Broken Memories

Chapter 8. Lauren

Chapter 8. Lauren

My hand drops to my side. An eerie silence fills the room.

'Mum?' Scarlett asks with her eyebrows raised high on her forehead.

'Stay out of this, Scarlett Nicholson. Lauren, get out of my house.'

I stand there. Absolutely dumbstruck. Lost for words. My eyes flick from a very confused best friend to a statue that is her mum.

'Now!' she roars, jumping me out of my trance.

I stumble backwards like she's punched my gut with words.

'I-I-I'm sorry,' and I turn and run out the door, past one of Scar's sisters and I hear Scarlett say angrily, 'Mum! What was that about? How could you? She's my best friend! Lauren! Wait!'

I hear footsteps get louder every second behind me after the hinges and frame of the front door rattle angrily.

'Lauren!' she calls again. 'Wait!' she grabs my arm and spins me around to face her.

'I'm so sorry,' I say with wet cheeks, blurry eyes and a thick throat. 'Maybe it's best if I stay away,' I whisper as I turn to walk home.

'Lauren!' she grabs my arm again. And once more I stare into her blue eyes.

'This is bull crap! No one tells my best friend to get out of my house! And you have nothing to be sorry for! Look, I don't know what's up with my mum...' her red hair shakes sadly, and she rakes a hand roughly through the curls. 'But this isn't like her. She's usually really nice. I'm going to talk to her. And set her straight. That was unacceptable,' she pauses when I stifle a laugh.

'You sound like my mum when she was angry at me,' I laugh through tears. Great. Now I've put another sad thought in my mind.

Scarlett seems to notice immediately and wraps her skinny arms around me.

'It's okay. I'll figure my mum out. You call Liam and get him to pick you up. I'll get your bags from the car and I'll wait with you.'

I nod, already dialling Liam's number as Scar runs back to the garage where the car is.

'Hey, Liam speaking,' Liam's voice says after two rings.

'Liam,' I sob unwillingly.

'Lauren?' his voice is suddenly full of concern. 'What's wrong?'

'I'm at Scarlett's. I'll explain soon. Can you pick me up please?'

'Or course,' I hear the jingle of his scooter keys, the slam of a door, the baby roar of his scooter, and, 'Where?'

*

Five minutes later, with a familiar "Meep", Liam and his scooter round the corner.

He barely turns it off before flinging himself off the bike and wrapping his comforting arms around me.

'Are you okay?'

'It was my mum,' Scar explains for me. 'When Lauren said hi, she was all like "Get out of my house!" like a crazy ice queen, you know, like the one from Narnia! I'm so sorry, Lauren,' her red curls shake sadly again.

'So, I'll talk to my mum. You just get Rin safely home, okay?' Scar glares threateningly at Liam.

'Okay! Okay!' He holds his hands up in surrender, 'I will. I promise, Scarlett.'

'Okay,' she hugs me again, muttering the millionth apology and walks inside her house.

Liam thankfully drives immediately away from a place where I will probably never feel welcome again.