Twenty Four Seven || Adam Park

eighteen

I stayed over well into the middle of the night. I had even fall asleep again – on Adam's floor this time. Probably well before him and Rocky went to sleep. It was probably about two in the morning when we were all woken up to a loud banging on the front door. Being curious and slightly frightened teenagers, we all went to investigate but Ms. Maria had already answered the door.

Standing in the doorway were now two police officers who were shining a flashlight in our direction. I used a hand to shield my eyes because it was dark and I hadn't even been able to rub the sleep from them yet. I also couldn't help but yawn as I leaned against Rocky who was standing next to me. I was so tired that I felt like I could fall over. Adam had went to stand next to his grandmother as we all tried to listen to what was being said.

"She reported her missing?" Ms. Maria sounded offended, "She's clearly not missing officers. Danielle is right here. She has been here all night and if Betty Hale had just given me a call, she would have known that."

"Wait, my grandmother reported me missing?" I asked, walking closer to the door.

"Yes, she did... about an hour ago. She was worried that you had run away but then gave us a tip that you might be here. You're going to have to come with us. You're not in trouble or anything, we just need to take you home." One of the two officers said.

"Can't we just take her home?" Ms. Maria asked.

"I'm afraid not. We need to actually make sure that she gets home." The other officer said.

"This is absurd. I can't believe that she reported you missing." Ms. Maria turned and looked at me.

"It doesn't surprise me. Can I just go grab my jacket?" I looked at the officers.

"Yes." They said.

Adam and Rocky followed me back to Adam's room. I didn't have a jacket with me but I just wanted to give myself a moment to process that that crazy woman actually called and reported me missing. I guess I technically was because she didn't know where I was – but I didn't think she would actually care if I was gone or not.

I had a feeling in my stomach that I hated. I knew I was in for it when they took me home and I wished so badly that I could work up the courage to tell them the truth of what's happening and why I had quote on quote, ran away. I looked at Adam, just as puzzled as he seemed to be.

"Here, you can borrow this." Adam dug through a drawer and pulled out a hoodie that said 'Angel Grove Youth Center' on the front and 'Park' on the back. I slid it over my head and onto my body before sighing, knowing that I had to go with those officers.

"I'll see you guys at school... if she doesn't kill me first." I muttered.

"Don't say that." Adam grabbed my arm and stopped me before I walked out.

"I didn't mean it like that... sorry." I pulled my arm away, "Sorry you guys got woken up because of all of this."

"We'll see you tomorrow." Rocky yawned.

I stuffed my hands in the pockets of Adam's jacket and then slid my shoes on as the officers waited for me. As I followed them out to the police car, I couldn't help but start to cry because it reminded me of one thing... when the officers had showed up to my house to tell me about my parents. That was the first thing that came to my mind. I wanted to turn right back around and just hug someone, but I just got in the police car when one of the officers opened the door for me.

It took less than ten minutes for them to take me home and when I say I was scared to see my grandmother I meant it. But, I had never seen my grandmother act as fake as she did when the officers walked up to the house with me. She grabbed me and pulled me into a hug, pretending to be worried. She could pretend all she wanted to them but I knew as soon as that police car pulled away, she was going to do something to me. My hands trembled as I snuck off to my room before she could stop me. I wasn't going to go anywhere this time – but I just wanted to take Adam's jacket off and put it up before she could ruin it.