Blood in the Water

Chapter 2

"MAX! MAX WAKE UP!" My mother is shouting. I startle wake and throw a shirt onto my body. I rush out my door and hurry downstairs to find her. She's waiting at the base of the staircase with a grin.

"What? What happened?" I ask all frantic. 

"Follow me outside," She guides me outside where my dad is with a new car. "SURPRISE!" 

In front of me with my dad standing next it is a silver car. It's a Ford Fusion, a super nice, super expensive car. "Wow." I gasp and go look at it. 

"We thought it would be a nice gift since you're a senior now and you just got your license before we left. " My dad says and tosses me the keys. I can't help but stare at the care in awe. 

"Thank you guys so much," I go over and hug them both. 

"You can go test it after while when we're at the store. You can go shopping and buy some new clothes and school stuff for school tomorrow." I nod and head back into the house to my room. I throw off my shirt and throw it into a corner, along with my sleeping shorts. I reach into my dresser and pull out some black jeans and a hoodie for the day. I look into the mirror in my room and run my fingers through my hair. There, that will do.

I head back downstairs with my money, keys, and phone in my pocket. I've been saving my money for a while now, like over a year so I have close to a thousand dollars. That should be enough for my school supplies and new clothes, I think to myself. I'm in my head a lot, I also talk to myself a lot. I head into the kitchen to tell her I'm leaving. 

"Here," she hands me a list, "Here is a list of school supplies that you might need."

"Thank you." I say and take the list, quickly scanning it. 

"Drive safe." She tells me and I am of. 

I go and sit in my new car. MY car, I just can't comprehend it. The inside seats are black in color and the consul is leather to the touch. It has so many buttons that I'm going to have to learn how to use, good thing I'm good at memorizing stuff. I put on my seatbelt and start up the engine and pull away. I turn on the radio to some light driving music and head to find some stores. 

I drive for a few minutes and find a Target store. "Perfect, there should be school supplies and some clothes here." I tell myself and put the car into park. I head into the store looking at my list of school supplies. I'll get my school stuff first... I follow the signs that lead to the school supplies that are all picked over. I find a stranded cart and start piling in the things I need. I grab red folders because red is a nice color, and the color of blood. 

"Pencils, pens, notebooks..." I mumble as I check them off my list. "I just need a backpack and I should be good to go." I head over to the backpack section and grab a grey and black backpack and throw it into my cart. I'm thinking I can buy my basic clothing needs here and find a different store for my main clothes and such. I go to the boxer and sock of Target and pick out a pack of each. 

I'm at the self checkout when I hear two ladies talking about the River Killer, aka me. 

"It's terrifying," One says. "I don't feel safe at my own home."

You shouldn't feel safe...

"Yes, its the first time murder ever rang from that town, in forever. The killer is a great one, the police don't even know where to look."

Thank you, thank you.

"Anyways, stay safe." The two people say good bye and I finish up checking out. 

I head over to my car and place my bags inside the trunk. I head downtown and find a clothing store for the rest of the clothes I need. I find a store called Road Apparel where they sell flannels and pants. I pick out a few outfits and proceed to the checkout. I spot a café down the block and I walk to it, considering I haven't ate or drank anything all day. 

"Just a coffee," I tell the barista at the counter. 

"Name?"

"Max," She nods in response and I go sit in the corner by the window. I go over the list I have to make sure I have everything for school tomorrow. I get to be the new kid, woo-hoo I think to myself.  The barista brings over my coffee and I slowly drink and stare off into space. I'm trying to plan out what's gonna happen tomorrow so I can prepare myself. At least its my last year of school before I can do whatever I want. I finish my coffee and tip the barista and head back to my car. I notice some kids trying to get into my car and rush over there.

"Aye! What the fuck?" I yell towards them. This scares them and they run off. One of them is too slow so I catch up to him. "What were you doing?" I ask as I grip the collar of his shirt.

"N-Nothing..." He stammers out and friends trail back to him.

"Didn't look like nothing. It seems you wanted to either take my car or the things in it. What was it?"

"We just like your car, we weren't gonna do anything with it." He gasps, he looks terrified, just how I like it. 

"Stay away from car, or else." I shove him to the ground and walk away back to my car. 

I drive back to my house and show my parents what I got for school. 

"Looks nice, Max," My mother says.

"Did y'all do shopping yet?" I ask as I put my things back in bags.

"Yep, we're all set for a while." 

"Cool, cool. I'm going to get my things situated. Call me down when dinner's ready." I grab my things and head up to my room. I open up my backpack and shove my folders, notebooks, pens, and pencils inside. I put my clothes in my drawers and look out my window again. 

"Shit, I forgot the rope ladder." I whisper yell at myself. "I'm gonna have to get one soon, I don't know how much longer I can go without killing someone."

I'm working on my clothes for tomorrow when my mom calls me down for dinner. 

"Max, tomorrow you're gonna go to the office to get your class schedule. I don't know if you'll get shown around or not but that's just what the principal told me."

"Sounds good." I respond. 

"Are you nervous?" My dad asks me. 

"Not really but being the new kid and all, all eyes will be on me. I'm like fresh meat for everyone."

"You'll be fine," My mom reassures me.

"I know, I'm all done so I'm gonna go up and get ready for tomorrow." I get up from the table and head up to my room. I pick out my pajamas for the night which are just some boxers because I sleep better with barely any clothes on. I take a cold shower and wash my face, can't have any acne on the first day, right? I say goodnight to my parents and head into my room for the night. Before I go to sleep, I place my handy-dandy knife into my backpack where no one will find it. 

Tomorrow's gonna be an adventure is my last thought before I fall asleep.