Bad Girls

Rumors Of My Death

“So how’s life at the homestead?”
Kyla sighed as she sipped from her coffee.

“I don’t know. I mean, I love Sam dearly and he’s so amazing for working so hard to provide a good life for Hayley, but I’m so sick and tired of being a housewife. I just miss the life with you guys. I mean,” she laughed. “Don’t get me wrong, I do not miss Parker’s. But I miss the thrill of breaking the smallest, insignificant rules. I miss sneaking out to the willow tree to make out with Sam. Most of all, I miss having something to talk about.”

We all looked at her quizzically and she sighed before starting to explain herself.

“When Sam gets home from work every day, he asks me how my day was. And I tell him. And just the other day, I realized how boring my daily routine it. Wake up, change the baby, feed the baby, dress the baby, play with the baby, eat, put the baby down for her nap, etcetera, etcetera. There’s just this constant nothingness that I feel all the time.”

I glanced at Trouble and the lump under her shirt that was now suddenly much more visible to me. I could definitely not relate to the boredom of life Kyla was describing.

Things change and things change a lot. And not only that, but people change too and people change even more drastically. I don’t know if it was me or Kyla or both of us, but there was something that was just not right about this all. We knew Kyla as our rebellious, adventurous, mysterious roommate and friend. But she hasn’t been that for a while.

Now she was the bored, exhausted mother and housewife and all she wanted to do was have that thrill again. But the thrill was gone. She had lost her spark and now everything seemed so off.

“So, uh, where are you guys planning to go?”

“Far.” I said, surprising everyone, including myself. “They know us just as well as we know each other, if not even more.” I shot a quick glance at Trouble, but then carried on. “They know Emma-Lynn and her family. They know she’s not going back to them. They know Dylan and they know she definitely isn’t going back home. They already called my home. They know I’m not there. But. There are two places they think we might be.” I paused for dramatic effect. “They would obviously think of you. And Trouble’s home.”

“What?” Trouble, Emma-Lynn, and Dylan all said in unison.

“Why would they think I would wanna go home?” Trouble asked.

“Because of your sister. They know everything about you, Trouble. There are no secrets. They think you want to get as close to your sister as you dare.”

“They’re right.” Trouble scowled and my tone softened.

“We just have to hold out. I know you want to see her; God knows I’m desperate to see Kylie as well. But we can’t right now, you know we can’t.”

Everyone nodded gravely.

“So, I repeat, where are you going to go?” Kyla asked, worry in her voice. I looked around at my friends, all with also worried expressions.

“Any ideas, guys?” I asked, only to have heads shaking at me. I sighed. “Well, we have to go somewhere.”

“Um, I might have an idea.” Kyla voiced, a little quietly.

“Yeah?” I asked, excitedly. We were almost desperate here.

“You’re not gonna like it.” she warned, but then with a sigh she continued. “My grandmother lives in a big house up by the coast. It’s where my dad grew up and where I spent my happiest times as a kid. Ever since my granddad died, she’s been living in their alone. I know it’s not ideal, but if you guys need a place to stay temporarily, I’m sure she’ll let you if she knows you’re friends of mine.”