L A K E

Have you even just stared at something until it blurs your sight? Well I haven't till this very moment. You're thinking Lake, what are you on about? Well. It might have something to do with the two complete strangers standing in front of me. They're both stood directly in my line of vision. They're babbling on about something but I'm currently focusing quite closely onto the logo on Olive's top. Not listening. The font is a rosy red, the words Tanner's Café danced delicately into each other prettily.

"Are you listening Lake?" asks Olive. I finally look up at them, Grandma's focusing her intelligent eyes me. But not looking down at me as if I'm an inconvenience. She made me feel uneasy so I concentrate on Olive.

"What?"

Olive huffs arrogantly, then storms over to the sink and leans her back against it. She scowls at me in frustration before addressing Grandma. "See! She won't even listen to anything we say." Olive throws her arms up and I let out a sigh before she continues. "No wonder mom had enough of her."

I became rigid. That's it, I've had it! I stand and look straight into Olive's eyes. Grandma try to rest her hand onto my shoulder, I shrug her off.

"Mom had enough of me. Are. You. Deranged?" I laugh, unamused. "You think Patricia was fed up of me?" I gesture to myself. "The one person who she relied on to help get into bed at night... Every night from hooking up with some pimp? Or being so high on drugs that she couldn't even walk."

I hear Grandma suck in a disturbed breath. I was too frustrated to stop and calm myself. "Patricia only said that so the court people and social workers wouldn't come sniffing around the house. You honestly think I want to be here? You're real funny Olive. If you can't deal, then why did you agree with the courts that you'd take me in?" I end coldly, crossing my arms across my chest.

Watching Olive loose the fire that she built up didn't give me any satisfaction. She just looks dazed and lost.

"You want a relationship with me Olive?" I asked crisply, seeing her begins to nod. "Tough, you lost that chance six years ago when you left me with that bitch." Olive lifts her hand to her mouth staring at me in horror. Must be shocking to find out I wasn't living a fairy tale. Since I never answered the phone when Olive rang. Patricia always answered when she was conscious. Spewing lie after lie.

After a pregnant pause. "Lake. I see that we have been given a lot of false information. But please try to understand your sister and I. We though..." I interrupt grandma.

"You though a lot of things." I utter. "You both thought you were dealing with a delinquent who causes trouble... instead you got me. Now if we're done- I need to use the restroom." I left without waiting for a response. They didn't follow. To shaken up, I suppose.

Leaning against the swinging door of the kitchen, just behind the counter. I spy around to see where that Nico man is. I find him cleaning one of the far tables, his back to me, he's laughing and joking with an older man.

What luck!

I quickly step over to the door entrance. Passing customers who looked down at me like I'm a piece of shit they found on the bottom of their shoes. I'm used to it. They don't like the way I dress. The way I state the truth. The way I act. Am I going to sulk about their opinions in the toilet. Fat chance! Finally getting to the door. I look back to see the door to the kitchen starts to swing forward, and I begin to rush out.

DING! Shit, I forgot the door had a bell. "Lake! Get back here- Lake!" I run out into the sunshine, disregarding the voices of the people who say they're my family behind me.

***

After running south for five minutes. I stop, panting and bent over heaving. It's hilarious to think that Olive was so shocked. She knew Patricia was changing back then. That's why Olive left in the first place.

I lift my chin and look around myself. I could see a sign with direction on a large bulletin board. Richburg is five miles left. While Richburg beach was only one mile right. I wasn't going left since I've just come from that way. I wasn't scared of getting in trouble. I just couldn't be bothered dealing with the consequences.

Reaching the wide wall to the beach I take hold of my shades and place them over my grey eyes. The sun was exploiting my skin so I remove my leather jacket, leaning it over my left arm. I jump up onto the white stone wall and sit taking in the area.

The broad ocean bleeds a deep indigo swallowing the tow-coloured sands into its endless depths. The air smells musky while the skies are clear almost like a reflection of the water.

It's too quiet here. That's what I noticed first. Instead of seeing yellow bug like cabs and fast police cars trying to break through the herd of traffic to catch bad guys. All I could hear is the light winds that was almost non-existent dancing through my black hair.

***

Feeling something grasp my leg after a while. I move my eyes downwards and leer at the girl standing in front of me.

"You're not allowed to sit up there." The small girl snottily informs me. I believed her to be a child at first glance, but realise she's about the same age as me at fifteen. I knew this because she was wearing something no respectable parent would let their child wear. She has dark tanned skin that made her equally dark eyes stand out. She had auburn hair that was swept up in a high ponytail.

"Oh yeah."

"Yes." I skilfully jump down landing just in front of 'the know it all' and she steps back startled. She still had to look up at me as I'm rather tall, reaching back up to the wall and pull my jacket to me. Without a backward glance, I start to make my way back to the café now that I'm quite bored.

"Hey...Hello!" The girl shouts in her nail scratchy tone. I stop and turn to look at her without saying anything. She holds up her hand grinning and I just stare at it. She clears her throat awkwardly as she puts it down. I didn't feel bad in any least.

"I'm Mia."

I couldn't help but tease her. I lift my shades to the top of my head. "Like the princess?" Referring to the small animation I've seen when looking after my neighbour's child. Mia could have been her double if not for the skin colour and age difference.

"Erm... yeah I guess- what's your name? I haven't seen you around here before."

So, she's nosey. Lovely. Probably likes to gossip too. "Bessy."

Mia widens her eyes and quickly stops, making me want to laugh. ''That's a nice name... so anyway I know we don't know each other but there's a party going on at the college in the city and everyone's invited."

"That's nice- Right, well I gotta go." I circle around and stroll my way back to the café, thinking that tonight's going to be interesting after all.

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