Teenage Antichrist Book One: A Journey of a Sister's Hatred 1991-1992

Chapter Three: A Desperate Solution

Michelle didn't want to walk home alone from school that day. John parked his car along the footpath of the front entrance. After the final school bang rang she walked as quickly as she could to the front entrance. She saw John walking to his car and tried to reach it but it was too late. He had gotten in his car, started it and drove away. Feeling angry and frustrated she went in search of Natalie so she could walk home with her.

*****

By the time Michelle got home, she hoped that John wouldn't be on the phone with one of his friends. She was relieved that he wasn't. So with this stroke of luck, she went into her bedroom, found her address book and found Rick's number. Rick had been a friend of hers and Natalie's before his father had been transferred and moved to Melbourne. As soon as she found the number she walked to the phone in the kitchen and dialled it. It rang five times. On the sixth ring, she was going to hang up but luckily someone answered.

"Hello," a male voice said.

To her relief, it was Rick's voice.

"Rick, thank God it's you," Michelle said. "It's Michelle."

"Michelle," Rick said happily. "I was just thinking about you and Natalie today. How have you been?"

"We've been better,"

Rick didn't like that sound of that and wanted to know more.

"What do you mean you've been better?" he asked concerned.

She told him exactly what was going on. To her relief, he was sympathetically kind and they started to formulate a plan.

*****

The next morning Natalie found Michelle to be in good spirits in spite of what had happened the day before. Natalie found that to be confusing.

"I've got good news," Michelle said. "Rick is going to help you out. I called him yesterday."

Natalie felt sick to hear that.

"You told Rick what happened?" she asked upset. "I didn't want him to know."

"Just relax," Michelle said. "He's going to help us."

"How is he going to help us?" she asked incredulously.

"We'll tell people at school that he was your secret boyfriend before he moved to Melbourne," Michelle replied.

Although Natalie was grateful she couldn't see how anyone was going to believe that.

"Oh, get real!" she complained.

"No, listen," Michelle said. "Rick is going to send you a letter and a video saying how much he misses you."

"Are you really sure Rick is going to do that? I thought he had a girlfriend now."

"He does. Rick said she's going to help us out."

Natalie really wanted to believe what Michelle was saying but had a very difficult time believing it.

"Michelle, don't you remember how flakey Rick could be sometimes?" Natalie asked.

"Yeah, I know but he promised me he would help us," Michelle replied.

"I hope you're right about this,"

"I know I'm right. Trust me."

Natalie knew she could trust Michelle. Rick, on the other hand, was a different story.

Where Michelle and Natalie found sanctuary at school didn't stay a secret for long. Natalie was walking towards the school oval when a group of girls followed her during the first lunch break.