Saving Lotte Sullivan | Collingwood/Carlton

86: The Search Continues

'Oh my, love is a lie, the shit my friends say just to get me by, it hits different, it hits different this time...'

'Could you sing any louder? I think they're filing noise complaints in Spain' Mia Van Oosterwijck said, laughing at her older sister and turning the radio down. Amelia laughed too. 'Whatever' she said, checking her phone.

'Have you heard anything from your ex?' Mia suddenly asked, looking over at her sister sadly. 'Turn the wheel a little more. You're going to end up double parking otherwise' Amelia suggested, watching her younger sister struggle to park the car. Ah, the fun of driving tests.

'No. I ended us that one morning and he hasn't made any effort to get me back or to apologise' Amelia said, pulling her sun visor down and quickly checking her reflection in the mirror.

'It's really sad about Jack Ginnivan though, I know Trent was close to him' Mia said.

'Don't be sad for Trent. He didn't even treat Ginni good in the end. I'll be back, gonna go in' Amelia said, opening her door and jumping out.

'CATASTROPHIC BLUES,  MOVING ON WAS ALWAYS EASY FOR ME TO DO, IT HITS DIFFERENT, IT HITS DIFFERENT 'CAUSE IT'S-'

Mia rolled her eyes at her sister's craziness and scrolled through her phone, bored. It was their other sister's birthday and they were on the beer and wine run. Her party was in two days, so it was just a quiet family event tonight.

Amelia, humming along to the lyrics of the same song, walked over to one of the aisles and bent down, searching for a bottle in particular. She nearly screamed when a familiar pair of Nikes appeared beside hers.

'Amelia?'

The frightened girl looked up, clutching her chest. 'What the - Trent! You gave me a heart attack!' She yelled, standing up and using the shelves for help.

'Fuck' Trent whispered, eyes wide and on her stomach. She uncomfortably pulled her hoodie down.

'Stop looking at it!' She whispered, pointing to her eyes instead. Her ex boyfriend looked strikingly different to how he had appeared the last time they saw each other.

'Mine?' He slurred, bottle of something in his hand, more than halfway empty.

'Are you drinking that already? Have you even paid for it?' Amelia asked, taking the bottle out of his hand. He was definitely smashed, she could smell the alcohol on him from a mile away.

'I don't even care anymore' Trent said, looking over at the cashiers, disinterested. 'That's Joseph anyway - my mum's brother. They hardly talk and I know-'

'Yes yes, I know your family Trent. We were together for six years' Amelia said, rolling her eyes.

'Sorry' he slurred.

'What are you doing here anyway? You need to go home. I saw on Facebook that people are looking for you' Amelia said, pulling her phone out.

'I'm sorry. I need to know. Is it mine?' Trent asked, staring at her stomach again. She sighed and took a photo of him.

'I'm texting Tyler, he can come and sort you out' Amelia said, rolling her eyes.

'How far along are you?' He asked, completely ignoring her. 'Oh Trent' she mumbled, trying her hardest not to feel sorry for him. 

He was wearing Alex's work jacket, and a pair of training shorts that had dried blood on them. His long, curly hair wasn't tied back - sweaty and clinging to his face. He hadn't shaved for a few days, attracting a three day growth, and his face...he was worse for wear. He looked and sounded like he hadn't stopped crying in a long time. Nor seen a bed or shower.