Across the Maps

Chapter 15

Hallie holds the girl down by her shoulders. The girl kicks and screams, flailing her arms around in the air, but still Hallie doesn't let go.

The other three other girls stand there, shocked and flabbergasted. I myself am to dumbstruck to move or speak.

"Let me go," the girl hisses, trying to claw Hallie with her razor like nails.

"How does it feel to be picked on for a change," Hallie snaps, pushing her flat onto the hard ground.

The three other girls look as if they have seen a ghost. Their skin is a ghastly pale and they are shaking from head to toe.

"Are you going to help me?" The girl on the ground barks at the three others. They nod and head toward Hallie, but Hallie speaks, scaring them back.

"I wouldn't," Hallie growls, her voice low and deep, scarier than I have ever seen her speak.

She turns back to the scared girl on the ground. "You don't mess with my family. You got that?" she commands.

The girl doesn't speak. Instead, she just nods slowly. "Next time," Hallie growls, "you won't be so lucky."

The girls bright blue eyes are terrified as she nods. Hallie gets off of her and she scrambles away with her copy cat crew.

Hallie stands up and heads toward me, a small smile playing on the side of her pinkish lips.

"Are you okay?" she asks me, genuinely concerned.

"Yeah. Thanks to you." I pull her into a hug. "But..." I trail off, not speaking for a few seconds, trying to interpret what just happened. "Why did you do it? Why did you help me?"

"Listen," she says, pulling away from my embrace. "I know we but heads a lot, but you're my sister and I will always have your back." I give her another quick hug and she smiles. "Anyway, only I get to mess with you."

He joking makes me smile. "I know I don't say it enough, but I love you," I exclaim, my voice filled with emotion.

"I love you too," she whispers quietly. "But don't tell Mom I said that."

I arch one of my eyebrows, curious. "Why?" I question.

"Because. I have a reputation to keep. I'm the rebel and the smart alec in the family. And I intend to keep my reputation."

I stifle a laugh and run and hand through my hair. "You and your reputations." I let out a laugh. "Come one," I say, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the car. "Let's go home."

As we walk up to the car and open the door, Mom eyes us suspiciously. "Is there something that I've missed?" she asks and we exchange glances and then both shake our heads.

"Nope," our voices ring in unison as we buckle up.

"Okay," she says, still suspicious, but doesn't decide to press.

Mom shifts the car into reverse and then drives out of the parking lot.

When we get home it's around eleven thirty. The wind is howling like a wolf at the mood and the air is cold. I rub my shoulders, trying to keep warm, as I step out of the car and prance into the house.

I find Dad popped in the recliner, watching television, and Paisley stretched out on the couch with a large black hardback book in her small hands.

Dad pauses the television when he hears us enter. Turning around to face is, he speaks, "How was the dance?"

"Great. It was a lot of fun," I say, smoothing out my dress.

"That's good," he exclaims.

"Well I'm going to bed," Hallie informs, striding up the stairs two at a time and then disappearing around the corner.

"I think I'm going to go to bed also," I say goodnight and then head up to my room.

I take of my dress and then slip into my pajamas. I brush my teeth and after swiping my brush through my hair a few times, I pull it into a ponytail and then crash on my bed, closing my eyes. Within seconds, I'm asleep.

I wake to the bright illuminating the sky and streaming in the window and into my eyes. Grumbling, I turn over and put my pillow over my face, trying to avoid the bright sunlight. It doesn't work.

Rolling out of bed, I get up and shuffle to my bathroom, but I miss the door and run into the wall. Cursing under my breath, I storm into my bathroom and start the shower.

When the water heats up, I step into the tub. The water feels amazing as it rains down on me. After letting the water run for a long time, I grab my shampoo bottle and run the liquid through my long hair. Then I condition my it, which makes it softer than any silk.

When I am finished showering, I wring out my long soaking wet hair,which is a darker blond since it's wet, dry off, and then change into a white tank top with a light brown sweater over it and jeans.

After brushing the tangles out of my long wavy hair, I amble to my room. Right as I enter I hear a noise. It's someone yelling.

I stride over to my window and peek outside to see who it is. Outside stands a boy with dark hair and large eyes. He's smiling, despite the fact that he's covered from head to toe in dirt.

I open my window and yell, "What the heck are you doing?"

"Uh...trying to get your attention," he shouts back, cupping his hands around his mouth to louden his voice.

"Okay so? You have my attention now. What do you want?"

He purses his lips for a little while, thinking. The finally he answers, "Do you want to hang out?"

"Yeah." I say. "Sure."

I slip on some light brown boots and then rush outside to meet Cole, the boy who is covered in grime and filth, but also the boy that is my friend.

I hope you like my chapter. Please vote and comment. Hope you liked it! Hey you guys, I have a question. Do you like Jeremy or Cole better?