Nobody Likes You When You're 23

Finding Amy

"We need to check your house." Mark said looking over at me from the passenger seat. I look at him at of my peripheral vision, it's weird this whole day was crazy. My life's kind of boring, and when I asked for excitement, I didn't expect this. But, part of it I liked. Meeting Mark and spending the entire day by his side somehow has made this easier, it calmed me in a way I didn't understand. "I know, it's the last place I know of that she could be. I'm just scared I'm going to go there, and she won't be there. Then I won't know where to go next. And, I'll have to face mom." I said with a small sigh. "Well, we need to figure it out Em, I know a pissed off mother is hard to deal with. But we need to know if Amy is at home, so we can stop being so stressed out." He sounded like he was getting a little more impatient about finding her. I could tell by the sort of whiny tone in his voice. But, I didn't blame him. I was getting to that point too. "Well, it's now or never." I said quietly driving toward the house.

He grabbed my right hand off the wheel, it was on there loosely it sorta was just lying there barely. But, he held it. My heart was pounding as he intertwined our fingers. I wanted to enjoy this, part of me did. A smile crept onto my lips. We were here, I squeezed his hand after I shut the car off. We looked at each other at the exact same moment. It killed me basically, our eyes met and I honestly saw something in his eyes. I just couldn't put my finger on it. He finally broke our weird quiet staring contest, "I'll go in with you, if you want me to." He said in small voice. Which was unlike him, but I liked his low voice. It honestly made me wanna smile like a dumbass. "Well, wait here. And if she's not there. I'll come out and get you, okay?" I said quieter than normal too. He nodded and smiled a small smile. "Alright, I'll be waiting." He didn't let go of my hand. Instead he kept ahold of it, even when I opened my door. I looked at him, hopefully to signal him to let go. "Good luck, I'm always here for you." He finally said, he released my hand slowly and I pulled away just as slow. My cheeks were hot now. I smiled as I shut my door. I looked back through my down window. "Thank you." I mouthed to him. He nodded and smiled, I think he read my lips but I honestly didn't think he did. I was terrible at the whole reading lips thing. Even when someone had to read my own. I always over dramatized the whole thing.

I got to the door, I never really dreaded going into my childhood home. This was a mixed emotion, as in stared at the wreath hanging on the door. It had american flag ribbon wrapped around it. And, a small eagle pin at the bottom center. My mom had this weird thing with the whole read white and blue theme. I didn't understand it. I took a loud deep breath entering through the screen door then the big front door. My mom must've been asleep. It was getting late. I walked into the living room, she was lying on the old blue couch sleeping, shes had the same couch since I was Amy's age, it was the ugliest I'd ever seen. The glare of the TV lit up her pale face. People always told me I looked a lot like my mother. She had my same brown hair but it was cut to her shoulders. She was older, so it was greying but she aged slowly and sweetly. I hoped it was one thing I'd inherit from her. She was still pretty, she had style too. She wasn't frumpy like most women her age. She reminded me of a grandma though, she was older but that wasn't it. She had the personality that was sweet and she loved the whole cooking and baking stuff. But, she also had a cool side. One that I really liked to deal with as a kid. She was understanding when it came to a problem. I hoped she would about this. But, I wanted to search the house before waking her up. Just to make sure. I walked slowly past her and up the thinly carpeted stairs. I made it to the top without waking my mom. I mentally celebrated and high fived myself. I finally continued to Amy's room. My heartbeat was fast. As my hand turned the doorknob.

As opened the door my mind raced, she was in real danger if she wasn't here. Who knows what Derek would do to her. I opened the door to reveal a mess. Her clothes were everywhere and so were her shoes. Her laptop was gone. I breathed heavily, what happened?! A tear rolled down my face as I backed out and shut the door. It closed louder but I didn't mind. None of this made sense to me. Why would she go with him? Was this by force or at will? Her room was always so neat and stuff. It was weird to see it like this. All the things she valued most are gone. I walked down the stairs, slowly wiping my eyes at about half way down. Where do we go from here? It took all I had to realize, I might never see my baby sister again. I wanted to scream, in frustration at myself and Derek. He was a terrible person. But I am too, for leaving her alone at all. It was my eyes that needed to be on her. And, they weren't. I wondered if it wasn't Derek, if it would've made it any easier to deal with. "Emberly?" My mom's voice was groggy and low. I swallowed hard, how would she take this? "Mom, I need to tell you something."