You Have To Have Faith (On Hold)

Chapter Three

I dreaded the thought of going to lunch. I can't make friends! Friends are trouble. They'll stick their nose into my personal life and tell someone about my dad. It's just best to be alone and not risk the chance.

I know Ellie has friends but I'm not too concerned about them, and Ellie deserves a better life than me. If I were to restrict her from making friends I wouldn't be any better then my dad. Ellie needs to have something in this cruel world to keep her going.

I stared up at the clock and gulped. Thirty seconds until the bell rings. Everyone began packing up their belongings including myself as I eyed the clock.

Maybe I don't need to go to lunch, I could hide in the library or the bathroom. That's what I've always done anyway.

The bell rang and the classroom quickly emptied. I tried to blend into the crowd but I was quickly pushed and shoved to the outskirts of the hallway, where I stood in broad daylight. I looked around but didn't see Faith anywhere, so I cautiously made my way to the bathrooms.

I placed my hand on the handle and took one more look around before I opened the door. I froze in my tracks.

There she was, in all of her glory, Faith Danvers. What is my freakin luck.

She had her hand up as if she was about to open the door her self and when she saw me she quickly looked down. "Caterina... Um, hi."

"Yea, hi-" I cut myself off as I looked up and noticed her eyes were red, as though she had been crying. It was barely noticeable and anyone else probably wouldn't have seen it, but I see those eyes all the time when I look in the mirror. Hidden sadness.

"What's wrong?" I asked, concerned. I don't know why I asked. I was suppose to be ignoring her, but ever since I've had to take care of Ellie, a mother's instinct kind of just kicks in.

She folds her arms and avoids eye contact while muttering, "It's nothing. It's stupid, you wouldn't get it." She said as she walked past me.

I debated in my mind whether I should go after her or hide in bathroom, and unfortunately my mothering instincts took over again and I caught up to her. "Try me."

She looked up at me and sighed while stuffing her hands in her pockets. "Sometimes, I'll volunteer to go and help out at the animal shelter and take the dogs on walks or clean out the kennels. We have little vests that we put on them that says 'adopt me' when we take them out." She chuckled lightly as she recalled the memory. Then her face saddened as her eyes fell. "I just got a phone call that one of the mutts, max, was just put down. He was only born with one eye, and no one wanted him. Everyone just goes straight to puppy mills to get the 'perfect puppy' but the shelter dogs are just so precious." She let out a long sigh and gave me a half smile, "I just wish other people could see that."

"Hm. I've always preferred mutts over pure breads anyway." I said as I nudged her shoulder with mine, "I mean, pure breads are boring. Why have one, simple dog when you could have one that's a mix of like, four other breeds?"

She gave me a bright smile as her spirits seemed to lift. "You really think so?" I nodded. "That's what I keep trying to tell everybody! Everyone thinks pound dogs are mean and hostile that were just pulled off the streets, but they're just the sweetest little guys. They just want to be loved and have a family you know?"

Oh, I know the feeling more than you realize.

Faith chuckled as she looked at the ground. "Sorry for boring you with all this. You probably don't want to here me crying over a shelter dog."

"No! I love animals, I think it's nice what your doing." I said as we got in the lunch line.

"Do you have any pets?"