A Red Lighter

Connor: The One with all the Screaming

I was suddenly wakened from my sleep, when Caleb started to struggle next to me. You could tell he was having a bad dream. It wasn't till he started begging, scratch that screaming for someone to please stop, I realized it was more than a bad dream.

I shook him awake, trying my best to get him to wake up. I only had to shake him once or twice since he actually did, clawing at his throat and gasping for air. He stared at me confused for a couple of seconds unsure of where he was.

"I...I didn't mean to w-wake you" Caleb started to panic "I-I can walk h-home"

"Dude it was just a bad dream" I spoke trying to get him to breathe

"Can you take me home now?" his voice was so broken and scared I couldn't help but grant his wish

"Yea of course"

The whole ride home was quite, Caleb just kept rubbing his neck and I wanted to ask, so many questions but I couldn't. I didn't want to push him, he seemed to be warming up to me and the last thing I'd want would be for him to shut down completely.

When we got to his house Caleb just looked at me, his eyes screamed of fear and I didn't want to leave him alone.

"See ya around" his voice was raw and I was about to protest his going, but he was already gone. I watched as he slipped into his house, and even though everything in my gut screamed for me to not let him go, I drove away.

When I got back home, dad's police car was in the driveway. It was late into the night and I knew dad would be in a sour mood. He was still crossed over the fact that a kid he saved stole from him.

The house smelt of roast beef and because dad couldn't cook it was a safe bet that mom made it home early. I was starving I hadn't eaten lunch, due to the encounter with Caleb and mom always made the best roast beef.

When I walked into the kitchen it didn't surprise me that dad had a cup of coffee in his hand and paper work in front of him.

"Hey" I supplied as I sunk into a chair

"Connor" dad's voice was hard as he talked "is there any chance that the boy that stole from us goes to your school does he"

"I've never seen him at school" I lied

How the hell did dad boil that down, there's like a million fricking schools in our community. And he just happened to pick mine and get lucky. I missed what he was saying as I continued to think about Caleb. And the more I thought the more my mind drifted, to the secretive boy. Maybe I shouldn't have left him alone at his house. I mean anyone could tell he truly didn't want to be there, no one looks that terrified to go home unless something was up.

After dinner, we sat on the couch and watched a movie, nothing special or anything just whatever was on. The knock at the door was strange though, I hated all the neighborhood kids and mom and dad weren't big on the neighbour's ether. Dad was already up so naturally he got the door.

"You have some balls showing up here" dad's words made me jump off the couch