Where Are You Now?

Hoping

Chapter 27

Michelle's P.O.V

"Where did you disappear?" I hear Chloe's voice from behind. Right now, I'm sitting outside on the stairs and waiting for my father to come and bring me back to the hell that they call home.

"I... I saw Josh and ... he insisted on talking to me and I was already late I knew the teacher wouldn't let me in." I lie hatting every second of it. "So, what did you talk about?" She smirks with a wink and I force a smile. "It's nothing important; I have no idea why he insisted on talking." I lie standing and ignoring any eye contact with her.

"Is everything okay?" She asks looking at me. "Yeah, it's just..." I start but get interrupted by a stranger walking towards us. He's wearing all black and has a scar on his cheek. He's also much taller than us and has a small black mustache. "Are you Michelle?" The stranger asks once he reaches us. And Chloe's eyes widen.

But before I could answer him George comes. "Is everything okay?" He asks facing him with a fake smile and challenging eyes.

"Yes, I am here to pick her up since her dad couldn't." He gently says and relief fills in. "Well, she wouldn't get in a car with a stranger of course after what happened. So, I'm taking her home." He says faking a smile and starts walking to his car, Chloe immediately follows him and I follow her after a few seconds.

"Why did you just do that?" I ask him after we walk away from school annoyed of what he has just done. I could have just called my father and asked him about it. After all he was coming to pick me up and I feel disappointed that he didn't come after he promised me to. But what I'm really feeling now is anger and weakness as if I can't protect myself from anything; not even a man who wants to pick me up.

"What do you mean? He is a complete stranger." He says turning to face me. "I know but you don't have to do that every time something bad happens. I could protect myself." I say angrily looking at him and by the way Chloe is looking at me I realize how harsh I sounded. "After what happened I'm not taking risks." He gently says and I let it go since Chloe doesn't know anything.

"Okay." I say giving in following then to the car.

...

"Where have you been? I've been calling you for half an hour." My mother says once I get in and my therapist appears from the living room.

"My phone is in my bag, I didn't hear oy." I defend myself. "Jack didn't pick you up?" The Therapist asks." No my friend did. ." I tell her and she nods.

I climb up the stairs, go to my room and take off my outfit putting on my pajama instead before the therapist comes in.

"Nothing strange happened?" She asks after an hour of questioning me and I just nod. "Okay then, this shall be our last day." She says standing and my phone immediately buzzes.

Want to come to my house today? Would be fun I promise. I read the message from Chloe in my mind and lock my phone back.

Who is coming? I text her back as the therapist is talking to my mother. Only us since there is a game today. They couldn't come." She texts back.

"Okay." I text her wishing he was there.

Loving someone isn't the hard part, but being with that someone is the hardest part.

...

"I'm ready." I call my mother while waiting at the front door. She agreed to drive me to Chloe's house as long as I just stay there and don't go anywhere else.