Total Darkness

Oddness

Right on time Max knocks on the door. I open it up and smile inviting him in and leading him to the dining room table where I have set up all my books and research for the project. We make small talk about the project while Max sits at the table opening up his bag and getting his own materials out. I ask him if he has specific sections of the project he's more comfortable working on or if we were going to just co op the whole thing. He explains he's already researched in depth on our topic and that he made me a copy of his notes. I smile realizing I actually might ace this project since I have someone helpful as a project partner. 

We both decide to finish our normal homework before we start on the project since we have a week to finish the project anyways. Max works quietly, flipping a page of his history book here and there and scribbling away in his notebook. I hear my front door open and shut and look up from my workbook. "Hey Ad, and hello..." my dad says looking at Max. Max stands up from the table and holds his hand out to my dad. My father takes his and shakes it. "Hello sir I'm Max a uh frie- one of Addie's classmates" he says stumbling a bit over his words. "Well nice to meet you Max glad to see you guys getting some work done" my dad says walking over to grab a bag from the fridge. "Forgot my lunch, i've gotta head back to work. You two behave and I'll see you later Addie" my dad says kissing my forehead and heading back out the door.

"He seems nice" Max says as he shuffles through some notes. "Yeah he's pretty great" I say smiling. Max asks where the bathroom is and I give him a quick description of the way to the bathroom. He thanks me and heads to the bathroom. Five or 6 minutes pass and I hear him making his way back to the table. 

We make a bit more small talk as we start to work on our project. " So you and Derick are dating?" he asks me catching me a bit off guard. "Uhm yeah we are, why do you ask?" I question him. " I was just curious is all he seems to be around you and no one else." he explains. I nod at him still feeling a bit confused why he asked that. I shake it off and we continue to work on the project. I flip my phone over on the table checking the time. It's 6:47 PM Derick should be here any minute since his work shift ended at 6:15. Just as I thought I hear his truck pull up outside." Max stands up from the table and begins to put his belongings in his bag. " Is everything okay?" I ask him standing up as well. "Yeah just realized that I have to get home, my moms probably wondering where I am" he says rushing for the door.

Derick knocks on the door as Max reaches it and opens it. " oh sorry im leaving sorry" Max says and pushes by Derick and out the door. I stand in the door way to the kitchen confused as Derick looks at me questioningly. I shrug and watch as Max stumbles down the lawn to his car parked on the street and runs around the front to his drivers side door. He climbs in and speeds off down the road. I watch as his car disappears around the corner confused at his speedy exit. I shake it off as nothing and turn to Derick and give him a hug. 

"How was your project sesh?" he asks me as he releases our hug and then kisses my forehead. "It went pretty well, we got a good amount done" I said to him as I clear my books and paperwork off my tabletop. "Was he that odd the entire time?" he asks me with a quizzical look on his face. I laugh as I shake my head no to his question, "he was acting normal till you got here" I say shrugging my shoulders. "Are you hungry?" I ask him pulling menus off the fridge to figure out what I could have delivered for dinner. We talk about what we want too eat and decide  on pizza, Derick calls and order it and we sit on the couch to watch a movie while we wait for it to show up. 

A bit later the doorbell rings and Derick jumps up to pay the pizza delivery driver before I can. We laugh and push each other all the way to the door and I manage to reach it first opening it wide. Myles stands at my door with a Pizza in his hands. His face bright red obviously embarrassed to even be there. I didn't know he'd picked up a job. "hi, uh its $14.50" he says in a quiet tone. Derick steps around me pulling out his wallet, he hands him a 20$ bill and a couple of  ones and tells him its all set and closes the door. " Did you know he worked there?" he asks me walking back to the living room and placing the pizza on the table. " I had no idea at all, he used to work for his dad" I said to him as I sat down. " Hmm alright" he replies. We both reach forward and grab a slice of pizza and eat while we finish our movie. 

Our movie ends and Derick heads out the door after kissing me goodbye as my dad pulls in the driveway. My dad and Derick talk in the driveway for a couple minutes before my dad comes inside. "Hey sweetie, how was your day?" he asks me hanging up his coat and taking off his shoes. I tell him about my day and we chat for a bit about his and I head upstairs to shower and head to bed. I finish my shower and head to my room with my towel wrapped around me. I turn my light on and shut my door behind me. I turn towards my window to find my curtains opened. My skin turns ice-cold as I see my window is open a crack and there are words spray painted on my mirror. " My missing letter" I scream for my dad as I read the words and hear him running down the hallway to my room.

He bursts through the door and takes in what I am seeing. My father takes his phone from his pocket with one hand and pulls my too him with his other. " Grab some clothes and call Derick, get yourself dressed. You can't stay here tonight" my dad says to me his voice shaking a bit. I don't understand what's going but I follow his directions anyways and call Derick and tell him what happened. He tells me he's on his way and I hear him grab his keys and he hangs up.

Cop cars with their lights on make their way down our street a short time later. My father and I are in the living room waiting for them to arrive. Derick arrives along with them. One of the officers tries to stop him from entering but my dad stops him and lets Derick in. He comes over to me and gives me a hug while asking me if I am okay. I tell him im fine just a bit shaken up and he asks me if I am ready to go. I nod hug my dad and head out to Dericks truck to go to his house. " Are your parents going to be okay with this?" I ask him realizing I've never even met them before. He nods while looking at the road. I nod in return and gaze out the window into the darkness. My brain trying to make sense of what's going on.

We arrived to Dericks house and his mom greeted us at the door and welcomed me in with a hug. I was really surprised but I honestly needed one so I returned the hug. She beckoned us into the kitchen where she had hot cocoa waiting. We sat down bringing the warm mugs into our hands and took sips while Dericks mom and I began to get to know each other. An hour later I was already feeling a little less shook up over what had happened, Dericks mom had a very calming demeanor and I really liked her. 

Another hour passes and we hear a knock at the door. Derick gets up and heads over to see who it is, I hear voices muffled and then footsteps approaching. My father and Derick come through the door both with serious looks on their faces. "Whats going on?" I ask my dad. He stares at me and then walks quickly towards me and pulls me into his arms hugging me tightly. After a minute or two he lets go and backs up a step. " We need to talk Ad, and this is serious" he says with a worried look on his face. My father goes on to explain the letters that have been found on the bodies. And how once they saw my mirror and took another look, they found that after unscrambling it it spelt my name, but missing just one letter. The A,