Stay Courageous

Chapter 5

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Zoe's POV

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Kat texted us last night and said she lost her 5sos tickets. Her mom won't let her go since she's getting a D- in algebra right now. She did say she'd have a surprise for us today at school. Leave it to Kat to find some positivity  even in her darkest hour.

I walked into school to find Ian Crenshaw preying on Stella near his locker again. That creep makes my skin crawl.

"Fuck off ginger, go find someone else's ass to kiss. She's not into you, face it," I said. I'm eternally trying to get this guy to leave Stella alone. I'd admire his persistence if he weren't so damn creepy.

"Be quiet, Zoe. You're just jealous cause you're some goth whore who can't get anyone. You're probably lesbian too. That's why you're always hogging Stella to yourself," he retorted. I brushed it off.

"I'm not lesbian yet but the sight of you might turn me off of guys for good. C'mon Stell, let's head to first period," linking arms with Stella and marching down the nearest hallway. Neither of our classes were down here but I was really just looking for a quick get away.

"You know I don't like it when you talk like a sailor," was Stella's only comment. "It's not lady like."

"Hey, it got him to quit talking to you.  Alright, I'll see you at lunch break then. I wonder what Kat's surprise is," I said, giving her a little side hug.

"Yeah. I'm just hoping she's not still mad at me..." Stella mumbled and then trailed off.

"Ugh. I promise Stella, she's not mad at you. You know Kat, if she was mad she'd let you know."

"Whatever you say. See ya later," she said as we parted ways and walked to class.

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At Lunch Break

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I sat down at our usual table in the corner by the window. Our table is small so it's just the three of us usually. Sometimes some of our other friends join us but they generally have their own cliques to go to. We're the oddballs over here.

"Alright guys. I can't go see Calum Hood myself but I've decided to make the best of this situation by passing on these tickets to two people I love who will actually use them," Kat pulled two concert tickets out of her bag and handed one to me and one to Stella. I almost died right then and there. "The concert's in Charlotte, North Carolina, so it's a bit of a drive but I hope you'll still be allowed to go."

"No. Way." I whispered, just holding my ticket in my hand and basking in its awesomeness.

"Yes way. Hope you guys have fun! It's not until December though so you still have awhile," Kat said, obviously trying her best to be happy for us.

"Thank you thank you thank you so so much Kat!" Stella said, throwing her arms around our friend. Kat isn't much of a hugger but she patted Stella on the back and chuckled a little.

"Haha. See, I told you I wasn't mad, Stell." Just then, the bell rang. "Well, that was y'all's surprise. Hope you survive the rest of the day," said Kat before the three of us parted ways again. These last few days sure have been full of ups and downs.
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Stella's POV
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I took Kat's advice and survived the day until I got home. My dad said I could go to the 5sos concert. But then I overheard him talking with Nancy in the living room about putting his business on the market. He sells cars and he claims he hasn't been getting much business so he wants to sell it but I know what this is really about. I got off my bed, deciding to speak my mind for once and do something about this.

"... Because I haven't had steady income in five years. Stella! Baby! Ms. Nancy and I were just talking about-"
My dad started but didn't get to finish. I cut him off.

"You know, you could just tell me you're selling Ridley Motors instead of just sneaking around here whispering about it with Ms. Nancy. I'm mature you know."

"Stella, I was not sneaking around. I can discuss whatever I want with Nancy and I don't need your approval."

"Yeah, I've noticed. My opinion doesn't seem to mean much around here. Especially anything to do with Cali-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH! I'M THE LEADER IN THIS FAMILY AND IF I WANT TO MOVE TO CALIFORNIA YOU WON'T QUESTION IT!"

"James, I think you might need to cal-" Nancy started.

"No it's okay Ms. Nancy. I see how much I mean to this family now. I'll just go back to my room and be daddy's perfect little baby again," I said quite sarcastically before turning on my heel.

"AND YOU STAY IN THERE!" I heard my dad yell at me before I slammed the door.

I didn't come back out to eat dinner. I sure didn't want to go to school the next morning. I wasn't even sure I wanted to wake up at all.
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Zoe's POV
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When I got home from school the day Kat gave us her concert tickets, I thought everything was peachy until I got a phone call from Stella. She said her dad keeps on talking about California still and he's selling his buisness. This doesn't look good.

She told me she wasn't going to school the next day but I highly doubted that. Her dad would make her come. I just know it's going to be another one of those bad days like back when all of this first started. Except maybe it will be worse this time, I'm not sure. From the way she made it sound, it seemed like Stella and her dad had a pretty heated argument. They never fight. Stella is the biggest daddy's girl I know.

There's something deeper going in here. A grown man doesn't just all of a sudden want to move. And fifteen year old girls don't get this depressed about having to move away from her friends. I just wish I knew what that something else was.
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End of Chapter 5

-SJ
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