The Case of the Missing Little Sister

Chapter Eleven

Here I stand, back in school. All eyes are on me. 

"Isn't that the girl who couldn't find her own sister?" I hear someone ask. "Like how ridiculous is that?" the voice finishes.

"I feel bad for that poor guy trailing around with her... I just hope he's able to pass this year." Another voice comments.

"Emily is hopeless, she couldn't do such a simple thing?!" I hear Mandy and May and some other girls joke and talk and the eye me. I go to my locker and everybody walks away from me saying, "I can't be next to an idiot." 

I pass Ethan, who gives me a weird look. "Thanks for ruining my freshman year, Emily!" he says. I can't hold it. "How is it my fault?" I ask.

"You, are just too dumb and stupid, and no one likes you. Go back to New York!" another boy says. And all the people fall into the same chant, "Go back to New York!" 

Tears pour down my cheek, I know I shouldn't have ever come here. 

"Look! That loser is crying now!" I hear May's voice say and everybody starts laughing. I run to the girl's washroom. Some girls look at me and say, "You're not allowed here, loser." and laugh.

I run and run, to my dorm room. I enter it and Mandy faces me, "Get out of here, loser." she says and throws my boxes and bags out. 

I wake up, with a jolt.

It was just a dream, but it felt real. Tears stained the t-shirt. I get up, I'm still in the hotel room and I run out of the room.

What have I done? Why did I tell Ethan to back off? Why did Olivia ever leave? I really shouldn't have gone, if I had stayed back in New York, I wouldn't be in this situation.

Ethan's POV

I hear the door slam shut, and sniffs. I open my eyes, and see that Emily is not here. She's run off. Why? I get out and open the door, sleepily. Where is she, now? She's so much like my younger sister. Yes, I have a younger sister. Ashley. 

I see tear stains on the carpeted floor and I follow them, till they lead outside, to a balcony, which overlooks the other surroundings. Emily sits alone on a bench, rocking back and forth, curled up and crying. Breakdown session?

I go next to her and sit next to her, she doesn't respond. I'm suddenly at a loss of words. I don't know what to say. 

"Just please, leave me alone?" she begs, her voice hoarse, and awkward. I nod and get out. 

I obviously know how, girls lash out sometimes...

"Get the freaking out of my room!" Ashley yells. "Hey! No using bad language!" I tell her. "JUST GET OUT, ETHAN!" She yells and boxes me in the stomach, and does an uppercut, and I fall backwards. She starts hitting me with a pillow and literally drags me out of the room. What did I do? Just interrupted her while she and friends were talking about some guy!

I go back to the hotel room in silence. I sit down and switch on the television. I stare at the clock, '1:17 AM'. The only show right now, is a live talk show. So, I watch it.

After about fifteen minutes, I get up and yawn. A big yawn. I stretch and walk out again. I go to the balcony silently, or, I just basically creep on her. She doesn't stir. I get up and say a quiet, "Emily?" No response. I smile. Fallen asleep, eh? 

I pick her up and let her sleep and I, myself, fall asleep.

Emily's POV

"Rise and shine!" I hear Ethan say and snort. I open my eyes, to him almost about to pour a jug of water on my face. "Yeah, yeah," I say and smirk. "Washroom's mine!" I yell and dive for the washroom, "NO!" Ethan yells and I slam the bathroom door on his face and giggle. This the first time in days, that I was actually in the mood to tease Ethan.