One Last Hope

Chapter 36

⭐“Pay attention to who checks on you when you get a little quiet. Those are your people.”⭐
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Lorie's in bed now. Drogo's just left the house to go wherever the hell he's going and Peter has gone back to his piano.

I'm not sleepy. I listen lazily to the melancholy melody filtering through the walls and then grab my cell phone.

I rummage through my contacts and select Sarah's number. I feel guilty for having been a little aggressive with her.  She picks up after two rings.

Nora: "Hey Sarah... it's Nora. Is this a bad time?"

Sarah: "No. Not at all."

Nora: "Okay, I just had a little time to kill. I thought I'd call for a chat..."

Sarah: "Oh, you finally want to talk to me?"

I sigh. I'm well aware that this won't just be forgotten.

Nora: "Look, I... I'm sorry about the other night. I wasn't in my right mind. I know I messed up a bit at that party. I'm sorry I was a bitch."

I can't hear anything on the other end of the line. Clearly Sarah is assessing the situation.

Sarah: "Yeah, well... What about your day? How'd it go?"

Nora: "Like every other day when I have to take care of Lorie..."

Sarah: "Did she give you a hard time again?"

Nora: "She was still on the creepy side, but less of a brat than usual."

Sarah: "Like the rest of the family, right?"

Nora: "Please, Sarah...? Can we not do this?"

I lay down on my bed and stare at the ceiling.

I would really like us to be able to have a conversation without all the constant insinuations about the people I live with.

Sarah: "Alright! Alright!"

There's a sulky silence before I start talking again.

Nora: "I didn't call you to start a fight. I just wanted to talk to you..."

Sarah: "I know... Sorry... Why don't you come over to my house?"

Nora: "Right now?"

Sarah: "Yes, right now! Unless you have something better to do?"

I accept her offer, hang up and hurriedly put on a jacket. Great !

As I rush down the hallway, a voice calls out to me...

Peter: "Are you going out?"

Nora: "Yes, I'm going over to Sarah's! Don't wait up!"

A frown forms across his brow. He's obviously annoyed.

Peter: "I don't really like to think of you going out on a night like this..."

Nora: "I have my special telekinesis powers to protect me if an attacker pounces, right?"

He looks unconvinced.

I hurtle down the stairs four at a time and sneak out before I'm intercepted by another brother.

I follow the directions Sarah texted me and soon arrive at the edge of town. When I get to the bottom of her building, I ring the intercom.

Nora: "It's me!"

She's waiting for me on her floor with her arms wide open. I rush inside, eager to find out where she lives.

Her apartment is really nice. It's kina feminine and bohemian. I immediately feel at ease.