Mia couldn’t help but fidget while she sat with Tilly and Jake at the table. What was taking so long?
“Have you got any idea what this could be about?”
Mia was about to answer, but she realised that Tilly had directed the question towards Jake.
Jake shrugged. “No clue.”
“But their part of your circle aren’t they,” Tilly challenged a little exasperated.
Jake held his hands up defensively. “Hey. You know I’m only involved with them for football. I stay out of their drama.”
Mia could tell Tilly was about to open her mouth again, but she swooped in.
“Don’t get at him Tilly. Come on. I live with the girl and even I don’t have a clue.”
Tilly nodded and rested her hand on Jakes. “I know. Sorry. I just don’t get it.”
Jake sighed. “This is the problem with high school.”
The three of them fell back into si
Mia stood there motionless. Her body had stopped working apart from the loud thud of her heart. It made her ears ring. She was paralyzed.Ryan was speaking to her, he looked stressed and upset. But she had no idea what he was saying. It was like she was at the bottom of the ocean and he was talking to her from the shore.But then she noticed Savannah coming towards her, and the world came back into focus. Maybe it was because Savannah was shouting.“Are you deaf now?! You need to accept this and move on, Mia. Ryan wasn’t even yours to begin with.”Ryan stepped in front of her. “Calm down. I’ve said I’ll be with you, haven’t I? Don’t make the situation worse than it needs to be!”Mia shook herself. She couldn’t be here a moment longer. Without saying a word she turned and walked towards the car park. It was only then that she remembered it was Ryan who had given her a lift there.
It was a few hours in before her phone started ringing. She’d debated turning it off, but she was worried her mom would call the cops. She still might, but it was less likely if she answered her phone when she rang.She checked her rear-view mirror to make sure she could pull over safely, before coming to a stop on the side of the road.When she answered her phone, she didn’t even get a chance to speak before her mom began hysterically screaming down the phone.“Mia Ferwood! What on earth do you think you’re doing?! Don’t you dare drive any further!! Where even are you?! What’s happened to make you do this?!”Mia took a deep breath.“Mom. I’m sorry but I have to get away. I’m nearly 18. Let me do this.”“Nearly being the operative word! Are you trying to give your mother a heart attack?! What is going on?! Did Ryan do something? So help me god if he crossed a line&hellip
It had taken Mia a long time to calm down after she’d started crying. People in the park had looked at her like she was a crazy person. As soon as she was able, she had walked briskly back towards the car, Hamlet waddling behind her trying to keep up.When she got back to the truck, she was determined to try again. She wanted to feel connected to her dad. She drove round to the diner they’d always gone to for pancakes, but as soon as she pulled up she noticed that the whole place had been redecorated inside. Nothing looked the same. As she looked through the window that was framed by Christmas lights, she felt the tears coming again. Not wanting a public repeat of the ice rink, she hurried back to the car and sobbed in there instead. She’d thought coming back to the place where her and her dad had spent time together would help her feel closer to him. In truth she just felt further away. It was like it was compounding the fact that she was on h
Events appeared to move by in a flash from that point. Mia watched as the thugs dropped what they had in their hands. The brick made a loud thud as it hit the concrete of the parking lot. The beer bottle the other guy had been holding shattered, the pieces fanning out like ripples on water.The first officer continued to hold her weapon while her partner handcuffed each man. She spoke into her radio and Mia guessed she was calling for back up. Minutes later it arrived, and more uniformed officers appeared. Mia looked on as each man was led away and placed into a nearby vehicle. Once they had been taken, the female officer came up to Mia’s window with a warm smile.It took Mia a few minutes to realise that it was finally safe to open her car door. Shakily, she switched the lock and pushed it open.“Hello Miss,” The officer began. “I’m Officer Parks. Are you okay?”Mia nodded. “Yes. I mean. I think so.”
Despite her strange surroundings, Mia slept well and without nightmares or bad feelings. She actually felt refreshed in the morning when another officer came to wake her. She was sorry to hear that Office Park’s had already left for home. She felt like she’d not expressed her thanks enough.The morning officers made sure Mia was feeling settled enough to drive before they gave over her truck keys. Hamlet seemed like he’d had a night full of being pampered, and Mia was relieved to find he was his usual wagging self.When she got to her truck she briefly felt flashes of terror as memories of last night entered her mind. She pushed them away though. Something about Officer Park’s words had inspired her. She wanted to be strong too. She didn’t want the actions of a few thugs to affect her. But it was time to go home. As sad as it was, Philadelphia didn’t feel the same anymore. It wasn’t what she had hoped it would be. All she could
In the few days Mia had been away, Carla had managed to move all their personal belongings out of the house. Most of it was in storage, but the few personal things they needed for every day use had been placed in the motel rooms she’d paid for.Bob hadn’t even put up a fight. On the night of Mia’s winter dance, Carla had followed Bob’s car. She’d watched in agony as that woman had climbed in next to him. How they’d wrapped themselves around each other. From the way they’d moved against each other, Carla could tell this hadn’t been the first time.When she’d confronted him, Bob didn’t even seem to care. She’d screamed at him, asking him why he’d let her move her and Mia here just to cheat on her. He’d shrugged and told her he couldn’t help who he loved. That had been the real kicker. Carla had decided it wasn’t worth fighting with him. Their marriage had been a lie. That night she&
Mia was frozen. The corridor had fallen into a stunned quiet, although the sound of hushed whispers could be heard like the rustling of leaves in the wind.Footsteps approached her from behind, and she knew just from the echo of the sound that it was him. He moved round so he was facing her, his mouth set into a hard line.“All I’m asking, is for you to give me five minutes of your time. Please. Just let me explain everything.”Mia nodded. After all, he’d just announced his private business to the whole school. If she didn’t agree he might just follow her around shouting what he wanted to say.He led her away from the corridor down towards some empty classrooms. They walked side by side, but Mia found herself acutely aware of the negative space between them. She was torn between wanting to move further away and closing the gap between them. She wasn’t even processing the statement he’d just made.Ryan found
School had finished for the Christmas term. Mia had tried to keep a low profile in order to escape the school gossips as much as possible. Which was hard when you were embroiled in the current drama of the town. It had also come out about her mom and Bob, and people were now looking at her with a mixture of pity and confusion.After she’d told Ryan she was moving, he had stayed away from her. Mia was both glad and sad. Part of her was pleased he wasn’t causing any scenes or trying to win her back, but she also couldn’t help feeling disappointed too. If he claimed to feel so strongly for her, wouldn’t he want to put up any kind of fight? Then she remembered how easily he’d given her up at the dance and she realised how silly she was. She was sure it wouldn’t be long before he found a new girl. After all. He was still Mr Popular.“You okay, honey?”Her mom’s voice jerked her out of her thoughts.“Y
Mia stretched her arms high above her head, enjoying the feeling of the soft grass beneath her and warm sun above. She sighed happily and turned her head to smile at Ryan who was bopping his head with his eyes closed in time to the music emitting from his phone beside them. They had just finished their final exams, and all that lay before them now was a blissful summer together.She leant over to him and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.He opened his eyes and smiled. “Finally relaxed now?”“Definitely. I’m glad all that’s over now. I need a break before I start college. I feel like my head was going to explode trying to cram all that knowledge in.”Ryan laughed. “I’m not surprised. I’ve never seen someone study so much….it’s pretty nice to spend time with you while you don’t have a book in your hand.”Mia rolled her eyes. “Yeah yeah. Well I had no cho
For a long time, they just stared at each other in silence. Mia didn’t understand what was happening. What was he doing? Her vision flickered, and Ryan suddenly spoke up.“Just hear me out Mia, okay?” He pleaded, his eyes wide and shining.She thought about protesting. She thought about walking out. But instead, she found herself nodding.His shoulders seemed to relax.“Thank you. Listen, I know you’ve told me you’re going. And I know you’ve told me that we’re not going to be together anymore, but I can’t let you go, not without telling you everything. Not without telling you exactly how I feel about you.”Mia swallowed. His eyes were boring into hers, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t look away. It had felt such a long time since she’d allowed herself to be lost in them. She was hypnotised.“I know we had a bad start. A very bad start. And I know that
“How many boxes have you got left?”Mia looked round at the rest of the pile. “Probably about five or six maybe? After that it’s just the stuff I’ll need for the trip.”Carla nodded. “Okay good. Are you sure you still want to drive your truck on your own? I can always pay for it to be transported back. Then you can come in the car with me.”“Don’t be silly. That’s gonna cost loads. And anyway, you know I’ve already done the trip before. I’ll follow behind you. It’s going to be fine.”Carla frowned. “Well. Alright then. But we will be taking plenty of breaks, as well as a stop over. Got it?”“Got it.”Carla had hired movers to take most of their belongings to Philadelphia. That truck was going to be leaving soon, but they were sticking around a little longer so Mia could say goodbye to Tilly.“I’m just going to
School had finished for the Christmas term. Mia had tried to keep a low profile in order to escape the school gossips as much as possible. Which was hard when you were embroiled in the current drama of the town. It had also come out about her mom and Bob, and people were now looking at her with a mixture of pity and confusion.After she’d told Ryan she was moving, he had stayed away from her. Mia was both glad and sad. Part of her was pleased he wasn’t causing any scenes or trying to win her back, but she also couldn’t help feeling disappointed too. If he claimed to feel so strongly for her, wouldn’t he want to put up any kind of fight? Then she remembered how easily he’d given her up at the dance and she realised how silly she was. She was sure it wouldn’t be long before he found a new girl. After all. He was still Mr Popular.“You okay, honey?”Her mom’s voice jerked her out of her thoughts.“Y
Mia was frozen. The corridor had fallen into a stunned quiet, although the sound of hushed whispers could be heard like the rustling of leaves in the wind.Footsteps approached her from behind, and she knew just from the echo of the sound that it was him. He moved round so he was facing her, his mouth set into a hard line.“All I’m asking, is for you to give me five minutes of your time. Please. Just let me explain everything.”Mia nodded. After all, he’d just announced his private business to the whole school. If she didn’t agree he might just follow her around shouting what he wanted to say.He led her away from the corridor down towards some empty classrooms. They walked side by side, but Mia found herself acutely aware of the negative space between them. She was torn between wanting to move further away and closing the gap between them. She wasn’t even processing the statement he’d just made.Ryan found
In the few days Mia had been away, Carla had managed to move all their personal belongings out of the house. Most of it was in storage, but the few personal things they needed for every day use had been placed in the motel rooms she’d paid for.Bob hadn’t even put up a fight. On the night of Mia’s winter dance, Carla had followed Bob’s car. She’d watched in agony as that woman had climbed in next to him. How they’d wrapped themselves around each other. From the way they’d moved against each other, Carla could tell this hadn’t been the first time.When she’d confronted him, Bob didn’t even seem to care. She’d screamed at him, asking him why he’d let her move her and Mia here just to cheat on her. He’d shrugged and told her he couldn’t help who he loved. That had been the real kicker. Carla had decided it wasn’t worth fighting with him. Their marriage had been a lie. That night she&
Despite her strange surroundings, Mia slept well and without nightmares or bad feelings. She actually felt refreshed in the morning when another officer came to wake her. She was sorry to hear that Office Park’s had already left for home. She felt like she’d not expressed her thanks enough.The morning officers made sure Mia was feeling settled enough to drive before they gave over her truck keys. Hamlet seemed like he’d had a night full of being pampered, and Mia was relieved to find he was his usual wagging self.When she got to her truck she briefly felt flashes of terror as memories of last night entered her mind. She pushed them away though. Something about Officer Park’s words had inspired her. She wanted to be strong too. She didn’t want the actions of a few thugs to affect her. But it was time to go home. As sad as it was, Philadelphia didn’t feel the same anymore. It wasn’t what she had hoped it would be. All she could
Events appeared to move by in a flash from that point. Mia watched as the thugs dropped what they had in their hands. The brick made a loud thud as it hit the concrete of the parking lot. The beer bottle the other guy had been holding shattered, the pieces fanning out like ripples on water.The first officer continued to hold her weapon while her partner handcuffed each man. She spoke into her radio and Mia guessed she was calling for back up. Minutes later it arrived, and more uniformed officers appeared. Mia looked on as each man was led away and placed into a nearby vehicle. Once they had been taken, the female officer came up to Mia’s window with a warm smile.It took Mia a few minutes to realise that it was finally safe to open her car door. Shakily, she switched the lock and pushed it open.“Hello Miss,” The officer began. “I’m Officer Parks. Are you okay?”Mia nodded. “Yes. I mean. I think so.”
It had taken Mia a long time to calm down after she’d started crying. People in the park had looked at her like she was a crazy person. As soon as she was able, she had walked briskly back towards the car, Hamlet waddling behind her trying to keep up.When she got back to the truck, she was determined to try again. She wanted to feel connected to her dad. She drove round to the diner they’d always gone to for pancakes, but as soon as she pulled up she noticed that the whole place had been redecorated inside. Nothing looked the same. As she looked through the window that was framed by Christmas lights, she felt the tears coming again. Not wanting a public repeat of the ice rink, she hurried back to the car and sobbed in there instead. She’d thought coming back to the place where her and her dad had spent time together would help her feel closer to him. In truth she just felt further away. It was like it was compounding the fact that she was on h