Chasing White [Draft 1]

Chapter 2: How to Treat Hypothermia

Belmont High, CA. December 9, 2016.

I push open the umbrella, looking up at the darkened sky. Izabella must have had a blast in the rain. Jason must want to die.

The thought makes me laugh as I step out into the rain with the umbrella over my head. I quickly make my way out of the back of the school, not wanting to be in the rain for longer than I have to.

My eyebrows furrow as I make my way to the back exit. A small lump sits on the three steps to the eating area, shaking. The red hair and black jacket immediately tells me that this is Tori. It's nearly eleven. Why is a fourteen- year- old still here?

I quickly walk over to her, hoping that she'll tell me what's wrong.

"Tori?"

She quickly wipes at her eyes, before snapping at me, "What?"

"What are you still doing here?"

"Not crying. You're crying." She wipes at her eyes again. Taking in a shaky breath, she rubs her hands together, "My- uh- my mom won't answer her phone."

"What about your dad?"

She looks up at me with sad golden eyes, tossing her wet hair out of her face, "When you find him, let me know. I'd love to ask him why he walked out."

I adjust my umbrella so that it covers the girl with the cotton jacket instead of the woman with a rain jacket.

"Is there someone you can call? What time does your mom get out of work?"

"Well, she took a last- minute- fifteen- hour surgery-" She pulls her phone out then puts it back, "two hours ago. Could be days before she's realized that she's forgotten me again."

It's supposed to be a joke but it doesn't feel like one.

"I give you a ride home."

"No." Tori replies quickly, "My mom will realize that she forgot me. I-I'm fine."

"You're soaking wet and it doesn't look like it's going to stop raining anytime soon. You're clearly not fine." I raise my voice so that I can be heard over the grumbling sky.

"I'm not crying!"

"I never said that you were. Just tell me where you live."

"Covina." I bite my lip. That's in the opposite direction of my city, "But you don't need to take me home."

"Why not?"

She glances around as if someone might be listening to our conversation, "Can I tell you a secret?"

I bend down, expecting the next words out of her mouth to be something bad.

"I-" A loud crack of thunder snaps into the night sky behind Tori, lighting her red hair into a brighter shade of red. Tori jumps, burying her head into the space between my side and jacket, almost immediately soaking my shirt through. I put a gentle hand on her wet back, a small laugh making it's way out of my throat.

"Are you afraid of a little thunderstorm?"

"Shut up." She mumbles, her small body shaking, "My mommy will realize that she forgot me. She will."

I bite my lip. Jason's going to kill me, "-Why don't you stay with me for tonight?"

Tori quickly pulls away, violently shaking her head, "No. No. I don't want to impose."

"You wouldn't be. And anyway, it's just for tonight."

Tori plays with her fingers, "I- uh- guess."