To Be Freed

Chapter Four

~Courtney~

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!?!" Courtney's mom's voice boomed next to their table.

Courtney jumped and saw Josh flinch. She stammered, "N-nothing."

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO TALK TO HIM!!" she continued, eyes blazing.

"I'm, um, going to go now..." Josh said quietly, standing up and pushing his chair back. He started walking back to the bleachers and Courtney wanted nothing more than to stand up and run after him. The meet was over.

Courtney's mom sat across from her scowling. "What is with you and that boy? Do you like him or something??"

She felt a whimper coming. "I barely know him, Mother."

"Then why do you go behind my back to tak to him?"

"Can I not have a friend?"

"What have I told you about them?"

"Why? Give me more than a lie!"

"They're backstabbing monsters! Everyone!"

"What do you have against people??"

"You can't trust any of them!"

Courtney turned away. She didn't want to look at her anymore.

"Since you don't believe me," her mom started after some silence, "I'm leaving you here to walk yourself home. If you get kidnapped, then you'll see what monsters humans really are."

Her head snapped up to look at her mom. "What?!" She shouted, "Why??"

"I've told you too many times. If you really wanted a friend, maybe your buddy over there can give you a ride." She gestured to Josh sitting with his parents.

Courtney sighed and her mother stood up and walked to the exit. "I'll see you at home, sweetie."

She couldn't believe how stupid her mom was for leaving her with Josh.

~Josh~

"What's going on with you and that girl?" Makoto teased.

Josh felt himself stiffen, "Nothing, Dad."

Haru stripped in a second and jumped into the pool wearing his swim trunks.

"I called it!!" Rei and Nagisa shouted at the same time.

Makoto chuckled, "I highly doubt that, Josh."

"Dad, I'm serious!" Josh was getting mad. He barely knew her. All he knew about Courtney was her name and that she liked to swim. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Courtney's mom carrying her swim bag. They were quiet for a couple of minutes waiting for Haru to resurface.

"Haru's been under for a while..." Nagisa said. They all turned and walked to the pool.

Josh took the time to slip away unnoticed and walked back to the snack bar where swimmers were still eating with their parents. Courtney was sitting at the table where he left her, a tear sliding down her cheek and her face down, staring at the ground.

"Hey..." He started nervously, sitting across from her, "What's up?"

She wiped her eye with her sleeve, "Nothing," she sniffed.

"I'm pretty sure something's wrong, otherwise you wouldn't be crying."

She flicked a blonde bang from her eyes and wiped her fogging glasses. "Oh..." She whispered.

"You could tell me."

"I barely know you."

"Same here but... I want to help you."