Chapter Twenty-Five
Kylen
If I were twelve years old and ran away, where would I go?
The question has been floating around in my mind since I started searching for Robin fifteen minutes ago.
I checked under the bleachers, which didn’t really make sense because it’s cold out, but I figured you never know. I also looked around the gym, the classrooms. Raven, her family, and I have been updating each other on the places we searched.
We’ve taken care of every single possible area on campus, but there’s somewhere no one has thought to look. I’m headed there right now.
Pushing the auditorium doors open, I do a quick sweep of the room.
She’s not here, which makes sense since others have checked here.
My legs take me deeper into the room, toward the stage.
I don’t know why I have a strong feeling she’s here.
It’s not like she knows how the stage works, but it’s the only place no one has looked.
Going backstage, I make my way down the stairs and under the stage. There’s not a lot of room in here, but it’s enough for a skinny kid to fit in. It’s dark and hard for me to make my way inside, so I call, “Robin, are you here?”
This isn’t really safe. I hope I’m wrong and she’s not here, but something tells me she is.
There’s a small platform on the floor that lifts when a prop needs to rise up from the trap door. They used to let students under here, but Principal Harrington put an end to that when it was deemed unsafe.
I can’t make out exactly what’s under here because it’s so dark and dusty, but I’m pretty sure I see a light from what must be the screen of a phone. It’s coming from the distance.
So she is here. I was right.
“Robin, it’s me, Kylen. Raven’s friend.”
No response.
“Everyone is looking for you,” I continue. “Your parents and sister are crazy worried about you. Wanna come out? It’s not safe under here.”
Nothing.
I wish I could go to her, but I don’t fit because my shoulders are too broad. “Robin, please come out. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Again, nothing. If not for her moving phone, I’d think she was hurt or worse.
“Robin, come on. You’re a bright, funny, awesome kid who shouldn’t be hiding like this. ”
The phone stops moving. “I’m not awesome.”
Finally, some response from her.
“Sure you are. But come out and let’s talk about it.”
No movement.
I’m getting nervous because I really don’t like that she’s so unsafe. But what can I say to convince her to come out?
Shutting my eyes, I take a deep breath. “Raven is my best friend,” I tell her. “And it’d crush her if something were to happen to the little sister she loves so much. And it’d kill me to see her so devastated. Please, Robin. You don’t understand how important you are to the people who love you.”
She’s quiet.
After a bit, she says in a low voice. “I just want to disappear.”
“I understand you’re going through something and I want to help you. But you’ve got to come out first.”
Nothing from her for about a minute, then she shifts and crawls toward the exit, toward me. I can’t help but sigh in relief.
Because the place isn’t meant for people, she has to weave through old props, wooden beams, and other things here that I can’t make out.
When she finally sits before me, on her hands and knees, I notice she’s covered in dust and bits of wood.
I hold out my hand to her, helping her climb out. As soon as we’re on our feet, she slaps the dirt off her shirt, jeans, and hair.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she glances away. “Are you going to make me go back to my parents?”
“Not until you’re ready, but I’m going to text Raven that I found you and that I’m staying with you until you want to go back.”
She nods, still glancing away.
I quickly text Raven, letting her know her little sister is safe and sound. Maybe not happy, but the important thing right now is that she’s okay physically. I also tell Raven that I’ll hang out with her until she’s ready to return.
Raven texts back, thanking me.
I gesture to the front row of the auditorium. “Want to sit?”
She looks up at me. “Are you really Raven’s friend? Or are you, like, her boyfriend?”
“I think we should talk about what has you so upset.”
She shrugs. “Are you her boyfriend? Her life seems so awesome here.”
I plop down on a seat and she waits a beat before sitting in the one next to me.
“Raven and I aren’t dating, but we’re good friends.”
She lifts a brow. “More than friends?”
I laugh, plowing my fingers through my hair. “No.”
She narrows her eyes at me like she doesn’t believe me.
“How about you tell me why you’re hiding from your family?” I ask in a gentle tone.
She kicks her leg against the seat. “I’m not hiding from my family.
I just want to be alone.” She shrugs. “I got sad seeing what a good life Raven has here. I mean, I want her to be happy. I really do. But I miss her so much and…school’s hard without her around.
I don’t know. I just needed to get away. ”
“I get that. Sometimes you’re upset and just need space, and that’s okay. But climbing under the stage was a bad idea, Robin. You could have gotten hurt.”
She doesn’t say anything.
“I know it’s hard not having Raven around, but you can always call her. It’s not the same, but you know she’ll always be there for you.”
She nods slowly. “I wish I could leave home and come here. She has friends and a boyfriend.” She gives me a pointed look. “The perfect life.”
“HBA is anything but the perfect life, but you’re right. Raven does have friends. She’s doing very well here.”
“It wasn’t always like that. She didn’t have friends when she was my age. But she didn’t…I mean, no one made fun of her for stuff she did or what she wore.”
“Are kids making fun of you?”
She shrugs again, kicking the seat. “It’s one girl and her friends.
Not really a big deal, and they mostly moved on to another kid.
But I still don’t have friends. It’s…it’s lonely.
Mom and Dad make everything worse. They wanted to ask other parents to ask their kids to hang out with me.
It’s so embarrassing. I quickly stopped them. ”
“They’re just trying to help.”
She nods. “I know, but they’re making me into an even bigger loser than I already am.”
I place my hand on her shoulder. “Robin, you’re not a loser. You’re the coolest kid I’ve ever met. Look at those boots and that killer smile. Not many people can pull that off.” I grin at her.
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, right.”
“Kid, if a sixteen-year-old is calling you cool, you should accept the compliment.”
That gets a soft laugh out of her.
“I’m sorry you’re having a hard time making friends,” I continue.
“But maybe you haven’t given the kids at your school a chance to know you.
You’re worried about the mean kids, but I say forget those kids.
Pretend they don’t exist. Love the cool person you are because she’s amazing.
Unless they physically harm you, in which you should tell a teacher or your parents, focus on the best parts of yourself.
Show those parts to the good kids in your class.
I’m sure there are some other lonely students who are too shy or scared to make friends.
Can you think of anyone like that in your class? ”
She ponders for a few seconds. “Yeah, Jamie. She’s always sitting alone at her desk drawing.”
“Have you tried being her friend?”
She shakes her head. “Everyone knows befriending Jamie is social suicide. I mean, she’s nice. Like super, super nice. I guess I wouldn’t mind being her friend, but everyone stays away from her because of Valerie.” She slumps forward. “I hate that I stay away, too, but I’m trying to survive.”
“Do you like Jamie?”
“I don’t really know her.”
“Would you like to get to know her?”
“I think so. Yeah. But I’m scared.”
It hurts so much that she’s going through this. That some kids her age go through this.
“One kid tried to befriend Jamie a few months ago and she had to switch schools because Valerie turned the whole class against her. I wanted to stick up for her, but I knew I’d be the next target, so I held back. But I felt so bad and helpless.”
“Why is everyone so scared of Valerie? Why doesn’t anyone stop her?”
“Because she’s pretty and rich and popular?”
I frown. “That’s so messed up.”
“It’s middle school.”
We sit in silence for several seconds.
I turn to her. “What do you want, Robin?”
“Friends.”
“A friend like Jamie?”
She nods.
“So go after what you want. Ignore the haters. They’re just jealous of you.”
She smiles. “That’s what Raven says.”
“That’s because she’s a genius. So if you want to be friends with Jamie, talk to her.
Spend time with her. I’m sure she’d love to be your friend, too.
And if Valerie gives you crap, hold your head up high and don’t let her get to you.
I know it’s very hard, but think about what the result could be.
A possible new best friend. Also, and I know this is hard, too, but you need to tell an adult when or if someone is bothering you. ”
She kicks the seat again. “Everyone always says that, but I don’t want to be a snitch.”
“Do you want Valerie to get away with everything? If no one stops her, she’ll just get worse. Maybe you and Jamie and others can stand up to her.”
She giggles. “Yeah, right.”
“You never know. If you let her hold you back from making friends, then you’re letting her make your life miserable. Do you want to give her so much power?”
“But what can I do? I’m just me.”
“But if you make friends, you guys can be really powerful. Valerie will see she can’t mess with you anymore and she’ll lay off.”
She taps her chin as she thinks. “It all sounds easy when you talk about it, but there’s no way that will happen.”
“Maybe, maybe not. But you should focus on making friends with Jamie if that’s what you want. Or anyone else in your class. That’s what’s important right now.”
She’s quiet as she ponders it.
I lift a brow. “Remember, a sixteen-year-old thinks you’re the coolest kid he’s ever met. Let others see who Robin really is. Because they’ll want to be her friend in a heartbeat.”
She gives me a funny look.
“What?” I ask.
“You’re hot. Raven’s dumb for not wanting to be your girlfriend.”
I ruffle her hair. “Are you feeling better?”
She groans, fixing her hair. “A little. Yeah.”
“Ready to return to your parents and Raven?”
“Okay.”
We stand.
“Hey,” I say. When she looks at me, I hold out my fist for her to bump it.
Giggling, she does.
“Remember,” I tell her. “Let people get to know the real you and everything else will fall into place.”
She wraps her arms around my waist. “Thanks for everything. You’re so cool.”
“No problem.”
We return to the dining hall and Robin dashes to her parents, hugging them and Raven as well. She apologizes for worrying them and promises she won’t do it again.
When Raven asks her if everything is okay, Robin turns to me with a smile. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
Raven has no idea what I did to help her sister, but as she hugs her, she mouths, “Thank you.”
I dip my head.
As I turn around to return to my table, I hear Robin demanding, “Why isn’t he your boyfriend? He’s so hot! If I were older, I’d totally date him.”
I can’t hear Raven’s response, because her voice is low. I’d turn around, but I don’t want Raven to think I’m eavesdropping on their conversation.
“There you are,” Grandma says once I sit down at my table. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, Raven’s sister was missing, but I found her and everything is okay. The kid just needed some space.”
I twist around in my seat to face them and find Raven’s family seated at their table, enjoying their meal again. Raven plays with Robin’s hair as she talks to her. Robin nods.
As if she feels me watching her, Raven’s eyes lift and meet mine. She smiles. I smile back.
Grandpa bends close and whispers, “I approve.”
I blink at him. “What?”
He winks. “And so does your grandma. Not that you need our approval, we just want you to know.”
He doesn’t let me respond or ask questions or let me try to convince him that Raven and I are happy where we’re holding. He just adds to the conversation with Leo’s dad about football.
I rub my forehead, then let my eyes wander back to her table. I smile when she laughs with her family. Watching her eyes light up will never get old.