Wicked Game

Chapter 18

"Lou, I'm going over to Lydia's," I call out as I near the bottom of the stairs.

My brother had just gotten off work, undoing his work shirt while he stood in the living room doorway, eyes on the evening news.

"Gotta get some music put on this," I tell him with a bright smile, holding up the new mp3 player he got me for my birthday.

"Alright Kase, you staying over there tonight?"

"No, I'll be home tonight," I answer, and head towards the door with a grocery sack filled with my favorite CDs.

"Alright get home-" my brother cuts himself off, pausing to correct himself. He smiles, "Don't be too late."

"Thanks, Lou," I return the grin, and close the front door behind me.

I swipe one of the boy's skateboards from the lawn and start down the driveway, hearing the gravel crunch beneath my feet. Once I reach the pavement, I toss the skateboard down in front of me and start down the street.

The sun was only beginning to set. If any of my friends knew I was on the street alone, I'd probably get an ass chewing. I didn't allow that worry to occupy my mind at the moment, I was only eager to use Lydia's computer to get this mp3 player loaded.

I strode along without a care. I could understand why everyone would worry though; I myself was glancing around corners, double taking every alley and street I passed. Something smelled fishy. Well, not fishy, but off. Something was definitely wrong with my surroundings at the moment.

Regardless, I made it to Lydia's street without any trouble. Mimicking my bonehead brothers, I leave the skateboard on the lawn, wheels up so that it revealed a spray painted F on the bottom.

Before climbing the steps that led up to the front door, I pause one last time, knowing that something was surely off. Voices and noises from televisions, coming from neighboring houses was all I could tune into. My view... nothing but street lamps turning on and illuminating the sidewalk and asphalt. The smell though... feminine, but nothing I'd ever smelt before. Not compared to the few scents I knew from Allison, Lydia, and Gemma.

I hesitate for what seemed like a lifetime, waiting for something erratic to happen. Nothing changed about the environment, so after a moment, I let it slide. There was nothing to worry about here.

Without knocking, I welcome myself in to Lydia's home, greeting her mother as I entered, and head straight for the stairs.

"Hey," I greet her when I reach her bedroom. She was on her stomach on her bed, notebooks and textbooks spread out in front of her.

"Hey," she gives me a welcoming smile. "I was wondering when you were going to get here."

"Yeah, I just took Fallon's skateboard," I shrug it off and plop down on her bed. "I needed some fresh air and quiet time for myself."

"I feel ya there," she agrees, and then gives me a side smile, "I won't tell them. Obviously you can handle yourself."

I smile to myself and wondered crucially if that was really it.

"Lap top is on my dresser, and I did find the external hard drive too," Lydia informs me, pointing across the room. After Lou had bought me the mp3 player, well it wasn't until Gemma pointed it out that we would need a computer to put music on it. Needless to say, Lydia offered to let me use hers.

"Sweet," I get back up to grab both devices, and the window catches my eye.

Night had completely fallen, leaving the street lamps for the only source of light. I hesitated, caught in watching again. I slowly tear my eyes away, telling myself there was nothing outside. I'm just being paranoid.