Page 106 of No Ordinary Girl
“Truly…” he said and trailed off, deep in thought. “And I might have saved Haley, but you saved Natalie.”
What Detective Thurber didn’t know was that Ace and I had actually saved two lives. Ace had saved Haley’s, and I had saved Natalie’s.
“She was going to jump, wasn’t she?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes, she was--”
“I wasn’t thinking,” he confessed. “I was about to break the spell, just before you called out to me.”
I smiled. “It all turned out alright in the end, didn’t it?”
“It certainly did,” Simone broke in. “You two were fabulous.”
Not to toot my own horn, but yes, we kind of were.
Me: Guess what?! They found Haley!!! She’s fine.
Kylie: Yay! I’m so happy. I knew u would find her because u r amazing. Where was she?
Me: In a cabin in the woods. You will hear all about it in the news.
Me: I have other good news! I’m coming home for Thanksgiving! Don’t tell Mom and Dad, I want to tell them on Facetime. R they around?
Kylie: Yay!!! Best news ever!! Are you bringing Leo? He’s so cute!
Me: lol! Leo and I r just friends.
Kylie: Really?! Why? We need to talk about this more. I’m going to go make toast now. See you in 5 minutes!
Me: Lol!! See ya. xx
From:Calista Summers
To: Annabelle Jenkins
Subject: Hi
Dear Anna,
I’m sorry for cutting my story short, but I just couldn’t go on. It’s a hard story to tell, especially this next part.
Little Charlotte was in the hospital for months. She pulled through, but the severe hypothermia caused neurological and cognitive dysfunction. Thankfully, dozens of doctors and therapists have helped her along the way, but she’s still not quite one hundred percent. She hasn’t hit the milestones she should have for her age, in terms of speaking and learning. She has problems with attention, comprehension, reasoning and problem solving. Although her therapist, Maria, is confident she can eventually make a full recovery.
As you can imagine, this has been very hard on us as a family. My father and stepmom blamed me for months. They didn’t kick me out, per se, but they might as well have. I got myself a boarding room in this elderly lady’s house near your mom’s coffee shop, which is why I was in there all the time. I liked it there. It’s cozy and quiet, and no one knew me there. No one knew what I had done.
Christian dumped me shortly after the incident, and all my new ‘friends’ pretty much abandoned me. I used to creep them on social media, and saw that Christian and Stacey were an item, happy and as carefree as I could never hope to be, ever again.
I hit an all-time low. I was still on the outs with my mom, and I was still smoking pot. I felt like a total waste of space, like everyone in my life would be better off if I were gone.
And that’s when you came into my life, Anna, and saved me. I probably would have jumped if my father hadn’t got to me when he did.
Ever since that day, my dad and my stepmom have been great. I think they’ve finally forgiven me.
Even my mother is doing really well. She’s going to AA and has a new boyfriend she met at the meetings. I’m back at her house, my childhood home, and loving my Social Studies program. I want to work with teens in trouble eventually. After all I’ve been through, I think I’m well equipped to understand them, and help them.
And that’s my story, Anna, and you are an integral part of it.
You will always hold a special place in my heart,
