Not to be found

Chapter 19 - Should have known better

"More peas?" Julie asks me as she passes the large bowl in my direction.

"Yes please," I reply. I love the little green veggies, they're my favourite.

The four of us; myself, Noah, Mike and Julie are sitting around the large oak dining table eating one of the best roast dinners of my life. I thought that my mum's was amazing but Julie's is incredible, and I love my roast dinners.

By the time I finish my lunch I feel like I'm going to go into a food coma, I feel all lethargic, hot and heavy like I'm in dire need of a nap. I hand my plate over to Mike who then places it in the sink, I offer to help wash up but Mike tells me that I'm not needed so I slip past Noah and up into my room.
I climb the big staircase and reach the top practically breathless as my legs struggle to carry my weight.

The room is light and airy, my vision fading as I saunter and stumble my way towards the bed. It looks so inviting; the fluffed up pillows, the soft sheets and fluffy blanket. I collapse face down and use my knees to help me scramble to the top, where I then lay my head down on one of the pillows. I bury my head in it closing my eyes as I feel them get heavy.

My thoughts drift back to home; my room it's tidiness, the lightness, how it used to be my hiding place from the world. How it used to act like a tower where my parents could lock me up and keep me safe. Well not anymore. I'm on the run. I could never go back there. If they were controlling then they would never let me go if I returned. No. Never again.

My other family wouldn't care anyway. They're more than likely glad I'm gone, out of their way. My cousins jumping for joy and my aunties and uncles offering my parents just enough sympathy to make it seem convincing.
My grandparents no longer with us, and so they couldn't care either. The family that is around don't care. Nobody has ever cared. I was never good enough. Never.

Monica. Monica has probably moved on, started to hang out with the popular girls. Forgotten all about her best friend of 10 years. Moved on to the girls that are known by and know everyone, keeping their perfectly made up eyes on everybody making sure that they know there place in the social hierarchy. Below them.
Monica was always too cool for me, she definitely ranked higher than me, in fact I'm pretty damn sure that she know it and silently blamed me in the back of her mind for holding her back.

I was used.
To make her look better. To make her feel better.
Stop Lacey! I mean Gracie!
God damn it you're gonna lose your mind if you carry on this way. Don't let it take over, don't let anything or anybody rule you. You rule yourself.

I shift around on the bed trying to find a comfortable position, and I do allowing my mind to slowly shut down and let sleep take over my body.

*bbbzzzzzzzzz*

I sigh heavily from frustration as my body is made to wake up again, I stretch an arm out to the bedside table, grabbing my phone as I flip over into my back. Who would text me? Only Noah, Mike and Julie have this number.

I stare at the screen waiting for my eyes to focus.

Your little hideout is over.

What? No. No. No. No. NO!
The number is unknown to me, as I stare at the message for what feels like forever.

Who are you? And what are you talking about?

I message back, my heart feels like it's in my ears. BOOM BOOM BOOM.
Who the hell is this? How could they have my new number? I was so careful. So so careful. So how did this happen? It's game over isn't it. I'm done.

Like I'm going to tell you that. I know who you are.....Lacey Grey.

DAMN IT!

Who says that I am? Why do you assume that?
I reply, trying to play the sender at their own game. Fighting fire with fire, and I know for a fact that I'm going to get burned.

Don't lie to me, things will only get worse for you.

I let out a strangled sob as I lay back on the bed, my phone sitting in the palm of my hand as I attempt to gather my thoughts.

What do you want from me?
I hit send. I give up already with whoever this is, as they say I don't want to make things worse for myself.

Money. Money I know that you don't have. But I want it. £70,000 to be precise.

What the hell? Why ask for what I don't have? Oohhhh........Urghhh who is this idiot making my life more difficult?!

Why ask for what I don't have?
I ask, my curiosity demands to be fed. Even though I know the answer to my own question.

I know you're desperate. You'll do whatever it takes for me to keep your little secret safe. I'll give you a week, then you'll be messaged again. Tick tock Lacey. Tick tock.

I don't reply, knowing that I can't bargain with the sender. I lock the phone and throw it to the other side of the room. I flip over and scream into the pillow as loud as I possibly can, I then break down into a sob and just let the tears stream down my face.

I should have known better. Why did I believe that this would work? Why didn't I just stay at home and take it like a normal girl would? But no Lacey, you had to choose the option that was the stupidest.
What am I supposed to do? I don't have £70,000 to just give away. Where am I supposed to find that kind of cash?
I'm done. I'm ruined. I'm screwed. I can't breathe. I need air. Now.

I run my sleeves over my face and open the door to my room, keeping my head down and movements quiet. I don't want anyone seeing me this way.
How could I let this happen? I'm so stupid. You're going to prison Lacey.

I smack into a body at the bottom of the staircase. Noah's body.

"Hey, what's up?" His face is full of concern as he scans mine, noticing my tear stained cheeks and blood shot eyes. I don't know how long I was crying for?

"Nothing," I reply bluntly, my voice quiet as I try to move around him and towards the front door.

He grabs my wrists tight refusing to let me go, "no, tell me."

Now what? This is just going from bad to worse. I can't tell him. But he clearly won't let me go, he's not going to just drop this. Not when he has feelings for me. He'll want to help.

"Fine," I give in, "but not here."