Heart Beats (Editing)

Chapter eleven

Alison Wiped down the last counter with the well worn dish cloth, rinsing it one more time before placing it in the sink, she squeezed out the last little bit of water. "Alison!" Audrey called. Quickly placing the jars on the counter back where they belonged, Alison huried up the stairs to her stepsisters room.

Carelessly stepping into the room, she caught herself, taking a step back, she waited at the entrance. Sobbing Audrey pounded her fist on the bed, burying her face into the mattress she whined.

"Its about time you got up here! I'm hungry, go get me something to eat!" She demanded.

Brushing off her rude comments Alison looked at the ceiling. Lounging upward, Audrey stared with a blank face, eyes wide with tears at the brim of escaping.

"How could they just laugh at me like that? what did I do so wrong?" She questioned, her face pink from crying, her blonde hair carelessly did whatever it wanted.

Alison had never seen her stepsister cry before, she had seen her throw plenty of fits, and cry fake tears to get her way, but this time it was sincere. Alison stood uncomfortably at the door, fidgeting, she tried to ignore the guilt that was clawing at her.

She wanted to be happy that her stepsister finally felt the pain and rejection she had given her, but instead she couldn't help but feel bad for her. Biting her lip, Alison fixed her eyes on her stepsister. "What happened?" Stuttering, she tried to offer kindness.

"Its none of your business!" Audrey chastised. "I want a chessebuger, go get me a chessebuger!" Falling into her bed, she pouted. "Wait!" Rubbing her stomach Audrey cried "I can't eat a cheeseburger or I'll get fat"

"But I'll be late for school, and what about you? Are you not going?" Her voice concerned.

"Go get me salads!" Ignoring her question Audrey shhed her away. Alison bite her lip harder "Yeah" she let out with surrender, Faking a smile. She always lost even when she was trying to be kind.

Grabbing the keys off the rack Alison headed out the door. These were the times she wished even more she didn't have a license.

Leaning her head down on the small beat up desk, Alison hoped to at least get a small nap in before the class started. Students chattering, and the awful feeling inside of her that she couldn't seem to ignore, made it harder then she expected it to be, to get some sleep.

The quite voices and laughter from behind seemed to have disappeared, as someone placed a hand on her shoulder. lifting her head, Alison brushed a strand of hair be hide her ear. Standing beside her, a student smiled mischievously.

"My friends and I lost our ball the other day, and were wondering if you could get it back for us" The girl asked. Trying to hold back a laugh.

"Umm" Reluctant, Alison thought for a moment, feeling as though something was off, but wasn't quite sure what. what could be so bad about retrieving a ball?

"Oh please-" The girl gave her a pleading look.

Following the directions the girl had given her, Alison found herself in the back part of the school. There was not even a student in sight, she couldn't help but wonder if the area was off limits.

Following a brick path, she ducked under a branch. Tall, full tress shaded the empty school grounds. Taking a hesitant step forward, Alison glanced around,
Looking for the run down doghouse that was suppose to be at the end of the rigid path. Remembering the students words as she told her where to go, she thought back.

"We lost the ball, in the doghouse at the end of the path" Coming up to it, she leaned down, grabbing her phone, she turned the flashlight on, she stopped, and listened. Wet heavy breaths, caught her attention from inside the old run down doghouse. Peeking at the top, a sign hung just above the door. she drew her hands back cautiously to her sides, adjusting uncomfortably.