The Skater Girls

They Come and Go

Grace's P.O.V

"What time does your mum come back?" Ellie asked Zoe, subtly glancing at her wrist watch.

"In about 2 hours, which is fine since everything is back to normal now."

Zoe and the girls were back in the living room, the film on play once again. Although none of us were watching it, we were too busy looking at each other in shock, concern; frightened that someone could be watching us.

"Someone's at the door," Danielle called, she was in the kitchen getting more popcorn. Something that I should have done already.

"I'll get it," I called, quickly jumping to my feet. The note I read had left me in a bad state of mind, so I had to get some fresh air. The girls protested and said that I should stay and watch the movie, but being stuck in the living room was making me feel claustrophobic.

"Let us know who it is." Zoey called.

I took a deep breath and opened up the door, only to take a sharp breath back in. It was Hannah.

"I need to talk to y-."

I quietly stepped outside and closed the door. "Hannah what the hell happened with you," I said in a hushed voice. "Does Zoey know you're here?"

Hannah looked exactly the same, just a bit tired around the eyes. She shrugged at my questioning and continued. "That's a long story, I haven't got time to tell you everything." She took out an envelope and handed it to me. My heart dropped.

"Where did you get that?" I hissed shakily.

"Do you have one too?" She asked, her voice laced with concern. "My mum gave it to me, she said it came through the post."

Tears were coming to my eyes as I looked over the pictures again. Fear took over me as I wondered if anyone had received the same envelope.

"Grace, is everything okay?" Hannah glanced behind me, her eyes watery. "Are you all okay?"

There was a moment of silence, and before I could compose myself, I let the first tear drop from my eye, and then erupted into a heartfelt sob.

I sat myself on the front porch and held my head in my hands. Hannah rushed to my side and began holding me, just like the old times.

"What's happened?" She asked calmly; stroking my hair back from my face.

"Someone is out to get us," I cried, sniffling in between my words. "They were in the house... there was blood everywhere and-."

"What the fuck, did one of you get hurt!"

"No, it's fine. The blood wasn't ours... I think it might have been pigs blood..." I trailed off.

After a minute of silence, Hannah began questioning me again. "When did you take them photos, Grace?"

I looked at her, trying to figure out if her face screamed disappointment. When I couldn't find any I began to talk.

"It was a while back, before I knew you guys." I began. "I sent them to a friend of mine — a girl, and then deleted them straight after. That was the last I saw of them."

"Why would you send pictures like that Grace?"

"We were sending stupid photos to each other, mocking the girls on our street that posted theirs online. It was just a game." I looked at the photos again and shook my head in shame. "Let's just burn them." I went to grab the photos but Hannah snatched them from me.

"Grace we can't burn these," she said.

"Why not?"

"Because we can use this as evidence. Someone is trying to hurt us — hurt you, and if we have nothing to prove it, no one will believe us. I'm assuming you didn't take any pictures of the incident inside did you?"

"No, we just cleaned it all up. Zoey's mum comes back home real soon."

Hannah sighed slightly. "Well if it happens again, you need to document it okay, people need to see what is happening to us."

I looked Hannah over, and for the first time since we saw each other, I began to truly notice the changes in her appearance. Her hair had grown about 2 inches longer, the veins in her eyes were red from lack of sleep, or crying. Her nails were dirty, and the clothes she wore were a bit baggier than usual.

"You weren't lying when you said it was happening to you, were you?" I asked.

Her eyes closed and she shook her head, a sad smile forming on her face — as if to say, "it's okay now." I felt bad for being so distant from her. She didn't deserve to be left alone.

"Grace is everything okay?"

I panicked as I heard the front door open, eyes glaring at Hannah, warning her to go. It was Hazel, and for a moment she hesitated to say anything, perhaps making sure that she was really looking at Hannah.

"Hazel, I can explain why I'm here." Hannah started, but before she could finish Hazel wrapped her arms around her; tears falling from an exhausted face.

************

Hazel's P.O.V

"Wait. But what the fuck is she doing here, Hazel?" Danielle exclaimed, her face screwed up with confusion. "Why did you let her in? In fact, Hannah, why did you come here?"

Hannah was about to open her mouth, but Danielle continued her fit of rage. "It was a rhetorical fucking question Hannah, I don't want to hear you talk."

"Okay, Danielle. Give it a rest, you're being out of order." I said, shaking my head.

"Me! I'm not the one that's the traitor, am I?"

"If you would just listen to what she's got to say-."

"I don't have time to hear her out, Hazel," Danielle started collecting her things from the living room floor. All the girls just looked at her as she made her way to the front door.

"Where are you going?" Ellie asked.

"Away from all of you!"

We all winced as the door slammed abruptly, standing awkwardly in the silence.

"Hannah," Zoey said, patting the sofa seat next to her.

"Welcome back."