Chapter 115 Finding Cindy
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Dawn stopped in her tracks as an idea sparked, then she turned and walked toward theke.
“Cindy!” she called, her eyes scanning the shoreline as her voice carried into the night.
The minutes dragged until she spotted a dark shape hunched near the water.
Her steps slowed.
She steadied her breath and moved closer.
The girl sitting there looked small and fragile, curled up tight with her face hidden against her knees. It almost felt like even a gust of wind might spirit her away.
Something tugged deep inside Dawn’s chest.
It felt strange.
It hurt.
She didn’t speak right away. She simply lowered herself to the ground beside her cousin.
It took Cindy a while to notice she wasn’t alone. When she finally raised her head, her puffy eyes narrowed<i>. </i><i>My </i><b><i>so</i></b><i>–</i><i>called </i><i>cousin</i>.
“What are you doing here?” Cindy muttered.
“What are you doing here?” Dawn shot back without thinking.
A moment of silence ensued.
You’re <i>unbelievable</i><i>! </i>
Cindy huffed, shoved her hair out of her face, and turned away, staring at the still water.
Dawn stayed quiet. She followed her gaze and let the silence sit between them until she finally said, “Your parents are worried about you. It’s okay if you need time, but don’t make them think you’ve disappeared.”
Cindy’s lips twisted.
A sharpugh broke from her throat. “Oh, please. Dawn, who do you think you are? You think you get to preach to me?”
<b>17:27 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>18 <b>N </b>
Chapter 115 Finding Cindy
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“I’m not preaching.” Dawn said, her tone steady and calm. “It’s just the truth. None of us lives alone in this world. You’re their kid, and that means they matter to you, whether you want them to or not.”
Cindy’s cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, her breath uneven.
She bit down on her lip, her eyes dark with feelings she couldn’t put into words. <fn4903> The rightful source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn4903>
The wind swept her hair across her face until it tangled into knots.
“You don’t get it,” she snapped.
“People like you wake up happy for no damn reason. What do you know about any of this? Just leave me alone, Dawn. Go away!”
Her voice cracked as she tried to fight the strands of hair whipping across her face, but it was a losing battle. The more she tried to pull her hair away, the more the wind messed it up.
Frustration won out.
She leaned toward theke and screamed, her voice tearing through the night.
Dawn sat beside her, waiting, then she smiled softly.
Cindy whipped around. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” Dawn shook her head. “I just think you’re kind of cute when you’re mad.”
She might look angry and frustrated, but she never did hurt anyone. All she did to vent her anger was <b>… </b>scream at ake. That was it. Nothing else. Her fury was easily calmed.
She was a very genuine person, in a sense.
Cindy red, her eyes sharp. “Cute? I’ll push you into the waters!”
“You wouldn’t.”
For a moment, silence hung heavy between them.
“Cindy, you don’t have to do this,” Dawn said atst, her voice gentle. Her eyes didn’t waver. “You don’t have to push everyone away. You could just be yourself.”
Cindy froze for a heartbeat, then her eyes glid aside.
“That’s bullshit,” she muttered, her teeth tight, and fell quiet.
<b>17:27 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>18 </b><b>N </b>
…
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Chapter 115 Finding Cindy
Thekefront grew still again.
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From far across town came the muffled hum of music and voices drifting from the bar strip, carrying like they belonged to another world. Northville never shut its eyes. The streets stayed lit, pulsing with life, never cooling down.
The night grew colder. The very air seemed to sap the warmth from anything it touched.
Dawn rubbed her arms against the chill.
“How long are you nning to sit out here?” she asked.
Cindy only nced at her.
“If you’re set on staying all night, I can get someone to bring down a couple jackets from the house.”
Still nothing.
Just as Dawn was about to speak again, Cindy pushed herself up with a sharp breath.
There was disdain dripping from her voice.
“Get someone? Why don’t you just go home?”
Dawn blinked but said nothing as she watched her cousin storm off into the dark.
Then she let out a breath, smiled faintly, and pulled out her phone. She typed a quick message to Lucas, “She’s safe.”
His reply came almost at once, “Good to hear. She probably doesn’t want to see us right now. Just stay close <i>to </i>her, Dawn.”
Dawn hesitated, then slipped her phone into her pocket, and jogged to catch up.
“Where’s your car?” she asked.
Cindy frowned at her, impatience written all over her face.
Dawn twirled her keys in one hand. “If you don’t want to go back home, you can crash here.”
Cindy stopped dead, eyes wide. “What did you just say?”
“Your dad texted me. He’s done trying to fight you on this. If they won’t stop you, why should
<b>I</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
17:27 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>18 </b><b>N </b>
Chapter 115 Finding Cindy
Cindy stared, silent.
:
“You love the nightlife, right? Then stay in the car.”
Another pause.
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“If you’re low on cash, I’ll talk to the owner. You can settle up when your dades around.”