Never Lost, Always Found

Chapter Four

        "So, why is Benji so angry at me?" I ask. She sighs, her smile wavering. "Well," she says. She strokes a slathering of cyan on her big toe. "I do know the girls keep teasing Benji on the bus." "Why?" I ask, putting a careful amount of rose-colored paint on my toe. "I don't know," she says.

"Is he upset because of me?" I ask. Bailey shakes her head. "I think he felt alone when you were missing and hurt. When you were upset, I think he was afraid you were slipping away from him. Now I think he's just lonely. Hopefully tomorrow he feels better when you go," she says. I nod, "I hope so too."

Bailey stops painting her nails and stares out of the window. "You know, I've never really liked my friend group. They always were super mean to other people. I just want friends that understand me for who I am," she says, I don't look up from my toenails and say, "I never really had friends other than Benji. You're the first person who has ever tried to help me."

She looks back at me, and I glance up. "Really?" she asks. I nod. "Really," I repeat. She smiles. "You know, you aren't so bad," she says. Bailey spots my cast under my sleeve. "So, if you don't mind me asking, how did your ar get broken?" she asks curiously. "There's a kid named Tanner who broke my arm while fighting me," I answer. She sighs. "I know that kid. I hate him. So, do you like your nails?" she asks. I nod, appreciating their beauty.

She smiles. "I'm glad for that," she says.

A voice makes her snap into attention. "Bailey? What are you doing up there? We've got guests in an hour!" a male says from downstairs. "That's my dad," she says. "Dad! I'm talking with a friend up here!" Her dad comes up the stairs and into the room. "Out. Now," he says sternly, pointing at me. He has greying hair that is slicked over to the side, a handsome face, and a black suit with a checkered black and blue tie on. I sigh. "Alright," I say.

The dad leaves the room, slamming the door behind him. I put my socks back on and wave. "Bye." "Wait!" Bailey cries. "I want you to have this!" She runs over to me and hands me the rose nail polish. "Really?" I ask. She nods. She dashes over to a desk with a pen holder on it. She grabs a permanent marker and pulls up my sleeve. She writes her name neatly on the outside of my cast, right on the inside. Words can't describe how I feel. "Thank you," I say. She beams. She escorts me out of the house, even unlocking the gate for me. "See you at the bus stop," she says. I nod. "Sounds good."

She says no more when she walks away.

I turn around and head back to the house. I turn the block I had before, and once again I see Benji in the window. He doesn't notice me this time. I walk over to his doorstep and ring the doorbell. Benji answers the door, his face growing with a wave of awkward anger. He grits his teeth and says, "What the heck do you want?"

"I wanted to ask you-" I start before he impatiently slams the door in my face. I stare at the door wide-eyed for a minute, then walk off of the doorstep in tears. He doesn't want to be friends with me.

I sing to myself on the way home, kicking rocks occasionally if I spot them. I pretend nobody passes me, because nobody would notice me. They all see through me like a ghost, don't they?

One older lady stops me and asks, "Where did your voice come from, sweetie?" I shrug, taken aback by her question. "I uh...I taught myself," I say. She smiles. "It is so beautiful," she says, her old and wrinkled face seeming sweet and young like honey from a bee's nest. I blush. "Thank you," I say before walking away. My heart lifts. A stranger, a complete stranger, noticed me!

My heart feels lighter now, but I still feel like something's wrong with me.

Standing under the shade of the trees, I slip my hands in my pockets. Instead of turning left towards my house, I turn right to head to the park. I walk calmly, ignoring all of the people. They have no idea who I am, but I still wince any time they say "she" or they laugh at all. I eventually start to run, and I get decently far. I finally reach the cobblestone path and the brick and iron gate that surrounds the park. I walk for a few minutes, before finding a giant tree.