Earned It

Chapter Twenty Five: The Hotel

I leave Y/Ns house after dropping her off and head to an empty parking lot right by our school. I look in the back of my car and see all of my stuff on the floor. I hop in the backseat and lay down.

I get a text from shannon.

"Thank you so much for helping us out tonight. You were a big help. James would have probably died if it wasn't for you."

Finally, Shannon is finally forgiving me for our fight. I've always thought so highly of her and it means a lot for her to reach out.

"Anytime girl. I got yo back."

I pull up my blankey and try to fall asleep across the back seats of my car. It's not a lot of room so i have to sleep with my legs up to my chest. I drift off but I'm woken up by a knock on my window.

I lift my heavy eyes to see a flashlight shining in through my back window. I get up and open the window for him.

"How can I help you, officer?" I ask.

"This parking lot doesn't allow for any overnight vehicles. I'm afraid I am gonna have to ask you to leave."

"Okay, I'm so sorry, I'll leave." I head to the front seat of my car.

"Do you have anywhere to stay, miss?" The officer asks me.

"I do, thank you."

"Are you sure? Why would you be sleeping in your car and have all your stuff in here? It's okay, you can tell me if you don't."

I do have a place to stay, but staying with my dad is too dangerous. I can't live there anymore.

I shake my head and he reaches for his phone. I wonder who he could be calling. He is on the phone for a moment before hanging up.

"I just called my friend down at the Super 9. It's a hotel just down the road. A friend owed me a favor so you can sleep there tonight. Here's my number if you need anything help." The officer hands me his number on a piece of paper before driving off.

I head down to the Super 9 and park my car out front. II head inside to see a woman at the front desk.

"Ah, so you must be Officer RIley's friend. I have your room key right here. You can go to room 134. Have a nice night." She smiles and hands over the key.

I head to my room and open it to see a queen size bed and a tv. I haven't slept in my own bed in over a month. I fall to the ground and start crying. I can't control my emotions but this was the nicest gesture anyone has done for me. I stay there for a moment before wiping my tears and putting my backpack on the wall. I lay in my bed when I heard a knock at the room across the hall from me. These walls must be thin.

I leap out of bed and look out of my peep hole to see Jack standing at the door. He looks so sus. Why the hell is he here? It is 2 am. Who could be buying from him this late?

The door opens and Jack heads in. I dont catch a glimpse of who was inside but I can't imagine him staying long. I wait by the door to try and hear for when he leaves. I wait about ten minutes before leaving when he walks out.

I look through the peephole and just see Jack leaving. I didnt see who he was with so I just head to bed.

I lay down in the comfiest bed I have in a while and knock out.

My alarm wakes me up and I get up and shower. Finally, I don't have to use the school showers to stay clean.

I head out, get dressed and ready for my day. I leave my room and return the key but not before noticing a familiar car. I recognize that car everywhere, I used to see it all the time after rehearsals. That's Francine's car.

What could she possibly be doing here?

I start loading up my car when I hear someone's voice from behind me.

"Hey, Syd. What are you up to?"

I turn around to see Fran standing there with her backpack over her shoulder.

"I didn't have a place to stay so someone let me stay here. What are you doing?"

"Our house got flooded so we had to stay here tonight :/" She replies.

"Oh my god. Sorry to hear that girl."

"It's all good. I'll see you at school." She smiles and heads to her car.

Could she be lying about that? I don't think about it and drive to school.

I get to school and want to tell YN about how I saw Jack at the hotel. I go to her locker and she is there with Shannon and Hadley.

I explain to them about my night. They hug me and let me know I can stay with them in the future. Then I tell them about how Fran was at the hotel too.

"That's weird her parents were still at the house this morning when I went to go pick her up like usual but she wasn't even there. They said she slept over a friend's house, but she didn't say anything to me." Hadley chimes in.

Fran comes over after noticing Hadley standing with us.

"Hey girls, we havin a powwow over here? She says.

"OMG, I forgot to tell you last night, but Lorainne's mom got arrested last night and they were saying it was for the murder of Angela." Y/N mentions.

"Oh my that is crazy. I can't believe it was her mom that killed her." Shannon says.

"That really is crazy." Hadley says. "I went to your house this morning to pick you up for school and your mom said you slept at a friend's house."

Fran looks blatantly nervous. "Yeah just slept at a friend's house."

The bell rings and she is quick to brush everyone off and head to her class.

"She was being sus." I mention. Everyone nods and we head to class.