Hello Stranger

Chapter 32

"Hey, Danny! Wait up!" I yell trying to catch up with Daniel as I weaved my way through the crowd of students to the parking lot. Daniel stopped and turned to face me.

He greeted me with a hug, "Hey pretty lady."

"Hey," I say hugging him back. "You going home?"

"Yeah, I don't work today," Daniel answers.

"Can you drive me to Grayson's so I can get my car?" I ask him as we walk toward his car.

"Sure, but why isn't he driving you to his house? And why are you getting your car?" He questions me.

I sigh, "Something is going on. I'm not sure what. But something tells me that what he needs right now is space to handle it. He'll tell me when he's ready."

Daniel shook his head, "Yeah, that didn't answer either of my questions."

I roll my eyes. "He's acting weird and he let his friend be a dick to me. I'm a little upset with him that's why he's not giving me a ride," I explain. "I'm getting my car because I have stuff in the car that need to be in the apartment."

"Fair enough," Danny shrugs and unlocks his car for us both to get in. I slid into the passenger seat and tossed my backpack into the backseat. I gave him the directions to Grayson's house and we made our way there.

When we arrived at the large house there were no cars out front except mine. Not one. There was usually at least one cause at least two of the boys always rode together. But not this time.

"Wanna come inside?" I suggest.

"I'm gay," Danny jokes.

I playfully hit him in his arm, "I know. But it's a very large and very beautiful house."

"You're trying to stall to see if someone will come and stop you from leaving," Daniel states.

"Fine, i'll get my car and go," I pout. I got out of Danny's car and got into my own and followed behind Danny as we headed toward the apartment. As we were leaving we passed Jackson who was pulling into the driveway. He saw me and looked at me confusedly but he was also on the phone and couldn't do anything about it.

Moments later, as expected, my phone started ringing. I expected it to be Jackson or even Grayson, but instead it was Aaron calling me. I clicked the decline button and continued driving. He called again, and I declined it again. And him being him, he called once more. This time, I answered, "What?"

"Where the hell are you going?" Aaron yells into the phone.

"Home," I say simply.

"No. What you need to be doing is staying your ass still," Aaron yells.

I roll my eyes, "Screw you." Then, I hung up the phone. I followed Danny into the parking garage and we parked on the third floor near the elevator. From there we took the elevator up to our floor and went into the apartment. 

"The second bedroom is cleared out now. It's yours to do whatever you want with," Daniel said heading into the kitchen.

"I don't have much anyways," I sigh sitting on the stool at the counter.

"You really wanna do this? Move in with me?" Daniel questions.

"I'm positive," I answer.

"If you say so," Daniel sighs. "Who called when you were in the car? You didn't seem happy about it."

"It was just Aaron. Jackson saw me leaving and must of told him. He wasn't exactly happy about it. So, I hung up," I explain.

"I really don't need them showing up here, Andy," Daniel says.

"I know. I know. Luckily for me, they don't know where this is. And whatever they have going on prevented them from following. So, we're good. Our home is safe from them," I tell him.

"Grayson is your boyfriend. You're going to have to tell him where you live eventually," Danny laughs.

"Yes, but not yet," I say. "Now I'm going to go take my stuff to my room, get settled in and work on some homework."

"Let me know when you're hungry so we can figure out what to have for dinner."

"Will do," I say and head off to my new room with my bag of stuff from my house, and my backpack.

The room was practically empty. There was a queen sized bed and three dressers. Along with a walk in closet, a vanity, it's own bathroom, and many mirrors. I was definitely going to love it here. I just need to get a job again. I have money saved up from my last one but I'm going to need more. Is this really home for me now?

*

There was a knock at my bedroom door. I looked up to see Daniel standing there. "Hey. What's up?" I ask him as I close my journal.

"Hungry yet?" He asks as he comes and sits on the edge of the bed beside me.

"Yeah. I guess I could eat. What do you have in mind?" I question.

He lets out a sign, "Well, the fridge is empty besides drinks. So, making something isn't an option. We could order something or go out."

"Maybe we should order Chinese," I suggest.

"Anything specific?" He asks.

"Nope. Surprise me," I laugh.

"Alright. I'll let you know when it's here," Daniel gets up and heads toward the door. "Oh, and your phone is over her going off you know that right?"

"Yep. That's why it's on silent and all the way over there," I answer. 

"You eventually have to answer them," Daniel grabs the phone and sets it on the bed beside me and leaves the room.

"I know," I whisper to myself. I grab the phone and look through all the notifications.  The messages from Grayson caught my eye. 

Where are you?

Come back.

Is everything okay?

Are you safe?

Please just tell me you're okay.

I finally responded to his message, "I'm fine. Are you?"  

I turned off my screen and sat up. I crossed my legs and I stared at the phone waiting for it to go off. It didn't take long for a reply.

No.

That was all his message said. There was no other context to the message.