Parachute [Book 4]

Chapter 5 - Firestarter

Angie McGraw

***

As soon as I walked into Glee club that afternoon and only saw Travis and Melissa sitting on the chairs, both on opposite sides of the room, I felt the tiny inkling of hope inside of me drain. There were actually only three of us. We actually didn't have any hope of doing anything at all this year, I was sure.

So the first thing I did when I stepped into that room was sit on the floor by the door. Travis and Melissa both gave me a stare and I stared back at them, slowly pushing myself along the floor on my butt until I reached the middle of the room. They were both still staring at me in silence, not bothering to question what I was even doing.

And anyway, I didn't owe them an explanation for everything I did. I could sit on the floor if I wanted to. I could be upset that Jake hadn't called me back after I texted him and left seven voicemails if I wanted to. I could do anything I wanted, and they shouldn't have had to care at all.

I fell down into the fetal position and stared at the legs of the chairs, which lined up with my eye sight exactly. I could still feel them both staring at me. At least they weren't saying anything.

Taking in a deep breath, I let out a loud sigh and brought my hands up to my face, covering my eyes. What was wrong with me? Why was I acting so bitter and bipolar? I couldn't blame my sudden mood change on the fact that Marley and Jake were gone... but then again, maybe that was the whole reason in a nutshell. I just didn't know.

Those were the two people that had kept me so happy for longer than I ever had been. They were the two people that changed my life completely. If I hadn't met them, I would still be living out on the streets and selling myself.

I was living a nightmare, and they both saved me. It was really obvious I needed them with me; otherwise I'd be what I am now – a bitter girl that has had her sense of humor and the life sucked out of her.

I fumbled for my phone in my pocket and eventually pulled it out, sliding it open and clicking the quick call button, which immediately started dialing in Marley's number. The sound of the ringing from my phone was the only thing making any noise at all in the room and it just made Travis and Melissa stare at me even more carefully.

It took a couple of seconds before Marley finally answered her phone. "Hello?"

"Hi Marley." I groaned, rolling onto my back and lying flat on the floor, sticking one leg up in the air. "What's happening?" I asked her, watching my foot and jiggling it in mid-air, amused by my undone shoe laces dancing around.

"Ryder just got home from school!" Marley shouted excitedly. I heard footsteps as Marley walked around in her apartment and a loud huff of breath as she sat down.

I looked over at Melissa and found her giving me a worried look still. I shrugged at her and quickly gazed back up, to the ceiling. Why did she look so worried anyway? Oh yeah, that's right, I was acting so bitter and so careless and so unlike the girl I was last year. "How did that go?" I asked, twirling a strand of hair around my finger.

Marley laughed and I heard her clap her hands. "He said it was great, didn't you, babe?" Marley called out to Ryder, and I faintly heard him agree.

"Aw, that's great." I laughed. "Say hi to Ryder for me, too."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Melissa's eyes widen as she heard me mention her cousin. "Say hi to him from me, too! Please, say hi! Tell him I hope he had a great day! Tell him I love him so much, and that I don't miss him living with me."

I smiled slightly at her and nodded, telling Marley exactly what Melissa said, and she copied it to Ryder. Ryder laughed and mumbled something about her being so annoying and stupid, and then Marley told him that she wasn't going to say that (thinking I didn't hear him) and then she said to say hi back. So I did.