You're Far From Home

Chapter 3

I woke up to the sound of When I Come Around by Green Day playing. I sat up, realizing that it was morning. I was all wet from the dew in the grass. I shivered. I quickly grabbed my phone and checked the time. 7:02 in the morning.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I don't have to be at school until 7:45. I walked down the hill and I threw my hair up into a ponytail once I exited the cemetery.

I wasn't going back to my house, not that I really had time, anyway. I walked to school, not caring that I was still in the same outfit as yesterday.

I walked to my locker and gathered my things. When I shut my locker, Bandit scared me because she was standing right behind the door.

She started laughing and so did I. "You scared the shit out of me, B," I laughed.

"That was the point. Are you wearing the same thing you did yesterday?" Bandit asked, confused.

"Yeah. I kind of fell asleep at the cemetery last night," I said.

"Woah, how did that happen?" She asked. The bell rang.

"I'll tell you at lunch," I said, and I went to homeroom.

At lunch I explained everything to Bandit. She seemed really upset. I don't blame her one bit. I'm really angry at my parents. They really don't like her for some reason.

"I guess that means no art lesson tomorrow?" Bandit asked.

"No. We're having that art lesson. Just don't pick me up at my house. Let's meet at the school or something," I said.

"No, Lily. I don't want to get you in trouble. It seems like you're already in enough trouble, so why should I make it worse?" She said.

"No, look, I'll tell them that I'm coming back to the school to tutor people," I said.

"Are you sure? Lily, I don't want you to get in worse trouble," She said.

"I'm positive, B. They'll believe me," I said, not knowing whether they actually would or not.

On my way home, it hit me that I had to explain to my parents where I had been last night. What do I say? Well, I tell them I had slept in the cemetery, obviously. But, that would totally freak them out.

I walked up the front porch steps and into the house. I went into the kitchen to see my mom sitting by her phone and my dad right beside her, comforting her. She had obviously been crying. There were tissues scattered all over the place. The both of them looked tired and worn out.

"Hey is everything okay?" I asked. That was a stupid question.

"Oh, Lily! I thought yo were gone forever! I was worried I would never see you again!" My Mom said as she through her arms around me.

"Lily, could you tell us where you went?" My dad asked. He sounded angry, but his voice was calm.

Well, here it goes. "The, um, school. I went to the school and slept there?" I lied. I wasn't going to give away the only place I find great peace. I hoped that they believed me, and they did.

"Just, don't ever do that again. And, are you going to be around that Bandit person?" Mom asked.

I shook my head. "I thought about it last night and I decided you were right. I'm sorry for running off and I won't ever hang out with Bandit again," I lied. That was a huge lie. I wasn't sorry and I wasn't going to stop hanging out with Bandit.

"It's good to hear that, it really is," My Mom said, sniffing.

I faked a smile and nodded. "Oh, and my teacher wanted to know if I could stop by the school tomorrow for a few hours and help tutor some students," I said. Lies. All of them.

"Of course, Lily. What subject?" My Mom asked.

"Subject, oh, um, algebra," I said. I smiled so that they would believe me. That was bad. Oh well, I have them convinced.

"Yeah, that's fine," My dad said. I smiled, thanked them, and went up to my room.

I closed my bedroom door and sat down on my bed. Lies. I never lie that much. Heck, I never lie at all. I haven't had a reason to. It feels weird. I know I should feel guilty because it's wrong, but somehow it just feels right. It feels as if I have to be friends with Bandit. There's  something about her that makes me feel inspired, like I have a whole new life filled with so many opportunities.

I took a nice, long shower. I put on some pajamas and went to bed. It felt nice to be back in my own bed, and not on the ground of the cemetery. I fell into a deep sleep, looking forward to Saturday afternoon.

I woke up the next morning, unusually happy and excited. I got up and put on a navy blue skirt and a Fall Out Boy shirt. I tucked the shirt in and slipped on my usual black chuck taylors.

I walked downstairs and my parents were in the kitchen eating. I made a bowl of cereal and sat down with them.

"Before you go out, make sure you put on a jacket," my dad said.

"Okay, I will," I assured him.

Around 11:45 I slipped on a denim jacket and headed out the door. I went to the school to go and "tutor" some students. Bandit said she'd be there around 12. She didn't tell me where we were going or what we were doing, exactly. She just told me to meet her at the school.

When I go there, I waited on the steps for a few minutes. I just scrolled though Instagram on my phone, liking a few pictures here and there. I looked up to see her small, black car pull up.

I stood up and I couldn't help but to grin. I turned my phone off and shoved it in my pocket. I walked toward the car and opened the door. I sat down and through the seatbelt on.

"Cool outfit," Bandit complimented as soon as I sat down.

"Thanks. Where are we headed to?" I asked.

"I'm not telling," She said as she drove off to wherever we were supposed to be going to.

"Have you had lunch yet?" Bandit asked. I shook my head. She drove into a McDonald's drive through.

"You don't have to get me anything," I said.

"Of course I do. Plus, I'm pretty hungry, myself," She said.

"Let me at least pay for it," I offered.

Bandit shook her head, "Nah. How about I pay for it."

Naturally, we argued about who was paying for the food, then we ordered. We then continued to argue and Bandit won, of course.