All Along

005

Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

...

The rest of the school day consists of me showing Cory around school grounds and him telling me about his childhood. I learned that he was born and raised in Kentucky but moved here with his father last week and his mother died when he was only nine. He lives in an apartment building not far from here.

As intimidating as Cory looks, his personality is sweet and bubbly.

Mr. Montgomery asked about the detention in class today and I ended up telling him that I got sick and had to go home. He bought it but now I have detention on Monday and have to stay after school on Tuesday to clean the classroom.

I walk home and thankfully don't run into Satan's boyfriend and his friends because they have football practice today. I'm relieved it's Friday. So much has happened the last couple days and I'm mentally drained from everything from Jack finding me, me lying to mom about why I was early... Wait.

Jack is a junior and I'm a freshmen. We go to the same highschool and get out at the same time. I went home early because Mandy's demonic boyfriend attacked me. Why did he leave early?

I decide not to dwell on the fact that my brother is obviously hiding something from me. Noting is going to ruin my weekend.

Jack has football practice today so once I get home, it's just me and my mother. I step inside and my mother is no where to be seen. She is probably slepping off her hangover upstairs.

I put my backpack in my room and throw my hair up into a messy bun. As soon as I am about to sit down and turn on the television, there is a knock at the door. Weird.

I answer the door and I'm shocked when I see Cory standing in front of me with a white envelope in his hands. Why is he here? How does he know where I live? Did he follow me home?

"How did you know I lived here? Did you follow me home?" I ask.

"No, sorry I think our mail got mixed up," he says, handing me the small package.

"How is that possible? You don't even liv-"

I stop mid sentence. Of course. It all makes sense now. God, I'm an idiot. He said he lives in a small apartment building not far from Ridge Way.

"So you live here?" I ask only one of the many questions I have.

"Yea, apartment B. Right under you," he gestures downward. "So, its nice to meet you... Neighbor," the words sound so strange. Neighbor.

I like the thought of being so close to Cory but the idea terrifies me at the same time. If he turns out to be a different person than I think he is, like Liam, I will dread being so close all the time.

The idea of Cory kicking me and punching me like Liam does doesn't seem realistic.

"Tessa?" Cory's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Oh, sorry... Um thanks for bringing up our mail," I say.

"Its no problem really! Hey, do you think I could maybe get your," he pauses like he is nervous "number?" He asks and I nod my head. He pulls out his phone and I recite the number that I have had for over 3 years.

Its funny thinking of Cory as my friend. We are polar opposites. He obviously doesn't care about his clothing or lack of it. The sleves on his gray t-shirt have been cut off and are completely uneven. A stain is planted right on the neck of his shirt. Toothpaste? I crinkle my nose as I think about him getting toothpaste all over his shirt. His black jeans are big and he has to pull them up every time he gets up after sitting down.