Nine

"A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands what you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.

- William Shakespeare

I tell them everything. How my mother was dead when I came home, how I was kidnapped earlier, and how I really don't want my father living with me.

"If I went home with a nasty guy like him, I'd be disgusting!"

"Totally," Tessa agrees. "So what are you going to do?"

"That's just it," I say in a hopeless tone. I look at my friends' faces. So sad and now figuratively scarred because of what I have told them. "I don't know."

I expect that Tessa and Cameron would need to leave because they needed to 'go home and process what I'd told them because it's just too dark for their small, simple minds,' but they don't. Which is kinda surprising. Instead, they do something I've never in my entire life seen before. And there was a good chance I am never gonna see it again.

Cameron and Tessa hug me! What?! It is so weird! But I don't mind. It… Actually feels kinda… Nice.

After we all cry our tears, (well, except Cameron, who awkwardly watches me and Tess sob over each other) we watch a movie. But I don't remember what movie because I am not paying attention to it, because I am asleep on Tessa's shoulder.

* * *

When I wake up, Cameron and Tessa are asleep, obviously. I look at the time. "7:31..." I say to myself. "What?!" I hear Tessa scream from under the covers me. I whip my head around.

"What? What's wrong, Tess?" I ask. Cameron wakes up at that moment.

"Who's dying?" he says, looking around frantically.

"My mom said I couldn't stay all night!" Tessa cries. I pause.

"Well what are we gonna do?" I ask.

"I don't know!" Tessa buries her face in her hands. I put my hand on her shoulder.

"It'll be okay, Tess." I say even though I'm not sure about what I am saying.

We sit there for a minute. "Well?��� I say. "What are we waiting for?" Tessa looks up with her tear-stained face. "Let's get you home." Her face lights up. I adore the feeling inside of me when I see it.

We sneak out of my window and into the yard. "Come on!" I say, pulling Tessa up from the window well. Cameron stands beside me on the soft wet grass. Tessa only lives down the road, so I decide to go with her and Cameron.

We run down the road to her house.

"Thank you so much, guys," Tessa says, out of breath. "It means a lot. I hate when I disappoint my mom." She has a really big smile on her face. But then it disappears. Because it is covered. By a nasty, gross, grimy hand. Ernie's hand.