Prudence Brinker Vs. The World (Mockingbird) (Book 2)

I was singing alone when the mockingbird came to me

Cher Lloyd caught up with me after the party and brought me back to her place, saying I 'couldn't possibly drive home this late', even though I've already did it twice before in one night. I wanted to remind her of this, but I knew it would just bring up more Poor Prudence faces, and I didn't want that. I was done feeling sorry for myself, so why should anyone else? 

I laid next to Cher in her bed that night, contemplating what to do the next morning. I could just ditch out on her in the morning, no note or good-bye. But I thought that was inappropriate. All she's trying to do is help. Even if I don't want help, I need to act like I give a shit about what people do for me. 

I tried to go to sleep, but I was constantly turning back and forth. So in the end I just sighed and walked out into the kitchen to get some water. But then getting water gave me the idea to take a walk. 

So I walked outside in my bootie shorts and tank top, with no shoes on. I probably looked mental, but I was, so whatever. 

Then I got this craving for Slurpees. So I walked to the nearest gas station and bought a Coke flavored Slurpee. Then I sat on the curb next to the road, under a streetlight, to drink my Slurpee and stare out at the night sky. 

The night air was so fresh and peaceful that it seemed too good to be true. What I wanted more than anything was to be a bird. I wanted to be able to fly away from my problems and never have to come back, because I could always fly to a new continent. I could go to Australia or maybe even Antarctica, where there were no people at all and I could be alone forever. That sounded nice right at the moment. I'd deal with the cold later. 

"Late night snack?"

I snapped my head up at the mysterious man who decided to ruin my fantasy. But then I realized he was hot and ignored his ignorance. 

I nodded my head and watched as he took a seat next to me. "Ya. I get hungry at these time of nights too." he said. 

No offense, bro. But I really don't care. I thought to myself. And then I laughed. My mind was so mean. 

Hot Guy shot my a smirk and took something out of his pocket. "Carrot?" 

"Uh..." It seemed dodgy. I didn't want to get pregnant tonight. 

"I promise, I did nothing to them. Just being friendly." he said, shoving the carrots toward me. 

I took one out of the bag and bit into it, making a crunching noise. 

"I'm John." the boy said, holding his hand out for me to shake. 

I thought about telling him my Real Name, but decided against it. "Veroni...toria." Wow. I'm such an idiot. 

John laughed at me. "Veronitoria? Huh. It must be Russian." he joked. 

I grinned. "How'd you know?" I joked back, elbowing him. 

"Just a guess." 

Hot Guy was funny, I'll give him that much. He really knew what made a girl tick, that's for sure. I wondered how many girls he picked up with the Carrot trick. Probably many with that smile and body. 

"It's Pru." I told him, truthfully. 

"Now, that I believe." 

John and I sat there, staring out at the sky and road that no cars were driving on. It was after all 4 in the morning. Not many people go out for Slurpees and carrots at this hour. 

"You like me, don't you?" I asked suddenly, but still I smiled at John casually. 

He laughed. "Uh. What?" 

"No guy goes up to a random girl in trashy clothes and wearing no shoes at 4 in the morning, sitting on a sidewalk, just to ask if she wanted carrots. You like me." 

John's smile didn't leave his face. "Wow. You know how to read people." 

"It's a gift" I sighed, basking in my gloriousness. 

"Well, you caught my eye, needless to say. No pretty girl sits alone at 4 in the morning on a sidewalk, drinking a Slurpee." he played. 

I blushed. He called me pretty. 

"Do you have a boyfriend?" 

My mind wandered back to Harry again, and it sucked because that's exactly what I wanted to avoid. "I guess you could say it's complicated." 

"Like...Romeo and Juliet complicated?" 

"No. More like...Nicole and Tom complicated." 

"Oh? Celebrity life getting the best of him?" he joked. 

"Something like that." I lied. Really, it was just like that. But I wasn't about to tell him my boyfriend was famous and that I could have been famous. No. I don't want to get shanked. 

"I guess I don't understand." 

"How about we forget about him? It sounds like a brilliant plan to me." I said, grabbing John by the shirt and pulling him in for a kiss. 

Everything in my mind screamed at me that this was just what I needed, a break from Harry, but everything in my heart told me to stop kissing John and go back to Harry. 

But I pulled back nonetheless. "I'm sorry." I told him. But I ended up kissing him again. 

Heart: God Prudence, you're stupid. Let the poor boy go home. He doesn't need in the middle of this mess between you and Harry. 

Head: But it's so tempting. Let's just make out a little while. Just five more minutes. 

Heart: Go find Harry. Find him and hold him close to you forever. Don't ever let him leave. 

Head: Oh, but I can't stop, now that I've started. 

Heart: You and Harry are meant to be. You were made for each other. You are going to get married and have beautiful curly haired babies. But not unless you let this guy go. If you don't you'll have ugly babies. 

Head: NO! Not ugly babies. Okay. I'll go back to Harry. Oh, Heart. It's just too hard. It's terrible. His hair smells like cinnamon. And his skin....

Heart: Harry smells like chlorine and baby powder. You don't want to miss that, do you?

Head: I can wait a few more minutes.

Heart: Quit being a bitch, Head.

I pulled away from John. "Okay. Now I'm sorry. I've got to go." I said, standing up and running away. 

I was the worst girlfriend, ever. I never wanted to be a cheater, but now I've become one and I feel disgusting. 

I crawled back into bed with Cher and cuddled into her back, shutting my eyes tight. I didn't know she was awake until she turned around. "Where'd you go?" 

"I got a Slurpee. I was thirsty."

"Mmm. That sounds good." she mumbled. 

"Maybe we'll go get some tomorrow." 

She nodded her head, before closing her eyes again and falling back asleep. 

"Cher. I did something bad. I always turned my nose up at the whores at my high school because I thought they were disgusting. But now I am one of those whores." 

"Pru, no you're not. You're beautiful and you have a face like sunshine." she said, sleep talking. 

I tried to hold back my laughter. "I want to get Harry back." 

"Do it, bitch. And leave me alone. I'm sleeping." 

I rolled my eyes at her and smiled before going to sleep.