The Peterson's

Chapter 9

"Midnight Zoey, really?" Dylan shakes his head. "How do you expect us to trust you when you stay out this late?" Jordan adds.

"Whatever you say, I don't care. The three of you have done a lot worse, I told you that this morning" I start walking to the stairs, ignoring their glares. "We just expected you to be the mature one Zoey. You had us three worried again" Liam says in a disappointed tone.

"Uh..So Dad didn't care?" I laugh sarcastically "Of course he didn't, He doesn't even love me. He only cares about his three precious boys" Their expressions automatically change from angry to sad.

"He loves you Zo. You just remind him a lot of Mom and he's still trying to-" I cut Dylan off "Get over her? Yeah, you've been saying that for the past two years now. I think he's had plenty of time" I stomp up the stairs and run to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me and locking it.

• • •

I wake up the next morning with blood shot eyes, I didn't end up sleeping for another couple of hours after the argument. I decide it's best to walk to school instead of being in a car with the three people who are annoying me the most at the moment.

When I get to school, Melody is waiting by my locker, looking perfect..again. "Hey..." She begins but I can tell she's already forgot my name "Zoey" I tell her "Zoey!" She repeats what I said in a higher pitched voice. I open my locker and Melody stands there awkwardly until she finally speaks "We need to go shopping on the weekend" I look at her in confusion "Shopping?" She nods in response. "Melody I don't shop" I laugh and shake my head while closing the locker door and starting to walk down the hall with my book. She almost growls when she hears this and quickly runs up to beside me, the loud noice if the scurrying of her heels against the tiled floor. She then goes on and explains, for what seems like forever, the importance of shopping.

"Fine" I give up after five minutes. I couldn't be bothered to fight with her plus her reaction is priceless. She squeals and smiles brightly. Making her happy feels good.

"I'll pick you up on Saturday at 10. Make sure to bring a lot of money!" She tells me before somehow running off in heels.

• • •
At lunch, I find an empty table and sit down. I look over at the two head tables. The tables both represent the two opposing football teams. On the left I see Melody with a bunch of jocks on the West Brooksworth head table and on the right I see Jordan at the East Brooksworth head table making out with a girl..but I can't find Dylan.

While I look around for him, I feel someone sit next to me on the bench. It's him. The only guy who would be willing to sit next to me. Cameron.

I turn to look at him and then I continue to search for my brother "Who are you looking for?" Cameron asks as he looks behind him to see where I'm looking.

"Dylan, my brother. He always sits there with them" I point at a table five tables away from mine that has about eight computer nerds on their devices "but he's not there"

"Maybe he's gone to the toilet or is getting his food" he sees me start to tense and get stressed "It's ok Zoey, he'll be somewhere" I stand up frantically so I can see all the tables "You don't understand. We have only been here a few days but he has routine, his routine never changes, never. Something is wrong"

Cameron's expression changes as he sees this is important. Something has happened to my brother. By now, Jordan is looking at me and knows why I'm standing, he knows somethings wrong too.

For a second, the canteen goes silent and all I can here is someone yelling "fight".
The whole canteen turns their heads to the door leading to the hall. I quickly climb over my bench and start sprinting out of the canteen, I feel Cameron close behind me.