Everyone is staring, it's actually incredibly concerning to know that this many teenagers have nothing better to do than stare at the new girl.
"So I kinda need to go, are you going to be okay finding your way around?" Karma asks, already getting ready to leave.
"Uh, yeah sure I'll be fine," I reply quickly but once Karma turns to leave I see even more people staring.
"Wait, Karma!" I call out and she stops and turns back towards me.
"Yeah?" She asks and I try not to sound desperate.
"Can I come and hangout with you?"
"Yeah, sure," Karma replies and I hurry to catch up to her. As Karma led the way my mind kept wandering to thoughts of Lauren. I 'borrowed' Karma's phone last night and called her, but she couldn't speak for very long before our asshole of a foster father caught her so she had to hang up. I chew the side of my bottom lip that isn't busted and try to think of a way that I can see her.
Karma turns into a room ahead of me and when I enter I find that I'm standing in the middle of a music room. Walking to the side of the room Karma picks up a guitar and takes a seat, the ease in which she moves around suggests that she spends a lot of time in here. I look around the room in search of a seat and spot a bench in front of a piano, dropping my bag to the ground I sink onto the bench. Karma fiddles with the guitar and begins to strum a melody.
"It's nice," I say quietly and she looks up at me.
"Yeah, it's the one I played for my audition," Karma replies and goes back to playing.
I turn around to look at the piano in front of me and my fingers itch to play, I give in to the urge and stretch my fingers out on the keys before I begin to play.
"You play?" Karma asks stopping her strumming entirely.
"Yeah, sort of. My dad taught me how to play, before he-," I stop myself, unsure if I want to talk about my dad.
"Before he what?" Karma encourages gently but before I can open my mouth again a boy sneaks up behind Karma and snakes his arms around her waist.
The boy leans over and kisses Karma on the cheek before murmuring, "Good morning Beautiful,"
"Good morning," Karma responds quietly, a smile on her face. The two seem to be off in their own little world and I clear my throat in discomfort.
The boy is the first one to look up, "Who's this, Karms?"
"Oh, this is Amy. She's going to be living with my family for a while," Karma responds and the boy nods in understanding.
"Oh, I'm Liam," Liam introduces himself and holds his hand out.
"Amy," I hesitantly shake his hand but he doesn't seem to take it to offense.
"Anyway Karms, I just stopped in to say hello but I've got to get to class," Liam returns his attention to Karma and I exhale in relief that I'm out of the spotlight once more.
"Shoot, I actually have to get to class as well. Are you ready to go, Amy?" Karma looks at me but I find that it's not quite as uncomfortable when the attention directed at me is Karma's.
"I think I might hang here for a bit," I respond and she nods before long the pair walk out the door after saying goodbye.
Once they are gone I turn around on the bench and run my hands over the keys but after a moment I sigh and close the cover. I have no intention of going to my class; I need to get to Lauren. I don't know how yet but I'll work something out; I have to.
Apparently the students here aren't interested in talking to the new girl with the busted up face, I've tried at least four times now to find out where the closest bus station is. Most are polite about it and quickly make up an excuse to leave, but some just get up and walk away without even a word.
I must look particularly pitiful because I see Soleil approach me and I turn to give her a smile that likely resembles a sad grimace.
"Do you need to get somewhere?" Soleil asks once she is close enough.
"Yeah, I have someone I need to see," I respond, hoping that she won't ask me to elaborate.
"Head out the back way," Soleil points back behind her and I look at her in slight confusion.
"Penelope's office has a lovely view of the front of the school, and if you go out the back way there is a bus stop two blocks from here," Soleil explains and I nod in understanding.
"Thank you," My voice holds sincerity and she gives me a small smile.
"Not a problem, now go; Penelope will start on her rounds of the school ground soon," Soleil urges and I head towards the back of the school.
I'm almost home free but I catch sight of Karma leans up against a tree with Liam hovering over her. Shit, in a poor attempt to hide I hold a folder up to block my face as I walk by them but I'm pretty sure Karma saw me.
Hoping she won't follow me I pick up my pace and toss the folder in a nearby trash can, not surprisingly by the time I make it to the board walk behind the school I hear footsteps hurrying to catch up.
"Amy, wait! Where are you going?" Karma calls out to me but I just pick up my pace even more and hope she takes the hint. Unfortunately for me, she does not.
"Leave me alone Karma," I call over my shoulder, not bothering to slow my pace.
"I'm not leaving until you tell me where you are going," Karma responds and reaches out to grab my shoulder and pulls me to a stop.
"Why can't you just mind your own damn business? You, your family, and everyone else at this freaking school," I turn around and snap at her. It's easy to see that Karma is taken back by my words.
"We are just trying to help," Karma responds in a quiet voice and I almost feel bad for yelling at her.
"I don't need your help, I just need to get out of here," My anger dissipates adn I'm left with a feeling of despair, I know I can't do this on my own but I can't let them help me. If I let them help me then I'll owe them, and I can't do that; not this time. Karma doesn't say anything and I turn around to walk away again but I hear her phone ring.
"Uggh, I've been getting calls all day from this number," Karma looks down at her phone but I take it from her before she can decline the call.
"Lauren? Lauren, sweetie, it's me,"
"Amy? Where are you? Are you coming back for me?" Lauren asks in a quiet voice.
"I'm coming to find you Lauren, I promise,"
I hear Lauren let out a gasp and there is a rush of air before a rough voice I know all too well speaks,
"Who the fuck is this?"
"Put Lauren back on the phone," My voice takes on a darker tone as I speak to the man that got me sent to juvie in the first place.
"Amy? What the fuck do you want?" His voice is surprised but still drips with malice.
"I want Lauren, now put her back on the phone," I'm not afraid of him, but I know Lauren is; it's all the more reason I need to get her out of there.
"You listen to me, you stay away from Lauren and you stay away from me or I swear to Christ I'll have you sent back to that cell to rot this time," He hangs up the phone before I can say anything else and I angrily shove the phone back into Karma's hand.
"Amy, who's Lauren? Is she your girlfriend or something?" Karma asks, and grabs my arm before I can turn away again.
"No she's not my girlfriend, she's my sister," I reply and pulls my arm out of her grasp.
"We need to call my mom, she's a cop. She can help us," Karma says, already searching for the number.
"No, no cops. That'll only make things worse,"
Karma nods in understanding but I can tell she isn't going to leave, "Fine, but at least let me help you,"
"Why would you want to help me?" I ask bitterly.
"Why do I need a reason to help you?" Karma's response is simple and sincere and I stop to look at her.
"Fine, I'll tell you where we are going on the way," I tell her before walking away once again, this time Karma is at my side as we head towards the bus stop and hopefully towards Lauren.