And the Moon Follows by Cyn Bermudez
Author:Cyn Bermudez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Enslow Publishing, LLC
Published: 2020-08-19T00:00:00+00:00
CHAPTER NINE
After school, I meet Hope at the park. Iâm worried about getting caught if I go back to our neighborhood. Iâm far enough here, safer. I see her sitting. Sheâs waiting for me on the same bench I was at the day before. I limp my way to her. She notices.
âLong story,â I say as I approach her. I point to where Damien was. âDamien. He was walking his dog. I was hungry and scarfing food, and well⦠now look at me.â
Hope chortles. âI can guess what happened.â
I roll my eyes. Hope hands me a plastic grocery bag. Inside are my clothes and my science book.
âMy book!â I say, relieved.
âI also brought you a brush. Toothpaste is in the baggie. A bar of soap and shampoo in the small plastic bottle. And a traveler hairbrush. I figured youâre probably ripe.â
I laugh. âYeah, just a bit. Any news?â
She nods. âI heard your mom posted online. Sheâs asking anyone if theyâve seen you.â
âOh no. Now I really gotta lay low.â
âOr you could just go home. Talk to your mom.â
âDonât do that. You know I canât.â My eyes tear up.
âNo,â she says. âNot really. I donât know why you canât. You havenât told me anything. I know it has to do with Frank. Heâs a creep, so I can guess, but thatâs not the same as knowing.â
Iâm silent for a while, unsure of how to respond. I donât even know if I can say it out loud. âI know. I just⦠itâs difficult.â
âAll right,â she says. She gives me a tight hug. âYou donât have to say anything. I just want you to be okay.â
âHope, he forcedââ I try to say more, to explain more, but I canât. The words are lodged at the base of my throat, threatening to steal the breath from me if I speak the truth. The intensity of the moment turns awkward.
Hope changes the subject. âThereâs an abandoned house not far from here. I checked it out already. No electricity or gas, but thereâs still running water for some reason. I snuck over some blankets and a pillow.â
âAn abandoned house?â
She nods. âItâs better than a car. Do you want me to go with you? I can show you where itâs at.â
I want her to stay with me, but how can I ask her that? Her home life isnât great, but I canât just ask her to leave. To live on the streets. Or in a car. Or in an abandoned house.
âNo,â I say. âJust tell me where itâs at. Iâll find it. Iâll be okay.â
Hope gives me a guilty look. âAre you sure?â
âYes. Really. Go home before sober Valerie shows up.â
She walks with me for a few blocks. Then we part.
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