Problem Girl

Chapter 6

•Chapter 6•

* June 27, 2006*

I squealed as I ran from them. They hated me, all the other kids. They liked picking on me.

I didn't know why exactly

Or what I did

I just knew they didn't like me.

I hurried to the other end of the playground, tripping as I did so and falling into the dirt face first.

They laughed. I trembled.

"That's what you get!" One of them yelled

"Why?" I whispered back.

I didn't understand why, at merely nine years old, I deserved this.

I brushed the grass and mud off my knees as they continued laughing.

"Come on, let's go. She so dumb." The biggest one said.

I stared at him.

I had higher grades than him, yet he still called me dumb.

I just didn't get it. These people, with their perfect families and their perfect friends, never having to worry about a single thing, were picking on me.

Picking on me because I was different.

I frowned as I felt my stomach turn. My lips burned in anger. My mind raced, my fingers quivered, and all of a sudden, a switch flipped.

"Shutup fat bitch." I spat, using a phrase I'd heard off TV while my foster parents were away.

I watched the group grow quiet, whispering amongst themselves as the heavy boy who'd been yelling at me looked around then began crying. Frightened, I ran away.

***********

"Lola" I heard a voice saying as gentle hands shook me awake.

"Lola, get up" the voice continued

Nat. I so desperately wanted it to be Nat, but remembered it was Andrew.

I smiled softly as I opened my eyes, then looked around the room. Everything was gone. Andrew returned my startled gaze with a weak smile, a somber look in his eyes.

"Lola, we have to leave." He whispered as I stared at him wide-eyed.

He left my side and returned to a closet where he'd kept my things. I raced to the bathroom.

Gripping the counter, I stared hard into the mirror. I splashed some water on my face. What was going on? I was already a runaway. I'd run away from my foster home and was just holding out now, trying to stay unnoticed until I turned eighteen and could just be on my own. I didn't need people chasing me, what I needed was to be left alone.

Looking around, I quickly found the toothbrush Andrew had ordered for me through room service, and tore it out of its packaging. Adding the fresh Crest toothpaste, I brushed my teeth then left back into the main room to meet Andrew.

"Here" he said, handing me my jacket as I grabbed it and slung it across my shoulders.

"Thanks Drew." I smiled, he nodded as he grabbed his wallet from the chair he'd slept in.

I stared at him for a moment then let out a breath as he moved forward.

"Are you coming or what?" He chuckled. Smirking, I followed him out of the room.

**********

*Nat's POV*

If only she knew how much I missed her.. or how much I really loved her.

I'd spent the last hour and a half crying for her.

Well, crying for myself really.

Crying for how careless I was with my thoughts. I knew how she felt about love, yet because I was tipsy and she was flirting with Andrew, I decided to come out and tell her what I knew she wouldn't want to hear?

What a bitch move.

I winced as my phone began vibrating in my pocket, pulling me out of thought as I reached for it.

"Hello?" I greeted the caller, waiting for a reply. Immediately, I was bombarded by series of ramblings by Mrs. Tina, her words mushing together to the point where it became incomprehensible.

"Woe, Mrs. Tina, slow it down. I can't understand you" I chuckled. She was probably just calling to talk about today's shifts. Today was the anniversary of her restaurant, and was usually the most packed day of the entire year, with the exclusion of New Year's of course.

The line became silent.

"Mrs. Tina?" I callled again. I smiled silently as I heard a rush of air on the other line. I couldn't wait to tell her what I had planned for today. I'd been planning something special for today ever since she'd told us how hard it was keeping up with business. I'd wanted to surprised her so bad.

"Nat-" she began, but I cut her off.

"I know what you're about to say Mrs. Tina, and don't worry okay? I've got it all under control. Fred is already getting the batter ready, and Gina is pretty much manning the entire kitchen, and you know how that goes." I chuckled

"Nat" she called again, but I had to finish. I had to let her know everything would be okay before she had some kind of nervous breakdown. I'd literally taken care of every detail and wanted her to know that. I wanted her to know how much I'd appreciated her this past year, even though I hadn't really been acting like it lately.

"I on the other hand am taking care of the register so pretty much everything will be-"

"Nat!" she interrupted once more "Andrew's missing. He's gone. He left me some message about how he would be back, but he isn't." she croaked, her voice a low whimper as she spoke to me.

I rolled my eyes, typical Andrew. How could anyone even have the balls to treat their mother like that? He probably left because, once again, he was looking for more attention. As if visiting your mother for the first time after sixteen years of absolutely no communication wasn't enough spotlight for a lifetime.. I sighed audibly.

"Mrs.Tina, I can assure you that-" but she cut me off again

"Lola's missing too." She whispered, her voice breaking in the middle.

Instantly, my lips froze, my phone slipping through my fingers and falling to the floor as my face remained blank.

I knew Lola. I knew how reckless she was, especially when she was drunk and last night. Last night was just..bad.

My adrenaline sped, my heart pounding, almost ripping through my chest as I sat in unspoken agony. I was feeling it now. Feeling the rush of anger and pain and hurt.. Little by little, I was feeling my world shatter.

"Give me ten minutes." I gasped, fumbling to put my phone back to my ear. I knew it was a twenty minute drive, but I didn't fucking care.

"I'll be over in ten minutes." I reiterated curtly before hanging up the phone and grabbing my keys.

I needed her. I needed her to be okay. And if she wasn't.. I would never forgive myself.

----------------------