Saving Mira-Jean (Hiatus)

Chapter 9

I didn't realise how much I missed Mira until today.

It has been two weeks since Mira-Jean has been watched which meant no contact whatsoever from her. She wouldn't even look my way during school and she was back to her walk routine to the Alleys. I had no way of knowing if our ban was up.

But other than that, my life was fine. The weather was definitely getting colder but instead of snow we were experiencing rain showers that frustrated the hell out of everybody, especially the football team as our training sessions were getting messed up.

I looked up as Coach blew the whistle. "10 laps around the field and we'll call it a day before this rain comes down," he shouted. Everyone groaned as we saw the dark grey clouds roll in yet another training session cut short. We chucked off our helmets and started our run. I kept in line with the captain and my fellow quarterback as we discussed which plays we needed to work on before our first game.

"Vega," Coach called me over as the rest of the team headed to the locker rooms. "I need you to organise our strategies. Mark was going to do it but he has SAT prep so and you know each play inside out."

I rolled my neck, thinking about all the assignments I had to do. "Yeah no problem. I can get it done by the end of this week."

"Heads up!"

I looked up and caught the football that was soaring through the air. I looked around trying to find the person who threw it. My eyes caught movement beneath the bleachers and I grinned as a small figure dressed totally in black walked away from the field and I smiled. Mira-Jean definitely knew how to send a message without saying a word.

"Damn," Coach said. I looked around and realised that everyone was focused on Mira's retreating figure. "I haven't seen someone throw like that since Swanson was on the team."

"Trust me, that could only be a Swanson," I chuckled as I tossed the football in the air as I walked back to the locker rooms.

I was lost in thought as I drove home, my brain was caught up trying to figure out how to make time for Rose, school work and now football duties. I was so out of it that I didn't realise where I was driving. I decided to stop and turn in a old beaten track. I frowned as I looked at the wooden sign. The letters were faded but my heart thumped when I read it.

Lakeside

Aunt Lisa's restaurant.

The name of the restaurant spoke for itself. It was a restaurant on the lakeside that served comfort food and gourmet dishes. It was an extremely popular spot for people in Bridgewater. Aunt Lisa would pick Chase, Mira and I up from school on days when we didn't have any extra activities and we would spend the entire afternoon helping ourselves to the homemade desserts or helping out the staff or entertaining the guests.

I looked at the once well kept driveway, the ivy and grass was nothing that my truck couldn't handle so I rolled up the windows and drove through. I pulled up in what used to be the car park and my shoulders slumped as I looked at the restaurant.

Aunt Lisa's restaurant was rustic themed but now it was just run-down. The paint had faded, sections of the wooden banister on the wraparound porch had broken down and a couple of windows were definitely broken into. I sighed and walked up the steps, treading lightly as some of the boards were definitely beginning to rot.