Innocent Fugitive

Before It Began

Margo and Bella had always been Teresa's best friends. But before the smiles and laughs, there were storm clouds in their past. Margo and Bella had brought upon Teresa much stress and trouble.

It was Bella. Bella was the issue. Teresa's life had been perfect until Bella had come around. Teresa could tell that Bella was no good the first time she laid eyes on her. She was a rascal and Teresa wouldn't have been surprised if Bella grew up to be a fugitive from the law. Teresa had heard rumors about Bella's family. They were practically thugs, the lot of them! The first thing Teresa ever thought when she looked into Bella's hazelnut green coloured eyes was; I am never going anywhere near her.

Margo was nothing. Margo had been Teresa's best friend for a while now and they knew each other like they knew the back of their own hands. It was a shock when Teresa watched as Margo walked up to Bella.

"Hey, Bella. Haven't seen you for ages now. How's it going?" Margo greeted Bella with such ease Teresa felt like she had lost something.

"Okay. How 'bout we go get something to eat and catch up? It's been ages," Bella replied. Teresa's feeling of losing something began to rise.

"Sure, sounds good," Margo shrugged. Teresa suddenly realised what it was she had lost; Her best friend.

The next five hours went drastically long. Margo was still 'catching up' with Bella and Teresa felt lonely. She almost cried with joy when the home bell finally rang.

- - -

Margo watched as Teresa ran out of the classroom. What's with her? Margo had been friends with Teresa for a while now and knew that if Teresa ran out of a class, there was something bothering her. She looked over at Bella. Bella seemed to have noticed as well.

"Hey, do you know who that was?" she asked casually.

"Yeah, I do,that's Teresa, she's my bestie," Margo tried to hide the worry in her voice. Teresa was normally a very calm person and didn't have many outbreaks of emotion. However, Bella didn't notice over the word 'bestie'.

"What do you mean, Bestie?" She sounded a little peeved.

"I mean she's my best friend," Margo answered.

"Aren't I your bestie?" Bella really sounded annoyed now.

"You are my bestie, but Teresa's my bestie as well. I can have more than one bestie, you know,"

"Yeah, but something tells me you're going to have to choose sooner or later as I don't see Teresa wanting to be my friend anytime soon," Bella replied as she strutted across the room.

Margo watched Teresa carefully for the rest of the day. The more she watched the more she wondered when Teresa would be her usual self again. Although Teresa looked fine, Margo could sense something was going on behind that calm face of hers. She watched as Teresa would constantly pull out her phone, check the time and then put the phone away again. Bella was also constantly checking something, but it wasn't her phone. She seemed to be always looking over at Teresa as though she thought Teresa were going to make her move on Bella when she wasn't looking.

When the home bell rang, Margo looked over at Teresa once again. Teresa looked so relieved that Margo was shocked, Teresa normally doesn't want to go home as she has less troubles at school than at her own home.

Margo decided it was time for to take action and see what was really going on inside that head of Teresa's.

"Hey Resa," Margo converted back to the Teresa's old nickname they used when they were younger, "Want to come over to my place this afternoon?"

"No thanks, Marg, I have to look after my younger brothers while Geno get's his check up," Teresa explained. Teresa had three younger brothers and one of them, Geno, had a serious medical condition that had landed him OA a few times. Because of this, Geno had to have weekly check ups to make sure that he was all right.

"Oh, okay. I hope he's alright!" Margo attempted a smile but couldn't hide her disappointment. Luckily though, Teresa took it for worry.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, Marg, see you tomorrow!" Teresa smiled as she turned to leave.

- - -

Teresa made her way home quickly. She didn't have to look after her brothers, she had just made that up. She was scared that if she went to Margo's place it would just get awkward and worse. Every time she thought of Margo and Bella she felt her eyes water and had to pinch herself hard to stop her from crying.

The bus ride was long. Really long. When really it was only twenty minutes it felt like an hour. By the time Teresa reached her stop she got a text:

Hey Resa,

Hope your brother is alright,

Marg :)

Teresa didn't know what to say. She knew that one lie would create another but she couldn't, just couldn't keep lying to Margo. Teresa couldn't stand liars or even lies themselves.

Soz, 4got it wasn't 2day, it is 2morrow.

Soz again,

Resa X)

Teresa walked quickly down the street. It wasn't like I'm lying, as it is tomorrow, she thought to herself. She could feel the sweat running down her face. Teresa was not a good liar. She couldn't even lie to herself without giving in. She wanted to get home quickly where she had the excuse of not getting texts or calls because her phone was on silent (which it was) and that she was busy doing homework (which she did) so she didn't get it till late.

Sadly though, the phone buzzed in her pocket before she reached her house.

That's ok,

See u 2morrow!

Marg :)

The front door was locked. Teresa knocked three times loudly so someone would hear. Mum should be home... she thought nervously. Teresa heard a shuffling noise. Nothing happened. She knocked again, this time louder. Her knuckles ached. She heard another noise, this time it was more like a voice speaking urgently. Still nothing happened. Teresa knocked one more time. Her knuckles were throbbing with pain. She gave in. Teresa grimaced as she stretched her injured hand up to the top of the door to grab the spare keys. She knew that she wasn't supposed to use these but it was that or stand out in the front yard all afternoon.

When the door opened, Teresa dropped everything.