Unanchored: Inspired by Demi Lovato (book 1 of the unanchored series)

53.⚓

"For the last time, kid, I cannot give you vodka." the creepy man dressed as if he had been cast as a zombie in The Walking Dead. He looked so dainty to the bone as if he hadn't and half-alive. He wore a heather grey shirt and glasses the size of Harry Potter's.

"Come on, not even the wee bottle?" The guy glared at me. "No ID, no alcohol. It's the law. Now, I suggest you grab yourself something that does not have alcohol in it." I huffed and puffed, walking away angrily. I marched over to the freezer section, yanked open the door, and swiftly grabbed the Nesquik strawberry milk.

I trekked back to the counter of the corner street deli and slammed the bottle on the top. The man rings up my bottle, and as he's applying a paid sticker on my bottle, he smiles and says, "You have a good day now."

"Fuck off, dickweed," I said, snatching the bottle away from the man. I kicked the door open, managing not to break the glass.

As I'm walking back to Demi's car, I notice a familiar car parked across the street from where I was standing. "Oh, for fuck's sake, " I mumbled under my mouth and snagged the handle of the car door. I got in the car and popped off the bottle cap. I was so dehydrated that I could not wait another second. Maybe, milk might not be the right choice for someone to drink if they're parched. Then, again, I never think before I commit an action. I do, but I never think. Well, I guess that's one of the side effects of being unanchored.

"What's wrong with you? You look like a walking punching bag?" Demi asked. I shook my head while chugging down my chocolate Yoo-hoo milk. "I feel like one," I muttered.

I felt Demi's eyes on me as she tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. "Do you wanna talk about it, love?"

"No, I'm fine. Let's just get out of here; I am dying to get to Bora Bora." I said. Demi chuckled, shifting the gear in reverse as she began to move out of her parking space. While changing it back to drive, Demi speeds off and says, "When we get back to the house, I have something to give to you. It's a surprise." She smiled as if she had something big up her sleeve.

I rolled my eyes, sighing, "Can't you just tell me?" I begged. "No, absolutely not," Demi says, halting the car at a red light.

"Come on, you know I hate surprises," I said, keeping an eye on Amy's familiar black Toyota Corolla and her Maine license plate located on her bumper. "I know." Demi bluntly said with a smirk as she parked on the side of the street in front of Emma's school. "Then why continue to torture me?" I asked, taking off my seatbelt that was making me uncomfortable. "Because torturing you is fun, J." She replied. I groaned, rolling my eyes in annoyance.

I looked back at the rearview and outside of the opened window to see if Amy was still following me. I couldn't find her, so I stuck my head back in the car. As the California heat was conquering the weather, I tried my best to stay relaxed and cool, but I couldn't because it was too damn hot. It was hotter than a Devil's crotch. By God, I feel like I'm bacon frying on a pan. Why the fuck doesn't Demi just turn on her AC? Cheap motherfucker, is she? Well, my mom was the same way, but my mom couldn't afford to waste her gas, even though she had a good job working as an RN at a hospital in San Marino.

I'm guessing my mom--I mean, Amy, had gotten lost in traffic or she decided to stop trailing us. Thank God. The last thing I needed was for my biological mom and Demi to meet in such a weird way and at the wrong time.

I looked at the top of eight steps that led up to the mahogany doors of James L. Nash Private Academy. Soon enough, parades of girls in boys dressed in light blue and navy blue plaid ties, gray skirts and pants, and cream sweater vests came rushing out of the French architectured building. I don't understand why the school decided to take it upon themselves and allow their students to prance around with their cream-colored vests that could easily be ruined by a stain.

"Hey," I heard Demi softly call. I turned my head away from the school and faced her. "Yeah," I answered. "We're gonna leave around 3:00 am tomorrow, so I don't want you to go to bed late. As soon as we get home, I'll help you finish packing, and when we're done, Nick'll take your bags to the car, okay?" Demi said. I nodded, saying, "Affirmative."

Demi took out her phone and began scrolling through Facebook. I mentally boked at the very sight of her opening the app and seeing the logo. Then again, if it was used a distraction and an escape from the world, then so be it because I happen to be the same way with Tik Tok. Yep, I'm a hypocrite. At first, you say that you're not going to download the app, and then you end up downloading the app, not realizing that you're going to be there with it through the long run because life is getting fucking hard and sometimes, all you need is something to make you laugh after a shitty day.

I shifted my head away from Demi and scanned the crowd to see if I could spot Emma anywhere. When I finally found her, I saw her come outside with one purple Jansport strap draped over her left shoulder. Demi was looking when I saw that Emma was standing at the top of the stairs with a male teacher, who was a little too touchy as he put his hand on Emma's shoulder, and he held it there from some time. Emma didn't seem to think that there was a problem because her smile was beaming, as the Princess of Pop would say. After my unfortunate rendezvous with men, I saw any male that I had met as evil and vile.

Did he just pinch her cheek? What the fuck? Is Demi seeing this? I looked over to see Mommy Dearest texting away with God knows who while I was gawking at R. Kelly preying on someone who was twice his age. Now, this guy had his arm around Emma's shoulder, and then he took his arm off of her. Then he took out something that looked like a teal beaded bracelet with a silver heart that was similar to a heart that Dennis...had given to me. Wait...no, he can't be there. Please, God, tell me that is not who I think it is.

Shit, I thought.

I quickly opened the door, slamming the door loud enough for Demi to look up. I heard Demi yell my name, but I ignored her because I was very concerned for Emma. "Emma!" I angrily shouted, gaining both Emma and Dennis's attention. Emma frowned, furrowing her eyebrows and squinting her green eyes that were sensitive to the sunlight. When she saw me, her frown dropped, and she smiled. "Jade! Hey, I was just talking to my English teacher, Mr. Sandberg! I wanted you to meet him! He's the one who encouraged me to take the ACTs!"

"Listen, I don't give a shit who he is! Can we just get a craic on, I need to finish packing!" I hollered as Emma, who had a puzzled expression on her countenance. She nodded and said something that looked like a goodbye as she waved at the disgusting bastard, who stood on the staircase with his hands in his khaki pants.

As Emma jogged down the steps and towards me, she gave me a dirty look, walking past me. "What are you acting like a dick?" She scolded. "Listen, I don't want you hanging around that man," I warned. Emma stopped in her footsteps, "Why?" She interrogated. "Because..." I nervously stammered, afraid that Emma might catch on that I had an encounter with Dennis. "I've heard things about him, and they aren't good things."

"What things?" She asked. "Why are you suddenly concerned about my wellbeing?"

"Well, since you asked, um, the reason why I'm "suddenly concerned about your wellbeing" is that ever since I caught your stupid ass selling playing fucking Fez from Euphoria, I don't want you getting into something you have no idea what is going on." Emma saw the worried look in my eyes, and she touched my shoulder, saying, "Okay, fine. I promise I won't talk to him anymore."

"Swear on Billie," I said, holding out my pinky finger as Emma rolled her eyes, giggling. "Fine. I swear on Billie." Emma said, wrapping her pinky around mine. We both hugged each other and enjoyed our little moment before a honk from a car scared the living nightmare out of us.

"Shift it, girls! This isn't The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants!" Emma and I laughed at Demi's joke as we started running to the car. When we both got in, Demi started up a conversation with Emma, leaving me to watch Dennis walk back inside the building where he probably preys on many children. Jesus, who the fuck gave him a job working with kids? I couldn't believe that he was roaming the same halls as Emma was in. I swear to God, if he lays a finger on her, I will fucking end his life, and I am not bullshitting. He hurt me so many times, and he raped me. I am not letting him do the same to Emma.