Chapter Six

When my dad finally went home, I walked to my grandparents house. I just needed to see my family. Just as I got through the door, Alia was sitting there in the living room repeatedly asking my mom where I was. My mom looked broken as if everyone in her life had just died. I saw them. I just couldn't look at them any longer. Immediately I went to the library. I was trying to find something on how to get out of this torture sphere. My grandparents library was about half the size of my house so I knew I could find something in there to help me get out. After about a half an hour of looking I found a weird book about feeling invisible. I felt happy for the first time being in this bubble. Maybe there would be something in there to help me. The only problem was that I didn't feel invisible. I was invisible. But then, the book suddenly disappeared. The bubble didn't want me to get out yet, but why? I knew I had to figure it out on my own but wasn’t this figuring it out by myself? I left the library. I walked around the house, thinking about every second of my life. I’d already done this a few times but I really needed to get out of here. My loved ones were in danger including myself. I walked past the dining room where my mother sat and ate dinner with my grandparents. Alia sat in a high chair spitting out her macaroni. I smiled. I loved seeing everyone happy together. The smile vanished. I wish I could be happy with them. I swallowed my sadness and thought about them instead of myself. The bubble became clearer. I walked away from from the dining room and saw that the tv was on. Dora was on for Alia. I remembered having fun and watching Dora with my parents. I always thought that I would be able to go into the tv and see her someday. Even if it was possible, I wouldn’t be able to now. I put on a fake smile and continued walking. I started from the beginning of my life. I thought about every incident I could remember. I was walking to preschool with my dad. He kissed me on the forehead and told me to have a good day. I nodded and he walked back to his car. I met my teacher, Ms Gilliam. She was very nice. I met Sara that day and we played with lego. We made a house and put the both of us inside. Nothing bad happened there. Next thing I remember was when my dad left. I didn’t think too much of it. Nothing there either. The rest was too vague to remember. The last thing I fully remember was… at school. Grade 5. Sara and I were best friends, unlike now. I remember when the teacher (who I hated) asked the class a question. I had no idea so I didn’t raise my hand. Neither did Sara.

“Sierra,” she said.

“Ummmmm,” I mumbled.

“Ms Homer, if she didn’t raise her hand it means she doesn’t know the answer so don’t pick on her.” Sara smiled. I smiled back.

Another thing I remember was this year. Sara became annoying. She tried to ask me something. For my help. The ball began rolling faster than it ever had on its own. I was so confused. I heard a familiar sound. A song.

Can anybody heeeeeelp.

The song stopped at that line. It kept repeating over and over. Sara. It had something to do with Sara. I played that line in my head over and over, along with the song. A perfect melody. Then I heard a voice. A soft, happy voice.

“Can anybody help?” said a voice. Sara’s voice.

I rubbed my temples, trying to think about Sara. The line played again in Sara’s voice. And again and again. Why is SHE asking for help? Is it the thing she’s been trying to ask me all this time? Is it because I… ignored her?

It all made sense now. Maybe it made her so depressed she figured out how to put me in here.

And maybe my dad’s just saying this junk to make me more mad so he can get some sort of revenge. But then how did he see me and hear me and understand the situation? That thought made me more confused, so I pushed it to the back of my mind.

I refocused my mind back to Sara. I have to go find her. I’ll have to watch her or explore her bedroom or try to think her thoughts. Okay, that may makes me sound like a stalker, but in this situation I’ll do ANYTHING to get out of here.

I whispered a goodbye to Alia, still wishing she could hear me, and rolled the ball out of the gigantic house and rolled down the sidewalk.

There was a black beat-up car rolling slowly down the street, and to my slight horror it matched my pace. I walked a little faster to see if he was following me, and I saw the car speed up a little bit. I started to sprint. And I knew who it was. Who else had so much interest in me at this moment? Who else could see me?

Only my dad could.

I finally twisted around the corner and stopped at house 458 McDonald Street: Sara’s house. I stepped quickly up the steps and disappeared into the house just in time. I could get into whatever house I wanted even if they were locked. My dad couldn’t, so I had an advantage. But now he knew where I was. I had to be careful coming out of the house.

I slapped my back against the ball and breathed heavily, regaining my energy and trembling in fear. Being at Sara’s house better work. I had had enough of this nonsense.

I walked down the hallway to the kitchen and saw Sara eating dinner.

I decided my best source of information was her diary. Sara seemed like she owned a diary.

I went up the stairs and to Sara’s room. It was very pink. The walls were pink, the carpet was pink, the lamp was pink, the bedspread was fushia. All pink. I felt like vomiting. I hate pink.

I crept across the room to the bedside table and opened a drawer. In it was a bunch of pink and black pens and a couple books. I picked up a book and there it was: my main source of information about Sara. I picked up the diary and peered at the lock. There must be some important things in here.

I toyed around in my hair for a bobby pin. Luckily, one fell right out and into my hand.

I picked up the diary and jiggled inside the lock until finally it opened. A tiny wave of relief washed over me and I opened the diary.

December 15 2015

Dear Diary,

Today wasn’t a great day. Actually, it’s probably the WORST day of my entire life. It has ended such and big thing in my life and it’s all Sia’s fault. AND it’s my birthday.

So today I wanted to play tag, and since it was my birthday, as my other friend Sydney stated, we had to play tag. I was excited because I’m a really fast runner and nobody can catch me. So

When we put our feet in I called “All aces out!!!!!”

The sad part was, Leila said it at the same time as me. So it was a tie. Normally no one would get it, but since it was my birthday, I assumed I was out.

So I stepped out.

But dumb Leila had to be all like “But we said it at the same time so no one gets it.”

“But it’s my birthday!!!” I said.

And Leila gave me the stink eye and said rudely “DO YOU THINK I CARE?”

Gosh, I hate Leila.

“But it’s my birthday,” I repeated.

And now SIA had to come in and be all like “Well it’s not our fault it’s your birthday it’s a normal day for everyone else.”

I don’t get it!!!!! Sia’s ALWAYS was on my side no matter what. And now she betrayed me!!!

Wow, Sara’s REALLY dramatic in her diary too (even though that was grade five). I already knew what happened, but out of curiosity I kept on reading to see her side of the story.

I glared at Sia, but she didn’t flinch. What was wrong with her? I thought.

I looked at Sydney hopefully but she didn’t say a word. I was so angry I stormed away and into the bathroom. I started to cry.

I had guessed Sia was going to come and comfort me like she always did. She was such a good friend. (Underline was.)

After a little while Sia still didn’t come, so I went back outside and I saw everyone just having a normal conversation. Sia was smiling at Leila a lot, but she hasn’t been smiling at me for a while.

“So we decided that no one gets aces out,” said Leila. “We’re doing King Counter for everyone.”

I didn’t bother to argue that Leila had gotten her way in the end, so I put my foot in.

“Sky blue sky blue everybody’s out except for Y-O-U that spells you.” Leila’s finger landed on my shoe. “You’re it Sara!!!”

I was so enraged (I know: big word!!!) that I yelled, “It’s my birthday though! Doesn’t anyone want me to have a good one?”

“Too bad, so sad,” Leila taunted me. Sia nudged her playfully and they both laughed.

I frowned and felt lonely. Sia has totally abandoned me. Our old friendship is no more.

Yep. That’s right, people. Our once best friendship ended because of a tag incident.

Well, actually, that’s not entirely true… I had started to cling on to Leila a lot, Sara was right about that.

And I had started to drift away from Sara.

Ok, ok, that’s a lie too.

It had started when Leila started to talk to me. Leila’s a really cool person. She knows all the trends and she’s a SAVAGE (#agesavLeila) and she’s extremely funny and pretty.

So I had started to hang out with her more. She seemed to really like me too, she said I had the “right amount of coolness and savageness” and she loved my hair. I had never really liked my dark brown and curly hair that much, but I started to notice it after that.

But Sara didn’t like her. She said she’s a mean person and anyone who’s “cool” is a bad person which is not like me. She said she would change me into someone I’m not.

When she said that I just put on a fake smile and nodded. But I kept hanging out with Leila.

What drove Sara and I’s friendship apart was that Leila said bad things about Sara.

She called her a dork and said she was a “goody-goody” and very whiny. I always ignored that when we hung out. But one day I kind of started to believe that. Then Sara and I’s friendship began to fade. I put on a fake smile and nodded a lot until I couldn’t even be bothered to fake anything anymore. I said whatever I wanted to Sara, and I didn’t be a “good friend” to her anymore, because it seemed like I couldn’t be friends with Sara anymore now that Leila was my friend.

And now Leila and I are best friends along with Kelli. Leila said Kelli liked books and she was quiet but she wasn’t a dork like Sara, so they were friends too.

I shook the memories from my head and refocused back on the diary.

A lot of the previous entries were about me, how she missed playing with me and called me a traitor and saying how her friend who she thought was kind was an evil witch (She is SO dramatic!). And she also wrote I told her Leila would change her. She seemed to blame Leila for me destroying her life.

Is this why… I’m in the bubble?

And, as surprised as I was, I felt a tiny bit sorry for her.

Okay, I was pretty sorry for her.