I stared at my father whom I hated with every ounce of my heart. "Sweetheart." He breathed.
I swallowed, my throat was dry. "Don't call me that." I whispered. Luckily, everyone was so busy that no one heard us.
He took a step towards me. I looked so much like him and I hated it. I had his blue eyes and his dark hair and his pale skin. He even named me. He had a stubble for a beard and his hair had small portions of grey hairs in it.
I took small, shaky breathes trying to calm down. I dug my teeth into my bottom lip while tears filled my eyes, "What are you doing here?"
"Surviving." He shrugged and smoothed out my hair. I took a step back, brushing his hand off me. I was silent and he saw this as an opportunity to talk. "I've missed you."
I chuckled, sarcastically, "No, you didn't." He sighed. He knew I was angry, he should know I'm angry.
"What have you been up to?"
"Trying not to die." I cross my arms and look away. Finally, someone saves me from the conversation.
"Hey, Lacey." Zayn said, "We're leaving now."
"Oh, how about he shows us the way." I said, pointing to my father, "He knows a lot about leaving." I give my father a sarcastic smile and stomp off.
+++++++++++
It was sunset, the best part of the day. I honestly loved the peaceful sight of the smeared colors mixed with one another, creating a beautiful scene that never seems to get old. That's the only thing that hasn't changed since.
I sat at the beach, watching the waves and the sun set. I was alone and that's where I wanted to be. With no one to bother me. I missed home. My now submerged home. I missed my mother. I miss my somewhat peaceful life. My thoughts were interrupted by someone, "Mind if I join?" I turned and saw Zayn.
"No, not at all." I reply. I didn't mind Zayn. He was the only person who I could talk to and I could connect with, seeing he's around my age.
"Are you okay?" He asked sitting down. I hugged my knees close to me.
"Not really." I say, softly. "I miss it all."
"Miss what?"
"My old life. Sure it was hectic at times, but I was finally happy."
"Me too. I wish I had a chance to tell my family I loved them. I lived separately from them and I never talked to them." He sighs. "I feel like a horrible person."
"You're not a horrible person." I say, "You're a wonderful person and they were lucky to have you in their family. They know you loved them, you didn't have to tell them that."
He smiles, "Thanks."
"You know, I never appreciated what I had in my life. Now that it's all gone, I would do anything to get it back." I shook my head slightly as I talked, playing with my fingers.
"Take this as a chance to start over. You can start a new life and everything. We all can." He looked at me, smiling.
"I guess you're right." I smile.
++++++++++++++++++++++
We both walk back to our "campsite" after it got dark. Zayn and I had a deep conversation, comforting and reassuring each other that everything was gonna be all right.
I sit next to the two Hispanic kids. I smile at them, "Hi." They smile and nod in response.
"What are we eating?" I ask. I was starving, I haven't eaten at all since we got here, which was yesterday morning.
"Nothing." Harry replied, bluntly.
I furrowed my eyebrows, "What? Why not?"
"We don't have any food." The rude girl from before, Melody, said.
"Okay, so we're supposed to starve?" I say.
"That's probably not a problem for you. You probably starve yourself to get as skinny as you are." Melody harshly said. I glared at her. That hurt. It made me angry. I've had enough of everyone today, I was going to explode.
"Alright, look you bitch. I'm not happy with what I've done in the past," Everyone looked at me. I don't know if it was out of surprise or they were just happy they had some entertainment around here. My father opened his mouth to say something but he closed it immediately.
I started again, "Like every other girl, I wanted to be perfect. I regret it. I know I can't be perfect, it's impossible. You can't go around assuming someone has a disorder cause if they do they feel horrible about it. You have no respect for anyone. You were a bitch to a girl who doesn't speak English instead of making an effort to talk to her. Her brother is translating for her. They are trying. So just...be quiet." I said through gritted teeth. I expected an apology from Melody but all she did was scoff and roll her eyes.
"Lacey, that wasn't very nice-" My father started before I cut him off.
"Wasn't very nice? Are you really telling me what's not nice? What wasn't very nice was you running away with all of our damn money and not telling us why. You left me as an eight year old alone without a father figure. You know how hard it was when all the little girls had their fathers and mothers come to school and I didn't have anyone? My mother was working all day to get back the money you took." I yelled. I was mad. Everyone was getting on my nerves. At that moment I thought everyone hated me. And maybe they did.
"Be quiet. You started this just because we don't have food for one night. We're still getting used to it. Stop acting like a a little kid without their favorite toy and shut up." Harry spoke up. My face burned with anger.
"I hate you." I said through my teeth.
"Bitch."
"Asshole." There was silence. All eyes were on me like I did something wrong. I did yell at Melody, Harry, and my father. But Harry said some mean things back. Everyone looked like they hated me. I could feel the hatred. "I'm going to sleep." I said calmly and walked to the one of the four teepee type shelters made from leaves, vines, and sticks. There was eight of us so two people in each teepee.
I sat on the sand in the space. And then all my emotions hit me at once. The fear, the sadness, the anger. I muffled screamed of frustration through my hand as my warm tears went down my cheeks. I never wanted to die so much. It wasn't worth it. We were all going to die.
