Harassenger: Backseat Admirer ✔️

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Eight

I stared at myself in my full-length mirror and sighed at the reflection of myself that didn't seem to be me at all. My eyes were a blotchy red, and my round cheekbones were drooping from being smudged into the pillow.

I rubbed my fingers against my ear lobe and forced a diamond earring into the closing piercing. It's been a while since I've worn earrings, but I figured I needed to spruce myself up today, even if I did feel gross in the inside.

I peak at my sleeping sister in the bed, huddled up in a pile of sheets. I smiled, knowing she had fallen asleep watching over me the night before.

I finished putting the last earring in and I left the mirror to wake my sister up. I start by rubbing her back, but she didn't stir. I then began to pat her back, but still nothing. I thought it was odd that when I touched her back, she was awfully soft, so I lifted the comforter, only to find that she was no longer there. Instead, three lumpy pillows sat in her place, no sign of Jamie.

I began to feel dizzy, wondering when she would have left. I searched the house, but there was no one other than my mother sleeping. I began to feel frantic, thinking that my sister was either taken or she ran away. I was supposed to watch her and not let her out of my sight. I didn't know how this could happen, or how I could be so irresponsible!

Instead of waking up my mother, who would likely have a stroke, I went out on search for Jamie myself. She wasn't in the gym, and she wasn't in the yard. I took my Jeep and searched around town, even asking the neighbors if they knew where she was.

I called Mick, because if there was anyone Jamie liked, it was him. Mick hadn't seen her at all, and although we were both acting immature with our disputes, Mick put that aside and met me at the grocery store so he could help me look.

He crawled into the passenger side, carrying two cups of coffee and a notepad.

"What's that?"

"It's called a beverage. I figured you were in need of some caffeine. And I've written every public place your sister can be at within walking distance if she left on foot this morning." Wow, he certainly wasted no time. I'd kiss him if we weren't still arguing.

"Well, what do you have?" I asked, keeping one eye on him and the other on the road.

"The grocery store, but we're obviously here and I haven't seen her. Then there's the gym, but she's obviously not there, either. I also have the elementary school, nail salon, barber shop, the park."

"Wait, the park!" I interrupted him with a snap of the finger, realizing he might be onto something. Jamie loved the park, and more importantly, she had just told me yesterday how she loved going to the park with her, eckhm, boyfriend. If she remembered where the park was on her own, that's where she could be. And if she's anything like me, she would have found her way there.

I put my foot to good use and floored it to the next street over to the park. There was no one there so I was able to park right in front of the gate.

Mick and I both got out, searching by the rusted monkey bars, the see-saw, and passed the walking trail. I spotted an oak tree, similar to the one by our house, and I saw a little girl in a red shirt, one I knew especially was for Jamie Fisher.

"Jamie!" I nearly dived over to her to make sure she didn't disappear, holding her tight before giving her the lecture of her life.

"You and Mick found me!" She squealed.

"What do you mean by that? I was worried sick about you!"

"I told you I come here to make up with my boyfriend." She said, sweet as can be for a devil of her size.

"But I don't see a boy."

"I know, but you and Mick are here. I wanted you two to make up. Don't you think it's a great idea?" I didn't know whether to be proud or to be angry.

"Did you hear that, Mick? My sister went missing so the two of us could talk." I said, looking behind me at Mick who was approaching us. He squatted down in front of her, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Now that's how you start a relationship. Della needs to take tips from this girl!" Mick high-fived Jamie as if her plan was the best thing he's heard all year. I had mixed feelings, especially since I thought I was going to have to put out an Amber Alert.

"Now you two sit by the tree. I'm going play on the monkey bars."

"Don't you dare go anywhere else. I'll be watching you the entire time." I watched as Jamie giddily skipped away, leaving Mick and I alone by the tree, covered by an abundance of shade on this sweltering day.

"I guess we should talk, don't you? If it means so much to your sister." Mick sat next to me by the tree, his hands resting against his worn-out jeans and his dirty boots digging into the grass.

"Yesh, so talk."

"How about we start with the fact that I was an ass. I had a hissy fit when I had no plan on actually moving away from you. As far as I'm concerned, not speaking to you for half a day is hard enough."

"You mean that?"

"I don't know what it is about you. You get under my skin most of the time, but whatever it is that gets under my skin is spreading like a wildfire. We just click together, and I couldn't imagine leaving when there is so much left to discover between us. And when I saw you with Holt, I got jealous, but I guess jealousy is my way of showing you I care." His hand left his jeans and onto the grass between us, his pinky linking with mine and closing in on my hand. It felt nice, because I needed his touch more than anything.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, but there's something else. In the heat of the moment yesterday, I told you I was in love with you. Usually people say hateful things they mean when they're mad, but I said I loved you. I was wondering if...well, if..."

"Yes, Mick." I said.

"Will I have to beg?"

"I'm in love with you."