Mockingbird

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven:

I jolted up from where I was, my entire body covered in sweat. I looked around as my vision started to clear up. I looked around to see myself lying in a soft bed in a white room.

Then I suddenly heard someone yell, "Mr. and Mrs. Styles!" a voice shouted down the hall, "She's awake!"

As soon as I noticed the lady in dark blue scrubs, I knew I was in a hospital room.

Harry, Elizabeth, and Hunter all rushed into the room. Elizabeth put her hand on her chest and sighed heavily.

Harry and Hunter just stared at me with no emotion. The nurse left the room soon after and left me in a room with Elizabeth, Harry, and Hunter.

As soon as the door shut, Elizabeth started to run her mouth.

"What the hell were you doing standing in the middle of the road?" Elizabeth scoffed. "What were you doing running away with JoJo?"

"Slow down, Liz," Harry says. "She may not remember everything that happened, don't pester her with questions."

"I know what happened," Ellen says, storming into the hospital room.

"And where the hell have you been for the past twelve hours?" Elizabeth retorts towards Ellen.

"Cal took me home after the big police chase at the Newman's," Ellen says casually. I assumed Cal was the skinny emo douche she'd been hanging out with.

"Police chase?" Elizabeth asks in a panic. "Why were there-"

"Mom, relax," Ellen says, "it was only for the people who had drugs on them."

Elizabeth turned back to me. "So why did you feel you had to run, but Ellen didn't?"

"I-"

"I hope you weren't one who had drugs, young lady-"

"Elizabeth Deneen, she didn't have drugs, I took her there," Harry defends.

"Of course she didn't!" Ellen says.

"El, calm down," Elizabeth rolls her eyes at Ellen. "Maybe she didn't."

"Maybe?" I scoff. "Why can't you two believe me?"

"Because I'm sick and tired of you just randomly walking into this family and getting away with everything," Ellen says. "You have officially ruined the rest of my teenage years and-"

"Ellen Grace," Harry hollers. "You're over exaggerating now, she hasn't ruined you or anyone for that matter. She didn't have drugs, and I'm sure he was only running because JoJo was, correct?" Harry looks at me and waits for an answer.

I nod lightly, cautious of the migraine I have right now.

Ellen storms out of the room, once again because she didn't get her way. Elizabeth slowly followed behind her, then Harry.

Hunter sat at the edge of the hospital bed and says, "Hey there."

"Hi," I quietly say.

We sit there in silence for a moment or two until Hunter speaks up.

"I found your runaway bag under your bed in your room," he says.

I sat up from the bed. "Hunter?" I question. "Why were you looking through that?"

But he doesn't answer my question. He sighed. "I understand if you want to runaway," he says. "I just was going through the bag and saw how happy you must've been.

"I saw pictures of you and LoriJean, and you both looked so happy. I know that Elizabeth and Ellen aren't exactly working out for you, but I'm willing to give you a chance."

I smile at Hunter, taking in every word he had just said. "I'm not going anywhere," I say.

I think to myself about LoriJean-my old mother, once upon a time. I remember her smile. She acted like the perfect mother any person could ever have.

But then I think about the thought that she kidnapped me at age three. Is LoriJean really that sick inside? She never seemed like it.

I remember the times she'd sing to me. "Mummy's gonna buy you a mockingbird, I'll give you the world. I'll do anything to see that smile, and if that mockingbird don't sing, I'll break that birdie's neck," she would sing in a tune I'll never forget.

I snap back to reality and look over at Hunter who's staring at the ground.

"Whatcha thinkin' 'bout bud?" I ask.

"Nothing," he says, but I know he's lying. I just ignore that fib and nod to him.

"Ignore Ellen," he suddenly says.

I laugh to that and say, "I try."

"She thinks you're gonna take everything away from her," Hunter says. "She honestly has nothing to worry about."

"She seems as if she doesn't want a twin anymore," I say.

"She thinks you're gonna ruin her life, which isn't true," Hunter laughs.

"I don't want to ruin anyone's lives," I say. "If I am, I'll leave."

"Don't leave," he smiles at me. He looks back to the ground and his smile instantly fades. "She just doesn't know what it's like to be the replacement child..."

Replacement child?