Lauren

Chapter five

Lauren ducked into her   locker and whispered a voice message into her phone.
"Message three, Eddie you're not picking up your phone, replying my messages or even calling me. I really need to hear from you to know if you're okay_" she paused and drew a deep affectionate breath. _"call me." She ended the voice message and withdrew her head out of her locker, selected some note books out and locked it.

She turned over and nearly screamed out of shock as she found Mike and his two tough friends; Troy and Jim in front of her with a sharp gaze.

"Hello sunshine." Mike muttered with the usual crooked smile. Lauren avoided eye contact. Her gaze was fixed to her pair of leather shoes.

_" I heard about what happened to Eddie, how's he doing now?." Mike said like a stubborn child trying to act nice for the first time inorder to get a candy.

There was no reply from Lauren. Her eyes were still on her shoes. She was actually trembling within. Suddenly, Troy's mighty arm grabbed her by her shirt and pushed her hard against the locker as he threatened angrily in almost a whisper.

"When you're being asked a question, you answer what did I say?."
Lauren was breathless as her eyes widened in fear.
"When........ when I'm being asked a question I answer." She replied fearfully as Troy let go of her.

A corner of Mike's lips lifted in a sardonic smile.
"Good girl."
Troy and Jim always played the role of acting as watch men. They always made sure principal Jacqueline was out of sight because that woman's head was always on fire. But unlike the principal, they were like 'screw you' to the rest of the teachers.

At that moment, Lauren yearned for dark magic because she would love to see their heads explode with blood stains all over. Damn. That thought felt so evil. But she was faced with reality, the three ugly demons always after her.

Mike stepped closer and continued in a low tone.
"You know being left all alone at school without your best friend can seem so awful_" he said sheepishly. _"you feel so lonely and intimated by almost everyone_" he paused and faked a sad face dramatically.

_"so why don't you join him then?." He said almost untop of his voice and clenched his fist hardly in front of Lauren. Lauren's eyes widened the more. Her legs started to quiver.
"C'mon Lauren."
"Just a hit."
"You wouldn't mind right?." They all muttered with the crooked smile.

Immeciately, the school bell rang for class. Without hesitation, Lauren took off without looking back.

***
Sandy sat on the swivel chair at the reception area of the restaurant almost dozing off. Her eyes droop like heavy curtains, weighed down by the exhaustion of a sleepless night.

Dark circles, like bruises, smudge the delicate skin beneath, giving her a worn, tired appearance.

Her face, pale and drawn seemed to sag under the weight of fatigue, as if gravity was pulling her down. Her red hair was also unkept. It seemed like it was arranged with lack of enthusiasm, as if she had barely mustered the energy to run a comb through it. The dull appearance of her hair also mirrored her exhausted state.

Lucy walked in with a brightened look.
"I've got good news, we're just left with $100 to complete the bills_" she exhaled deeply. _"I'm pretty sure we can cover that up before Monday so the dumbass would stop tossing us around."

Sandy adjusted herself on the chair drowsily.
"Okay, great." She muttered.
Lucy creased her brows. "Sleepless night?."
Sandy yawned and rubbed her eyes childishly.
"Prolly."

Lucy crossed her arms on her chest. She was putting on a serious face as she stepped closer.
"What is it this time?."
Sandy was silent. Last night's scenario was traumatizing. She was even still able to sleep in the bedroom with that strange figure. Other women like Lucy would've disappeared into the street immediately.