Miracle

(5) Dollface

It was like I knew.

I knew today something was going to be good, and that was that I passed my senior exams. Meaning no matter what I would graduate. Now is when I can slack off my work even more than what I already had been.

I was genuinely happy, better yet excited. I was actually excited to go home and tell all the kids. It was weird because I was actually excited to go home. I'm never in my life excited to get home.

I began my journey home like the usual past few days. Halfway down the sidewalk going around the parking lot, I hear my name being called. I turn the direction it is coming from, seeing the one and only Aaron. His hair was a mess looking as if he just got done running 50 laps in the school's football field.

"Yes?" I yelled back. I needed to get home to the kids but he has no idea about that. It's my secret.

He walked towards me with a towel in his hands showing he was definitely sweating at one point and time. "You walking home again?"

I shook my head looking down at my feet, only if he knew how much is going on behind my closed doors.

"Yep, I don't have a car. So, it's kind of hard for me to drive anywhere" going against my brain telling me to turn around and walk away from him, I walk closer.

"I have an idea! What if I work on your car for you?" hearing those words made me suck in a sharp breath. This can't be happening right now, I don't have the time nor money.

I shook my head in a 'no' motion, "I don't have any money to pay you. So, I choose against that"

Aaron chuckled moving closer, "Dollface, I don't want your money. I just want to help a girl put"

I was curious where the nickname just came from, I barely know this kid. "Dollface?"

Aaron stuck his hands in his shorts pockets after throwing his towel over his shoulder. "Do you mind if I call you doll face?"

I tilted my head back making me more of a drama queen, "Do I look like a doll to you"

"Do you want me to answer that?" Aaron challenged. "Because you look like a very fragile glass doll. Something that can be broken seconds if it gets handled the wrong way"

At this point it was kind of making me angry, I'm not fragile, I am strong and independent. Hell, I take care of 5 kids and work night shift barely getting any sleep. I deal with a heroin addict of a mother who is also extremely abusive. I'm hella good, so no I'm not fragile.

"Maybe you should get to know someone before you go and call them fragile. I'm nowhere near fragile. So yes, I mind that you call me Dollface. Idiot." I snapped. This right here is why I have no friends whatsoever. I snap in point five seconds, I swear I have like anger issues or I'm bipolar. Somewhere around there.

"Ok, fine no more calling you doll face. But, I will find something to call you eventually" He took a step closer, which made me flinch a little.

He furrowed his eyebrows together making me realize what just happened. Now he definitely knows there is something up with me.

I never wanted anyone to know my secret because even though my mom is worthless, there would be no way they would let me take care of all the kids. They would end up split up and that would be the end of each and every single one of them. I can't trust people, I did have a friend before. She was my best friend, one day she spotted a bruise on my arm. Well, I never let her at my house blaming it on the noise and the mess. It was a good reason, right? Well, she decided she was going to become a stalker and sneak outside my house at night and take pictures of everything going on. Nobody even knows I have sibling let alone 5 of them. Kinsey and I keep our distance in school for a reason, just so people wouldn't notice and put two and two together.

My phone began to ring making me jump, Kinsey's name popped up on the screen making my stomach drop. I help up a finger to Aaron and turned around answering the call.

"He's missing. I can't find him, Miracle, I looked everywhere!" she panted on the other side of the phone. No wonder my stomach dropped.

"Are you sure you checked everywhere and you aren't freaking out and looked over him?" I asked frantically. Things like this rarely happen, but they have happened before and it ended way worse, so, we tend to freak out in these situations. But, that's a story for another time.

"I looked everywhere, I swear" She cried.

Turning around I looked at Aaron, with fear in my eyes. "I will be right there. Give me like 15 minutes, don't stop looking"

I hung up the phone and stared at Aaron, "Can you give me a ride somewhere?"

He nodded his head repeatedly, "Yes"

I jogged towards his truck with him following behind, "Is everything ok?" he asked frightened. I decided on lying, it's my best option for the moment. Plus, I don't know this kid, again.

"My dog went missing and my mom is freaking out. Just drop me off at Thurrow Road and I will be good to go." I mumbled.

"I wanna help look for I'm guessing him?" Aaron had a way of speaking softly even when it was a moment where it was not needed, like now.

I stormed up a plan to make sure he wouldn't find anything suspicious. That's when the perfect plan hit me. "Sure, you can help"

* * * * * *

As we pulled up to Thurrow road I had my plan ready to go, and I had to act fast.

"Okay, Aaron you can look over there in that alley and tell me if you see a big black dog anywhere. Yell if you find him, and make sure you look really well because he hides amazingly" I ordered.

Now that my plan was ready Aaron jumped out of his silver truck and ran back the alleyway, I took this opportunity to run for the hills. I ran as fast as I possibly could towards the house. Making many turns, I knew Aaron wouldn't be able to find me, but that didn't slow me down anymore. Ayden was missing and I needed to find him immediately.

Once I spotted the house I ran in through the front door to find a crying group of kids, Kinsey was freaking out pacing back and forth. I took forth to do another head count noticing that he was definitely gone.

"Look around the house again, and look good. Look in every single corner and every little spot he could fit in" I ordered all of them.

I ran outside and down the road towards my car, and there he sat holding his head in his hands sitting up against the car. I ran further towards him, "Ayden!" I shouted making his head snap up and his eyes connect with mine.

He jumped up running towards me, I engulfed him in a tight hug kissing the top of his head. "Oh my god you scared me"

"I thought you left us for good. You weren't home like you normally were and I got scared. Then, then I found your car and thought something bad happened" He cried into my chest.

I didn't even say anything, I was so thankful he was in my arms, "Are you ok? Are you hurt in any way possible?" I asked pulling back and checking his arms and legs for even a scratch.

He shook his head 'no' making me feel bad, I scared him just because I was talking to Aaron. "I will never leave you. And, I mean never. You guys are my family, I'm not going anywhere"

I pulled him back in for a hug, kissing his head again. "God, you gave me a scare"

"Can we go home?" he asked pulling away and wiping his eyes.

"Of course," I smiled.