Valentine's Night

Chapter 20

(Candice's POV)

"Candice, please. You have to calm down. What's wrong?" J.J. talked soothingly to me as I sat paralyzed on my bed.

"But, J.J... He's... He's real! I saw-... I saw him!" I practically screamed while I hugged my pillow to my chest. "He stood right in front of me! He-"

"Candice!" My best friend stared at me with concern. "I want you to explain to me what happened slowly. Please."

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. "Jeff the Killer is real. He's the one who's been sending me letters. The one who met me at the resort." I felt the tears again and put my face in my pillow. "It was all him..."

She sighed. "I don't know what you saw but, he's just fiction. A made up story to scare kids. He's not-"

"But, he is! He is J.J.! I saw him with my own eyes! He-" J.J. cut me off. "Okay, I'm going to go make you some hot chocolate. I'll be right back. Maybe you can remember what he guy looked like when you've drank something."

She left my room and I felt fresh tears rolled down my cheeks. "I'd never foget his face. Never..." I whispered.

Sometime later J.J. came back with the hot drink and set it down in front of me. "Drink this. You need to calm down and chocolate is the best medicine."

I wasn't crying anymore and I just stared at the mug. "I don't want it."

She sighed. "Please? You need to-"

"I don't need to do anything! You need to believe me!" I glared at her. "Why won't you just listen! I'm not crazy!"

"Well, you sure sound crazy!" She shot back.

As soon as she said it she put a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry! That's not what I meant! I didn't-"

I had stopped listening and turned away. So I was crazy now, huh? I pulled my legs to my chest and closed my eyes. That's what I sounded like? A lunatic?

J.J. went to hug me but, I pulled away. "Why would you care about a crazy person...?" I muttered.

She looked hurt and I felt bad about what I said but, I couldn't take it back. I wouldn't. She looked away and I saw her lip tremble. "I'm sorry... I really didn't mean it like that..."

I glanced at her and shrugged. "It's not like you're wrong. If I hadn't seen him myself I would have thought the same thing."

J.J. hugged me and combed my hair. "Candice, I know something scared you and I can't say that I think you're a liar but, how am I supposed to believe that a fictional serial killer is real?"

"Because I'm telling you. I saw him." I sighed. "Why won't you just understand?"

She pulled away. "I do believe you but, other people won't. If you don't want to get sent to the loony bin, you might want to calm down and act like nothing happened." She said.

I shook my head. "He said he'd kill me! He told me he would kill me so I wouldn't ever have to see his face again..." I put my hands over my ears. "If he sees me he'll kill me..."

"Candice, I don't think he meant it. If he was really going to kill you he would've done it before you got away." She smiled and moved my hair out of my face. "Besides, I'm not about to let anyone hurt my best friend."

*******

(J.J.'s POV)

I left Candice's room and sighed. I was so worried about her. She had calmed down some but, I knew she still had a ways to go. She had been in bed for the last day, refusing to eat or leave the room. She had only agreed to talk to me when she heard I had come to visit since she'd been missing at school.

Her mother sat on the couch, a tissue in her hands. I could see she'd been crying and I knew she was worried about Candy. "Miss?"

She jumped a little at my voice and stood up. "Oh, hi, J.J." She smiled. "Is she doing any better?"

I shrugged. "We're going to go to the mall this weekend and she promised to come to school tomorrow." I gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure she'll be okay. She's just in a bit of shock I think.

Candice's mom nodded and pulled me into a hug. "Thanks for talking to her. I was so worried after our fight a the other day."

I pulled away and smiled. "No problem. She is my best friend, after all."

I left a little after that, having stayed a few more minutes to talk a little more. As I walked I wondered if Candice would really come to school. The state she was in wasn't one for working on chemical reactions.

I hoped she did though. It would help her to get out and be around people instead of hiding from somthing that wasn't real. I know I said I believed it was real for her but, really. How could it be?

We're best friends and I've believed her on everything but, not this. This was throwing things way out of bounds. Something like that can't be real.

I sighed and turned the corner... Running right into Brandon. Literally. "Oh, hi, J.J. Have you gone to see Candice?"

I nodded. "She's just a little on edge. Apparently, she saw something that scared her. But, she's okay now."

He seemed to relax a bit. "That's good. I was just on my way to see her now actually."

"Well, don't be too rough with her." I joked. "She might not take it well."

He chuckled and smiled. "Alright. It was good seeing you. Bye!"

I watched him walk towards Candice's house and my smiled faded. How would he take her rantings? I hope he at least tries to believe her. I didn't want their relationship to end just because of what Candice saw.

I sighed and shook my head before I started back towards my own home. I just needed to act like everything was normal and Candice would too. She always tried to follow the crowd. It would be good for her to just forget about everything.

I went to my room and closed my door. I sat at my desk to do my homwork but, I ended up thinking about my friend. I wondered if Candice was doing any better.

Brandon probably helped calm her and give her some support. He was that kind of guy. He looked after the people he loved.

I glanced at my window and frowned. I knew Candice had told me about the guy's visits to her room. She said he'd just show up and talk to her.

I laughed a little, thinking about it. Maybe she dreamed it all up. Maybe she only imagined seeing a strange boy in a dark alley with a cut smile.

I smiled softly and shook my head. She wouldn't do that. She may be a person with a good imagination but, she'd never take a joke that far. Not ever her...

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Hey everyone! This is the second chapter I've written today. Whoa. Haha! Well, I'm happy I wrote it. But, I have to say. Candice has some hard times ahead of her. She will have to go though alot. Anyways. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! AS ALWAYS VOTE, COMMENT, FOLLOW AND STAY AWESOME!

-Nekoco