Chasing Courtney

Chapter Eleven

I laid in my bed, restless. I had tossed and turned for what felt like three hundred times. I wasn't just about to fall asleep, have nightmares about Courtney's dissappearance, then wake up at three in the morning, screaming like I have for the past four days. I was about to disappear and find Courtney, with Lauren. I had never done anything this rebellious since Palm Beach two years ago...no. Stop thinking about that. I scolded myself. I checked the clock. 11:07. Was it really only seven minutes I last checked the clock? I sighed and rolled onto my left side.

"Laur?" I whispered into the dark. All I heard was the light purring of a sleeping Lauren. I wondered how in the world she slept so peacefully when we were to become missing children in less than an hour. In times like these, I would talk to Courtney about what to do. But she's not here.

I closed my eyes and began counting to one thousand by twos. That's what I always do when I want to fall asleep, but I can't. I get to twenty four when a horrible image plays in my mind.

My dad reads the note Lauren and I left for him. He falls onto his knees, tears rushing down his face like a waterfall. "My three favorite women: all gone in a week!" He would sob. Sloane would bite back an argumentative statement on how she was his favorite woman. Bennett would try to comfort Dad, but a waterfall of tears would be spilling out of his eyes, too. Poor Ariana would stand there, clutching Mr. Roo. She looked helpless and confused, like an abandoned puppy in the street. She would walk over to Sloane and ask questions like always.

"Mommy?" Ariana would tug on Sloane's skirt that resembles a circus tent. "Where is Lexi and Lauren?"

Sloane would stoop down to Ari's level and tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "We don't know, honey muffin."  she would softly and sweetly, like a magnolia being dragged through molasses. 

"Are they gone?" Ariana would squeak, her little eyes filled with melancholy. My heart broke at the sight.

Sloane's eyes would be brimming with tears. "Yes."

I bolted up and climbed down the ladder. I sat on Lauren's bed.

"Lauren." I hissed as I shook her violently.

"Huh, what?" she stirred and sat up. "Is it four yet?" She threw off her covers. She was fully dressed in J. Brand jeans, an Ella Moss tunic with a Juicy Couture sweatshirt over it. I was fully dressed as well, so we wouldn't have to waste time when we would be meeting Alana at the jetport at three in the morning (Lauren and Ipaid her three hundred extra dollars for the early departure at six o'clock sharp when we were booking our flight as my dad. Who knew Lauren did such a good impression of him?). 

"No. B-but..." I began to say, my stumuch in knots. "I don't think we should follow through with this."

Lauren pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin on her kneecaps. "Why not?" Lauren asked.

"I mean, like you said, we might not even be finding  our Courtney. This could be a trap."

Lauren turned the lamp next to the bed. "Lexi, I know you aren't used to taking a risk. And neither am I. But we have gotten so far. We've basically pinpointed Courtney's location WITH one little note. We tricked Ariana into thinking we weren't leaving. I even pretended to be your dad for God's sakes! We can't give up now."

I opened my mouth to speak, but Lauren went on. "To tell you the truth, I-I really like where this is going. I mean, I'm a puny almost-teenager from Nantucket, Massachusetts. That's all I've ever really been. I could be the life-saving hero, puny almost-teenager from Nantucket, Massachusetts." Determination and hope shined in Lauren's eyes.

I had gone through enough in my life. Lauren knew that. But I knew that she had a point. Her life had no real excitement, from the expiriences we had together. I brought the excitement into her life. Sure, she was a straight-A student, pretty and popular, she had never took into her own hands how to make her life a bit more wild. 

I looked at my best friend. In the position she was in, she looked so small and helpless. The way the dim light from the lamp shined on her made her look like a little angel. What kind of a friend would I be if I let her down? I thought to myself. My flashforward from earlier threatened to enter my mind again, but I pushed it away. Plus, I haven't had any real exhiliration in awhile. 

I smiled at her. "We're still on." Her face lit up like a Christmas tree. That's what I was going for! I thought delightfully. I climbed up the ladder and quickly fell into a light, dreamless sleep.

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Author's Note: whatcha think? i personally think this is 1 of my best chapters!!  AND its chapter 11, 1 of my lucky numbers!! so like, commenta and maybe even....fan? thx and have an awesome day!!! love, love, love, cmractingstar