Chapter 3 - D-Dead?!
~Carrie's Point of View~
"Boo!" A funky looking dude jumped out from behind the clothes rack. Ross's eyes grew wide and he held his hand up to his chest.
"Rydel, you scared me to death, you had me so worried!" He growled at her. She was wearing a purple wig, peace sign glasses, and a small beard that looked like an arrow pointing down.
She bursts into laughter, "You should've seen your face!"
Ross pouts, "Not funny!"
She calms down, "I'm sorry, it means so much to see how worried you were." She hugs him and it takes him a minute before he hugs back.
"So why are you three wearing that junk?" I asked and pointed to Rydel, Rocky, and Ratliff.
"Disguise," Rocky shrugged.
"So who's the girl?" Rydel grins. I grin back at her.
"I'm Carrie," I introduced myself once more.
"I'm Rydel," she stuck her hand out to me and I shook it.
"Yeah, how did you meet up anyways?" Rocky asked. Ross turned his head towards Ryland for the answer.
"Well, when we were running from that crowd," he began, "Carrie here saved me by pulling me into an alleyway while you guys kept running. Then we met and I found Ross hiding under a table near by and called him over and that's how they met, and that's why she's here now."
"Oh," Rocky nodded. Riker leaned over and whispered something in Rocky's ear and Rocky smirked at me.
"What was she doing out on the streets anyways?" Rydel questioned Ross and Ryland. They turned to me.
"You wanna tell them?" Ross inquired.
"Why not?" I shrugged, "I actually live on the streets ever since yesterday morning."
"What?! Why?!" Most of the yelled in unison, earning a few odd looks from other customers.
"Here's the sad part," I frowned, "my parents recently died and I was being sent to an orphanage, and I was almost adopted by this woman that seemed so... I don't know, I'll let this bruise explain it." I pulled up my short sleeve up a little and showed them the bruise from where she had grabbed my arm.
"Wow, I'm so sorry," Rydel gasped. They were all staring at it with sad looks on their faces. Rydel hugs me and I hug back.
"Well I'm starving, how about you guys?" Ross changed the subject. He must of noticed that I didn't feel too comfortable about talking about it. He gave me a weak smile, earning one in return. Everyone nods and start walking out of the store. I decide to follow them back down the side walk until I find the bench where I slept and sat down. I watched each one of the walk into the small building that read 'IHop'. After a few minutes, Rydel came running back out and looked around until she saw me. Then she ran up to me.
"Aren't you coming with us?" She asked, sitting down next to me on the bench.
"I don't have any money," I sighed.
"We'll pay," Rydel smiled, "After all, you saved my baby brother."
"I can't make you guys pay for my food," I refused.
"Come on!" She shouted, grabbing my wrist and practically dragging me with her, "You're going to eat, I can tell you're starving!"
I rolled my eyes and gave in. I sat between Ryland and Rydel while Ross sat across from me. Riker sat in front of Rydel and Rocky sat in front of Ryland. And Ratliff sat between Riker and Rydel. I ordered the meal of pancakes, then ate it like it was the last meal I would ever get, which it probably was. Once we were done, Riker paid the bill and we stepped out of the restaurant. A huge bus was waiting right outside the doors and the door flung open when we stood outside of it.
