Cool Kids Don't Dance

Four

Louise danced home, not even bothering with the bus.

Her shoes clacked with conviction in every step.

Her face was cheery red from the ongoing sprint home but it was worth it.

She had a friend!

She burst through the front door and bustled throughout the house yelling, "MOTHER! Mom! I made a friend today!"

Louise clomped through every room, but Anna was nowhere.

Louise's excitement faltered momentarily but she didn't let it stop her, she sprinted into the kitchen and fumbled through her backpack until she found her phone. But the line was busy on her mothers end.

Why is a cashier on their cellphone during work hours?

Lou scrunched her nose, deep in thought before shrugging and plopping down on the couch for some quality Netflix time.

Life-for once-was pretty good.

• • •

Louise sat engrossed in the newest season of Orange Is The New Black until she finally looked around and realized... Dusk was near.

She grappled up her phone beside her and checked the time.

5:34

Her mother should have been home an hour and a half ago.

Louise quickly dialed her mother and when it was busy again, dialed the grocery store.

Busy.

Louise scrunched her eyebrows and shuffled into the kitchen, her bare feet slowly pattering across the wooden floor.

Suddenly the air around her grew cold as she checked the white board that usually held noted such as:

"Gonna be home late!"

But the board was empty now, and on the wrong pantry door no less.

Louise took in her her surroundings, which began to look foreign to her.

All of her old furniture was here, but it was placed awkwardly and didn't fit into this house as it did her old home.

Louise's mind drifted back to an image of her mother pulling fresh cookies out the right oven at the right house.

Focus!

Louise reprimanded herself. She then paced back and forth on the wrong planks that lined the wrong kitchen, thinking of what she could do.

How many miles is the store from here?

She brightened at the opportunity, but after a quick Google Maps rendition, it quickly faded.

Fifteen miles is a long way to walk.

But then her thoughts traveled to Aidan. Oh, how she would just love to be in his presence again.

Louise. Focus!

Her hands fumble to her pocket to find the sloppy numbers scrawled onto the sheet. Louise smiled at the memory of his freckled hands holding the pen and paper. Oh, how she would love to hold those rough-

Louise! You're own mother is missing! Get it together!

Louise realized the absurdity of that statement and settled before dialing the store again. When it was busy yet again she cracked and called Aidan.

• • •

The minutes barely ticked by. It reminded her of that scene in Hairspray where the clock clicked backwards.

She wondered how weird she would look, already asking him for things and he had just barely given her his number... that day.

Finally headlights shone in through the window and the dimly lit room.

Louise barreled out of the front door and hopped into the passenger side door as Aidan was just opening his door to get out.

"Your front door is open." He stifled a chuckle.

Louise glanced up and shook her head, "doesn't matter." She uttered grimly.

"Do you want me to-"

"No just drive."

"Well okay" Aidan raised his hands up in surrender, "Whatever you say."

Louise checked her phone on impulse.

6:29

"Sorry I took so long to get here... I came as soon as I could." Aidan added awkwardly trying to fill the tense silence.

"It's great. I-"

Louise's head lulled backward, darkness already consuming her vision.

Louise, quite frankly, was surprised she lasted this long with this much stress. She was long overdue, and although there would be an awkward conversation after she woke, it was a miracle she wasn't alone when it happened.

If someone hadn't found her in time...