If Only It Were That Simple

Chapter 24- Missing Kids

Lorrie-

"I wish I had stayed to make sure Jacob showed up or she had a friend to stay with her." I admit to Benny, "I would've but I need to be home when Johnny gets there."

"Why do you worry so much about him?" Benny asks me, "He treats you like dirt, and he's a jerk." Everyone's opinion of our varsity star point-guard. Before I could answer my brother my phone goes off.

"Hello, Lorrie Scott speaking."

"Lorrie, where are you?" Johnny's voice comes through loudly. "I'm at your house sitting outside. Get here and let me in!" His voice resonates through the car, "You've got twenty minutes or I find a new tutor." He hangs up before I can say anything in my defense.

"Well, the jerk wants us home in twenty minutes or I'm fired." I tell Benny as I return my phone to my hoodie pocket. "Can you hurry?" I ask him.

"Okay." He steps on the gas, "But if I get a ticket, it's on you." He speeds down the back roads with four minutes to spare he pulls into the driveway and into the car, avoiding Johnny's pristine bright red jeep wrangler. Johnny hops out of the car stuffing the keys into his pocket and grabbing his books out of the back. Benny races inside the garage door helping Lorrie up the steps. "Your welcome your majesty." He mutters to Johnny so quietly I barely catch it. Johnny either ignored or didn't hear him as he walks in. I smile and head to the informal dining room in the kitchen to clear the table of the other things so we can study.

"Johnny, I'm so sorry. Nikki, my little sister wanted me at the dance to sign her in." I apologize, "But since I'm cutting the session down by a half hour because I'm late I think-"

"Wait" Johnny cuts me off before I can finish, something he seems to do frequently, "You show up late making me sit in your driveway for half an hour then expect me to leave at the usual time?" He demands. I cringe at his tone. 

"Get. Out!" Benny demands pointing Johnny to the front door, "You have no right to speak to her like that."

"Benny, please." I beg my brother, "Leave. I'll see you when we're finished."

"Fine." Benny leaves in a huff to the basement slamming the basement door hard also making me cringe.

"Sorry, he's been a bit moody lately." I apologize to Johnny again.

Johnny gives an indifferent shrug and begins talking about his tutor needs"Okay, so I have a history test Monday, and a calc test Tuesday." He explains, "I juts can't get the dates or the formulas to stick."

I tutor Johnny for a steady hour. I smile each time he gets the information right on his own without my prompting. "Johnny, honestly, I think you'll ace each test."

"Thanks Lorrie." He says pulling out cash for the session 90$. "See you Monday." He tosses the money on the counter as he heads for the front door.

"I'll walk you out." I grab my crutches and walk him to the door, "I really am sorry about Benny, he really isn't like that. I don't know what's with him."

"It's all good, don't worry about it." Johnny brushes it off, "Thanks again for the help."

'Thanks for paying the bills.' I think to myself letting Johnny out, "Bye Johnny."

He waves his hand in acknowledgement hopping into his car and driving off. I turn on my crutches to find Benny standing right behind me. I stumble back because he was so close.

"Lorrie!" Benny reaches out and steadies me closing the door behind me. "You okay?" I nod and we head into the kitchen, "You want to tell me why you let him do that?"