Hello Little Girl

Chapter 4

"You're just never home anymore." Mary said quietly, standing with her hands at her sides, watching unhappily as her daughter moved swiftly around her bedroom.

Wendy almost laughed, but she didn't really want to get into it now, not when she was supposed to be meeting John in twenty minutes.

It shouldn't be that hard to drop Scott off and go, but to Wendy's annoyance, Mary seemed to find the responsibility of looking after her own son for the night nerve-wracking. Wendy was finding it especially difficult to put up with her Mother at the moment, so she chose not to.

"I know Mum, but I gotta go. It shouldn't be that hard to look after your own kid for a couple hours." Wendy grumbled, trying to push out of her room, but Mary wouldn't have it.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked, hurt flashing in her eyes.

Wendy sighed. "Nothing Mum, now I'm going to be late..." She slipped past her, but the older woman wasn't going to let her daughter prance away without an explanation. She grabbed Wendy's arm.

"What are you saying?" She asked dangerously. Surely the girl hadn't meant what her mother thought she did.

"Nothing now let me go." Wendy wouldn't look at her mother, completely shutting her out, so Mary dropped her am, and watched her daughter bound down the stairs. What had gotten into her?

Downstairs, Scott sat on the living room rug, watching his sister grab her coat and make to leave, but when Wendy caught his eye, she hesitated and stepped back.

"Where are you going?" He asked. Wendy sighed and strode over to him, crouching with her knees on the floor. She pulled him into a brief hug that he didn't return. "Out" she said, releasing him. "I'll be back later."

"How much later?" He asked, almost accusingly.

She smiled "After you're asleep."

Scott didn't say anything. He didn't understand why Wendy was leaving, and without him. Had he done something wrong?

She saw the look on his face and brushed a piece of hair out of his face. It was getting much too long; she'd have to cut it soon.

"Hey" She said softly. "You want me to get you something?"

Scott slowly shook his head, looking at the floor. Wendy sighed again and kissed his forehead. "See you later." She said as she stood. And she left without looking back at him. The thought of seeing his crestfallen face because she was selfishly leaving for a night of fun seemed unbearable, and she didn't want to feel guilty for being a teenager.

Surprisingly, John was waiting just down the street, leaning against the sign at the bus stop. Wendy smiled as she approached, her stomach squeezing at the casual stance he took. God he was attractive.

"Got any smokes?" He asked in greeting. Wendy shook her head and he shrugged, pushing himself off the sign. "Damn." He grumbled.

"What?"

"I left my pack at Mendips."

"Can't you buy another?"

"I'm saving that money for drinks."

Wendy pretended to be shocked at the idea of drinking. "Lennon, what kind of girl do you think I am?" John looked sharply at her, not catching the joking manner in which she spoke and immediately becoming alarmed. Wendy laughed at his reaction.

"I'm just teasing John."

He nodded briskly, covering up his moment of surprise like he didn't really care.