I waited outside for about a half hour. I was becoming inpatient. Did his mom refuse to come get me? God, if only Chance could drive himself. What do I say to her? What do I do when my mom comes searching? I’m quite confused. Out comes the cell again.
“Hello?” she asks.
“This is AJ.”
“Oh my God! What’s up bro?”
“Where are you?”
“Why?”
“Amelia, where are you?”
“I’m actually in Charlotte.”
“I thought you were in California. What are you doing so close by?”
“I was gunna make a surprise pit stop. Do you need something?”
“Yes I need you to get me from Chance’s this afternoon. It’s urgent. I’m living with you from now on.”
“Oh God. Don’t make the same mistake I did.”
“Shut up. I’m doing this. Here’s the address…”
Ten minutes later we had it all worked out. I would go home with Chance and then Amelia would pick me up a couple hours later. Finally the puppeteer controlling me just lost a string or two. I’m starting to pull them down. Pull them down hard. Now I just have to tell my mom I’m going to Chance’s house for the night. She’ll just have to deal with it.
Another ten minutes later it’s all set. And then I see the flash of red that belongs to Chance’s mom’s car. It rolls up to me about 6 inches away from my feet. I jump in and feel immediately comfortable. Chance and his family are so cool. I’m excited.
“So why couldn’t your mom get you today?” asks his mother.
“Actually she just let me come over. You don’t mind do you Ms. Lawson?”
“Oh no of course not. We love you AJ. You’re like a second son.” She shutters. There is some history to this situation.
Chance had a little brother until 2 years ago. His name was Timmy. I was friends with Chance when Timmy was still here. Chance and I were 11 and Timmy was 7. He was such a great kid, but one awful day he was hit crossing the street. Ever since they have kind of taken me in as a second kid. I suppose I fill that empty part in their lives. This is part of the reason I am so important to Chance.
“Well I take that as a compliment,” I say beaming. “So Chance, what do you wanna do once we get to your place?”
“Whatever...” he mumbles. He is most definitely hurting.
I feel bad and my heart sinks, but Chance knows that this is necessary. I think he is more worried about what I will get into with Amelia. The more I think about it he’s probably right.
She is a pretty crazy kid.
Jenna
My breath fogged up the glass obscuring my view of the asphalt holding the bus. With each inhale the condensation retreated, and with every exhale it grew once more. A finger that shook with memories of the previous night made its way to the window. I rubbed the blur of and turned to my left. No surprise. The seat was empty next to me. I sat crunched against the side of the bus as if I was squished by someone in my seat. There was no someone.
The bus stopped. A new stop? I heard the feet step onto the bus. A girl. She stepped up the stairs and peeper into the faces belonging to the arrogant children that tortured me. She stepped forward cautiously. She stopped. She looked down at me.
“May I?” My heart stopped. Was this some sick joke? “Well?”
“Sure.” She took a seat next to me.
“I’m Kyrie. What’s your name?”
“Uh, Jenna.”
“It’s okay – I know,” she said wisely. Did she know something I didn’t?
“You know what?” She grasped my arm, looked into my eyes, and said clear as water,
“Your pain.”
Could this be happening?
Zane
I arrived at my hotel room around four in the afternoon, which typically was my time to surf the web. Saying I was in a hotel room, not to mention my head was buzzing, I decided against it. Instead I through on a suit and made my way down to the pool to catch some rays.
My thoughts were moving faster than I could keep up with them. Before I knew it I was out of the room and on the way to the pool. I hardly could remember the past four hours, much less the past five minutes. I didn’t really know what was so amazing about Clara. Sure, she had the looks of a goddess, and a pretty cool personality, but plenty of girls fit the same description.
Maybe it was just the rush of being in a new place and doing something you aren’t supposed to do. I thought I was in love. I knew I sounded nuts, but you just know. You know when you’re in love, when it’s not just another high school crush.
I got down to the pool and pulled out my cell. I called Clara, eagerly awaiting a response. No pickup. No stress either. She just didn’t have her phone. I put on my shades, popped in my iPod, and laid back. I figured I might as well enjoy the sun before my parents got home.
At about nine o’clock my parents burst through the door. Seemed early to be home in Vegas.
“Damn Zane! Get out of that bed. Is your stuff packed?” My mom sounded panicked.
“No, why would it be? We still have 6 days.” I just figured she was drunk and didn’t have a clue as to what she was talking about.
“Get your stuff Zane. We’re leaving, tonight!” Dad sounded panicked too.
“What the hell, why, what is going on?” Now I was a little worried, typically my dad wasn’t a trashy drunk.
“They caught us counting Zane, they’re gunna kill us. We have to leave. We have the cash but they caught us.” My mom again.
“Counting cards? Are you kidding me? You were counting cards?” I was pissed.
“Get your stuff and meet us at the car. Asap.” Won’t argue with Dad.
In the bustle of it all Clara completely slipped my mind.
