Scarlett's Will by Nicole Jardine (i like reading .txt) 📗

sick all of a sudden. Why did he leave me? I held back my tears as I heard my mother run downstairs.

“Scarlett, you’re home,” she said calmly. She walked up to me and hugged me. “I’m sorry Mom, I’m fine,” I told her. She looked at me as she turned the light on. “I can see the tears Scarlett Rayne, what happened? Where did you go? Are you hurt?” she asked, a little more panic in her voice.

“No, I'm not hurt. I met someone, an incredibly amazing someone, I’m just sad to leave him,” I managed to tell her without bursting into tears.

“You left the concert with a boy? Where did you go?” she sounded angry now. I can’t take this. “Can we discuss this in the morning?” I asked her.

“Do you have any idea what’s been going on here since you met that boy?” she demanded. I shook my head, I can’t listen to her right now. I hear my father on the phone in the kitchen. He walked toward me as I stood my ground, waiting for his wrath.

“I just called the police to tell them you're home,” he informs me. “They are sending an officer over immediately. Do you have to go to the hospital?” he asked coldly.

“No, I’m fine,” I said curtly.

“Are you sure you don’t need the morning after pill or a check for STDs?” he asked with a sneer. I’m shocked and mortified by his questions.

“No,” I shouted as I turned to leave them. My father grabbed my arm and swung me around, smacking me across the face. The force of the smack catches me off balance and I fall to the floor. I quickly stood back up, feeling adrenaline race through me.

“That’s for making your mother worry,” he said as he released me. I turned and ran up to my room, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

“Why did I leave you?” I cried as I clutched Buddy's tee shirt to my chest. I missed him so much already.

The police officers arrived and interrogated me as to my whereabouts. I refused to tell them his name. They warned me that he could be charged with harboring a runaway. I couldn't imagine getting him into trouble over me. I gasped when they told me that there was a search team set up to scour the grounds after I went missing. A few of your friends mentioned that they were American.

“Did you cross the border Scarlett?” he asked me. I nodded without thinking, Buddy still needed to cross it tonight. I heard my mother huff.

“Do you want to see a doctor or a counselor Scarlett? I can have that arranged,” the police officer offered. I just shook my head.

At school the next day all eyes were on me. I was called in during the second period to go to the office. The secretary tells me that she’s happy I’m safe. I’m surprised that everybody knows I went missing. The school’s guidance counselor comes out and asks to speak with me in his office. I shrug as I follow him in.

“Scarlett, you have no idea how relieved we are that you’ve arrived home safely. Can you tell me why you went away with a complete stranger?” he asked.

“No, I can’t actually, it just kind of happened,” I told him honestly.

“I think you should know that your picture was on the news and the police interrogated your friends. If you want to talk my door is always open, just remember, running away isn’t the answer. You have to face your problems,” he lectured me. I just sighed. He doesn’t understand. I smiled as I stood to leave.

“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind,” I mumbled as I left.

After school I didn’t want to go straight home, I just wandered the streets and hung out at the arcade, even though I had apparently been grounded. I laughed at that. My father had given me the cold shoulder, which I was actually happy about. My mother kept watching me, like she thought I would show some sign of sickness or pregnancy. I told her we never had sex, it wasn’t like that. I tried to tell her that what we had was special. She just laughed at me, like she didn’t believe I could have anything special, it had to be wrong and immoral. The less time I had to spend at home the better.

On the following Saturday morning I left the house as soon as I woke up. I stopped to grab a drink at the cafe beside the arcade. I took a seat by the window so I could watch to see if anyone I knew arrived. As I gazed out the window, trying not to think about Buddy, a couple of guys I knew joined me at my table.

“There she is? Aurora’s very own celebrity,” Flynn jokes, laughing as he rubbed my shoulders.

“Real funny Flynn,” I said as I elbowed him. His black spiky hair contrasted beautifully with his light blue eyes. Before I met Buddy I had a little crush on Flynn. I had considered making him my next boyfriend, but all of that has changed now. I didn’t want another boyfriend, I just wanted Buddy. I wanted him so much it hurt.

“It’s true, your face was plastered all over the news since you ran away. Where did you go?” Sam asked, sitting across from me.

“Buffalo,” I said, not really wanting to talk about it.

“Interesting choice,” Flynn said, eyeing me suspiciously. I couldn't help but smile, knowing how crazy it must sound.

“Well, I think it's time to get high,” Sam offers, reaching for my hand, leading me out of the cafe. I am in complete agreement. I haven’t had a smoke since the last one I shared with Buddy. I have been craving it but