She glanced at her grandparents. She didn't want to leave the family, but she wanted to be her own person, and if she stayed, she would be taking care of the family. That wasn't what she wanted--to take care of everyone. She loved her family, she did, as weird as they were.
She didn't want to have to take care of them, though. Not all on her own. Not when the family was as big as it was.
There should be plenty of help for her grandparents.
If they're okay, then she'll be okay.
She tucked the necklace back in and sat back down for more pie. "Who has been taking you to your doctor's appointments?"
"Your mom," Grandma said. "She said now that you're not here, she has to do it."
Tina rolled her eyes. "Seriously, she's such a drama queen."
"You're the one who's been missing for eleven days. That sounds like drama to me."
She smiled. "Yeah. Probably." Her cell phone blinked.
Meetme at the cave asap. -- Gianna
Why?-- Tina
First Respondersheadingto your grandparent's house. A lot. -- Gianna
Tina furrowed her brow.What was going on? She glanced at her grandparents. Theylooked at each other. Then their gazed went over to the front door.
A blinking light caught her eye.
Out the front door she could see the police cars.
"You really did call the police."
"We had to. There are people looking for you. Now, you just have to tell them your story, and they'll take care of it."
Tina stood up. "You know they'll lock me up or something."
"Surely not," Grandma said. "They'll just have a lot of questions for you."
Tina shook her head. She did not have time for this.
"We really are glad you're alive," her grandfather said. "We just hate seeing you have a mental break like this."
She sighed. "It's not a mental break. I'm just fine. Know that I'm alive, and I'm fine. Call off the searches and the police and stuff."
"Tina!"
"Tina wait!"
She headed out the back door and down the beach. Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of cover on the beach, so she knew she had to hurry. The tide was moving in, and she had to get back, before it was too deep.
"Tina, wait," her grandmother called out.
"Tina!"
She didn't stop. She just kept going as fast as she could. She thought she could look casual about it, but over in the distance, up along the house lines, she could see flashlights and hear voices. It reminded her of a scene from a movie where all the police are hunting over the dark hill, with their flashlights shifting all around the horizon.
Tina ran.
The lights kept getting closer.
