Page 147 of Straight to Me

Jess hugs me tight.

“We’ll tell him. But you need to promise that if something doesn’t feel right, or anyone acts weird with you, that you call him straight away.”

“I will. I promise.” Running out the door, I realise it’s been twenty-five minutes since I heard from him. He could be here at any moment.

Lauren and I had agreed to meet at the same café I went to with Alex on Thursday. Once my car was parked, I felt confident I’d outrun Dean. I sigh in relief. Fortunately the walk to the café isn’t too far either.

Taking my coat off as I walk in, the same two seats by the window are free, so I grab them and wait for Lauren. The waitress comes over holding her pad and pen, smiling.

“Hi, what can I get you?” Her voice is so calm, I take a grateful pause before answering.

“Latte, please.”

“Anything to eat?”

“No, I’m fine, thanks.”

She smiles. “Anything for you?” Swinging my head round with a start, Lauren’s behind me removing her headphones. My heart settles when I see her, but she isn’t alone. An older boy’s glaring beside her, his face hard and angry.

“Cappuccino please. You can wait over there,” she says to him. He takes the black hood off his head and his face is equally drawn out and tired around the edges like Lauren’s. He must be her brother. “You okay?” she asks me, as the waitress walks away. My eyes don’t leave the boy.

“Uh yeah, just had to rush getting here that’s all. Lauren, who is that?” She flips a look to him where he’s sitting across from where we sit. Rubbing her tired-looking face, she pulls out the stool sitting opposite me.

“My brother.”

“Is he okay?”

“A few of our friends were up late.” At my concerned expression, she rolls her eyes. “I don’t need another lecture, Miss. It was just a late night.”

Seeing her tone is less than agreeable already, I redirect. “We only get to talk about school, I’d like to get to know more about you. Apart from your love for Harley Davidsons, what else are you in to?”

She slumps in her chair shrugging her shoulders. “I like music.” That makes me smile. Most people like music. But I don’t say that.

“Me too. What do you like listening to most?” Rather than tell me, she hands me one of her headphones. I slip the pod in my ear and can’t help but feel a sudden disconnection to the real world. Rather than some banging beat like I’d expected, the softness of the words being sung is tranquil—transporting. “Music’s your escape, isn’t it?”

Without a word, she takes the pod back. After a moment she looks at me. “It’s the only way I feel anything.”

My heart stretches towards her at her words. She simply watches me, but her chewing her lip and tapping her feet suggests she wants to say more. She doesn’t trust me completely yet though. “Anything?” I ask. I can’t press her too much; she has to want to share with me in her own time.

She looks over her shoulder towards her brother who’s looking down at his phone. “Things are… difficult at home, Miss.” I wait another moment to see if she’ll elaborate. When she doesn't, I lean in closer.

“Difficult how?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

The waitress places our drinks on the table. Once she leaves, I lean further forwards, lowering my voice for only Lauren to hear.

“If there’s something worrying you or something you want to tell me, I told you, I’m here for you, Lauren. You don’t have to tell me everything. But know you can talk to me if you want to.”

“Only because it’s your job.”

“No, not because it’s my job. Because I want to.” She sips her coffee, face softening as she studies me do the same. Gradually, the lines across her forehead iron out.

“I can’t tell you here.” My eyes dart to her brother. He’s watching us intensely now.

“Are you in any kind of danger?”

“No. I’m just… alone.” Sitting back in my chair, I look outside.

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