On Our Own

Chapter 18

I woke up, on the bottom bunk again, to a mixture of crying and yelling which was starting to become a typical thing in this house. Both, me sleeping on the bottom bunk and the hysteria. I refused to let Mojica wash the sheets because I still liked the way it smelled like Ethan.

As for the yelling? Normally, I would've gotten up to see what was wrong, but today, I remained in bed. I continued to lay in bed when I heard my name being shouted and only when Nina jumped on my bed did I open my eyes.

"It's Anna," she said worriedly.

I stared at her, but didn't say anything.

"She didn't call this morning, she has been calling every morning at seven on the dot, but today she didn't and when I tried to call, it just said that this number is no longer available," she said frantically.

"Maybe her uncle changed their number," I said, pulling the blanket over my head.

"Without telling me? Muffin died last night, do you think it's a sign?" she asked quietly.

"A sign of what?" I mumbled as I breathed in Ethan's scent from the sheets.

"That her creepy uncle killed her," she whispered.

"I don't know," I said and closed my eyes once again, trying to pretend Ethan and I were still talking and he could solve all my problems.

"Yeah neither do I, so go use your secret spy skills and find out," she said, shaking my shoulders.

"What kind of 'secret spy skills' do you think I have?" I asked incredulously.

"I don't know. You once found out where that kid who was picking on Carter lived and egged his house," she pointed out.

"I followed him home. Not really a secret spy skill if you ask me," I mumbled.

"Well you could drive us to find her," she said.

"Oh yeah, let's just drive through the whole country," I said sarcastically.

"We could," she said weakly.

"Yeah, and where would we start?" I asked.

"So you're not going to help," she said finally realizing I didn't care.

"Pretty much," I mumbled.

Nina looked down at me and pouted.

"I didn't see anyone this worked up when Carter was in jail, or died," I pointed out.

She looked at me for awhile. "Look I'm sorry about Carter but he was only friends with you and James anyway," she said. "We defended him like good foster siblings do and I'm sorry that you're hurting but you don't get to take it out on us."

"Yeah, well all I'm saying is he's dead and I still have to go and live my stupid life. So, regardless of whatever the hell you think happened to Anna, you still have to go get ready for school, so get out," I snapped.

Nina shook her head at me and then jumped off my bed and went to the door, she opened it and just as she was about to leave she spoke again.

"Carter wouldn't like you acting like this," she said before leaving.

She was right.

I went back to sleep breathing in Ethan's scent, only to hear knocking five minutes later.

"Leah, you have to get up, school remember?" Jess said through the door.

I ignored her and she came inside.

She sighed. "Leah, if you don't want to go back to therapy, then you have to convince me that you're okay," she said softly.

I groaned and got out of bed. Satisfied, Jess left and I finished getting ready. When I was done, I went downstairs and put my shoes on and waited in the car. I rested my head on the wheel and stayed like that until everyone came out.