The Baneflower

Chapter 10

Riley
Morley didn't come to school today. I walk out of school and see a famaliar face. Her brown hair with teal streaks.
"Hey, don't go home yet." Diana says. I nod and follow them.
"Are we finally gonna hang? It's been a long time, with you and Toby, McKenna, Naomi, and Greyson, honestly. " I say, my voice raspy from the cold.
"Yeah, where were you most of the time?" Greyson walks in between us, his green eyes dull and murky.
"I walked home." I mumble.
"No,you were with that Morley kid, don't lie." Naomi pointed out. She was right.
"He might be an alchoholic." Toby was looking down at the ground, all awkward with me.
"Y'all ain't different." I say. Toby gave me that look that meant "Um not me bitch." and I rolled my eyes.
"At least we hide it better, he's an idiot." Diana retorted, clearly mocking him.
"Did you bring the blunt?" Greyson asked Diana, his hands reaching for her pocket. Godamn, they're going to be high again, the hell.
"What? You guys are-" Toby was interrupted by Diana herself.
"Yeah, anything wrong?" She sounded irratated.
"Yeah, you guys can get arrested, I'm out." Toby raised his hands in the air and started walking away.
"We're not forcing you." Greyson called, but Toby didn't stop.
I stayed, but only for a little while, to learn more about what happens with the vodka kids. It was fun to watch them. I hated the smell though, it was strong and made my mind fuzzy. I didn't actually try anything of coarse.
"Bye guys, I'm gonna join y'all When we're actually doing something fun." I scoffed, walking quicker than normal because I saw some other kids, and I don't want to lose my reputation because of the idiotic things that my friends do, honestly.
-
Morley
I stayed home. I didn't tell Giselle about finding Kody but I told Mama, you know, she will understand.
"Sorry mom, I ruined your day off." I murmured. It was Wednesday after school and I skipped the day.
"Morley, you didn't." Mama said with a weak smile. I smiled back and sat down, a long conversation followed.
"Maralynn, I'm worried about Maralynn, Morley." Mama looked at an old picture from the album. I didn't care about my stepsister.
"Kody, he might come back. Give us money." I say carefully. Mama shook her head.
"By stealing." She shook her head with dissapointment in her blue eyes.
"Anyway, I'm gettin' coffee and just gonna have time myself, ya hear?" Mama hugged me and went in her room. I took the picture and went in my room. Giselle frowned at me, looking through my albums.
"What is it now." I snapped.
"Kody." Giselle almost yelled.
"I heard everything, I'm not an idiot. He is poison."
"He is money, Giselle." I muttered.
"What is that in your hand?"
I didn't answer her, and she looked at the old dusty picture that I held.
"Who are those girls beside you?" Giselle pointed at Sasha.
"She is your dead sister."
"What happened to her?" she asked.
"I don't know, I was too young." I lied.
"Oh. Then who's the other girl? Why are you guys holding hands?"
Lina.
She was asking about Lina.

I dropped the photo, and my mind went blank.