L A K E

A  W E E K  A G O

Staring into the stained cupboard. The door hanged from the top hinge. Crumbs, dust and a out of date box of crackers were left.

Slamming the door shut cursing. I listened for noise. The outside traffic could be heard from down below. A nearby cry of a toddler in the building. I sighed loudly, almost coughing with the rotten smell of something that been left, then moved out of the kitchen.

Moldy newspapers and loose floorboard creak and rattle as I make my way into the dark, cold bedroom I share with Patricia.

There's a thin black piece of fabric covering the small square window. The room feel like a black prison room for the hell, with a long slash down the middle, letting some pathetic light in.

All the walls in the apartment are bare, covered in graffiti and stains I hope never have to find the cause of. On the floor where two bare mattresses. Mine lay under the window, wanting to be as close as the outside as possible. The other situated in the far corner.

No point trying the light switch. It blow years ago. I let my eyes adjust to the inky abysmal room. I shuffle over to the lump that's sleeping on the mattress.

Patricia lay in a ball facing the wall. I haven't seen her in a week. I've been staying at one of the homeless shelters.

"Hey... wake up." It took a couple of minutes to bring her around. Her greasy brown hair fell limp as Patricia moans and groans. "Patricia wake up!" I hiss, fed up.

"Baby, n-no Mo-mmy's go-t to sle-eep." She stutters, hiding her saggy face in her half eaten pillow. Patricia used to have one of those face you'd stop for a second look. Now you couldn't help but look away from it.

"You haven't been a Mommy in more than six years Patricia. Get up! I need some money for something to eat."

Patricia lungs at me, in a freebie attempt to smack me but I move out of the way. "You ungrateful wretch of a demon. I've given you everything and this is how you repay me!"

I roll my eyes tiredly as she shrieked, trembling under the sad excuse of a blanket. Spying around her stash of crap on the cracked wooden ground. Spotting a couple of dollars bill. I gently pick them up, without touching anything sharp and place them in my back pocket. Patricia finally shuts up, falling back to sleep as I stand up and leave.

Having a black jumper and black jeans. I pull my hood up as I walk in the frigid cold air. I blow into my hands and walked my way into the shop I go to about twenty minutes away, taking my hood down.

Making my way out of the shop a couple minutes later I cross the busy road, chewing down the cheap ginger cookies I bought.

Heading into the alley to make it back to the apartment the skies start darkening, with a sickening howl of the wind picking up. The walls are tagged with gang marking, the ground full of garbage. I lose my balance as someone whips past me on a bike.

Standing, my hands stinging like needle kisses. "You dick! You made my drop my food!" I pick up a half broken cookie and lob it at the back of the guys back as he fell from his bike.

The stranger looked back at me. His own black hood fell from his face. Young about my age, with light hair reflecting off the puddle on the ground. My day couldn't get worse. I watch as he spins back around and sprints away. "You left your bike, you idiot!"

Sliding forward, I kick the bike. Muttering curses under my breath. I didn't even want the cookies before I dropped them. Now that they're gone. I want them back more than life.

Before I could take another step forward, I was tackled from behind, making me gasp in fear. "POLICE! You're under arrest!"

What! What have I done. I'm not the one who dropped my cookies. "Get off! I haven't done anything wrong!" Their hold tightens, pushing me against the cold wall making me lose my breath as he read me my rights. His pudgy belly digging into my back. The smell of coffee on his breath made me want to gag.

"This is a joke right?" The officer who put me into handcuffs scruffs.

"Go on then what have I done?" As the silver bites into my fragile skin of my wrists, he drags me into the direction of the cop car.

"You missy, were caught fleeing from a scene of a crime of vandalism at the shop around the corner." He sounded smug that he thought he'd caught a criminal. What a moron!

"Don't call me missy! I paid for the foo- wait did you say vandalism? Does it really look like I have spay on me dude!" I snapped. He ignores me the rest of the way to the Precinct.

☁

Blinking back into my current self. Mandy's nods, her perfect eyebrow arches. "The only way to be able to drop the charges is to wait for the shopkeeper Mr. Poleson to ID you as innocent Lake. As you know, he went back home to North Island the next day but should be in New York in a couple of weeks.

"Why wasn't this sorted out on the day of the incident?" Grandma quizzes Mandy. Mandy shakes her head, her hair curling around her collar. "Sometimes these things can happen Ava. Don't worry I know I'll be able to clear Lake's name. This is just a case of bad luck and bad police work."

Time will tell if she can prove her words.

"But because Lake's name hasn't been cleared yet, she'll have to do some community service."

Olive clears her throat. "I thought we decided to have Lake just cover the hours Dawson changed at the Cafe?" A face of Dawson. The fragile, pretty girl I met at the party flashes behind my eyes.

Mandy is the one who answers and I was starting to get grumpy. "Those hours are not ideal for Lake because she'll be going back to school after the holidays. Lakes fifteen almost sixteen but she's behind already by years."

"What do you mean she's behind by years?" Grandma exclaimed sharpy, looking back and forth between Mandy and me, her lips thinning.

Mandy frowns, glancing over to me for permission to speak first. I nod. "Ava, Lake- Lake wasn't living a good life. She had to stop her education five years ago because her Mother wouldn't pay for the expenses."

"But Grandma and I sent checks every couple of months." Chimes in Olive, unsettled. Checks? Patricia got checks? God damn her! How could I be so stupid.

"You got some money, didn't you Lake?" Olive adds, hopefully turning to me. Her blue eyes pleading.

"Only when I had to steal it from her to eat."

Guess the truth hurts.

Olive whimpers, horrified, then bursts into tears. The room felt like it quaked with her sobs, then after a pregnant pause Olive apologies. I awkwardly glance away, not knowing what to do. Grandma shushes Olive rubbing her knee.

"So-rry, carry on please Mandy." Olive stutters. I spy on her from the corner of my eye. Her eyes are red. I felt a small twitch in my stomach that hurt so I let Mandy's commanding tone distract me.

"You'll be working at the local Gym & Swim which is located behind the high school. Luckily my eldest son Declan will have the same work schedule as you, Lake. He will show you the ropes." Gym & Swim. Ugh I hate exercise! Declan? The same from the party. Hmm, interesting. She does look like him.

"I don't have to go in the pool do I?" I question, nervously, Mandy's lips part as she continues.

I can almost hear myself screaming internally.

Stop being pathetic!

"I'm not sure on the details Lake. I'm sure when you'll get there you'll be given instructions... I'm going to leave my card to contact me if you need me."

I start to open my mouth to tell her I didn't in fact have a phone when Olive clears her throat. We all look at her. The tears now wiped away. Her face still a little red as she stands up and brisk walks over to the bags she dropped near the door.

"I almost forgot." She mutters under her low voice, picking up a small white box from one of the scrunching bags. Olive moves over to me, passing the box to me.

I frown down at it like it was a Snake on my lap.

"Open it." Curiously, I lift the top of the lid off and gaze down at the touch screen phone I've seen lots of people have, but never thought I would own myself. I look back up to Olive in disbelief. She has a small smile painted across her somber face.

"Why?"

"Because you need it."

"Please take it Lake. It will give your sister and I peace of mind." Grandma adds. I didn't want to have the phone. Not because I wasn't grateful... I am, but this means this phone is the true start that my life is changing and I didn't know what to make of it. I bite my tongue, with a tiny dip of my head. Feeling Olive collect the card from Mandy as I glided my finger lightly across the blank screen. My reflection stared back at me dryly, all most like it telling me I was in trouble.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Thank you for reading. Please don't forget to vote and comment. :D

STORY QUESTION - You all know the crime now! Thoughts? Plus you've all got the first peek at Patricia! What do you think?

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