All Along

015

"Oh, and one more thing," he says as he walks over to where I am standing and lifts my chin up. Our lips connect and he kisses me softly. "I love you."

I don't even realize that he left. What... What was that? I don't know how I feel about what just happened. On one hand, I'm excited because Cory is an extremely attractive young man and I love him more than he will ever know. But on another, I just want to be friends. He's just my friend.

Maybe this date wasn't such a good idea. Is it even a date? Maybe the kiss was just a friendly gesture. Maybe. Oh who am I kidding who kisses someone as a friendly gesture? No one.

...

Around ten o'clock I gathered the strength to go back upstairs and get ready for tonight. I fumble through empty hangers, looking through the bundles of graphic tees and jean shorts. I have nothing to wear tonight. Absolutely nothing. My closet is full of beautiful clothes but I have absolutely nothing to wear.

I don't feel like going shopping tonight, I just want to stay home. No, I want to visit my brother. My brother. I feel guilty going on a date with my friend, having a good time when my own brother is in the hospital. Is he awake now? I wonder if he's okay. When is he going to be discharged?

The sound of my phone buzzing brings me out of my thoughts and I am quick to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Meet me at the ball field in an hour," a low, monotone voice says through the speaker. I recognize the voice almost instantly. Michael. How does he have the nerve to call me after he ran over my brother? His son.

I block the number and quickly delete every message he has left me since yesterday. I wanted little to do with him when I found about his old habits but now I want nothing to do with him at all.

Maybe after Cory and I go out to eat me can visit Jack. I'm sure Cory won't have a problem with that. I grab my keys and my purse before remembering that I don't have an official license yet and legally, I'm not able to drive in a car without a legal driver.

There is a Target about four blocks away. I'll just walk. I'm not in the mood to change clothes so I just wear the clothes I slept in.

When I arrive, there are not many cars in the parking lot. Its a incredibly disgusting day. The sky is gray but there is no rain. Kind of like its rained so much, there is no more water to produce. I can't help but compare the sky to myself. Gray and depressing but on the inside, everything is clear. There is no color. The sky really isn't blue, you know? It doesn't have a color. Its simply the ozone layer reflecting the the color of the ocean. I learned that in Mr. Montgomery's science class. So deep down, the sky is an eternity of nothingness. A complete void. Like me. I am just an empty space. I have no purpose. Just like the sky.

...

Once I'm home, I go through my bags. I pull out the gorgeous dress I bought for tonight. Its classy but also incredibly beautiful and it complements my body perfectly. The dress is black and ends about two or three inches above my knee. The sleeves cut off right above my elbow and the fabric on my torso and thighs hug my body perfectly. I did manage to get a good deal on some nude heels that are just as beautiful. As I try the dress on for a second time, I become just a little more excited for tonight. I hope Jack won't be upset that I'm going on a date when he in in the hospital.
I need to stop worrying so much, like Cory said. I'm going to see him tonight anyways.

I check my phone for any messages from Cory. None yet but it's three o'clock so I should start to get ready. I turn the knob on my shower to the hottest temperature it will go to. Stepping in, I feel the boiling hot water wash away the growing ache in my chest.

Half way through my shower, I hear glass breaking and start to instantly panic. My mother is at the hospital with Jack and I'm one hundred percent sure she would not leave that hospital. I locked the door and she is the only one who has a key. Someone is in my house. Someone broke into my house. Slowly, I turn the water off and step out, throwing on a hoodie and shorts. I still have shampoo in my hair and mascara is running down my face but someone is in my house and I need to either one, lock my bedroom door and wait for them to leave or find my phone and call the police.

I hear a muffled voice grunt, opening cabinets and slamming drawers shut. They must think no one is home; and for now, I'm perfectly okay with them thinking that.

I don't dare make a noise. I rush over to my door and pull it shut but to my dismay, the door let's out a loud squeak and at this very moment, it is the loudest sound I have ever heard. Fear and adrenaline are coursing through my veins as I quickly lock it and pull my dresser in front of it. My phone is sitting on my bed and I hear floorboards squeak and a pair of large feet stop in front of my door. I grab my phone and my hands shake as call the only person I have on speed dial.

Hot tears run down my cheeks and I don't even notice them. I hear the door handle turn and giggle as the stranger realizes it is locked.

"Hey, Tess! What up? You excited for tonight?"

"Help me. Please help me!" are the only words I can manage before my phone dies.

"Hey! Open this door! Is someone in this house!?" A loud voice yells.

"Open the door! I'm gonna break it down and then you are gonna be in serious trouble!!"

I continue to silently sob, in complete shock that our house was broken into and that this person is about to knock down my door and do God knows what to me.

He's about to break that door down. Its about to fall off the hinges. And I'm just standing here. I run to my closet, scaling the pole I hang my clothes on so I can hide on the top shelf. I don't know if I will fix but there are blankets and sheets up here I can hide behind.

"Its okay. I'm okay. Its okay. I'm okay. Cory is gonna find this man and beat the living crap out of him." I repeat over and over until I believe it. There is no use. At this rate the man behind the door is going to break it down, move around the dresser and I'm hiding in a closet like a little girl.

One more loud thud comes before I hear the hindges break off the wall. Then, silence. Honestly, I prefer the loud banging noises over the silence. There is something about the quiet that is so mysterious and chilling.

"I'm going to find you, there is no use hiding!" He whispers. I can tell its a man buy the low voice.

And in an instant, every single light was turned off; and again, silence. Right before the dresser falls to the wood floor, with a loud crashing sound, making me whimper. What is taking Cory so long?

I see the closet door fling open before me. I know he wouldn't be able to see me unless he actually took the blankets and sheets from the shelf I'm currently huddled on top of. I make my body as small as possible and my whole body tenses when I hear a gun being loaded. He's armed. He's going to shoot me. I'm going to die on the shelf of my closet with shampoo suds in my hair.

"Hey, leave her alone!" Cory!

And within three seconds, I hear a loud bang and my eyes go wide with horror.