Remember Me

Why am I even trying to tan when all I do is burn? I can feel the blazing California sun on my back. I stand up from my towel and put on my cover-up over my hot pink bikini. All I wanted was a spring break vacation in a tent in the woods but my mom wastes all her money on a trip to California.

Since my dad got murdered, I had no one to play soccer with, go camping, or even no one to talk to. There's always my twin sister Alison, but now she's too busy with her boyfriend, shopping, and watching YouTube videos. Which she is doing right now to pass the time of getting a PERFECT tan. Even through we're twins, and we look alike, I can tell my mom likes her better.

Of corse my mom lets Alison bring her boyfriend, Zach, but she doesn't let me bring one of my friends.

" come swim with me Claire!!" Says my little brother mark pulling on my sleeve.

" I'm coming!.. I'm coming... Hold on."

All I can think about right now is how much homework I have to do when I get back home. Thank God I'm turning 18 and graduating this year, I'm sick of school.

The sun is almost setting now, I wish my dad was here to see this, it's beautiful. But since he got killed, my mom, Crystal, has been drinking WAY more than she usually does. I hate that because sometimes, she beats us, its only happened a few times but I remember every single time she did, because I'm always her first victim. Crystals other two children are perfect, and then there's me, the dumb, imperfect one. The only one who made me feel special was dad, and now he's gone. We never found out who killed him, but his death had no effect on my mom other than her alcoholism.

When the freezing cold ocean water collides with my toes I scream, and mark does the same.

" I don't want to swim any more." Mark said and scampers back to his towel lying next to my mom, Zach and Alison. I let out a sigh and slowly make my way back, but then I see something running towards me in the distance. It's a dog, I bend down on my knees to pet it when it gets close enough. The dog is an adorable Pomeranian, and instantly starts to lick my face.

I rub his tummy and look around for the owner... nothing. Looking at his collar around his neck his name is Hitch, there's a phone number too, so I scoop hitch up and walk back to my towel hiding him under my shirt. If my mom or Alison saw him, they would freak out.

I pull my phone out of my beach bag and dial the number. It doesn't take long for someone to answer.

" hello?" Says the voice

" ya.. Uh hi are you missing your dog?"

" yes!! Hitch? I had no time to look for him because I can't leave my house, I'm on probation."

" How are you going to come and get him then?"

" I'll give you my address could you come drop him off?.. Please?"

I look over at my mom, she's on her phone. " uh... Ya sure."

"Thank you!"

He gives me his apartment number and hangs up. I hide hitch under my towel and approach my mother.

"Hey mom? I'm going to head home, I'm hungry"

" here" she says handing me her keys, "take my car, there's more room for all your stuff.

I set hitch on the ground once I was out of my moms sight. I tied a shoe lace to his collar and used it as a leash. I opened the door of my moms white charger , climbed in and set hitch on the passengers seat. I drove to the condo that we rented and entered my room. I put hitch on my bed and locked the door just in case.

Closing the door behind me I go get some meat because hitch looked hungry. As I'm rummaging through the fridge my mom walks in with mark, Zach, and Alison following behind her, their hands full of beach chairs, umbrellas and bags.

Mom sets the stuff down on the floor looking at the ham in my hands.

"Don't you want to put that on some bread?"

" um.. Ah... Na.. No, I like it plain"

"Your so weird" Alison murmured.

I hurry back to my room and hitch is jumping at my feet,

"Sit!"

He sits and I give him a peace of ham. I get carried away and play with him for two more hours, then I realize, this isn't my dog! I scoop him up into my arms and into my high- low over sized tee shirt, paired with jean shorts and high top converse. I peer my head out I the hall way to see if any ones awake, I glance at the clock, 11:00, shit, he's going to be mad at me.

No one's awake so I tiptoe to the door and run to my car trying to hold onto hitch. I Jump in and leave, I look at the address I wrote down on my hand and put it into my g.p.s. I get a shiver of fear up my spine as I pull into the parking lot of his apartment.