-Chapter 27: Window of Opportunity-

-Zeke-

"Why did you need me to walk you home?" I ask Kris, who was currently hanging on to my arm as if her life depended on it. "You're tough enough to get from my place to there."

"I'm scared of the dark," Kris said, embarrassed.

"Are you scared of the dark? Or the unknown that could be in it?" I ask.

She glared at me. I can't help but chuckle a bit and she slaps my arm.

"That's not funny!" She yelled rather loudly. "Why'd you do that?!"

"Why does everyone do what they do?" I counter her question with another question.

"Why do people do the things they do?" Kris repeated. "That's something I've always wanted to know. What made your parents move here? What made Celeste think death was an answer?" Kris said.

I wish she didn't say that.

I nod. "Now I understand what you mean. Yeah, the brain is complex, but I hate science so I'm not gonna talk about it."

"Do you hate science or hate talking about Celeste?" Kris asked.

"A little bit of both," I reply. "I don't hate talking about her. Just what she did."

"Yeah," Kris said. "Sorry for bringing it up, I needed an example and that was the first thing that popped into my head."

"I know," I say. "It's ok."

"How are you holding up?" I ask. "You always ask me, how are you?"

I never check up on Kris and ask her how she's doing. Then again, never really lets me. I decide to do that now.

"Nice change of the subject," Kris said. "But I'm ok. I guess. Though I barely saw her, she was my friend and I miss her. It's hard to believe it's been four months already."

I nod but say nothing.

"She loved Long Beach. She never wanted to leave. Did you know that?" Kris asked.

"Yeah, she was very fond of the city and its hidden gems," I reply. Maybe one day we could go to Long Beach sometime," I suggest, giving her a small smile.

"Maybe," Kris said. "Don't worry about me though. I'm fine."

*CRASH*

Suddenly a loud crash came from behind us. We turn around to see Cassie laying on the ground with her backpack in her hands.

"What the hell?!" I exclaim.

"Oh. H-Hi guys." Cas said with a pained groan.

"Holy shit are you ok?" Kris asked in shock.

"Get back here you little whore!" A slurred voice yelled from inside.

"Hey, guys? I think we should run." Kris suggested.

Cassie didn't think twice, scooped up her backpack, and booked it.

"Where is she!" The front door to the house flew open and as Zeke and Kris tried to run, a woman stopped them.

"We are fucked." I think to myself.

"Did you two see someone about your age run past here?" The woman said holding something behind her back. She was pissed.

"N-no, ma'am we didn't." Kris stuttered, trying to be as respectful as possible.

"Are you sure?" The woman asked, her voice slurred, as she turned her attention to me.

"Positive," I say as I maneuver myself in between Kris and the woman.

The woman groaned, turned, and went back to the house, and slammed the door. Kris and I just stood there for a bit, pondering on what just happened.

"We have to go find her." Kris finally said before run in the direction Cas ran in.

I stay back and pull out my phone. I scroll through my contacts until I find the one I need.

"H-hello?" Cas said when she picked up. She sounded scared

"Hey Cas, where are you?" I ask, walking away from the house.

"Why?" Cas asked.

"To see if you're ok," I say, genuinely concerned.

"Yeah I'm ok, I just threw myself out a window." Cas snapped sarcastically.

"Sorry," I say.

Cassie sighed. "I'm near that park where we met the other night. The one you took my lighter from me."

"Cya in a bit," I say as I hang up.

I begin to make my way to the park when I see Kris sitting on the curbside.

"I lost her after a few blocks," Kris said when I caught up to her. She was out of breath.

"The park we all meet up at before school," I say.

"How'd you know that?" Kris asked.

I hold up my phone. "She told me.

"How'd you get her number so fast?" She asked me with wonder.

"We met there one night while I was taking a walk," I reply. "Now c'mon, isn't the time for chit chat."

—————————

-Cassie-

"Thank god I snatched those bandages before I left." I think to myself as I apply one to another bleeding wound. I'm surprised I wasn't too beat up.

I wait on a park bench for Zeke and, I think, Kristina, to arrive.

Off in the distance, I hear their footsteps approaching. I wonder to myself why they would want to waste their time trying to find me?

"Are you ok?" Kris asked from behind, a bit of worry in her voice.

I jump. I didn't expect them to get here so quickly. Were they that fast or did I just zone out?

"Why are you even worried about me?" I ask in my mind.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I say out loud. "Just a few scratches.

"Good fine or bad fine?" Zeke asked.

His question caught me off guard. Nobody would bother to check if what I said was true. They'd always leave without a second thought.

"B-bad fine." I bow my head, allowing my hair to cover my face.

"What happened back there?" Kris asked.

"My mom was d-drunk. When she's drunk she's m-mad and when she's mad, she takes it out on me. Every drop of it." I explain.

"Wow. You can't catch a break can you?" Zeke said.

"N-no," I say.

"Can't you go to the police?" Kris asked.

"She said she'll kill me if I did that." I take a deep breath.

"Then, again i-it would be a win-win scenario."

"Don't talk like that," Zeke snapped.

"You need to go to the hospital," Kris said.

"No!" I exclaim. "I can't!"

"Why?" Kris said, sitting down next to me.

"She'll f-find me again." I choke at the words.

"You need to get those checked out kid," Zeke said.

"No. I'm not going," Cas said.

I was never my mother's favorite. That honor went to my sister. At first, it was minor stuff like not talking to me for days on end. But after my dad died, she started drinking and, well, we're here now.

"Where are you going to go then?" Zeke asked.

"She could stay at the orphanage," Kris suggested to him. "I don't know about clothes though."

"N-no. It's f-fine really." I say, trying to be reassuring. "I'll be ok."

Zeke gave me a skeptical look.

"Where are you gonna get clothes?" Kris asked.

"I can sneak in and grab them when mom goes to the bar," I say.

"Bathe?" Kris asked.

"I could sneak into the school?" I ask more than I say.

"What about food and water?" Zeke asked.

"I'll be ok. I p-promise." I say my voice breaking, before running off. "I'll see you guys tomorrow!"

Before they could say anything more, I fling my bag over my shoulder and run off. I'm not going anywhere in particular. I just want them off my trail.