It's been a week since Emma's first day of work, and she's really gotten the hang of it. She's gotten used to the constant loud music and the smell of alcohol. She even likes the girls she works with; Claire is super bubbly and friendly, and Whitney is quiet but also nice. She's seen Thomas around, but he hasn't tried talking to her, which she couldn't be happier for.
Her shift had just ended, and she was walking back to the abandoned building where her mother picks her up. Her clothes and hair are all perfectly back in place as usual; her face is now clear of the makeup she started to wear while working. A few minutes after waiting outside, a familiar car pulls up, rolling down the passenger window.
"Expecting someone?" Jason says.
She walks a little closer, looking at him with suspicion. She can't help but slightly glare at him. "What are you doing here?" she says, completely avoiding his question.
He hums while tapping his chin softly. "Well, I was in the middle of reading a great book when I received a call from your mother. She told me she and your father are working late and couldn't pick you up after theater today. She also mentioned how strange it was that Mr. Simmons moved classes to such a place, without even realizing she gave me the exact address I needed to pick you up. Weird, I didn't know our theater classes moved here. And I almost told her that, too..."
Emma's eye twitches slightly in annoyance. Why do her parents want her to be with this nutcase so badly? A sudden feeling of anxiety fills her body. "But you didn't, right?" She prays to God he didn't tell anything to her parents.
He laughs softly, finding all this funny. "Lucky for you, I didn't bring it up... this time." He's fucking toying with her, and she hates it.
Now he knows she's hiding something from her parents, though hopefully he doesn't know the full story. "For now, I'll keep your lying and sneaking around to myself until I need it. Now, get in the car so I can take you home." He meets her eyes, and she can just tell he has bad intentions. She doesn't even want to get into the car. She has her phone in her bra; she could call Kandy to come get her, or maybe Blake, but she doesn't want Jason to know she has a phone. Who knows what he'll do.
She reluctantly opens the door, climbing into the front seat. He looks as happy as a kid in a candy store. He begins driving down the road at a slow and steady pace "I haven't seen you in a long time, love. How's your summer going so far?" Is this guy really trying to make conversation after all the craziness he put her through?
She has a feeling he'll freak out if she doesn't answer, and she really doesn't want to go through all that again.
"It's... been well," she keeps her answer short. He hums softly, rubbing over his lips before he pulls up outside her house. She opens the car door, speeding up, walking to her house door, pulling her key out of her skirt pocket.
"Your parents told me to keep you company," she hears Jason's voice right behind her, against her ear. The action makes her jump, dropping her keys on the ground. She presses her eyes tightly together "Umm, you should really pick that up, honey." she really doesn't want to. She doesn't say anything and continues to stand still in silence.
He grabs the back of her arm, digging his nails in slightly. "Pick. It. Up."
Swallowing hard, she slowly bends over. Her skirt rides up her thighs. He rubs his covered crotch against her ass moaning softly, making her want to throw up. She quickly picks up the keys, opening the door. She runs inside, putting as much distance between them as possible.
"You know, I heard you went with the news station on a two-week trip to Cloverton..." his voice trails as he closes the door. She stands in the middle of the living room, watching his slow movements. "Funny thing is, there aren't any historical news stations in Cloverton... oh, and what was the news anchor you went with? Oh, yes, Clementine Rogers. I looked it up. Her nickname's Kandy, right? At least that's what it says on her Instagram page. Under Clementine Rogers's account, there's a link to another account, Kandy's, and what do you know? Kandy posted a few pictures while Clementine Rogers was on holiday leave. I'm guessing she went to some wooded area. She even tagged the place, so I decided to take a little drive to the area. And took a little stroll through the woods at night, and what do I see...."
The more he speaks, the angrier he seems to get. Every step he takes forward, she takes two back. The anger is coming off him in waves. He's able to somehow track her down through her whole trip "My girlfriend making out with some loser in the middle of the night. The same loser she ran away with during our play, the same loser that got caught by the police and got you both locked up."
She places her hand over her mouth in shock. "H...How do y...you..." she whispers, her brain having a hard time understanding how he knows all this information. He continues to talk over her. "And you know what, Emma? I wanted to kill him... I wanted to kill both of you!" She swallows hard as her back slams against the wall. He rubs his fingers lightly over her cheek. "But I don't want my girlfriend to have visible bruises."
She pushes his hand off in disgust. "I'm not your girlfriend!" she says in a strong voice, glaring into his cold eyes. He lets out an evil laugh. He suddenly punches her hard in the stomach, making her double over in pain, before grabbing the front of her shirt, throwing her to the hardwood floor. She lets out a scream from the impact.
"How dare you go behind my back like that... you love me?... you love me! I know you do! This is all a test! It's to see how far I'll go for you, right!? Just a f*ckin' game to you?! You're just like her!!" She can barely hear what he's saying. Her ears are ringing loudly as tears roll down her cheeks. She crawls backwards as he stalks closer, looming over her, getting on a knee beside her.
The front door suddenly opens. "I told you not to try that dance move, don't you see what happened?" Jason said gently just as her father walks into her view, asking Jason what happened. She's still in shock from the hit; she can't even speak, just sits and watches Jason lie.
"We were practicing a dance for theater. She tried to do an advanced move and hurt herself. I offered to help take her to her room, but she was adamant on doing it herself, and well, she fell, sir," he says, putting a comforting hand on her arm before standing back up.
While he tells his lie, Emma looks at her father with begging eyes, hoping he'll get the hint that Jason is bad news, that he's lying. But apparently, he doesn't get the hint. "She's always pushing herself. I wish she wouldn't be so hardheaded. Thank you, son. I got it from here. Go ahead home. Thank you for your help." Her father picks up her weak body, walking upstairs towards her room.
She hides her tear-stained cheeks against her father's shoulder, glaring over at Jason "It's no problem at all, sir. I hope she feels better soon." He stands beside the door, smiling devilishly. "I'll get going, but Emma, I just want you to know I'm always looking out for your best interest," Jason says, sickeningly sweet, looking at her.
A chill runs down her body. One thing is for sure: Jason knows about her and Blake, and he's angry. And Jason gets a little crazy when he's angry.
YOU ARE READING
It Started With Hello
Romance***** Emma Pear knew she wasn't the most popular girl in high school. Her nose was usually buried in a textbook, and her grades were as spotless as her reputation for always following the rules. "Nerd" was a label she'd long since embraced. Her pare...
