Girls Astray. [Complete]

Amy: The girl who questions

'Where you had your first kiss is a place not to miss. L'

Without turning back I march to the school gates and charge straight through them. She needs me. Science will have to wait.

My heart hammers as I break into a run down the winding roads, my hand is still clenched around my phone and sweat is now trailing down my neck into my frizzy brown hair.

I pause as I reach the park gates and quickly glance around the park. It seems to be deserted, bar one mother and toddler in the distance. Hesitantly, I edge towards the swings, shuddering at the memory that haunts me here, my cheeks burning at the very thought of-

"So she sent you here too-" a low sly voice tickles my neck sending a chill up my spine.

Tom. He smiles awkwardly and then reaches his hand out to me,

"Truce?"

He's showing every white tooth now. I take him in: the smarmy look, the slimy slicked back hair, to the squinty look in his eyes.

"I think we'll stick to why we're here." I spit at him.

"Hey, Aimes," he purrs nudging me softly, "I never meant for all that to-"

"Look, we're here for Lolita. What exactly do you know?"

The smile drops from his face and he gulps loudly, his eyes darting around the park until he sees the mother heading our way. He grabs my hand and drags me round the corner towards the car park.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" I ask whilst trying to resist his strong pull.

"We need to talk somewhere private, my Dad's vans parked here, we can go in that..."

I stop in the street, the blood rushing to my head and the hair on my arms prickle. Beware of Tom.

With all my might, I snatch my arm from his,

"I'd rather stay out here."

He turns and stares at me then, a nasty glint in his usually boyish face.

"Do you want to know or not? I don't even know why I'm bothering with this shit, she's crazy anyway."

I cross my arms, refusing to move from my spot. He meets my gaze for a moment, then rolls his eyes agitatedly.

"Fine, suit yourself," he barks as he stomps back towards the road, leaving me standing alone outside the car park.

"Wait!" I call out without thinking. I need to know what happened.

Instantly, he turns back and then leads me towards a dirty looking van in the corner of the car park, shaded by a huge tree and surrounded with recycling bins.

"Your Dad takes care of his property then?"

"Just get in Amy,"

The car reeks of stale cigarettes and old socks; I peer at the back of the van and it's littered with clothes and empty cans, there's not an inch of space that isn't covered in trash.

"Is someone living in here?" I question him ironically.

He just blinks at me, waiting I assume.

"OK, what do you know?" he asks, his voice oddly quiet for him.

I pause. Where to begin and- what to reveal- Lolita did say to watch out for him, could he actually be the problem?

"I was going to ask you the same question," I reply coyly.

He sighs deeply and stares out the van window rather than looking at me.

"I know that she's gone- I don't know where..."

"Do you know why?" I intercept, taking my opportunity while he looks weak.

The silence is almost palpable between us. The windows are fogging up in the van from our steady breathing, it's suffocating.

"I have my suspicions," he mumbles softly as he rolls down the foggy window and stares off vacantly.