Girls Astray. [Complete]

Amy: The girl who tried

Swallowing, I watch my parent's expressions change from concerned to complete shock.

"You mean to tell me, that Lolita's, missing?" Mum asks, her mouth still gaping from my revelation. And she doesn't even know the half of it.

Dad blinks at me repeatedly, like a mole that's finally seen daylight.

"Paul! We need to call her parents!"

He blinks a few more times before his eyes widen by at least two centimetres.

"Of course, of course," he stutters as he stumbles towards the phone.

"Why would she run away Aimes?" Mum's voice lowers by several octaves, "you know you can tell me, right?"

My blood runs cold at the question, my shoulders hunching over and everything in me turns rigid. How can I explain what I've discovered to my Mum? Would Lolita want anyone to know? Heart hammering against my chest, I instinctively shake my head.

"I don't know Mum.. I don-"

All the emotions I've been suppressing, that I've been pushing deep down inside of me suddenly come bubbling towards the surface, my eyes rim with tears and I can feel my throat twist into a giant knot above my chest.

My shoulders drop and the tears finally come flooding.

"Oh love," Mum coos pulling me into her arms, "you'll be ok."

I know I will. It's not about me.

The floor creaks loudly as Dad shuffles back into the room as shifty as fox in the shadows.

"Dad?" I ask eagerly, the hope inside is almost palpable despite everything I know, "any news?"

I try desperately to meet his gaze, but instead he stares at his feet as he pushes them from side to side. Silence fills the room.

"Um – Mrs Kinsella says- not to worry," he takes a large gulp, "apparently- it happens a lot- she always comes back."

Mum's face goes as red as a tomato and she balls her hands into tight fists until I can see the whites of her knuckles.

"Happens a lot?" She bursts out, "what kind of parent ignores that? Who can say that's fine," her breathing accelerates and she taps her foot angrily against the wooden floor.

"Sweetheart, Amy..." Dad hisses under his breath and gesture towards me.

They both stare at me suddenly, then swap a knowing glance, Mum's face softens and she hums, "Ah, well I'm sure Mrs Kinsella knows best. Don't worry love."

She offers me a rictus grin, but I stay stone cold, my expression frozen on my face. They can't treat me like a gullible child. Not now. Not like this.

"Go on and get ready for school, I'm sure she'll be there," her voice is too high, too loud. We all know the truth. The ugly truth. We're just pretending we don't.