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Chapter 8
Aktuellstes Kapitel
If Home's Too Crowded, I'll Leave Chapter 8
Lauren's POVThe card was covered in my labmates' uneven, handwritten messages."Lauren, we heard you've been sick. We all chipped in a little. We hope this helps. Get well soon."My eyes stung. I never imagined that, so far from home, strangers would care more about me than my own family.The days that followed settled into a quiet routine.I spent most of my time in the lab recording data, writing reports, and joining my labmates for group outings now and then.It felt as though the years I'd spent being overlooked belonged to someone else.I thought life would go on peacefully like that. That was, until that afternoon. I was in the middle of presenting my research when someone rushed into the room."Lauren, there are people outside insisting they have to see you."My heart skipped a beat. A second later, a handful of painfully familiar faces came into view. Five people stood in the doorway, every one of them looking frantic.Mom's eyes were red and swollen, with dark cir
If Home's Too Crowded, I'll Leave Chapter 7
Third-Person POVPatrick scrolled through his contacts and called Lauren's best friend, Mabel."Mabel, I need to ask you something. Lauren and I had a fight. She left home, and we haven't been able to reach her. Is she with you?"The moment she heard his voice, Mabel's temper flared. "You've got some nerve calling me. Do you really not know, or are you just pretending? Aren't you her boyfriend? Why are you asking me?"Finn grew more anxious with every word. He finally snatched the phone from Patrick and cleared his throat. "Hello, are you Lauren's friend? I'm Lauren's dad. There seems to have been a misunderstanding between Lauren and the family."She's upset with us and left home. We're all very worried about her. Please… if you know where she is, tell her," he pleaded.There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Then, Mabel laughed. "Oh, Mr. Walt. Good, because I have a few questions for you. Where were you the day Lauren stood outside in the blazing sun for an en
If Home's Too Crowded, I'll Leave Chapter 6
Third-Person POVThe two of them exchanged a look. For a few long seconds, no one spoke.A creeping sense of dread settled in.Maya was the first to panic. She quickly pulled up Lauren's number and tried to call her. The first call rang unanswered. The second. Then the third. Still nothing.Her hands began to shake. "No… She blocked me. Hurry, try calling her. See if any of you can get through."One after another, they reached for their phones and made the same devastating discovery.Every single one of them had been blocked.Maya sank into a chair, panic written all over her face. Finn was just as stunned. He couldn't believe Lauren would actually do something like this.Jake rested a hand on Emily's shoulder, reassuring her that everything would be okay. Patrick was the calmest of them all. After taking in the situation, he reached a conclusion."Mr. and Mrs. Walt, don't panic. Lauren isn't the kind of person who would disappear without a word. I don't think she ran away. Wh
If Home's Too Crowded, I'll Leave Chapter 5
Third-Person POVMeanwhile, in the mall, Emily clung to Maya Hertz's arm, whining, "Mom, I want a new backpack!"Maya didn't hesitate. "Then we'll get it."Patrick stepped forward before she could pay. "Let me. I promised Emily I'd get her something for the new school year."Emily beamed and threw her arms around him. "You're the best, Patrick!"Meanwhile, Jake was next door trying on basketball shoes. "Dad, these match the new pants I bought. And the other pair would be perfect for basketball."Finn Walt pulled out his phone and paid without a second thought. "If you like them, get them both. The payment for my latest construction project just came through. We've got money."By the time they were done, they'd spent nearly a thousand dollars. Everyone's hands were full of shopping bags.It wasn't until they finally sat down at the cafe on the ground floor to rest that Maya frowned."Wait…" She glanced at the time. "It's already five. Why hasn't Lauren shown up? I texted her ho
If Home's Too Crowded, I'll Leave Chapter 4
Lauren's POVMy throat felt tight. There was so much I wanted to say. Then, all at once, it didn't seem worth saying anymore.I turned, ran toward the neighborhood dumpsters, and spent the entire night digging through trash.By dawn, my hands were slick with foul-smelling sludge, and grime had worked its way beneath my fingernails.At first light, I finally found the culture dishes. They were buried beneath a pile of rotting banana peels.When I stumbled back home, reeking of garbage, I ran into Mom on her way to the bathroom.She immediately pressed a finger to her lips. "Shh. Your sister just fell asleep. Just put up with it tonight. Don't shower until tomorrow."As she spoke, she walked over and unplugged the water heater. Then she wrinkled her nose. "And honestly, you smell awful. Go air yourself out before you come back inside."I had no choice but to sit there through the night. Only after everyone else was awake did I finally get a chance to shower. I'd barely worked the
If Home's Too Crowded, I'll Leave Chapter 3
Lauren's POVIt was still pouring outside by the time dinner ended.Dad pulled the car up to the hotel entrance.As always, Emily slipped into the front passenger seat without a second thought. She'd gotten carsick ever since she was little. That seat had always been hers.Mom climbed into the back, and Jake took the seat beside her.Just like every other time, Patrick was about to get in when he suddenly glanced back at me.Something in my expression must have given me away. He stepped back from the car. "Mr. and Mrs. Walt, I just remembered I have something to take care of. I'll find my own way home tonight. Lauren got caught in the rain today. Let's not make her take a cab home."My heart skipped a beat. For one foolish moment, I thought I'd finally get to ride home with my family.Then Emily leaned out from the front passenger seat. "No way! You promised we'd stay up all night and play board games together. If you break your promise, you're a liar!"Jake immediately grabbe
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