The Girl With Blue Hair

Chapter 8

"Won't your mom be mad?" Angela asked as we approached the front door.

I went onto my hounches to look her in the eyes. "She won't even notice. There are enough things on her mind to keep her occupied." I smiled.

I unlocked the door and invited Angela in. She immediately noticed that the house was very empty.

"My dad took all our stuff. He-" I stopped. I was about to tell a ten-year-old girl that my father was leaving my mother and I for his pregnant mistress. Smart.

"Oh, I get it. He doesn't love you anymore."

I looked up at her. I didn't know whether I felt enraged or depressed; but it hurt. No; it stung.

"Yeah. Yeah, that's it." I tried my hardest not to let the tears fall. "How about I take you to my room?" I suggested, putting a smile on my face. Angela nodded.

***

Angela was admiring my "typical teenager" room. Her eyes were wide with wonder. Her uncle probably didn't expose her to anything pretty.

"Do you want to take a bath?" I asked. She turned to me.

"Really?" she asked, excitedly.

I giggled. "Yes!" She almost burst! She ran up to me and wrapped her arms around me.

I closed the door slightly, just so my mom wouldn't come in. I rolled up my sleeves and ran the bath until it was fairly full of warm water. I added bubbles and bath salts. I tried to make it as luxurious as possible.

Angela got undressed and wrapped herself in the huge towel. She stood next to me and frowned.

"What's wrong?" I asked, truly concerned.

"You're making yourself bleed, like Bella." she said.

I quickly covered my arm and dismissed the idea. "Come on; before it gets cold." I gestured to the bath. She got in and squealed at the lovely feeling. I got up to leave the room so she could bath.

"Wait." she said. I turned around. "Stay."

I smiled and sat on the lid of the toilet across from her. She swished around in the water like it was the first time she'd ever been in a bath. Maybe it was.

"Angela." I started.

"You can call me Angie. That's what Bella called me." she said.

"Right." I smiled.

"You remind me of her. You're both really pretty. You both write stories that rhyme. You both make yourselves bleed. You both let people hurt you..."

I wondered why she stopped talking when I realised I was crying.

"I'm sorry, Angie. I wish I could give you everything you deserve; everything you've been kept from." I said, wiping tears away. "I found a couple. They want to take care of you. They will. They're good people. They can give you everything you need and want."

"But I want to stay with you."

I sobbed. I couldn't hold it back any longer.

"Bella also cried a lot."

***

I gave Angela one of my shirts that were long enough to be a dress for her. I ordered take out for the three of us. My mom fetched her food and went straight to her room. She didn't take notice of the girl next to me.

Angela fell alseep very early. I tucked her into the bed and browsed on my laptop. It soon dawned on me that she had to go to school tomorrow but she didn't have her books or clothes.

There was no way I was going back to that house, during the night, to get her stuff.

I decided that the two of us would take the next day off and get to know each other.

I texted May.

Hey. I'm not coming to school tomorrow. I've got Angie here tonight. Don't have any of her stuff. Will talk to you in the morning.

She replied a bit later.

Can I come over to help you sort her out? I mean, I'm not feeling like school either haha

I laughed softly so I wouldn't wake Angela.

That would be great! Love ya bestie!

***

The next morning, I woke up and made eggs and bacon for Angela while she was still asleep.

I was really trying my hardest to give her everything I could; every luxury. I owed it to her; to Arabella.

I don't know why I thought helping Angela and giving her my undivided attention would make up for what I let happen to Arabella. It didn't; but I was happy to be there for this broken girl.

Angela walked down the stairs into the kitchen sleepily as I dished food onto her plate.

"Good morning!" I cried. I actually sounded happy for the first time in a long time.

"Mor-ning." she replied, with a yawn in between. She sat down at the table and I placed the plate in front of her.

"Eat up. We've got a long day ahead of us." I said.

"You're not taking me back there, are you, Lyra?" she asked. I looked her straight in the eyes.

"There is no way that you will ever, ever go back to that man. I will not let that happen." I assured her.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Angela was slightly frightened.

"That must be May!" I cried. I walked to the door and welcomed May in.

The three of us chatted and laughed around the table for a good hour. It was the longest time I had been happy ever since... well, a long time.

My mother came downstairs. She stared ahead of her and walked like a zombie. Her hair was a mess, her eyes were puffy. A gown was draped over her shoulders and dragging along on the floor.

"Good morning, Mrs White." May said.

She stopped in her tracks. I could see her eyes shake as the sob charged inside her until it finally blew.

She sobbed so hard that she fell. She cried on the floor. I told May to take Angela to my room while I tried to take care of my mom.