Run Like Hell (4 page)

“What time were you supposed to be home?” I ask, not wanting Traci to get in trouble for breaking curfew because of me.

“Don’t worry about it. Mom and Dad won’t say anything. You know I don’t have a curfew. Besides, I texted Mom a half hour ago saying we’d be home soon. All she cares about is that I keep in touch with her.”

I’m glad I’d texted my folks too. They’re probably already asleep but at least they’ll see the message when they wake up.

Traci lives in a large house. Even though she’s an only child, like me, her parents own a five bedroom house. Two of the extra bedrooms are used as offices and the third spare room is a guest bedroom. I prefer sleeping in Traci’s room whenever I spend the night, even though I’m offered the guest bedroom. She has a large queen size bed we comfortably share. Her parents don’t wake up when we enter the house. Tired and exhausted, we head straight to her room to get ready for bed. Traci grabs several bottles of water from the kitchen before heading upstairs.

Lying in bed, I can’t shake the image of the guy’s face, the cigarette hanging from his mouth, smoke curling around his features. I’m independent, but when my parents leave town I get into a stranger’s car!

“Are you all right?” Traci whispers. I roll over and face her.

“I’m worried he knows where I live. What if he comes after me?”

“You know how I feel. I think you should go to the police and report him.”

I smirk and she continues. “Okay, then be prepared until your parents come home. Make sure you’re not alone, keep Tiger close to you, and keep your cell phone charged and with you at all times.”

It’s good advice. The odds of him coming after me, or knowing where I live, are slim, at least I think so. If I’m prepared I won’t be scared. My parents will be home in a few days and everything will return to normal.

“How was the party?” I change the subject hoping I can get him out of my mind.

Traci smiles. “You won’t believe it, but I met a great guy.”

“You did? What’s his name?” A new guy is something to smile about. Hopefully Traci can get her mind off Steve, her ex-boyfriend who dumped her for no apparent reason.

“Carlos. He’s hot and he’s a senior. Actually, he’s on the basketball team. I bet Jack knows him.” Her expression becomes dreamy when she talks about him.

I remember meeting a guy on Jack’s basketball team named Carlos. Traci begins to tell me in detail how they met at the party. I’m trying to pay attention but can’t keep my eyes open. I’m exhausted and I realize I never showered before I put on my pajamas. Her voice lulls me to sleep.

I dream I’m at Chelsea’s party, laughing, dancing, and kissing Jack. I’m thirsty and tell Jack I’ll be right back. I enter the kitchen but a man is standing in front of me. When he turns around he smiles wickedly and I scream.

Chapter Four

“Morgan, are you all right?” Traci runs over and sits on the edge of the bed. She’s dressed in jeans and a slouchy sweater, revealing a bare shoulder.

I sit up in her bed and realize I’m covered in sweat. I dreamt about him.

“I had a nightmare. He was in it and he was at Chelsea’s party.” I shake my head, trying to erase the dream from my memory. “What time is it?” Traci’s hair and makeup are perfectly done.

“Around noon.”

“I have to go home. Poor Tiger, he needs to go out.” I throw my legs over the side of the bed and wince in pain. My abdomen and leg hurts badly. I pull up my pajama top and stare at my bare belly. Traci’s eyes bulge. My stomach is bruised badly. I know it’s from slamming into the tree trunk.

“Morgan,” she whispers.

I’m as frightened as she looks – pale and wide-eyed. “It’s just a bruise.”

“I can drive you to the emergency room,” she offers.

I decline. No bones are broken. “It looks worse than it is,” I tell her bravely. She nods her head but I know she’s not agreeing with me. “Will you be able to drop me off at my house?”

“Last night I made plans with Carlos but you’re more important. I’ll drive you home and we can hang out and watch movies all day. I’ll take care of you.”

Traci looks amazing and I know she labored over making her fashion choices. I wasn’t about to ruin her chance of happiness with a great, new guy. Anyone who can help her get over Steve is someone I want her spending time with. Steve dumped her months ago and she’s been hoping he’ll take her back ever since. Traci deserves someone better.

“No, go out with Carlos and tell me about the date when you get home. What plans do you have with him?” I gingerly slide out of bed and turn my back to her and fasten my bra, then toss a clean t-shirt over my head.

“He’s taking me to lunch and the movies. I think he should be here soon. Mom and Dad are at the gym, by the way. Before Mom left she asked if we had a good time. I told her about my date today with Carlos but didn’t mention your incident last night. You’re welcome to confide in my parents, Morgan. They’re easy to talk to.”

I know Traci means well and she’s concerned about me, but the last thing I want to do is admit to an adult how stupid I was to get in some guy’s car last night. I want to forget it ever happened. Shoving my belongings in my duffle bag, I pull a pair of sweatpants on and slide into my shoes. I’d die if Jack saw me now.

I give Traci a big hug, lucky to have her as a best friend. “Thank you, but I’m going to go home and invite Jack over. I have a lot of making up with him to do after ditching him last night.”

“You didn’t ditch him! You were attacked! Are you going to tell him what happened?” I know she thinks I’m making stupid decisions lately.

“Judging by my appearance, he’ll suspect something.”

The doorbell rings. “Carlos!” Traci gasps, checking her appearance in her bedroom mirror. “How do I look?”

Traci and I have been best friends for the past seven years. We’ve been inseparable since meeting in fifth grade. We share the same interests but we differ in our looks. Traci is gorgeous. She’s tall and thin, with striking greenish-yellow eyes and long, shiny jet black hair. I’m the total opposite. I’m average height, skinny, brown eyes, and long brown hair. Traci wears designer brands and I wear whatever is in fashion at Target.

“Beautiful.” I compliment her before she hurries downstairs. I slowly follow, wanting to remain unnoticed when she opens the door.

“Hi, Carlos.” Traci’s voice is soft and sultry and I practically laugh out loud.

If I didn’t have to go home to walk Tiger I could watch this act of hers longer.

“Wow,” he breathes softly.

Traci opens the door wider and Carlos catches sight of me.

“Carlos, this is Morgan. You may know her boyfriend, Jack, from basketball?” Carlos and I exchange a look of recognition and both smile and say hello. “Oh, so you do know each other. Anyways, Carlos, do you mind if we drop Morgan off at home before the movie? She needs a ride and lives close by.”

“Sure, fine with me.” Traci goes inside to grab her purse and I walk to the car with Carlos.

“Hey, Jack was looking for you last night. I bumped into him at one point and he asked if I’d seen you. Were you at the party last night?” he asks.

“I was on my way but something came up and I couldn’t make it.” I shrug, not wanting to elaborate, but I can tell he’s staring at my cuts and bruises. “It’s a long story,” I say and he nods and then changes the subject.

“You and Traci are good friends?” Carlos opens the back door for me and I slide into the seat.

“Yeah, we’re best friends.”

“Maybe the four of us can hang out sometime.” Carlos has a big smile on his face when she joins us at the car.

“I take it you two know each other pretty well?” she asks, looking amazing in her new wedge shoes. Tossing her hair over her bare shoulder she gives Carlos one of her dazzling smiles.

“Through basketball, Trace…Jack’s introduced me to most of the team.” Her face relaxes. She can be possessive over a guy she likes and even though she and I are best friends, I don’t want her thinking I’m a threat. “Ready to go?” I’m anxious to get home, walk the dog, and take a shower.

Traci and Carlos get in the car and within minutes we pull into my driveway. The large two-story house I live in seems quaint and quiet on the outside. Inside, Tiger’s barking. I thank my friends for the ride home and hurry inside. I drop my bags on the floor and kneel down to receive his kisses. Tiger’s happy to see me. I grab his leash and leave for his walk. Whipping out my iPhone, I update my parents I’m still alive.

Alive. Of course I’m alive. Part of me agrees with Traci. I should call the police and report the guy. Another girl could be abducted. But I instigated the attack by getting into his car and by stabbing him with the cigarette. If my parents hear about the incident, my social life will become non-existent.

I’m in love with Jack. I’m ready to take our relationship to the next level. Even though I’m not a virgin, the thought of having sex with him scares me as well as excites me. Last night should have been our special night together but obviously our plans got sidetracked. We’ve been friends for such a long time that I’m worried sex will change our relationship. What if he doesn’t like me after he sleeps with me? What if he only wants to be with me for sex?

Tiger pulls the leash and jerks me from my thoughts. He’s sniffing a dead squirrel. “Tiger, gross!” I yell and pull him away from the road kill lying on the side of the street.

We continue down the street but something catches my eye. A car turns the corner and a chill tingles down my spine. The car looks like the old sedan from last night. I need to know if I’m being stalked. “Tiger, let’s go.” I run toward the street the car turned on. Tiger keeps pace and pulls me along. My body protests from the exertion, a reminder of the pain I endured last night.

We reach the street corner but the car is gone. Do I want to see his car parked on the street with him behind the wheel watching me? Or perhaps I’m stressed out from the whole nightmare and my imagination is in overdrive. Sighing, I turn around and begin walking home.

I text Jack.

I miss you. Come over.

Soon. In an hour. Miss you too.

An hour! I need to shower and get ready.

When we arrive home, I put the key in the lock but the front door swings open. Startled, I grab Tiger by his collar, holding him close. Had I forgotten to lock the door? I can’t remember. The dog had been anxious to go outside. I might have closed the door but not locked it behind us. I push the door wide open, looking for signs of anything out of place.

My bag is still in the foyer, exactly where I dumped it. My purse is still on the side table I left it. I unhook the dog’s leash and allow him to go in first to sniff out trouble. He goes straight to the kitchen. He laps at his water bowl and pads back to me, a quizzical expression on his cute face. I know he’s wondering why I haven’t entered the house yet.

My next door neighbor listens to an iPod with ear-buds while he cleans out his garage. He won’t hear my calls for help if someone is inside.

“Tiger, are Mommy and Daddy home? Go upstairs and check.” I point toward the staircase and Tiger dutifully bounds up and searches the house for my parents, even though they’re not home. But if HE is up there, Tiger will sniff him out.

Tiger runs down the steps and sits in front of me, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. I guess the coast is clear and I hadn’t locked the door. Hesitantly, I enter the house and lock the door behind me while clutching my iPhone.

I don’t have much time before Jack arrives. I make a sandwich in the kitchen and feed half to Tiger and eat the other half on my way to my room.

I draw a bath in my private bathroom and add some bubble bath to the running water. The scent of lavender permeates throughout my room. I remove my clothes and throw them in my hamper, then gingerly lower myself into the hot water. The water soothes my aches and immediately relaxes me. I text Mom and Dad from the tub, telling them I’m studying. Mom texts me back suggesting to heat up a frozen dinner if I’m hungry, or make a sandwich with the fresh deli turkey she bought yesterday.

I set my phone aside and lather up my dirty hair. Taking a deep breath, I sink beneath the water and rinse out the shampoo. I repeat the process and add some conditioner to make my hair soft and silky. I’d love another thirty minutes to soak and relax but I don’t have time. I step out of the tub and notice the bruise on my stomach. It’s ugly and the size of an orange. My leg looks worse, though. Thankfully, the gash on my head isn’t noticeable since it’s close to my hair line. If I comb my bangs over my forehead it’s barely visible.

I wrap a towel around my body and enter my bedroom. I’ll check the hall closet for some gauze and antiseptic for my leg. I pass the top of the stairs when Tiger barks. I hurry back to my bedroom window to see if Jack is parked in the driveway but I don’t see his car. Tiger barks again, followed by a deep growl. Tiger never growls.

I throw on a bathrobe over my towel and creep down the stairs, my phone in my hand. I can’t see Tiger but it sounds like he’s in the living room. Avoiding the creaky step, I come to the bottom step and tip-toe to the kitchen. Grabbing a large knife, I slowly enter the hallway and find Tiger looking out the sliding glass door in the living room. I relax. He probably spied a cat in the backyard. He’s always protective over the backyard, his stomping ground.