“But Mom, we just need to keep looking, she has to be out here somewhere!”

“She probably went home to her own house..”

I checked the car’s clock. “It’s 7:30, her parents are home, she defintely didn’t go there, her parents would have-”

“You didn’t tell me her parents abused her?” Mom looked worried.

“Yeah, like, on a daily basis.” This was the first time Warren was hearing this too. “I told her to go to the police, but she’s scared to.”

There was an awkward silence after that. “There she is! On the swingset! Go get her!” Mom yelled.

I darted out of the car with lightning speed. When she saw me, I fully expected her to run the other way, but instead she stood up and held her arms out for a hug. Tears streaming down my face, along with the rain, I ran into her, almost throwing her backwards. I gave her a bear hug, refusing to let go.

“Kait, I was so worried!”

“I’m soo sorry, I really am.. these guys they just gave me these cigs and got me high, and-”

“Here, come into the car.”