AFTER STRAIGHTENING the covers and fluffing the pillows, as she did every morning, Lottie stood back, looking it over, then gave a small smile. Before turning, though, she stared down at the left of her twin-sized bed.

It was where Joseph had slept.

I'm only twenty-one, so I shouldn't be focusing on relationships. I've got my life ahead of me.

"Well," Lottie said, "I just wish we hadn't kissed, Joseph... You weren't my first, but you just might be my last."

It had been a week since Joseph spent the night. Since then, he hadn't tried reaching out. Even if he did, though, she would have avoided him if possible. Though she understood his reasoning, she had yet to accept it for how things were.

Joseph was her first true love, after all.

With a quick wipe of an eye, she left the room in search of her coat. Winter was still around the corner, each day getting colder, and oftentimes she'd be freezing in mid-summer.

After shrugging it on, she found her purse, then opened the door and lingered.

Just get through work and relax.

Then, with a huff, she trudged down the porch steps when she stopped. After peering in the direction of the tall-standing bushes, blocking view of her neighbor's yard, she bowed her head and began around them.

At least today she was early.

Her feet patted against the stoned path. At the front door, she raised a hand, paused, then gave several firm knocks.

The curtains drew back, revealing a face pressed against the glass: Penny. A moment passed. In a beat, they had been snapped shut, then incoherent mumbling could be heard.

The door opened.

"Hey, uh, how are you?"

In the doorway stood her neighbor, leaned against the frame. Her grey eyes flickered. "What are you doing here?"

Lottie drew her lips tight. "I just thought I'd check in. We haven't talked since last week and haven't seen you since."

"Well, you made it pretty clear that you had better things to do, Charlotte." She narrowed her gaze. "Did something happen?"

"No, uh-" Then Lottie stiffened. "Why are you always so suspicious? Eliott left that hotel a while ago and he won't be back. Thing's are just fine now."

Penny, slow and steady, dropped a look to her hand. "You've still got my bracelet and I often see you fidgeting with it. Until you stop, I don't trust you."

Lottie gave her a double-take.

"Maybe it's not about Eliott, but it's about something."

Lottie sighed but straightened. "Here," she said, slipping off the leathered bracelet, "take it-"

"No."

"I don't need it anymore." When she still didn't accept, Lottie wrapped it with her palm. "It was your daughter's, I get that, which is why you need to take it back. It doesn't belong to me, okay? Please, will you take it back?"

"Until things are really fine, you need it more than I. It's what Sylvia would've wanted."

"You're stubborn, you know that?"

"I pride myself on that, so thank you." Penny smiled, bowing her head. "You're pretty stubborn, as well."

Lottie laughed, despite herself. "You'll get this back, don't worry."

"I sure hope so."

-

"Hazel."

Hunched over a table in the far back, the woman stiffened and stopped. After peering over, she resumed scrubbing with a scoff. "Lottie speaks. It's a miracle!"

Lottie scratched her neck at the on-lookers. Then, shaking her head, she neared and put a hand over her shoulder. "At lunch we'll talk, okay?"

Hazel went quiet, then shrugged it away. In a beat, she had whipped around and crossed her arms. "It took you long enough. Besides, I bet you'll just lie to me again. I've had enough of this, Lottie."

"You'll see."

Hazel only rolled her eyes and went back to work. "I'm sure I will..."

"What, are you lovers, or somethin'?"

Lottie's heart dropped as she turned.

The man at the booth, head in hands, looked up and smirked. "That's sure what it looks like."

Cross-legged, the woman beside him gave a nudge, then mouthed an apology.

Lottie shared a look with Hazel, bright red, then snapped back to him. "I don't under-"

"I come here often, mam, and you two always avoid each other. A recent break-up?"

"Believe what you want."

-

Half an hour later, she and Hazel stood in heated silence alongside the building. This was the place they had last fought; the place where Lottie had come up with a ridiculous lie and said it to her face.

And the same spot she had gone off on Joseph.

A moment passed.

"What is it?" Hazel pressed, peering over her shoulder. "You heard that man in there. Don't want more getting the wrong idea, do we?"

"I don't give a blank what they think." Lottie drew her lips tight. "I just want to mend our friendship because I've had enough of this... I'm ready to tell you the truth; what really happened."

Hazel's eyes flickered. "Go on. You've got my attention."

"Well, I've never told you this before, but I-I have a brother, okay?"

"And I've got a parakeet, so what's your point?"

Another pause.

"Well," Lottie went on, "there was a reason I was acting strange that day. Just that night, I heard a knock in the dead of night and it was my neighbor. Apparently, somebody had gone around my house and that morning I saw a muddy fingerprint on my window..."

Hazel began to shift. "Okay, but how does it have to do with your brother? And why did you never tell me?"

"Well, it was my brother. When I was old enough to move, I did, because I had to get away from my aunt. I guess he caught up to me and had some news."

Hazel let out a shaky breath. "Which was?"

"My aunt is dying. That's why he found me."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Lottie..." Hazel said, looking her over. "I had no idea!"

"Yeah, well, because I never tol-"

Finger to lips, Hazel then wrapped her into a hug, resting her head over her shoulder. "I get why it was so hard to talk about. I'm just glad you said it now."

After freezing up, she straightened and hugged back. "I'm glad you understand."

A moment passed.

Lottie held in a sniffle as she undid the gesture. Then, smiling, she crossed her arms. "Okay, now we really look suspicious."

Hazel chuckled.

"So we're good?"

"We're good."

-

As she made her way to the parking lot, Lottie peered over. There, trailing her, was Hazel, their steps in sync. "Something wrong?"

"Well," Hazel said, nodding, "my car's right beside yours."

"Oh." When Lottie got to her vehicle, she stopped and turned. "Well, I'll see you later. Bye, Hazel."

"Mine is beside yours, which is convenient..." Hazel began looking her over, arms crossed. "Your aunt's dying, girl, so I can be that friend if you need one."

Lottie had bent down to step inside her car, door open, when she leveled and shut it. Then she turned, forcing a smile. "I'm alright. Everything's just fine now."

"You say that and I want to believe it, I really do, but I don't know..."

"Why does everyone think I'm in some sort of peril? I'm fine!" But then she re-adjusted. "Aunt Rena may be dying of cancer, but we aren't close anyway."

Hazel looked to her feet. "I just know that Joseph and Dave aren't close with you. That means I'm all you got." Then, with a sigh, she stepped into her vehicle. "We've got each other's number, so call me if you change your mind."

"See you later..."

Hazel, if only you knew Joseph and I kissed.

-

Lottie jolted awake. Her bedroom - it was all-too-still and dark.

To her left, on an end table, was a red-numbered clock. 1:06 AM.

When it sunk in, she collapsed against the pillow. It was all just a nightmare.

But, as she waited for sleep to take her, her heart pounded.

It was much more than just a nightmare.

It was real.

All those years ago, she had risked it all for her sanity.

She, Lottie Whitley, had become a runaway at nine.

Hey there! In this chapter, the plot's continuing to move forward. We see Lottie finally mend a broken friendship and I finally know what to do with Hazel's character! Honestly, there are times when my side-characters barely have any significant; I'm trying to do better with this story, lol.

Anyway, I'm thinking the story is almost halfway over, which is exciting! In Surviving the Dead, I dragged on the plot for too long. I'm determined not to do that again.

Well, enough stalling. I hope you're well and God bless. <3