Scarlet's Mate

Part Fourteen

I'm still looking towards where the screaming was coming from when Derek grabs my arm, pulling me towards the truck.  I stumble then start to protest, "I have to go back in, what if something happened, what if Elliot was involved?"

My mind was racing and I felt tears well up in my eyes.  The thought that Elliot might be hurt made me feel, I couldn't even describe.  I had to go back.  I started pulling against Derek, though nothing happened, we were still heading in the direction of his truck.

"Scarlet, he's fine," Derek said in an annoyed tone, "but we need to get out of here, it isn't safe for you."

"What do you mean for me?  What about everyone else?"  My head turned back to the house, there were crashing noises and still someone kept screaming.

We reach his truck and he turns towards me, grabbing both my arms so I have his undivided attention, "I promise I will explain everything later, but we have to leave, now."

I take one last look at Elliots house and give Derek a slight nod, giving in.  He wastes no time picking me up and putting me in his truck.  He runs and gets in himself.  He speeds away and looks over at me, "text your grandma, tell her you're okay and you're going to a friends for the night.  It's not safe for you to be alone right now."

I think over what he said and pull out my phone.  I don't know why it isn't safe for me, but I do know I don't want my grandma to see me drunk.  I giggle, thinking about how mad she'd be right now if she saw me.  I send grandma the text then go to put my phone away.  Before I could though Derek cleared his throat, "you might wanna text," he paused, "maybe," he seemed like he was at a loss for words until suddenly he pushed out, "text Elliot, tell him you're okay, that you're with me."

I look at Derek suspiciously, "I don't think he'll like that," I say coldly.

He laughs at my response, "I think he'll like it better than the alternative."

I think about what Derek meant by that as I texted Elliot.  I put my phone back in my pocket and looked out the window.  Derek's still speeding and the trees look like blurs.  I'm trying to focus on the trees when suddenly my head began spinning and I felt unusually dizzy.  I hear Derek start saying something but my brain can't focus on the words.  I try to speak but my mouth just hangs open, nothing coming out.  Then, like someone had turned off all the lights in the world, darkness.

When I wake up my head is pounding.  It feels like someone has been repeatedly hitting me with a hammer over and over.  I go to roll over and realize I'm not in my bed, I'm in a bed, but it isn't mine.  I quickly sit up and try to look around. It's dark but I am able to make out a shape. It looks like Derek is sitting in a chair next to the bed, his hand is supporting his head and his eyes are closed.  I can hear him softly snoring, it's weird seeing Derek so calm and peaceful.

I look around the room some more, there's some posters and photos on the walls but it's too dark to make out what they are.  I wonder what happened, I vaguely remember the events of the party, Elliot and the screaming, I remember being in Derek's truck then things go fuzzy.  I feel around my pockets until I find my phone.

I pull it out and turn it on, the light blinding me I groan and turn the brightness all the way down.  I check the time, 2 am, and then I see two notifications.  The first one is from grandma, 'okay honey, have fun and be safe, text me when you're coming home tomorrow.'

I make a mental note to text grandma later, then I open the other message.  It's from Elliot, I feel a wave of relief wash over me as I read it, 'thank god you're okay, I was so worried about you I could barely focus on what was happening.'