It's getting dark now. I'm getting a bit worried too. I don't know which direction is home and nobody knows I'm here. I check my phone. It's says its 7:30. My battery is extremely low. 3%. I hurry and call my brother and he picks up on the first ring. "Hello? Ellie? Are you okay? Where are you? You scared the crap out of me!" "Hold on a minute. My phone's about to die. I'll explain everything later but just come get me. I'm at the old fuqua park. The one we used to come to as kids." I hear him sigh, probably in relief that I'm okay. I don't know what I'd do without Nate. He's not only my brother but my best friend. He's always there for me even if I don't want him around. "Just hold on. I'm headed there already." "Ok. Just be qui-" there's a short beeping sound. I look down and find my screen to be black. Great. It died. Guess I'll just have to wait then.
Approximately ten minutes later I see Nate's green mustang pull up to the curb. I start running and so does Nate as soon as he gets out of his car. I crash into his arms and he spins me around. Tears fall freely both from my eyes and his. He finally sets me down but doesn't release the hug. "Gosh you scared me to death sis. Don't you ever do that again." I sob into his shoulder "I promise I won't. Can we please just go home?" He picks me up and carries me to the car. I lean into his shoulder with a few tears still on my face. I don't feel like wiping them off because they'll just be replaced by fresh ones later. As we drive he turns on the radio. My favorite song "tears" starts playing. I feel like the song perfectly describes my situation. I look out the window and it starts to rain. Thunder rumbles off in the distance. The rain starts off at barely a drizzle, but by the time we get home it's downpouring. "Hurry!" Nate yells as we run to the porch trying, and failing, to not get soaked. I shiver as we walk inside. "Where are m-mom and dad?" Nate looks down at his now soaking tennis shoes. "Moms working again and I have no idea where dad is." I shiver again. "You must be freezing. Let me get you a towel." He walks down the hall to get some towels and comes back with two towels and four blankets. "Thank you" I dry off and then wrap the two blankets around me as I sit down on our couch. "I'll make you some soup." Nate says as he kisses the top of my head and heads off to the kitchen. When he leaves that leaves me plenty of time to think. Where is dad? He's been gone a lot. So has mom with work. Is dad even looking for a job? No. Don't think like that. He loves us and will do anything to support us. But still, I can't help but wonder what he might actually be doing... My thoughts are interrupted by Nate coming back in the room.
"I got your soup little sis. Chicken noodle, your favorite." I smile at him and gladly accept the steaming bowl. "Thank you Nate. For the soup and for coming to get me. I'm sorry I ran off like that." I look down at the noodles shamefully. I shouldn't have caused him so much trouble. "It's ok Ell. What are big brothers for eh? Now do you want to tell me what caused you to run off like that?" He asks. I stay quiet. "Ellie." He moves beside me and takes my hand. "You're going to have to tell me sooner or later. You might as well do it now. I can help you if you trust me." I sigh. He's right. I'm going to have to trust. So I tell him everything. All about Timothy and how long I've liked him. How I found out about him and Monica. How Kadence and Katherine told their friend who told the whole school. And about my small confrontation with Timothy. "And then I just kept running. I isn't stop to look at anything. I just ran and then I ended up at the park. I sat down by a tree and accidentally dozed off. Then I called you and now we're here." Nate looks at me with sorrow. "Why didn't you tell me any of this? I could have helped you. You didn't have to carry this alone." My eyes flick around the room to random objects. I always do that if I'm nervous, uncomfortable, or if I don't know what to do. "I know I just didn't want to burden you with my problems. I thought I could handle it on my own. I'm sorry."
"Ellie." My eyes stay glued to the floor. "Look at me." I glance up at him. He has a small smile on his face. "Don't you ever think that you are burdening me with your problems. I'm here to listen and help. You're not a burden and neither are your problems. You can tell me anything. Got it?" I shake my head. "I got it. But if I'm going to tell you everything you have to do the same. So answer me honestly. What's going on with mom and dad?" His smile turns into a sorrowful frown. "I don't know." "That's a lie. You do know something. I'm thirteen I can take it. Also it's my mom and dad too so I have a right to know whatever's going on." He rubs his hands across his face and massages his temples. "Mom really is working all the time. She's working really hard and trying to earn us money. Dad however is a different story. It had been a month since he lost his job and he still found no luck finding anything. So one day I got a little suspicious and I followed him to what he said was looking for a job. He drove all the way across town to a bar Ell. He hasn't been looking for jobs he's been wasting our little hard earned money on beer. But when they are home together they fight a lot. I think mom has the same suspicions I had. I do t have the gut to tell her though. I just can't bring myself to do it." Tears are once again falling down our faces. "Does dad even love us? Did he ever?" He embraces me in a hug. "Shhh... Don't talk like that. I'm sure he loves us. He just got a little lost. Everything will work out. I promise." "You can't promise anything Nate." I pull back and gasp as a thought enters my brain. "Will mom and dad get divorced?" I manage to ask. His eyes practically pop out of his head it the mention of that. "No! No they won't. I'm sure they won't. They would t do that to us. We're fine. Listen I think we've talked enlighten tonight. You should head on down to bed. You must be exhausted." He gives me a sympathetic smile. I yawn as if on cue and go down the hall to my bedroom. I don't even bother changing and just fall onto my bed. I don't have time to think about anything Nate said because I drift off as soon as my head hits the pillow...
Howdy everybody! I know this chapter wasn't very exciting... And I know I said that like last chapter too. But I promise events are coming up that will make this get along a bit quicker.
And I know this was yesterday but it's never to late to honor. So yesterday was 9/11 and I would just like to thank all those people who risked their lives to help others. And to all the people who lost their lives may you rest in peace. I'm terribly sorry that all this happened and I wish it didn't. But it's over now. My best hopes and wishes and prayers go out to the survivors and families of the fallen. 🇺🇸❤️🙏🏼
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What If?
Ficção Adolescente-Discontinued- Ellie has been homeschooled all her life, but with the recent loss of her dads job she has to go to public school. But what happens when her parents start fighting more and more, when she sees her crush with another girl, will she be...
