RUNAWAY GIRL

CHAPTER 2

MELLISSA POV

The school got over pretty quickly and I was waiting for Luke in the parking lot. I started seeing some videos on YouTube when someone yanked me by my collar.

“Listen you b***h. You better stay away from my sister and her friends. They are just taking pity on your useless self. They will never be friends with you.” Bethany the b***h says.

I don’t say anything and channel the anger in me by balling my fists by my side and digging my nails in palm. I am pretty sure I have crescent marks now due to the heavy pressure I am applying on the palms. I simply nod to which she pushes me again and walks off.

I see that the parking lot is empty so I quickly the metal dustbin lying at the side and relieve my anger.

Fuck! This b***h always gets me all riled up.

From the time I have learnt how to fight I have started expressing my anger physically. It calms me down better than stupid things like counting to 10 and s**t. The knuckles of my hands were bruised now because of the blow and I quickly hid it with the long sleeve of my hoodie. After waiting for another five minutes Luke comes and unlocks the car.

“Sorry. It took long. Mrs Panabaker was giving me the tour of the school and explaining some regulations. Like I already don’t know the paths of the school like the back of my hand.” He says.

“Yeah. Riley wanted to show me around but I said I have a map so it’s alright.” I say.

“Yeah. You  met Riley and your old friends. What about Nate? Did you meet him?” He asks.

“Yep. Met all of them but you know something is wrong with Nathan. It’s just that these people were saying something about me leaving and something involving his parents. So I really don’t know but he didn’t look go. When I called him Nathan by mistake it was like he was ready to kill me for it.” I say.

“I know you care about him little sis but please don’t meddle with it. You know we can’t stick to one place and it’s hard to get attached. We not only hurt ourselves but also the people we get attached to remember that.” Luke tells me and I nod.

We reach the house and I see mom in the kitchen.

“How was school kids?” She asks. She is a nice woman and takes care of us real nice.

“It was good. Mel made friends. Well they were technically her old friends.” Luke says.

“Oh. That’s nice, sweetie but you know just be careful. We don’t want the previous situations to occur again.” Mom says.

“Yes mom. Definitely do not want previous situation to occur again.” I say.

“I have made a bunch of cookies so we will go and make ourselves known to the families living on either side of our house. Go freshen up and then we will go.” Mom says.

“Moooom. Can’t you take Luke with you. He just sits on his ass and does nothing.” I say.

“Don’t. Go get ready before I ground you young lady.” She says and starts working on the next batch of cookies again.

“Yeah. She will ground you young lady.” Luke says smirking at me.

“You also change and get ready to help me with dinner or I’ll ground you.” Mom says and that was my chance to give him a smirk.

“Mom, you can’t do that. I’m 23 years old.” Luke says.

“Just both of you leave. God I’m getting a migraine, should have just started working early. You young lady change and be down here in 20 minutes by then this batch will also be done. And you freshen up then help me with dinner.” She says.

“Has anyone told you that you look damn cute while trying to act all bossy like this. For someone as short as you it’s real cute, shortie.” Luke says.

“Oh yeah. Well this shortie can kick your butt anytime and you know it so get going.” She says and continues working.

I go up to my room upstairs and quickly take a shower. While showering I think of Booth and Mckarthy. They have adjusted so well with us. This really feels like a family. I change my clothes and go down to see mom packing the batch of cookies in a fancy box.

“Let’s go.” I say.

We go to the house on the left side and ring the doorbell. A tiny old lady opens the door and invites us in. We sit there and talk to her for half an hour or so and leave for the other house.

We reach the other house and ring the doorbell. A teenage girl holding a small girl opens the door and invites us inside.

“Hello, my name is Miranda and this my daughter Melanie. We just moved three days ago so we thought of introducing to us to you. We brought cookies.” Mom says.

Hearing the word ‘cookie’ the girl jumps from her arms and runs to me as I was holding the box of cookies.

“Cookie in wis.” The small girl says.

“yeah. You want some?” I asks and she nods repeatedly.

“Can she have some?” I ask Mae.

“Yeah. This kid knows how to handle her sugar. So we don’t really have to control it.” Mae says

I pick Sydney up, make her sit on my lap and give her cookies. No wonder she is his sister.

“Sorry this is Sydney. I am her baby sitter, Mae. Her parents are at work and her brother isn’t back from school yet. He plays football for Delwood High so I watch her over for them till her brother comes.” Mae says.

“Oh. My daughter also studies there. What is his name? Maybe Mel knows him.” Mom says.

“Jack Lodge. He is in senior year. His friends hang here all the time when they are free so that they can take care of her too. I only come here sometimes. I live three blocks down.” Mae says.

“Jack? This is Jack’s house. Sydney is his sister.” I say looking at Sydney who is now sitting on my lap and happily munching on the cookies.

“Yea. You know him?” Mae asks.

“Yeah. We have many classes together.” I say.

“Well we should get going now. I have to prepare dinner for us all. Thanks for having us here.” Mom says and we get up to leave.

“Sure. I’ll let Kathy and Keith know that you visited. They should be home in another hour and Jack should be pulling in soon.” Mae says.

“Sure. Take care. Goodbye.” Mom says.

“Will you come and play with me? Jacksy poo, Moves and Natey doesn’t know how to play and Arva, Riwey and Peggy play with me. You could join our parvy.” She say shyly after tugging on my sleeve.

“Sure, Syd. I’ll see you later.” I say to Sydney.

“Whenever she wants to play with me I’m right next door.” I say and we leave.

“I didn’t know Jack had a baby sister.” Luke says during dinner.

“Oh I forgot to tell you guys. Kathy fell pregnant you left and gave birth to Sydney.” Dad says.

“Dad you should have told us this. I don’t want to live next to Jack. All my friends will hang here and Sydney seems to like me so she might want to keep me around.” I say.

“It’s okay, hun. It wasn’t his fault. We are also on duty you know that right. We will keep you safe.” She says taking my hand and squeezing it.

During the rest of the dinner we made light conversation and after it was over the four of us cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes. We retired for the night and after my changing into night clothes, I lie in bed thinking about my friends and most importantly Nathan. Slowly, second by second I fall asleep with these thoughts on my mind.

NATHANIEL POV

I hate my life. I hate it. Everyone I love about in this world leaves me alone to rot to suffer. I still remember the day I met her. Her fiery red hair, green eyes those cute freckles around her nose and the upper cheek area. Man she was a beauty. A beauty who took a really big piece of my insanity away with her. Only she and my mom called me by the name of Nathan others always stuck to Nate or Nathaniel like dad. Well my parents are another story and I would really get a headache if I think about those f****d up human beings.

Today when that new girl Melinda or whatever her name was called me ‘Nathan’ I felt hell raging within me. How dare she call me that. I hate that name just like I hate the two people who called me that. I swear if I ever come in contact with either of the three again I won’t be able to control myself and will definitely land in jail.

I was lying down on my king size bed thinking about all the things that happened today. Me coming to school, smoking behind the bleachers, that girl Melinda. I heard my phone ring in a distance to see it was lying on the dressing of the room. I got up and saw Jack calling me.

“yes Jack. Why are you remembering me at this hour?” I asked.

“It’s no biggie but can you come and stay with Syd and I for a couple of days. Mom and dad are going out for a business meeting and I really can’t handle her on my own.” He sais.

“What! You can’t take care of your baby sister. How the f**k am I supposed to help you with that? Call the baby sitter that you are crushing on and tell her to help you.” I say.

“No please. If she comes you know I get handsy and nervous and instead of taking care of one person she will end up taking care of two.”

“Jack, what makes you think that I know how to take care of a three year old girl?” I ask.

“Please. Please. Please. Syd loves you know that. She listens to you always. Please. Pretty please with a cherry on top.” Jack says and I know he is pouting and batting his lashes at the phone.

“Fine will be there in fifteen.” I say.

“Ok. Great. And bro get some snacks for us will ya, ours are all over.” HE says and cuts the call.

I quickly get a bag ready for some days with some clothes and essentials. I stop at the 24 hour open shopping centre and buy snacks for us and some cookies and chocolates for Syd. In 10 minutes I reach their house and and park the car in the driveway. I take the key from the fifth flower pot on the porch, unlock the door, put the key back there and announce my presence after entering.

“I’m here.” I say out loudly and see Syd running to me and hugging my legs.

I pick her up and hug her, “ Jackyyyyyy. Jacky see my boyfrien is here. I will show him Polly my new doll.” She says.

“sure, girlfriend.” I say when Jack comes and glares at me. He always says that she is too young to be saying stuff like this and he wants my sons if I ever have any that is, to stay away from the females of his house. Apparently I have real charming genes.

“Ah. Not this again please. How many times have I told you Syd he is too old for you. He can’t be your boyfriend.” Jack says pulling her from my arms to put her down and simply shoos her away.

“What bro, she’s just a kid.” I say chuckling.

“It always starts when you are a kid. f**k that, let’s make dinner. I am hungry, she is hungry, you are always hungry and if I don’t get food in my stomach I will be grumpy.” Jack says.

“Sure. What’s for dinner?” I ask.

“We are ordering take out because I definitely can’t cook and you will burn the house-“

Jack is interrupted when we here the doorbell ring. I went to open the door and saw a short woman with blonde hair and blue eyes standing with two boxes of food in her hand.

“Hello. You must be Jack. I’m –“

“Sorry ma’am. I’m not Jack. I’m Nate Jack’s friend.” I say.

“Oh. So sorry. Katy actually called Mae telling her to bring food over but she couldn’t so she called me up to bring food for you guys. Here.” She says placing three boxes of food in my hands.

“Sure thank you so much ma’am. I’ll call jack to thank you too. Oii. Jack hurry up and come here.” I scream.

“What now motherf- mother’s friend? Hello. You must be Melanie. Mom said something about you keeping an eye on us.” Jack says correcting his cuss words addressed to me.

“You must be Mrs Scott. Mom told me about you,” Jack says.

We thanked her once again and she left. She had made pad thai noodles with chilly chicken and it was amazing. I mean she should really go for master chef.

We helped Syd get into bed and went back to Jack’s room to sleep because we had early football practise. After both of us had washed up we lay in bed and he broke the ice.

“Man, are you alright? You know you can talk to me anytime, right? We were so close before, what happened to us?” He asked.

“ ‘What happened to us’ are you seriously asking that question, you a chick or what? You know what happened. And you very well know that I don’t want to talk about it ever.” I say getting up.

“Sorry man, but we are always here you know right. Where are you going?” He asked.

“I’m going to sit on the terrace for a while.” I say.

“I am sorry, bro you can talk to anyone of us at anytime.” He says and I just nod and leave the room.

As I sit on the terrace I can’t help but think of how my life has changed all because of the two women who I cared about so much f****d me up. I sit back and think how many relationships I have spoilt because of the walls I built up high. I have now decided that that I will not let anyone think I am broken but be who they The Nathaniel Johnson is. A player just like his elder brother and father, a heartless prick going from girls to girls. I am not going to let Astrid Miller, the love of my life, scratch that, the ex- love of my life and will live up to the expectations everyone wants to live. No one will ever question me if I am doing well or how much baggage I am carrying. Well in the morning a new Nathaniel Johnson will be born, true to his friends, a player and heartbreaker like his father and elder brother and no more a person who only thinks of his mom and a girl who left him. Let’s put these good looks and charming personality to work.