Chasing a Broken Butterfly

Chapter 15:

Mikey's hands are still clasping mine by the time we reach the car out in the parking lot. I don't think he's ever held my hand before... No sooner than the thoughts reach my mind, he lets go. My hand tingles where his were touching. I shake it off and open the door to the backseat to check on Lacey. She lifts her head up from her curled up ball position for just a moment before laying back down. She's still exhausted, I can tell.

"Hey girl...you'll be okay..." I stroke her ears softly for a moment before taking my place in the front passenger seat.

Window shopping at the mall was only a temporary distraction. I knew that I wasn't necessarily solving anything by walking around the mall. Sure, it allowed me to try to clear my mind and think things through, but in the end I need to face reality. And that's trying to figure out what the hell is happening back home.

In the moments before Kylie and Nathan came and interrupted the peace , I knew that I'd have to go to the police somehow without letting my mom in on the whole ordeal. How I'm supposed to do that...I'm not sure, but at least I have a starting point for this whole mess.

"Do you want to...myspace...under sill we meet up with Skylie and nothing?"

Huh? I shake away my thoughts. I obviously didn't hear him correctly.

"What?" I ask Mikey.

"I said if you want to head over to my place until we have to meet up with Kylie and Nathan."

Oh....that's what he said.

"Yeah, sure that's probably the best thing right now," I say.

"Ok." Mikey puts the car in reverse and exits the parking lot.

The whole drive home to his house is spent in silence. I look out the window for the most part and he keeps his eyes on the road. It doesn't take very long to get to his house, but it feels like hours. Lately, time seems to be feeling stretched out to me. I blame it on stress.

He pulls up into the driveway and parks the car. I'm about to open the car door when Mikey places a hand on my lap, so I turn around.

"Listen, Elle, I'm sorry for everything that happened today. I promise that we will get to the bottom of it okay?" I see a smile on his face, but it doesn't reach his eyes. I know he's trying to comfort me and I appreciate it. "If anything, it's probably just a kid pulling a prank, and obviously going a little too far."

"I know. I know we will. And you're right, it's probably just some kid from school who's trying to pull a prank on me or something...maybe someone from Kylie's group. I don't know..."

They've always thought it was hilarious to pick on me. I'll never forget the time when Kylie told everyone in our sixth grade class to ask why I stuck bubblegum in my ear. She and her newfound friend Camila then started leaving chewed up bubble gum on my locker with a message written in permanent marker saying: More fun for your ears, freak!

It was one of the worst years of my life. I think what really got to me was the fact that Kylie knew she was playing off the biggest insecurity I have about myself. That was the worst part of it all. She knew all about my stupid hearing problem and how I felt about it, yet she still thought it was okay to do what she did. I don't understand how she went from being one of the most caring people in the world, my best friend...to someone who's totally heartless. I'll never understand.

We get out of the car and let Lacey out of the backseat. She follows Mikey and I into his house and finds a spot to lay down in the living room right in front of the brick fireplace.

"I'm going to get something to drink, do you want anything?"

I shake my head. "No, it's fine I've got a water bottle in my bag. Thanks though." I say.

Mikey comes back holding a bag of hot Cheetos and a coke. He kicks his shoes off and plops himself down on the couch.

"Ok, so I've thought about it and I figured out what I'm going to do about what happened today..." I start off. I know that I need to say what I want to say before I lose track of it all.

His mouth is stuffed with Cheetos so he only manages to raise an eyebrow at me.

"I think that I'm just going to talk to the police. You know, let them know what's going on. I'll just be like 'hey, so this morning I woke up with my sliding door open, and I think it could be a potential serial killer or something, so if you could watch my place for a couple of nights' kind of thing. I mean they do that right?" I somehow managed to say it all with one breath. But it feels good to lay out a plan of some type, even as ridiculous as it may seem because things won't go anywhere without a plan.

Mikey stops chewing and stares at me for a couple of minutes before rushing to swallow.

"What are you going to give them?" he finally asks.

"What do you mean?" I'm confused by his question, so I'm not sure how to answer it.

"Think about it Elle, the police probably get hundreds of prank calls or hoax cases because every teen in this damn town is bored out of their fucking minds, what's going to make your case special?"

I didn't think about that part of it.

"Not to mention," he continues, "that I'm pretty sure the stalker is smart enough to not go near your place if there are cops in the area. Hell, what if it makes him upset and next time does something worse?"

I'm at a loss for words. I really didn't think things through if that didn't occur to me. I know he's right, but I've got to do something about it. I can't just sit here and do nothing.

"Ok," I say in defeat, "then what do you suggest?"

"Evidence." he says abruptly. "You, my friend, need some form of evidence to hand in to the police." He takes a long drink from his coke before continuing on. "Maybe you should take any photographs that show that your home was broken into. Or maybe set up cameras outside your house to catch pictures of the guy."

Why the hell didn't I think of that? I'm mentally beating myself over it. I really need to start thinking outside the box.

"I didn't think of that..." I admit. "I didn't think of all that, to be honest. I think I really am going to need your help with this whole set up. Will you help me, Mikey?" I know I'm starting to sound a little desperate, but god knows I need all the help I can get, even if it's just Mikey.

"You know I'm always here for you, Elle." His smile is soft, but it reaches his eyes this time. There's almost a certain warmth to it this time...more than what it used to be. Whatever it is, it makes me a little uncomfortable. But I shrug it off, he's my best friend. Of course he's happy to help me.

"Ok, let me grab a piece of paper and a pen, then we can start jotting some ideas down." I say as I leave the living room to grab my canvas bag at the front entrance of the house. I need to focus on this.