Chapter 2: Pessimism

Nessie's POV

I felt my heart skip several beats as soon as I posted the video. I'd done it. I'd actually done it. I hoped against all odds that Chelsea's idea would work. That it would "bring all the answers to me," as she'd so kindly put it.

"So what do you want to do now Nessie?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Honestly I don't know yet. I can't go home. Not yet anyway. I'm still angry and I know my parents are to,"

"Honestly I don't understand what the deal is with your parents anyway," she said. "If I were adopted I'd want to know the truth as well. Nothing wrong with that,"

I sighed. "Yeah but apparently I'm the world's worst daughter for wanting to know,"

"Oh please Nessie you know that's not true. Youre grades are great. You're a goody two-shoes that never does anything wrong. Not to mention that you're one of the best baseball players that our school has ever seen,"

"That's not exactly true. My grades are far from being perfect. The other day coach threatened to cut me from the team if I didn't bring up my Math, Science, and Spanish grades,"

"What?" Chelsea looked completely shocked by what I'd said. Though I guess it was my own fault for not telling her the truth about my grades.

"Yup. Getting Ds in all those classes. They're all about one quiz away from slipping into F territory. Coach says the only reason he hasn't cut me yet is because I'm one of the best ball players but if my grades don't improve by the next report card he won't have a choice,"

I took a deep breath. No matter how hard I studied Math, and Science were beyond my comprehension. Learning Spanish was like learning a whole new language...oh wait it was.

"Oh Nessie," was all she could say. Then again what else could she say?

Lucky barked a few times before running ahead of us.

"Where do you think he's going?" Chelsea asked.

"He must've smelled food up ahead. He only does that when he smells food,"

Sure enough a few minutes later we arrived at a burger joint. Lucky stood outside greeting everyone as he waited for us. He gave me a look that basically said I'd better get him food to or else...

"Nessie why didn't you tell me about your grades?," Chelsea asked me once we sat down with our food.

"Um, well, because it's embarrassing that's why,"

"But I'm you're best friend. We're supposed to tell each other these things Nessie,"

I didn't say anything as I bit into my burger.

"What about your science project? Have you started on that yet?"

"No. I don't even know where the hell to start,"

In Biology we were supposed to build a model of a cell and I'd chosen onion root. We had a month to do it and I was down to two weeks now and I hadn't even started.

"That project would be a good start in bringing up your science grade at least. Maybe I could come over and help you tomorrow?"

"I can't. I'm babysitting the Dwyer's children tomorrow,"

Renee Dwyer and Phil Dwyer had been my neighbors for as long as I could remember. Renee Dwyer was an elementary school teacher who had been my teacher back in second grade. Out of all of my teachers she was the one that I remembered the most. I'm sure growing up with her as a neighbor made it easier for me to remember her. Her husband, Phil Dwyer, was a minor league baseball player. He was a nice guy.

Together they had two children. A ten year old boy named Eric Dwyer and an eight year old girl named Marie Dwyer. I babysit them often. They were good kids.

"Well there's always the evening?" Chelsea suggested. I snorted into my soda. The last thing I wanted to do on a Saturday evening was homework.

Chelsea sighed. She opened her mouth like she was about to say something and then closed it.

I pulled my phone out and decided to check how many views my video had gotten. I nearly dropped my phone in shock when I saw that it had 254 views. I looked at the time and saw that it had only been an hour since I posted it. One hour and my video had already gotten more views then any of my previous videos before. I refreshed the page and this time I actually did drop my phone when I saw the number had jumped to 325.

"Holy shit!" I shouted which caused everyone around me to look at me in annoyance.

"What? What's wrong Nessie?" Chelsea asked looking worried.

"My video. It has 325 views already that's what!"

"What?"

"Now it's at 370," I said after refreshing the page again. "and there's comments. Most wishing me good luck in my search,"

"You see! I told you this could work Nessie! There's a lot of people out there who are willing to help you by sharing the video. Plus having Lucky in the video with you helps. People love videos with dogs in them,"

"Holy shit," I said again. "This is incredible,"

"It's going to work Nessie. I'm sure of it,"

"I don't know. I still believe that it has to go viral for this to work. I'm not sure I'll believe it until I see this hit a million views and I'm not sure it will,"

"Nessie can you quit being so pessimistic. Your video has already gotten more views than you thought it would so it's highly possible,"

Pessimistic. Realistic. She could call me whatever she wanted it was not going to change my thinking. I had to see it to believe it.

There was only two people in the world that I hoped would never see my video and that was my mother and father. They would really freak out if they saw it. Oh God I don't even want to imagine how angry they'd be. Then again though if I got the answers I wanted than maybe pissing them off would be worth it.

"Ready to go home yet?" Chelsea asked.

"No but I'll understand if you do,"

"Nah why don't we go get ice cream now?"

As soon as she said ice cream Lucky was on his feet wagging his tail. I swear that dog of mine is a bottomless pit. He'll eat just about anything but his actual dog food.

"Sounds good to me,"

As we walked out the door I crashed into something or rather someone. My heart stopped beating when I saw that it was Joshua. Star of the basketball team and the boy I've been crushing hard on since middle school.

"I'm sorry, um, Essie is it?"

"Um it's Nessie actually but that's pretty close,"

I swear to God he never got my name right. We've only been in the same classes since middle school and he always messed up my name.

"Oh, well, excuse me,"

"Essie?" Chelsea snickered when we were out of earshot.

"Oh shut up will you?"

"I don't even know why you're wasting time trying to get that guy's attention. Sure Joshua is good looking-"

"Good looking?" I said in disbelief. "He's the most handsome, gorgeous, muscular man there is!"

"Which probably means he gets all the girls he wants and that's why he can't even be bothered to get your name right after so many years,"

I ignored her.

"Seriously Nessie I think you can do much better than Joshua. There are plenty of other men in the world. Men more worthy of your attention,"

I still ignored her. Joshua was worthy of my attention. If only I could get his attention. If anything it was me that wasn't worthy of his attention.

Before I knew it we were at a Dairy Queen. I bought two sundaes. One for me and one for Lucky. It probably wasn't a good idea to give a dog ice cream but it made Lucky really happy. In Florida the heat was terrible but add in humidity and it was downright miserable at times so ice cream was a treat everyone, my dog included, enjoyed.

It was getting dark by the time we finished and I figured I should head back home already. Even if she was angry mom would be super worried if I stayed out all night. Even if Jacksonville was an overall safe city to live in.

When I got home I saw Mrs. Dwyer watering her front lawn.

"Hi Nessie," she said happily.

"Hi Mrs. Dwyer,"

"You're still babysitting tomorrow, right? I'll understand if you can't since it's a Saturday and all-"

"Don't worry about Mrs. Dwyer I love watching the kids. They're great kids. You two just enjoy your show,"

"Thanks Nessie!"

I smiled. I loved the Dwyer family.

When I walked in the front door my parents didn't even say anything. So I changed into my pajamas and got ready for bed. I checked my video again and felt my jaw drop.

Two thousand views. My video was at two thousand views now.

Holy shit!

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