Lost in Love

Chapter 18 - Bella Jones

"You are still seventeen, you have to listen to us and live here."
I shoot up from my bed, realizing I'm still alone in this nightmare. This is all annoying, and being here is hell. Instinctively, my hand rests on my arm, and I begin to move my thumb around it. It's become something relaxing and comforting to me.
I look in the mirror, and find my hair in a mound. As I brush it out, there's heavy knocks on my door.
"If you want a ride to school, then let's go," he slams the door behind him.
My eyes roll. I don't "want a ride." I want to do nothing until I am back with Luna, but I have no other choice.
I sit in the back seat, my dad's voice ringing in my ears, "straight to your brother's car after school."
"Uh huh," it's the same everyday that I want to go anywhere. Why would it change for school?
"Hey, baby," My thoughts are changed. Her voice is squeaky and very loud.
I glance between her and my brother, trying not to let my eyes roll again. The two are beyond eccentric and just weird me out. I've lost count of how many times they've broken up, yet here we are again.
"Hi, Belle," she flips around in her seat to speak to me,
She never listens when I tell her not to call me Belle, "hi," I lean on my hand, barely letting the words escape.
My brother glares at me in the rear view mirror. I try to pretend everything is fine while we enter the school parking lot.
"I'll be back here when you're done school," he pauses while backing out of the parking spot, "don't mess around."
"Mmhmm," I turn and head inside.
I've spent too long away from Luna, since school stopped. I want to talk to her. I want to ask how her Christmas was. I want to be able to hold her hand, or watch a movie with her. Anything to do with Luna. Yet, here she stands, only mere feet away from me, and you'd never know we used to hang out, let alone date.
While sitting in fifth, my gaze falls behind me, at Luna. I want so badly to apologize to her. For leaving, for not talking to her (not that I didn't want to.) I just want to fix it.
I'm going to talk to her at the bell. I have to, to at least say I'm sorry.
Unfortunately, I'm too late, her and Ryan are gone. I can't find them anywhere. Damn it.
I got into the computer lab before leaving, regardless of my brother's voice echoing in my head, "don't mess around."
"Can I move out of my parents house?"
I'm 17, but my birthday is about 5 months away, so I know I can move out then. I just can't wait until I'm 18 anymore. I can't leave yet, not without a court at least. I guess worst case scenario, I try to get emancipated, I just don't know which is better off.
I know I shouldn't be spending so much time in here. I should be leaving the school, but this is the only way I can search this stuff without my dad finding out.
"Full emancipation," my parents wouldn't be able to do anything. The only ways to get it are marriage or asking a court. I feel like the former is kind of counterproductive. Anyways, with court, all I need to do is prove to a judge that there is a serious reason for me to be emancipated. Then I can put an end to all of this.
Eli: where are you????
Bella, let's go
I'm going to leave without you
I pick up my phone as I print off a few papers. Some stuff to read, and some forms to fill out.
Bella: dad will be mad at you if you leave, so we both know you won't.
Eli: just get your ass out here
I can practically hear the eye roll in his text.
I leave him on read and collect my papers. While I put them in my bag, I question if I should tell Luna. I don't even know if she'll speak to me... so I guess there's no point, at least not yet.
Eli is "calm"when I get in the car, but I know that's just the face he's putting on for Sarah.
I'm silent through the ride, and go straight to my room upon arrival.
I can hear my dad and Eli yelling at each other in the living room, my dad's freaking out because we were late. Honestly, big whoop. You can't really expect someone in high school to never have anything to do after class.
I take the pages out of my backpack, and put them in one of my books. No one in my house would ever touch my books, or a book I'm general.
The evening is awful. My dad, his wife, and my brother are all angry at me.
I didn't hesitate, I finished dinner, and went straight upstairs. Now I'm sitting here holding a note I have from Luna, from just before the break. It was simple and sweet. She did it while we were in first period.
She walked by me, and dropped the paper on my desk, with a quick smile.
"I keep looking over there, and seeing pure beauty. I wish I was sitting beside you. I can't wait for lunch so I can. I love you, Darling -Luna"
She had doodled at least a dozen hearts on it. I miss her like crazy. I keep this in my pillowcase, so it's safe. The only other thing I have, that makes me feel safe, is Luna's sweater that I was wearing that day at school.
Inevitably, I fall asleep in my bed, wrapped in Luna's sweater, in her scent.
I wake up to the house being dead silent, "what time is it?"
I turn over, and pick up my phone, 1:27am. I step out of my bedroom and peer down the hallway. They are all asleep. My mind jumps to the conclusion, I need to leave, now.
I quietly grab my backpack and throw a few things in.
"I need to play it safe, at least for today," I whisper to myself.
'Went to school early to do some work. See you later -Bella' I place the note on the kitchen counter, knowing everyone will be in there in the morning.
I make sure I have everything, before leaving, closing the door as quietly as possible
Bella: are you home?
I need to talk to you
I just left my house
I show up to her house, the front light is on. I knock on the door, but there is no response.
The tv in the main room isn't on, so I know she isn't here. Maybe she stayed at Ryan's? What do I do then?
I sit on the steps, hoping she'll be home tonight. After about 45 minutes, I finally see her walking up the street.
Here's hoping she'll here me out.
"What are you doing here?" She asks, timidly walking up the driveway.
"I need to talk to you."