Nowhere To Go

"Lilah!" I heard mom shout for the third time from across the camp. "I said I'm coming!" I yelled back. "I can't find my bracelet!" That stupid bracelet that I just had to wear everywhere. It was the last thing I ever received from dad, and I could not find it for the life of me.

Mom barged into the tent. "We have to go! Now! The fire is close!"

"What about the water?"

"We can't see it right now, but who cares! Do you want to burn alive?" Burn, drown or be eaten. Why did we have to live in so much fear?

---

August 14th, 3016

The news was on again today. A huge tsunami took over the East coast. Half of Florida is underwater, and the water doesn't seem to be retreating. Those poor people who lost their homes, and everything they were living for. And I feel awful for those who lost their family members too. I am so lucky to live where we do. No fear of tsunamis, and we rarely get a storm worse than thunder and lightning. I never thought I would enjoy living in the most boring town ever. There's nothing to do here, but at least we are safe.

Mom told me I couldn't go to the movies with Bryan tonight. She always has to be such a bitch. She never lets me do anything. I wish she was on a work trip this weekend. Dad would've let me go. If she keeps making me blow him off, he's never going to want to date me. I'm surprised he even asked me to go tonight after he already knows how lame I am. I think Mom is out of town next weekend. Maybe I will try again on Friday.

---

I slammed the book shut and shoved it back in my drawer. My therapist always said writing down my feelings would help, but honestly it just brought the emotions right back to the surface and pissed me off more. I looked at the alarm clock on my nightstand.

6:37

The movie started at 7:00. If I left now, I could still make it. Too bad there was no way to get out without her knowing. There were cameras on every angle of the house outside, thanks to my mom's anxiety about someone breaking in. She forced Dad to hang them up after 3 houses in the next neighborhood over got robbed 2 years ago. Surprise, surprise, nobody has been robbed since. At least, not close by. Small town and all that.

I sighed and gathered my things to go take a shower. I turned on the water as hot as I could stand, and prepared to burn off all of the stress I had sitting on my shoulders. Right as I was about to get in, my phone buzzed.

Sucks that I can't see you tonight. I was sure I would finally get to kiss those pretty lips of yours.

I blushed and leaned against the cold countertop.

I guess you'll have to find someone else's mouth to stick your tongue into :P

Only if I get to come back to yours after. I have to scout out the best one. ;)

I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

BRB. Gotta go shower.

I saw the three dots appear and waited anxiously for his response. Great. He's going to reply with some stupid sexual remark and then I have to ghost him. Most girls my age would kill for that attention, but I had my couple of years of fun, and I want something more serious. I'm too young to fully settle down, of course, but no more meaningless sex. Especially after the last time. I don't want to risk getting hurt again.

Alrighty sweet stuff. TTYL.

The lack of interest in him seeing me naked shocked me. But it was also comforting. I flipped on my favorite music and turned it on full blast before sliding into the steaming hot water.