. "I don't recall him ever helping me." Charlie rose up from his seat angrily. "Nicole," Charlie shouted. "I would appreciate it if you showed a little respect-"

"You never trusted Luke," I began. "You don't have a job or friends. And now you want me to respect you?" Charlie charged after me and grabbed me by the neck.

"You are such a little brat!" He screeched. I choked and staggered. His hands were stronger than I thought. Just then, Mom hit him with a broomstick.

Charlie let out a cry. Mom lowered her broom then said, "I thought you were better than this. I see you on the couch, being lazy, but I never complained or did anything about it."

"This is my fault dating a pig like you, now get out." Charlie gets up from the floor and walks upstairs to get his things. Mom tossed the broom away then hugged me.

"Are you alright?" Mom asked, stroking my hair. "Yeah," I answered. "I'm fine." Charlie came back dressed in his red shirt and khaki pants and carried his heavy luggage out the door.

I immediately noticed that he wasn't wearing any socks or shoes, but I didn't care. Charlie was out of our lives. After he left, Mom hastily prepared breakfast for me, while I went upstairs to get my things ready for school for Monday.

After I collected my finished homework, I put them in my backpack and set it on the bed. Mom called me to eat while I took my phone with the Pretty Little Liars case on it.

What I liked about the case was: it has my favorite character, Spencer Hastings. I was debating on whether I should get a phone charm. Just then, someone tapped on my window.

I checked to see it was Luke, waving at me. Sighing, I opened the window, allowing Luke to crawl inside. "Look Spider-Man,",I said. "At first, I thought it was cool that you are sneaking through my bedroom, but now it's really getting risky-"

"Have you heard the news?" Luke interrupted. I nodded. "Yes," I said for the umpteenth time. "I saw the news about the robbery." "Did you also hear that our school bus has been robbed?" Luke asked.

I stared at him for a brief second. "No, how did it happened?" I asked. "Some i***t snuck into the school last night and stole the bus. But luckily, Newton High has a lot of buses."

"Okay," I said, clapping my hands together. "So we're on for the trip?" "What trip?" Luke snorted. "It's already canceled."

Cast

Robbie Kay as Benjamin Hamilton

Cole Porter as Zendaya Coleman

Elizabeth Mitchell as Willow Porter