Hidden Close (Jr. Year)

Chapter 3

Part 3 Of The First Draft

We arrived at Becky's house not a moment too soon. It was exactly 3:30, when we climbed out of Perry's car, and I read the numbers on her house.

“Yep. This is the place.”

Renee knocked on the door loudly, and in a brief moment, what looked like Becky's older sister, a young woman in her early twenties, with short black hair and smooth skin, of moderate height and striking brown eyes, wearing a black and red shirt and tight blue jeans, with piercings and all, answered the door.

“Oh, you must be Becky's friends. Please come in.”

The three of us stepped inside Becky and Veronica's house, which was really nice. The living room had nice leather furniture and a large television, which Becky was watching. Becky was not alone, however, as two other kids were with her, one female and one male, both approximately the same age as Becky. The male was small with red hair and glasses, and the female was tall with long brown hair done up in a ponytail. Both were not much to look at otherwise, and Becky greeted us when we sat down on the loveseat and chair,

“Oh, hi! This is two of the other members of our fanclub! He’s Patrick and she’s Natasha!”

Renee held her hand out, and shook all three of their hands, introducing herself,

“I’m Renee, the female sibling of the Eisen family. Do you guys have like a fanclub part dedicated to me, too?”

Patrick spoke up,

“Yes....there is many boys in our club that really admire you....”

Renee laughed, and remarked,

“Well, I don't know whether I should be honored or creeped right out now....”

We all laughed, except for Perry, who asked Becky,

“So how long have you guys been stalking us?”

Becky, who's voice took on a tone of seriousness, replied,

“It was shortly after that Franklin boy died. One of us had met Lana before, and we found out about Mindi, you, your brother and sister. I had absolutely fallen in love with Mindi and her story when I found out how much we have in common. I hope you're not mad.”

It figures. Becky wasn't your average girl,  and I had sensed before that she had a crush on me. I hope that she can hang out with me and get over that. I believe her emotions are nothing more than a school girl obsession. I will have to show her my utter humanity.

Veronica came into the room, and she told the three of us,

“Obviously, I am Veronica, Becky's older sister and guardian. Can you guys come into the kitchen with me for a second?”

We obliged, and we went into the kitchen. Veronica asked the three of us in a near whisper,

“Will you guys protect my little sister? We’ve gotten threats on the phone before because of her little newspaper. Please, watch over her. Make her stop printing that newspaper. Be her friends, do whatever it takes.”

Renee was the one to answer Veronica,

“Of course we will. That's why we came here. We are their heroes, after all, and we wouldn't want them to die, would we?”

Veronica laughed, and we all returned to the living room. Becky seemed alarmed, and asked her sister,

“Ronnie? What have you done? What did you say to them? Gosh! You always know how to embarrass me!”

Patrick, the red headed kid, tried to relax Becky,

“Settle down. You two fight too much.”

Veronica sighed, and grabbed her hair in an exaggerated manner, as if she was pulling it out. She told Becky, absolutely frustrated,

“Rebecca, if it weren't for your so-called newspaper, I wouldn’t have asked for anything from them.”

Veronica left the room, and Renee told Becky and her two friends,

“Get used to me being around after school. The only rule, guys, is not being creepy around me, okay? I'm a person, just like you. Just treat me as if I'm a normal girl.”

Becky smiled, and told Renee,

“Okay....but can I ask something of you?”

Renee returned her smile, and replied in her always peppy manner,

“Sure....what is it, dear?”

Becky blushed, and asked,

“Can I write a story about you? I'll leave out the part of what you....uh....are....”

Renee laughed, and agreed,

“Sure! The only catch is that you show me what you have written after you’re done. You know, so I can keep you to your word.”

Becky nodded, and then her and Perry stood up, with me following suit. As we exited Becky's house, I spun around, and told Becky,

“Text me, Rebecca! We’re friends now, so keep in touch!”

All she could manage was a wave goodbye, and we quickly made our way to Perry’s car. We drove away, and I asked Perry, myself curious,

“Will she be a problem?”

Perry answered me in his always calm and cool tone,

“She will be a real problem, one that we have to rely on Renee to handle. Mindi, find out what you can about Becky. There's something that I can't quite seem to piece together about her. Its quite odd.”

When I got home, I kissed Perry goodbye, and ran into my living room. I found both my mother and father inside, and my dad looked up from his newspaper, noticing me. He asked me, 

“How was your first day of school, Mindi?”

I put my bookbag down, and told my dad, happily,

“Good. I even made a new friend.”

My mother commented, as she was waiting for our dinner to finish, which smelled like some really tasty pot roast,

“That’s nice, dear. I'm glad you’re home. Lana had to work tonight...she won't be home until late.”

“Yeah, mom. I miss her already.”

My mother, who had her long hair pulled back and was wearing a stunning little black dress, hugged me, telling me, in the most soothing of all tones,

“I miss both of you each day. This weekend will be great. We’ll have some time we can all spend together.”

I’m glad that Lana will have three days off soon. I need to ask her how her schooling is going. College has always sounded scary to me, but for her, I'm sure it’s a piece of cake. Lana has always been someone I admire and look up to. She has what I call quiet strength. Since she has started dating Brad, Perry's blind brother, she has begun to think about the future. I want to be like her when I am her age. If I can get over my depression and cutting, that's one thing, and if I am even remotely like Lana, that's even better. She has my heart even if she never gives me hers.