The Truth Hurts

Chapter 24

Hope. It's basically the only thing that's keeping me going right now. And I'm hoping for many things. Hoping that Daniel will see that I was telling the truth, Katie would finally get what she deserves for all that she's done to me, and make amends with my friends. These hopes seemed far fetched though. The only way any of that could happen is if they all knew the truth.

"Please stay within the boundaries until you're parents come to pick you up!" One of our supervisors yells. "Or if you're driving home, start making you're way to the parking garage"

I wish I had my car with me. Willa was supposed to be my ride home today but at the looks of things, I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon. So that's why I called my aunty to come pick me up since my parents had work early this morning. She's my father's older sister. And from all of the stories they both tell me, it always sounded like they were close.

As soon as my aunty's silver car pulled up, a surge of happiness and relief filled me. I've never been so happy to see her in my life before. I made my way to her car with such urgency, I almost tripped on my flip-flops.

"Someone's exited to see me" Aunty Ruby says as she comes out of the car.

"You have no idea" I lightly laugh, pulling her into a hug.

After we pull away, she puts her hands on my shoulders and takes a long good look at me and scrunches her face.

"You alright?" She asks. "You're not as happy or outgoing like you usually are"

A flash back to that night pops it's way to the front my mind, making my face drop. But I save it by putting on the brightest smile I could muster up.

"Yeah! I'm fine. Work in the kitchen just put a toll on me...I'm exhausted" I explain to her, in which she nods in understanding.

What I told her wasn't a complete lie. Working in the kitchen was very hectic, stressful, and tiring. The part where I said I was "fine", wasn't exactly the whole truth. I actually feel the opposite of fine. I just don't want to worry Aunty Ruby. I didn't even tell my own mother what happened.

"Ok, well lets get you going so you can get some rest! Yeah?" she says enthusiastically.

I nod and give her a smile in response. She helps me put my belongings into the trunk of the car and starts the engine. I guess in a way I was lucky she's visiting from Florida. Without her here, I would have had to take the bus home. And I'm not fond of taking the bus.

My Aunty tells me that my parents would be home by the time she drops me off. The fact that I would have to face them in the state I'm in worries me. I already know that I'm going to break down right in front of them the second they come into view. I can't let them see me like this. At my old home, the only thing that I would make feel better besides dancing is gymnastics. The feeling of landing and sticking something new, gives me such an exhilarated feeling that I accomplished something that not everyone can say the did.

And it was right then that I knew what I was going to do once I got home.

*******

"Thanks again Aunty Ruby" I say giving her a sad smile.

"Anytime Elise" She says closing her trunk. "You sure you're alright?" She asks with a doubtful expression.

"Never been better" I lie to her.

She still has doubtful look on her face but doesn't press any further. She gives me one last hug and drives out of our driveway. Picking up my belongings, I make my way into the garage and sure enough, both of my parent's cars are here. Heaving out a big sigh, I open the house door leading into the house.