I'm just going to state this ... right here, right now. I suck at updating. I am the worst updater in the land of updating. So -- I do not expect your forgivness at all. In fact, reprimand me if you will! However, moving on. Lol. So, basically this whole chapter is one scene. And it's a major one. I also have to admit a LOT of my inspiration in this chapter comes from one scene in the 2nd scene of the show "The O.C." by the poolside with Marissa Cooper. If you're a fan of the show -- you'll see what I'm talking about. If not ... ignore that whole thing I just said. Lol. Hope you enjoy :)
"What are you two doing here?" Miley asked.
Lacey nervously played with her fingers in Miley's doorway. "I thought maybe you could use some chicken noodle soup" Lacey's sweet smile turned into a grimace, "I found out you were sick from my dad … who found out from your mom."
Tish didn't notice any difference in Lacey's tone, "Yes, I talked to Dave and he seemed very concerned sweetheart" she paused, "He's very nice" she smiled.
Miley almost shot up from the bed and ran for the bathroom to puke her guts out. "I'm sure he is" she smiled with a heavy layer of sugarcoating.
Add on a cherry and we've got ourselves a sundae, folks.
"What I really meant was what are you doing here, Joe?" Miley questioned.
"I'm here on a mission" he smiled cheekily. Lacey turned her head to look at the smiling boy, standing next to her in her best friend's doorway. "A mission…" Miley eyed him.
"A mission" he confirmed.
Tish looked back and forth from the two standing in the doorway to her daughter lying in her bed. "Well, I'll just let you three have your privacy" she smiled sweetly. She then quickly turned to her daughter, "I need you ready in twenty minutes, we're leaving to pick up some things at the grocery store, and then we're stopping at your father's grave…"
Miley's heart exploded. "Excuse me?" her voice was barely a whisper, strained.
"Grocery store then father's grave…" she stated casually, walking towards the door where Joe and Lacey were. The two quickly moved out of her way, pressing their backs up against the back of the hallway wall. Miley sat there in her bed appalled, her mother was too much; too much to handle.
Tish had left. She wasn't coming back until she wanted to leave, it was made clear.
"Miley…" Lacey started, but Miley was already up and walking around her room, "Where are my flip flops?" she muttered under her breath.
"Huh?" Lacey piped up, "Can you shut up for a second LC? I'm trying to think" Miley didn't look at her while talking, she kept her eyes closed tightly, squeezing them shut, trying to think of where her footwear was located. Suddenly they snapped open in realization, "under the bed…" she breathed out.
"Miley, we need to talk to you" Lacey interrupted.
"Fine. Go ahead and talk LC" Miley sighed, getting down on her knees and reaching under the bed to feel for her flip flops.
Lacey looked back at Joe nervously, he just nodded her along. "Ok" Lacey sighed, "We know something happened between you and Nick" Lacey started. Miley flinched, but didn't look at Lacey; she just continued reaching under her bed. "Because … well, you wouldn't stay home if it was your mom you were mad at. I know you, and that's not you. So it has to be Nick, right?" Lacey smiled timidly. Miley's eyes lifted to connect with her best friends. The two stayed silent.
Miley pulled the flip flops out from underneath the bed without breaking the stare. Slowly she slipped them onto her feet and stood. Still, they held their eye contact. Lacey a little scared, while Miley showed nothing at all. "No" was all Miley said before she started walking toward the door, "This isn't about Nick"
Walking over a few piles of clothing, she pushed past Lacey, "Then what's it about?" Lacey asked. Then Miley made it to Joe who still stood in the doorway. "Please move" she whispered. Joe shook his head, "Lacey just wants to help" he muttered, "That's all" he tried to smile. Miley nudged his shoulder that was blocking her out of her own way and continued her path down the hallway, "I know that!" she shouted, "She and Ty seem to be the only ones who want to!"
Her heavy footsteps traveled down the hallway, she watched her feet as they turned into the kitchen. She kept her eyes on them as she slid the glass door open that led out onto the porch. She continued to watch them even as her feet traveled across the grass and still watched them as she made it to the edge of the pool.
The grasshoppers sang.
It was twilight.
The only time of day she could see things … clearly. But, even as her mind cleared and the fog slowly evaporated, things didn't look any better. In fact, her view was even worse, because all she saw was her rage-filled mother, disappointed cast mates, an upset Nick, an empty desk in Julliard with her name on it and her father … crying.
Wait – why was he crying? Why wasn't he happy?
It was like she could feel his tears; her sweet, loving father's tears.
She brought her shaking hand up to her red cheek and that's when she felt them. They weren't her father's tears, they were hers; her salty tears that she had produced, the tears that burned her skin and drowned her lungs all at the same time.
They were smoldering.
"Miley!" Lacey's voice could be heard from the porch. The back lights came on with the flip of a switch from the kitchen, Joe probably. "Miley, come inside!" Lacey called again.
Miley's blood boiled. Why couldn't they just leave? Her father had. Even though it wasn't entirely his fault. Nick had. Well, she sent him away … but he still had. Her mom hadn't been herself for ages so technically, she had left too.
Lacey, Joe and Ty should just leave while they still can. Get away from her tainted self and way.
She slowly shook her head and backed away from the pool, bumping into the two white lounge chairs behind her that she and Lacey had laid upon so many times before, when the sun shined and she was happy. When there was a time to swim and drink cool iced teas, to talk about boys and what they would be wearing to the next summer party at Rachel Fitzmaurice's.
Now was not the time though. Now, the crickets sang a sad song, the wind chimes didn't dare to sing at all, and the slowly rising moon painted her skin a pasty white.
Miley shivered as she fell backwards onto the lounge chair. Lacey ran across the green lawn and to Miley's side, trying to help her up. "Here, Miley, I think you've had enough for one day" Lacey whispered, wrapping her hand around Miley's elbow, trying to help her stand. "Enough?" Miley whispered, staring at the pool's mocking eyes and not at Lacey's enchanting grey ones. Miley quickly pushed Lacey away from her, causing her friend to stumble backwards and fall onto her butt. The wet grass soaked through her white capris and startled her. Joe was by Lacey's side in an instant.
"I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!" Miley's vocal chords ripped.
And that's when the anger was finally unleashed. All the bad things inside of her finally found a light, a way out; only to let the good things in … hopefully.
Her screams felt like knives digging into your wrists. At least, that was the only way Lacey and Joe could explain it. When they look back on that day, all they could remember was that sound … her face … and that look in her eyes.
The scarlet red slowly darkened in her cheeks and then spread to every inch of her skin resting on her face. Her fingers shook rapidly as did her knees. That blue … you know, the color in her eyes? That piercing, cerulean blue that just made you want to fall to your knees and worship her … well, that color was gone. And in its place was this dark midnight shine … not friendly either, scary. Scary as in … please, god almighty, help this girl.
Balling her hands into fists she covered her ears with them and knelt down on the damp grass, screaming and crying … screaming and crying.
Joe held Lacey closely who was crying as well, not because she was scared … but, because her best friend was and she couldn't hold her and make it all better. Not this time.
Miley slowly lifted her shaking body from the ground and looked over toward the pool furniture through her glossy eyes. She stalked over toward the lounge chairs and glared at them for a moment. Then she let out another set of back lashing screams and flipped the lounge chair over into the pool.
The splash set off a siren in Miley's mind. It was saying, get out girl, while you still can.
Her breath caught in her throat once she saw her mother standing on the porch, holding her car keys in one hand and purse in the other hand, just staring at her, wide eyed. She then turned her gaze to Lacey and Joe who were only a mere six feet away from her.
Lacey was shaking and crying while Joe held her, his face flushed. Miley's body trembled as her gaze finally set on the lounge chair in the pool.
It was havoc, and she had caused it.
So that's when she made the decision that would change things forever. That would open some eyes and close some others for the better … and for the worse. In that moment, she chose a different path. In other words … she hopped the backyard fence and began to run.
Running to who knows where. No one knew … except destiny that is.
Oh and by the way .. the show "Glee" ... is amazing. Yes, I thought I'd state that.lovelovelove,
emilykearsexx