pte

of her newfound acquaintances, too soon to call friends she reasoned. Ashley walking q

g lovely in the company of Ashley. As they waved goodbye the girls glanced a

s it became distant. Out of the three, Ashle

he lacked in physique, he made up for it with a witty

nk they planned to escort us

ou intrigue a certain someone whose n

tty normal to be I'm the new girl," she argued, trying t

hange the subject. "You can understand I'm pretty shaken up by the sudden d

ey s

day in high school. She's got a beautiful singing voice, always talked about mo

" Lovely

anyone would want to hurt her. And she wouldn't just leave without saying goodbye. I'm sure about that too." She

with a distance in her eyes. Ashley cou

have to do with why you

, barely hanging on. Ashley could do nothing but try to comfort her disheartened friend. Why did she say

she needed was any more unsolicited pity. They walked past the picket fence and hedge of flowering shr

d as though no one was home till they h

with alike thoughts they couldn't say. The Abrams were the only figure in Delilah's life afte

f your friends back in the ci

her off the minute her spiral began. Hanging

y's knees before she could utter another word. She couldn't decide what to say, looking to Ashley, a

ing?" Mrs. Abrams stuttered

Ashley interrupted with a smile intended to make the moment any less awkw

vely's direction with a hint of disappointment. "Well don't just st

rtworks and antiques that were all around giving them a glossy effect. Being married to an Arts professor did have its perks. Ashley looked

fairly I hope?" She continued. "Th

htful so far Ma'a

d resting on the stair knob after being forced down by the harmless muddle

, is it? He continued more welcomin

hted to meet yo

simpler circumstances." He sig

Lilah?" Ash

f." He announced as he wore a coat. Lovely could feel the energy of the room hit

ith me. What can I get you?"

taying long, no need go through the tr

off to the kitchen in a fret. She was a plump, rosy, and comfortable-looking old lady wit

out Delilah's ro

ould do." Her voice cracked from the kitchen. She d

ghtstand was an object that caught Lovely's attention. It was a small framed picture of Delilah and her little brother Alex, posing close

are you hoping t

Evans mentioned something about a subtle hint I may h

y. Going through the wardrobe of a girl she had never m

ess search, the girls w

maybe there's nothing to find here."

did," mutte

we'll find out tomorrow," Lovely echoed trying to li

en't gone through" gesturing to the t

u can't pos

zed papers sheets and cuttin

satisfy her curiosity. It looked as though the trash hadn't been tak

at this," She retorted

g a major clue had been found

h's handwriting. What'

here? It's just a bunch

now but I

we're getting desperate."

ey heard a

ath, tucking the piece of paper under her jea

*

ldn't help but ruminate on the events of the day with Ashley digging through the trash being the highlight of it all. She giggled humored by the recal

er mom and uncle chattering in front of a t

starting to think I'd miss you." Maya said

re we moving?" She echoed

Your father's appeal is in a few months and I n

old me sooner? Way to go

ou this. You'll be fine, you have your uncle here with

elings to say anothe

mise," Maya whispered, as she

leased her daughter and highlighted the taxi and they

watched her mom speed off, feeling lonelier than ever. W