I Love My Life With Derek
Summary-A girl runs away from her home and finds her way back to Canada and back into the Venturis' lives. Derek is glad to have his best friend back, but what happens when she opens up his eyes to the world that she's been hiding?
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Chapter One-Stray
I snuck out of the house plenty of times but I tripped on the curb on my way away this time. I got up and took off running again when I saw the lights come on. I bolted down the street and turned into an alley. I leaned against the wall as I watched the headlights of the car drive by.
I settled down and pulled my backpack off of my back. I placed it on the ground, curled over, and rested my head on it. My muscles ached and throbbed as I let out the breath that I've been holding and felt myself fall into a light sleep.
I woke up unexpectedly the next morning by the blaring of the bus horn. I scrambled to my feet, grabbed my backpack, and charged onto the bus, not caring where it would take me. I sat on the last seat and looked out the window as I slipped my i-pod earbuds into my ears. I turned up Pain by Three Days Grace; the lyrics released my anger and feelings. I let out a sigh of relief but felt the feeling of anxiety gorw in me as I saw the reflection of a woman moving up the aisle. She looked in about her thirties, short red hair, a little bit of make up, and nice clothes. It was then that I realized she was staring back at me, I must've looked homeless to her.
My jet black hair was uncombed; my crystal blue eyes were bloodshot from the lack of sleep. My black pants were wrinkled, dirty, and filled with holes, my blue layered t-shirt ripped in some places and my lips chapped because of the harsh wind. Yeah, I can see how that strikes someone as me being homeless.
I finally gave into the fatigue that was trying to take me over. I pulled my legs up on the seat next to me and lay down on the seat, my music still playing in my ears. I woke up to find a small quilt draped over me. I folded it up and put it on the seat next to me and looked down to see that my only source of entertainment was dead. Sighing, I searched in my backpack to see if I had more batteries, or a snack, but found nothing. Just my luck.
"Why do you look so depressed?"
I turned and saw that the woman was looking at me in curiosity.
"I'm not depressed, just tired," I responded as I yawned.
"Right, I'm Nora MacDonald," she said as she held out her hand.
I shook it and said, "Mackenzie Montgomery, Mack for short."
"What's a young girl like you doing in this part of town? Shouldn't you be at home?" She asked as she opened her purse and dug around in it. 'If I had enough money I would use it to find a place to stay,,' I thought as I looked down at my stomach that was rumbling. "Here," Nora said as she held out a pack of crackers to me.
"I don't need your pity," I said as I shook my head and pushed the crackers back.
"It's not pity," she responded as she smiled a little. "I just see that you don't have any food. Also that you have nothing else to do, but sit there and draw attention to yourself, by looking depressed."
"Thank you, then," I muttered as I took the crackers from her and hurriedly opened it and stuffed the crackers in my mouth. What can I say? It beats the hell out of the other things that I eat. I turned and gave Nora a look when I heard her start laughing. "Wha?" I asked with my mouth full.
"I'm sorry, it's just that you remind me of my son Derek," she responded as she stopped laughing, but her smile stayed. I forced a little smile but it faded once I hit my head on the seat in front of me as the bus screeched to a stop. I looked out the window and decided to get off there. I gathered my things, thanked Nora, and jumped off of the bus. I looked around and was about to decide where to go when Nora asked, "So where are you going?"
"Why do you care?" I asked as I looked at her. 'Damn, I didn't want to be defensive, now she knows I have no where to go. Smooth move, Mack.'
"Because you look lost," she responded. "And…judging by that, the state of your clothes, how red your eyes are, and the blank look on your face, you look as if you have nowhere to go." I just stared back at her, somewhat amazed how she could tell that I had no place to stay. I mean, for all she knows, I could have been going to a relative's house. No, she knew. No one would send their kid looking like this to a relative's house. "Come back to my place. You look as if you haven't slept for weeks."
"I couldn't do that. I would just be in the way," I said as I shook my head. 'She can't be serious.'
"Nonsense. You wouldn't be in the way," she said as she shook her head and smiled. "Besides, I can't let you stay out here at night. Canada gets pretty cold at this time of year."
"Well…if you're sure," I said slowly.
"I'm sure," she responded as she lead me down the street and into her car. I hesitated before getting in. I mean, she was the only one that I have seen in a while who was willing to be hospitable towards me, so I should be able to trust her. She talked to someone on her cell phone the whole car ride to her place and my name came up a few times. We finally made it to a brown, orderly looking house. I stared at it a couple of seconds before following her inside.
Right as I walked in screams reached my ears along with crashes. Nora sighed and said, "I'll show you where the bathroom is first and I'll get you some clothes to borrow, ok?"
I just nodded as I followed her up the stairs. She showed me the bathroom and how to work the bath. Once it filled up, and I made sure to lock the door, I stared at the water as steam curled up into the air and disappeared. I slowly undressed and then slid in, sighing as the water immediately warmed me up. I took my time just relaxing there before I started washing myself. Once I finished I drained the tub and dried myself and looked at the clothes that Nora had let me borrow: brown capris and a dark blue long-sleeved shirt. I changed and put my other clothes in my backpack before leaving the bathroom and stepping out into the hallway. I stopped at the top of the stairs when I heard voices coming from down stairs.
"So what's this meeting about? There's a hockey game on TV I can't miss," a boy's impatient voice reached my ears.
"Kids, while I was out today I met this girl…who didn't have a place to stay. So, I offered here a place here." All at once screams filled the air as Nora tried to get them quiet. I laughed a little at the smallest girl's voice screaming over everyone else's. "It's only for a little bit, while I try to help her find a place to stay. In the meantime, I want you to meet her." I heard footsteps come towards the stairs and Nora call up, "You can come down now." I took that as my cue and sighed as I grabbed my backpack and descended down the stairs. Once I made it to the bottom I felt all eyes on me and I shifted nervously under their gaze. "Everyone, this is Mackenzie. Mackenzie, this is my husband George, and our kids Casey, Lizzie, Edwin, Marti, and Derek."
I looked them over as they all said different versions of hello. Casey seemed like a prep, Lizzie was a definite tomboy, Edwin seemed smooth, Marti seemed like a little sweetheart, and Derek…surprisingly I couldn't describe him, but he seemed so familiar…
"So…who's she going to be staying with? There isn't enough room in here for one more person to have their own room," Edwin pointed out.
"Which is why she'll be staying with Casey for a couple of days," Nora responded as she looked over at me, as if asking my opinion. I just shrugged as Casey jumped to her feet and smiled.
"This will be so cool! You're going to like it here," Casey said as she took my arm and started to lead me up the stairs. "So, how old are you?"
"Fifteen. I turn sixteen next month," I responded as I looked around the room and made a face at how…feminine it was.
"So you're a sophomore?" Casey questioned.
"Actually I'm a junior. I was born later in the year but enrolled in school earlier."
"So you're a junior just like me and…Derek."
"I take it that you don't like your brother?" I questioned.
"Step-brother," she corrected. "You see, my mom married George Venturi and forced my sister Lizzie and I to move in here with Derek, Edwin, and Marti."
'Wait a second!' "Did you say 'Venturi'?" I asked as I looked over at her.
"Yeah, why?" Casey asked in confusion.
"Bout time you remembered the Venturis," Derek commented from the doorway as I turned around and rushed over to him and gave him a hug.
"What's going on here?" Casey asked in confusion. "Derek, you're hugging her? And how do you know her?"