Project Jane

Three

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Sunday 19/3/17

I quickly pack my bag, getting ready to leave. I have to meet Alex and Brittany at 6:40 A.M., it's 6:07 right now, that gives me 30 minutes to finish packing, get my lunch I made the night before and get to the bus stop at the end of my street.

I shut the door as quietly as possible, trying not to wake mum and dad. Jimmy was stirring when I walked passed his door just 5 minutes ago, he'll be awake in 4, he'll wake mum and dad up in 12. They'll realize I'm gone in about 1 hour, maybe less. But I'll be on the bus and off by then. As I pedal to the bus stop, just 15 minutes away, I start to think about last night. I think it's ok to say it went pretty good. As good as something like that could go, anyway.

-

"Em! We're leaving!" My dad shouts up the stairs at me.
"Yeah, I'll be down in a second!" I shout back.

I'm not even dressed yet.

I trow about a million things on the floor, trying to find the right thing to wear, I decide on my black jeans and red and black flannel shirt - the season of autumn is upon us once again, Providing us with cool nights and warm days - I shove my black converse over my ankle socks. It'll do. I take my phone off my bedside table, putting it in my bag along with my sunglasses - as it's still light outside -. I race downstairs, patting Zoom, our stray cat that won't leave, on the head as I walk past.
"Meoooowww" I cringe, his voice isn't the nicest.
"Meow to you too lil' guy" I say back.
Jimmy is just walking out the door, along with mum. Dad waits for me to go out then locks it behind him.

We arrive at Georgias. Her big house looking small under the huge pine trees that surround it. We're almost in the middle of nowhere, but I know this place like the back of my hand, having been here so many times.
"Hey kiddos" Georgias dad, Tony, says to me and Jimmy.
"Hi Uncle Tony!" Jimmy runs up and gives him a hug around the knees. Just because I'm not on very good terms with Georgia, doesn't mean my family hasn't kept in contact with hers.
"Hi." Mum gives me a look. I shoot one back.

I'm going to get in trouble for this

We go inside, Ella, their dog, a black lab, comes up to me, sniffs my hand and starts wagging her tail like crazy.
"Looks like someone's excited to see you" Georgia's mum, Allison, pokes her head around the corner of the kitchen door and smiles. Giving the dog one last scratch on the ear I walk over to Allison and give her a hug.
"Good to see you, you've been gone too long"
"Yeah, it's nice to see you too." I smile.
Man, I've missed this family.
"Georgias up in her room, you know where to go." She says.

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"Hey! Watch out!" A man with a wrinkled face - I assume in his late sixties or early seventies - with a black cane yells from behind me. I turn to look, almost crashing into a pole while doing so. "Sorry!" I cringe, I should watch out, I was too busy thinking. Stupid Emma. But after a few seconds I'm back to my daydream state.

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"Hey, Georgia" I say, awkwardly walking into her room. "Oh," She looks up from her book 'Wool'.
"Hey" She folds the edge of her page down, making a dog-ear.

Poor little book.

I sit on the edge of her bed and stare at her wall, not wanting to make eye contact. But when she speaks again I'm forced too. "I've missed you being here" I try not to take it to heart, but those few simple words hit me straight where it hurts. I've missed being here, too I want to say, but I won't, I can't. What she did to me. It's unforgivable.

"Yeah."

So, we had dinner. Talked about the weather, school, jobs, the normal stuff. I was silent, as was Georgia. Unless asked a question, obviously. In the end, mum and dad organized another dinner, at our house this time. I wasn't thrilled . . .

As for when we got home, mum and dad grounded me for being 'disrespectful', I tired reasoning with them, only to get a longer punishment for 'arguing'. I'm now banned from having friends over, or going out . . . For a week

Well . . . Hey presto.

-

The bus pulls up a minute after I arrive. One person hops off, and two pile on; me, and some lady dressed in McDonalds work attire. The bus ride is uneventful. 3 minutes later, we slow down, then stop just across from the park. Alex hops on, along with Brittany.
"Hey guys" I pat the seats next to me.
"Snuck out successfully, congrats" Alex gives me a closed mouth smile. Starts pulling a piece of paper out of his bag.
"You expect any less?"
"Nope" Twice.

The next 28 minutes is also uneventful. A bird hit the window next to me. Someone fell from their seat when it happened. Alex showed me the plan. Brittany ignored the world by putting on her head phones. Then bam, we arrived.

"So, what do we do again?" Clueless. Of course. . .
"Brittany, you've heard it twice, you should remember by now" Eye roll.
"You can't blame me for not remembering, it isn't my fault" Double eye roll.
"Yes it is! If you forgot, then it's your fault" Alex looks about ready to rip his hair out.
"It doesn't matter, we'll review in a minute. It's simple anyway. Just give me a second" They both quit their bickering. Good.

Okay Em, let's get this done..

We walk in casually. Look around. Clear. Walk forward, down the 4th isle. We stop half way. I crouch down and sift through the boxes while Alex keeps watch. Brittany doesn't really have a job, but to distract someone if they do come down. It takes another good three minutes for me to finally locate its place. Hidden among the boxes of chips and crackers, is a key. Navy blue, with a single black dot in the center at the top, just how he said it would look. I motion for the others to come down. Alex takes it from my hand to inspect it. "So you think this is it?"
"It has to be."

Tuesday 21/3/17

Two days since we found it.
Three days until initiation.
Mum won't be happy.
I snuck in successfully, as mum and dad decided I could stay in my room for the morning and think about what I did.
S

tupid really, oh well. It saved me this time.

"Em! We've got guests!" I glance at my phone:

08:23 A.M.

Who visits this early in the morning?
No one I know...

"Coming!"

Turning into the lounge I find Peter sitting in our old leather couch. Turns out I do know one.

"Hey" blank stare. Cold eyes. I don't like this person.

Why? You've never met the guy

But I know his name, recognise his face...

Well, have fun.

The voice in my head disappears as I realize I've been standing here for too long. Although the urge for me to run is strong, I sit. I need to know what's going on.