CHAPTER ELEVEN
HOME
I stepped out onto the street fighting back tears for the second time that day. I wasn’t upset, just hurt and mad. Really mad, like I could have killed Jack but I would never do that. I was sick of being in trouble and I wanted to go home. I wanted things to go back to the way they were before Jack and Simon and Ari and that stupid party. I caught the bus back to my street and walked the 500 meters to my house. Mum was standing in the driveway about to get into the car.
‘I was just coming to get you, why aren’t you at school?’ she asked surprised shutting the car door. I ran to her with my arms open and hugged her as hard as I could.
‘I’m sorry mummy, I’ve been such an idiot these past few days, I didn’t mean to cause this much trouble and I didn’t mean anything I said,’ I buried my face in her shoulder
‘You know you’re in a lot of trouble young lady,’ she said sternly
‘Yes mum, I know and I will take whatever punishment you give to me, I’ve been such a jerk and I deserve it,’
‘I’m just so glad you came home, I’ve been so worried about you,’ her voice was soft
‘Do I still have to go to the police?’ I asked. Her voice got stern again.
‘No, they called and said it wasn’t necessary but as soon as Graham gets home we are going to have a serious talk,’ I nodded. I knew I was in so much trouble but right now I was happy with just hugging mum in the drive way. We went inside and I helped her make stir fry for dinner. I chopped vegetables in silence while she cut the meat but the whole time I could feel her watching me.
‘So um, did you have a nice weekend?’ mum asked making awkward conversation.
‘Some of it,’ I answered
‘Oh,’
‘I’m uh just going to go to my room,’ I said not wanting to talk anymore. We would be talking for hours tonight I could tell.
‘Oh sure, go ahead I’ll finish up in here,’ she said dismissing me with a wave of her hand.
I raced up the stairs to my bedroom. I flung open the door and smiled. I was finally back in MY room. Not the room in Simon’s mansion or Ari’s crap hole but my nice bedroom with a broken surfboard on the floor. I winced and put the pieces into my wardrobe so I wouldn’t have to see them. I jumped onto my bed and got under the blanket. I sighed happily and snuggled deeper into them. The sheets smelled fresh like they had just been washed and no one had slept in them all weekend. I nearly fell asleep but I was worrying to much about the talk to sleep. I heard my laptop whir like it did every few hours. Had I really left it on since Thursday night? I couldn’t remember but I decided to go on. I signed into myspace. There were 23 comments waiting for me most of them from Leah. Two from Jake and a few from Ari, one from Ashley and the others were from people that I was sort of friends with. They were all wondering where I was and that I was okay.
LEAH
Layne, please come home, wherever you are. I love you so much, you are my best friend. What happened the other night with the surfboard, I didn’t mean it. False friends are like autumn leaves found everywhere, true friends are like diamonds, precious and rare. Layne you are a true friend but I wasn’t good to you, I’m sorry I sort of got carried away with Jack, I thought I was being good to both of you but now I’ve realised that I was wrong. Layne I hope you can forgive me because we are best friends and I feel so horrible for what has happened. Please just come home or text me or message me or something but I just want to know your safe. Xx I love you.
