RUNAWAY GIRL

Chapter 4

NATHANIEL POV

I reached the school with thought of Melinda on my mind. She cursed just like her, but they were poles apart.

It’s just a coincidence and nothing more, I told my mind but somewhere deep down I knew something was fishy.

I ignored it all until lunch. The way Melinda was defensive over that gross Hawaiian pizza was the same way she would have been defensive if she was in Melinda’s place. I was sitting in the middle of the abandoned corridor and thinking about all this that I didn’t even realize two people coming and sitting next to me. I saw Moses sitting to my right and Jack to my left.

“Are you okay?” Jack asks.

“What do you think?” I reply chuckling at myself.

“What happened back there, Nate and don’t say that you have stopped taking your meds because I know you haven’t. I make sure they go in your body.” Moses says.

Fuck this guy knows me nicely!

“It’s just, we have  started senior year and I don’t know where both my parents are, where she is moreover I don’t know what am I going to do with my life. It just frustrates me.” I say telling them the half truth.

“Okay. Fair enough but what is bothering you really?” Moses says.

“Exactly. You can keep stuff from the girls but you can’t keep stuff from us.” Jack says.

“I just don’t want to talk about it. It’s just something really silly.” I say trying to divert the topic.

“You know right you will keep thinking about it and not talk to anyone, and if you do that then-” Jack cuts Moses off and says

“You will burst out on one of us in a bad way and then come crying apologizing.”

“Fine, I’ll tell you both but do not say that I am paranoid or haven’t moved on from the things of past. Promise.” I say handing my hand out to them.

“yep, sure.”

“Definitely.”

“Okay, so that Melinda girl is your neighbour right?” I say and Jack nods.

“It’s Mellissa, actually.” Jack says and I just glare at him to keep shut.

“So moving on from her name, I saw her in the morning fighting with Mr. Scott and I don’t even know why they were together and then she cursed at him the same curse she used to use sometimes for Ad.” I say.

“See Nate we said that we are not going to say that you are paranoid and all but Astr- I mean, they do not match one bit.” Moses says.

“Not only that but during lunch you saw they way she was defensive over that pizza, she also was the same way with her pizza with pineapples.” I say.

“It doesn’t matter Nate. So many people in this world, no in this town only will like that type of a pizza, you just can’t go  around assuming that she is her.” Jack says.

They are right. She is not going to come back. She left and she was to come back then she would obviously meet me or come in contact at least.

“They don’t look 1% alike, you know that right. She was always chubby and have you seen Mellissa, damn that girl is fit.” Moses says.

“Yep. She had red hair and Mellissa has brown. You blind to see the difference, bro?” Jack says.

“Yeah. I guess you are right. I really need to stop obsessing over it.” I say and get up to start walking for the next class.

“What class do you have now.” Moses asks.

“Chemistry with Mr. Charles.” Jack says.

“Same.” I say.

“I have biology with Ms Evans. f**k I better hurry. See you later.” Moses says and runs in the other direction towards his class.

“Let’s go. Mr Charles isn’t that fond of me.” Jack says.

“Sad to be you. Mr Charles has a soft spot for me.” I say smirking.

“Thank god I have you with me. Otherwise I really would be roasted by him.” Jack says and we head towards the class.

MELLISSA POV

The bell rang signalling that the school time is over and we all could head back home. I say good bye to all of them and wait for Luke to come. He is usually 10-15 minutes late because of clocking out his hours. It has been 20 minutes and the school parking lot is almost empty and he isn’t here yet. This asshole isn’t even picking up his phone.

“Hey Mell. I can give you a ride home if you need.” I hear Jack saying as he pulls his car in front of me. I see Nathan sitting in the passenger seat of the car. Guess they are going together.

“No. It’s okay. I am waiting for my brother. He should be hear any moment.” I say.

“Sure. We will leave when he arrives. It’s not safe to be alone. You can sit in the car and wait for your brother” Jack offers but I decline politely.

I can’t help it. My guard is way too high up right now and I  can’t be seen with them a lot so that no trouble is caused to them.

“Hey.” I hear Luke say as he comes empty handed and after seeing both boys he just nods at them.

“What, no stuff to take home?” I ask.

“Actually I have to stay here till late and start grading the papers. Take my car and go. I’ll just catch a ride with one of my colleagues.” He says.

“It’s okay. It’s just a 15 minute walk and I really need physical fitness in my life. I’ll walk you come later with the car, as it is it will be dark.” I say.

“Shut up and take my car and don’t argue with me Melly.” Luke says pushing the keys in my hand.

“Mr Scott. We can take her with us. We are neighbours as it is.” Jack butts in.

Why does he have to speak anything. I don’t want to sit in a car with Nathan. It is going to be damn awkward.

“Yeah. That is a good idea. Melly send me a picture of you when you reach home. And you boys better not do anything with my little sister. I will hunt you and kill you.” Luke says and walks off.

“Sorry for that. He can be a bit handful sometimes.” I say to them as I enter the back seat of the car.

“It’s okay no big deal. I really don’t know what will happen to the guy who dates you. Your brother will torture him badly.” Jack says and while Nathan just keeps a stone poker face.

“I don’t even want to think about it.” I say.

The ride home was a little awkward as Jack kept saying some stupid stuff  to lighten the air in the car. When we finally reach home I waste no time in telling  a thank you to Jack and running to my house.

I enter my house loudly and runs inside right into mom.

“Hello speedster, where are you coming form running like this. Everything alright? Where is your brother?” mom asks ready to fight.

“Yes mom everything is okay.” I say.

“then why are you running like this. More importantly what are you running from?” She said fisting her hands.

“Mom. I got a ride from Jack and Nathan since Luke had work in the school and to escape the awkwardness in the car I ran home as soon as possible. May I go up to my room now?” I ask.

“yeah sure honey, you gave me a little scare when you came. Dinner will be at 7. Your dad got a lead today so he wont be coming home today. I will alsobe leaving around 9 to help him out. It will be just the both of you at home, will you be able manage alone” Mom says.

“A lead on him?” I ask meekly.

“Yes baby girl. A lead on him. Don’t worry he is trying everything he can to get that man behind bars.” Mom says and heads towards the kitchen.

“Don’t worry mom it’s just one night plus we have been alone for quite sometime now. We will be okay.” I say

During dinner mom again talked to Luke and I being alone in the house for the night  as they will returning in the early hours of dawn. We again made sure that we will take care of ourselves and they don’t need to worry about it.

After dinner I have a nice shower and lie down in the bed. Luke had come to check in on me one before sleeping.

I saw the clock beside me on the bed table showing 1 o’clock at night. It is the first night without the parents and I am really paranoid. We haven’t been alone in such a long time and I don’t see myself being okay with this fear in my brain. I see that the time is 3 o’clock and I am still unable to sleep.

I get up and go to the kitchen and make some hot chocolate for myself as it helps me to sleep since I was a kid. I take my mug upstairs and climb on the roof of the house via my bedroom window and see the peaceful scenery in front of slowly sipping on my hot chocolate.

“You can’t sleep too?” I hear a voice and see the owner of the voice.

“Nope.” I say.

“Same here.” He says.

There was a peaceful silence for five minutes as I was contemplating in my brain whether I should apologize to him or not. I know it is my fault that he is this way.

“I’m sorry”

“I’m sorry.”

We both say it at the same time and then look at each other and start laughing.

“What are you sorry for?”

“What are you sorry for?”

“Okay you say first.” He say and so I speak then.

“I’m sorry but I didn’t mean to intrude in your personal life or anything. I didn’t know you didn’t like that name, it just came out of my mouth.” I say.

“Na no big deal. I should be the one who should apologize. I have been nothing but a complete jerk to you and it isn’t your fault for the f**k ups I have faced in my life.” He says.

“So we alright and if you really feel like I am being intruding then tell me straight away.” I say.

“it’s okay. All my friends know it and since they are so fond of you let me tell you this that never bring up my past, be it my parents or my friends. I don’t like talking about it.” He says and I nod.

After sometime of silently sitting on your roofs Nathan suddenly speaks.

“So friends?”

“Yep. Definitely friends.” I smile and say and sit there for another good five minutes before getting up and going back inside my window when he calls me again.

“So why did you call me by that name, I mean everyone called me Nate.” He asks.

“I don’t know. It just came out of my mouth.” I tell him truthfully and wait for his reaction.

“Sure. Never mind but remember do not call by that name again and never bring up my past, and we will have a good friendship then.” He says.

“Okay. Good night Nate.” I say hating the word Nate coming out of my mouth.

It was always Nathan and it should stay that way but I’m so sorry it can’t. I cannot drag you into my mess.

“Good night, Melinda.” He says.

“Hey!” I scream quietly.

“What?”

“It’s Mellissa. Not Melinda.” I say.

“s**t sorry. Good night Mells.” He says and I turn around and walk inside my room.

He called me Mells. But A sounds better from his mouth.

As I lie on my bed I replay everything on my mind. I can’t help but keep remembering the night it all happened. I look at clock and the clock and it reads 6 a.m. I decide to take a quick run to clear my mind as it always helps me.

I come back after 40 minutes of running and see mom and dad entering the house.

“Young lady, what were you doing out at this hour. You know its not safe.” Dad says.

“Oh, chill Liam. Let the girl live a little.” Mom says and he just mumbles something under his breadth and goes to their room.

“You like him don’t you?” I say.

“What no!” She says and I glare at her playfully.

“Fine! Fine! I do. Sometimes I fell you are more intimidating than your brother.” She says.

“Who even made you an agent?” I say.

“Shut up. I qualified with flying numbers. That Booth there was just behind me.” She says.

“What are your ages by the way?” I ask while pouring OJ into two glasses, taking one myself and giving the other to her.

“I’m 29. He is 30.” She says.

“okay. I am going to shower then head to school. You should also rest.” I says hesitating to ask about the information they found.

“Wont you ask?” She says.

“You found where is he?” I ask to fast and anxiously.

“No but we might have a lead towards Mexico. He is hunting down girls that look like you. I would suggest trying to stay away from any kinds of social media.” She says and walks to her room.

I nod and go to my room and have a shower. After 30 minutes I come down to see Luke sitting on the island and having breakfast.

I pick a granola and we head to the hell whole a.k.a school.