Trust Me

Chapter 6

"Did you hear what happened to Caleb?" I hear on girl say in the hallway.

     "I can't believe she helped him. She'll never learn," another whispers as I walk by. They act as if I can't see them. Or hear them. Tiff stays at my side, trying to distract me from the snickers in the hall.

     "Don't listen to them," she whispers in my ear. But how can I not listen to them when they are all I hear. I already know I was foolish as I am reminded by myself, and my brother, daily. Why can't they just stay out of my business.

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     I walk towards the lunchroom, eyes fixed on the floor. I wouldn't want to make eye contact with anyone. I'm about to walk in, when a realization hits me. I don't have to go in, I can just go home if I really want to.

     I start to walk towards the office, and call my mom. The monotone ringing lasts for a few seconds before I hear her cheery voice.

     "Fields residence, Tanya speaking."

     I almost start to laugh at her false voice. "Hey Mom, do you mind if I drive home?"

     I brought Tiff and my car today, wanting to be alone. We share an old, two door black jeep.

     "Yeah sure honey," she says, her voice softening."Are you okay?"

     "I feel," I start. But I don't really know how I feel. Embarrassed, disappointed, sad...I just don't know. I suddenly realized yesterday that deep down I care about my tormentor since grade school, and now it's too late for me to do anything about it. "I just have cramps. It's that time of the month," I lie.

     "Okay sweetie," she says, not convinced. I'm not sure, but I think Josh told her everything...or at least, his version of what happened. I don't really see what the big deal is, I mean, I did the right thing.

     As I drive home, I take a long detour onto a dirt road that passes through the woods, even though my car isn't built for that road. The woods always calm me, and I mindlessly drive as I sort out my thoughts.

     Tomorrow when Caleb comes back to school, will everything go back to normal? Or will it be different? Will he even say thank you?

     Why do I even care? Caleb has put me through so much through the years. In 2nd grade, I got a pair of white jeans for Christmas and was so excited. He poured apple juice in my assigned seat, and when I sat down,

It looked like I peed myself. All through 3rd grade I was made fun of.

     After I was attacked by the Puma, everyone in town knew, and I had visitors for days. He sent me flowers...with a postcard that featured a picture of a puma in the middle of eating a deer. It was disgustingly gory, and I cried for hours.

     As I start to refocus on reality, I come to a fork in the dirt road I'm driving on. Luckily, I've taken this road hundreds of times, and I turn left. I have about 10 miles left to go.

     As I turn a curve, the animal in the road makes me slam on brakes, even though I was only going about 20 mph.  

    I take in a sharp breath as I stare straight at the massive puma, which looks as if its staring dead at me. Silent tears roll down my cheeks as flashbacks of its teeth digging into my back, claws ripping up my sides, run through my mind. I feel sick to my stomach.

     In a few moments I realize that I am in a car. I honk my horn, which startles the cat, and he high tails it into the woods.

     I drive home full speed, not caring about anything except getting home.