Nearly Lost

Chapter 7

"Every shadow no matter how deep is threatened by morning light"

Playlist for today (listen for better reading experience!): Airplanes (feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore) - B.o.B

***

School was over and before we knew it, we were driving home, listening and rocking out to songs from our childhood. I was surprised at how much fun we were having. I mean, Sage was freaking having the time of her life, and that was a sight I thought I'll never see. But that niggling feeling of guilt was never far behind.

We should have been focused on finding Jay and finding the truth about Dad's death, not having singalongs! But no matter how much I wanted to find Jay and seek vengeance for my father, I knew deep down what I really desired.

Secretly, all I wanted was to be happy again. Does that make me such a bad person?

I shook my head, trying to focus. We got out of the car, the girls still smiling brightly as we reached the door. Before I could put the house key in the keyhole, the door was abruptly opened and I saw a seething Auntie Kory, gripping tightly to the door handle.

Confused, I turn to where her gaze was fixated on and I saw the girls' faces twisted in a nasty snarl, glaring at my aunt.

"You bastards have some nerve showing up here." Auntie Kory says in her low, really scary voice.

"Relax, we're just here to study with Kira." Zoe says flatly, but I could tell she was on edge. I see fear take over my aunt's face briefly before it returned to her scowling face.

"I will not have your kind around my niece! Go look for someone else to study with." Auntie Kory says fiercely and drags me into the house, shutting the door behind me.

"What the hell?" I yell as my aunt hovers over me, all tensed up.

"Look Kira, promise me you'll stay away from those girls." she says, finally calming down.

"No I will not promise you that!" I yell angrily. I'm finally close to getting the answers I need and she wants to blow it all away with her cryptic demands.

"We have lined up projects together, and we need to start them today." I lie and I watch her expression fall.

"Can't you just switch partners, or something?".

I shake my head. "No, we cannot.".

She rubs her temples and sighs in frustration.

"Fine, you can study. But not here, ever. I don't want them near Evie. Is that understood?" she says, switching to parent mode. I frown. I don't think I can keep them away from the house forever, but I really don't need Auntie Kory messing up my shit today.

"Yeah, whatever." I mutter and she relaxes slightly.

"Good, you may go. Diner's by 8. I'm guessing you ate lunch?" she says with a perfectly arched eyebrow raised. "No actually, but  we'll just head over to McDonald's, since you kicked us out" I say sarcastically and she rolls her eyes."Alright, be gone with you" she says jokingly and I smile. This was the Kory I missed. But that leaves me with an important question.

"How do you know the girls Kory? And why do you hate them so much?" I say slowly, trying not to anger her.

"Oh their the little trouble makers that mugged me when I went grocery shopping. Do you remember when I told you the story? I was so upset that day. I had so much money in my purse!" she simply says.

"Oh okay. Bye." I tell her as I leave the house and find the girls still standing at the front door.

"You dealt with her." Sage says casually, in a 'I'm not asking but confirming' voice, as if my aunt didn't almost rip their heads off.