I sat in the driver's seat of the car, clutching the steering wheel, as the events of the past hour replayed in my head. I hadn't even realized what was going on at the time.
~ ~ ~
I was lying in my bed, listening to my iPod and reading "Lock and Key" by Sarah Dessen, which was my favorite book. I had just turned to a new page and dog-eared the top corner so I could hold my place and go get my phone off its charger at the same time, as a thought about my crush, Jake, crossed my mind. Then, all of a sudden, I heard this loud knock at the door downstairs.
It sounded like a giant was pounding on the door, I later thought.
When I walked down the staircase to see who was at the door, I saw my mom standing at the bottom. "Here, take these and your phone and drive somewhere safe. Take Aide and Mel with you, they'll probably go after them, also," my mother had told me as she tossed me the keys to the car.
"Who will go after them?" I asked. "Mom, what's going on?"
"I'll explain later. Go out the back door and stay out of sight until I invite them inside. Then leave. Make sure your phone is on at all times. The car charger is under the driver's seat. I'll contact you as soon as I can. But don't reply to any texts from me, I'll only call. So if you receive any texts from my number, don't reply, don't even open them" The pounding on the door got louder as we stood there. We hugged each other, told each other 'I love you,' and I walked out the back door. I did what I was told and waited in hiding until my mother invited the company inside. I heard our door open and a guy talking...maybe there was more than one guy. Then I heard my mom's voice, and the door shut. I bolted for the purple Jeep Cherokee that was parked in the driveway. When I got into the car, I looked up and saw my neighbor – Jake -- who was the guy I've had a crush on for years now, staring at me through his bedroom window. Then, my phone vibrated in my hands and I jumped. I flipped it open to find the text was from him.
When I read the text, it said "What's goin on, Casey? 3 guys just went into ur house..."
I replied, "town park. now. bring aide." Aide, whose real name was Adrianne, is his sister, and ironically, one of my best friends. She had known about my crush for a while...we always told each other everything, and she was okay with it. She loved the fact that one day, we might become sisters. I didn't think it would ever happen, though. It was just a crush, and he never talked to me anyway.
After I replied to his text, I started the jeep, pulled out of the driveway, and headed for the town's park. The first red light I hit, I texted Mel to tell her to meet me. Melanie, who we all called Mel, was my other best friend. The three of us had always spent every waking moment that we could together. We were so close.
It took me twenty minutes to get to the park, and as I sat in my car, waiting for my friends, many questions ran through my head. I was so confused.
Who are those guys? I thought, and what do they want with us? Why do I have to go on the run? Why can't I stay and help my mom. What is gonna happen to her? Sadly, I couldn't answer any of them myself.
