What's Out There?

Chapter 22

"Clay?" I say.
"Yeah?" Clay replies with a smirk as he turns around. Gosh, he's so cute I think.
"Why do you have a curling iron?" he says.
"Um kinda for a weapon. I didn't know who would come in my room and eat one of my cookies. But I knew that they would be crazy cause you just don't take my food," I explain.
"That is true," he says while starting to laugh, "I guess I'm crazy then."
"It wouldn't be the first time you tried to take some of my food," I say.
"Yeah," he says, "I still have that bruise."
"Why did you go under my bed though?" I ask.
"Well I didn't want you to not have changed in the bathroom, so-"
I shush him and then say, "What if my dad comes and finds you here?"
"I'll run as fast as I can," Clay replies.
"You should leave," I say sadly.
"Why? Do you want me to go?" he asks.
"Because my dad is a light sleeper," I respond.
"Do you want me to go?" he repeats.
"No, but-" I start to say.
But I get cut of by Clay's lips on mine. A few seconds later he pulled away and said, "Goodnight, Sarah."
"Goodnight," I reply before he closes the window.
I go pick my curling iron back up and the flashlight.
Then I climb into bed and bundle myself up in my comforter. After a few minutes I fall asleep thinking about that amazing kiss.
{~}

Time Jump to Friday

After a whole week of homework and stress, Clay decided to surprise me. I couldn't wait to see what he had planned.
I was changing into a cute dress when there was a knock on my door.
"Hold on," I say, then I finish putting it on, and open the door, "Hey dad."
Dad walked in and said, "You look beautiful."
"Dad," I blushed.
"Do you know where you guys are going?" He asks.
"No its the point of a surprise," I say, "Did he ask you if he could take me on a date?"
"Yes he did, and he asked if you two could stay out after curfew," he said.
My mouth fell open, "Can we?"
"Yes," He replied.
"Thank you so much!" I yell as I give him a tight hug.
"Your welcome," he replied, "Now hurry up and finish getting ready before he gets here."
"Okay, bye and thanks again," I say before going into my bathroom to fix my hair.
{~}
Right after I fix my hair, there is a distant knock. I rush to get my phone and backup makeup in my purse. I quickly put on my black combat boots. Then I leave my room and head for the living room. When I walk in I see Clay standing there dressed in a black tshirt with dark blue jeans and black converse.
"Hey Sarah," Clay says with a smile, "You look amazing."
"Thanks," I blush.
"Well you two have fun. And Clay remember what we talked about," my dad said.
"Yes sir," he replied, "Are you ready to get going?"
"Yeah," I respond.
"Bye Sarah. Bye Clay," dad said, "Be safe."
"Bye dad," I said as we were walking out of the door. I closed the door before Clay got to say bye too.
"So where are we going?" I ask as he leads me into the trees by holding my hand.
"It's called a surprise." Right after that, he picks up a basket that was hidden by a thick black blanket that was draped over it.
"Picnic?" I ask.
"Just wait," Clay says.
We keep walking; him leading me into what I hope to be the best night of my life.
We walk through the trees for a few minutes. Then we walk out into "our secret spot" as I decided to call it.
He put the blanket down and sat down, so I sat down too.
"Bon appetit," Clay said after he opened the basket and pulled out chocolate covered strawberries.
"So cliché," I say right before I picked one up and ate it, "Did you make these?"
"Yes," he said with his grin, "Look up." Clay lied down right after.
I lied down too, and what I saw was so beautiful.
"Are those all stars?" I ask.
"Yeah," He said, "I would so do this every night if we didn't have that curfew."
"Me too. Why do we have the curfew?" I ask.
"I don't know. Just ask your dad," Clay said.
"Why would my dad know?" I ask.
"Because he is pretty much the Mayor of the town. Whenever he came this place wasn't doing good, but after a few months of him being here it got better," Clay explained.
"Woah," I pause and then ask, "Why did Luke try to kill or even hurt my dad?"
"Luke probably went with his dad whenever he turned on us," Clay tried to explain.
"But why would he try to get me out of my house?" I ask.
"Well you see your dad is pretty much the leader of our side, and he wanted you on their side, so he could use you to get to your dad," He explained.
"So I wasn't just being paranoid the other night that you snuck in my room?" I ask.
"No, you're not really paranoid if he's out to get you," Clay says, "but don't worry your safe as long as your with people."
"Okay, but still he could have been in my room," I say.
"But that was me and you can lock your window you know," he says.
After a while of silence and staring at the stars,
Clay turns towards me and leans in to me. I leaned in more and we were breathing on each other now. He leans in the rest of the way, and his lips are on mine. After a few seconds, he pulls away and grabs his phone out of the picnic basket. It was alerting. He had a text from my dad that read, "Time to head back."
"Really," I say.
"He's right. The later it gets the more dangerous it is," Clay says.
"Okay well let's go," I say as he puts the container of strawberries back in the basket along with the phone. I grab the blanket and throw it on top of the basket.
We start to walk back into the woods, when I see an arrow fly right next to my head and hits the tree next to me.
"What was that?" I yell.
"Just run back home," Clay yells back.
So I start running and realize that I don't know which way leads to home. I just run straight ahead of me and hope I'm heading in the right direction. I hear footsteps running behind me, and then they stop, which scares me even more than someone following me.
Should I stop? No, but what if it's Clay and he got hurt. I argue in my head.
I turn around quickly and Clay is no where in sight. But who I do see is Luke with a gun pointed strait at me.
"Don't try to run or scream cause if you do I'll shoot," Luke says with a dead voice.
I start to tear up, my voice quavering, "Why are you doing this to me? You were my best guy friend."
"No time to explain. Just walk," he says with that same dead voice.
And I do as he says or I get injured or worse.