Her Beast

Chapter two: It's always there

The sun peaked through Zoeys curtains when she decided to give up on sleep. She had tossed and turned all night with the covers of the bed pulled tightly over her head.

Zoey had the day off so she was hoping sleep would find her sometime in the day.

She decided to get ready and shower. She climbed out of the shower and combed her hair, leaving it to air dry. Zoey then went to the closet and changed into a long sleeve and jeans. It was the fall which meant the weather would be cooling down.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, notifying that Amber had texted. She was Zoeys friend from high school and It had been more than three months since they had seen each other. She had begged Zoey to join her this year at college, but she reassured Amber that she would be there next year. Hopefully she would be.

Amber made sure to call every once in a while to check in on her. The calls ended up being about her glorious college life. She loved to tell Zoey how cute the guys were and all the parties she's been to, not actually talking about classes and her professors.

Every call ended with her begging Zoey to come to school with her.

Zoeys eyes widened as she read the text. Amber was coming to visit. Excitement filled her body and the stress she was feeling from the last few days was gone.

She immediately hit the call button. The phone rang a few times before Amber answered.

"Hi Zoey, I'm guessing you saw my texts."

"I did. When are you coming?" The excitement clear in her voice.

"I'm coming for the full moon festival and I'll be bringing some friends. I bring up the stories all the time and they said they need proof so they're coming too coming."

"That's a far drive to be coming for a festival."

"It's fall break, and I was planning on coming home anyway. The guys I'm bringing are cute, so I can always hook you up with one of them. It might convince you to come to the university sooner."

Zoey could practically hear Amber winking.

"Ok, let's meet up during the day. My uh... my mom needs my help that night."

Zoey lied through her teeth.

"So you're not going to the festival?"

Zoey hesitated before answering. She wanted to go, she really did but the meaning behind the festival made her want to crawl up into a shell.

"Is this about last year? Because I thought you were over that."

Zoey most certainly wasn't over it. Even though she made everyone believe she was. How could she be? When what had happened had plagued her dreams every night.

"No, I am."

"Then come."

"Fine! But only because I haven't seen you in so long."

They talked for a little bit longer before Amber had to go.

As she put my phone in her pocket, she could hear loud bangs from down stairs. When Zoey got to the kitchen, she was shocked to find her mom, Cassandra, digging through the pots and pans.

"Mom? What are you doing home?" Her sapphire eyes widened and snapped up to Zoey's. Cassandra stopped what she was doing and brushed off her pants.

"Oh, Z-Zoey, I thought you were at work. I wasn't feeling well, so I decided to come home early."

Zoey nodded and grabbed a bowl for her cereal, indulging her cereal addiction.

"Hey, mom, Amber is coming back into town next week. I'm so excited!" She cheered while taking a bite.