Polynatural-Book 1

Chapter 15

My heart thuds against my chest as I try to catch my uneven breaths. My hair tangles behind me as I rush forward, desperate to escape the terrors behind me. I duck into a bathroom, and rush into the fifth stall. I cower in there, tired from running and scared down to the marrow in my bones. I cry in hushed sobs, traumatized with what just happened. Sure I've dealt with scary situations before, but this time...it was way different.  I felt so helpless. What scared me the most was the image I saw. The image of the creature that intruded my thoughts for that split moment. I continue to softly sob, but then I harshly silence them when I hear something.

The bathroom door gently swings open. I can hear the hinges creaking slightly. Footsteps hit the ground, each step moving at a monotone pace. I pull my feet up to my chest as I hold my breath. I don't dare breath or move, for the fear of being found. The footsteps are silent and stealthy, but they vibrate loudly in my head. My hand shoots up to my heart, afraid that the thudding of my racing heart would give me away. I wait for the sound of the person using the bathroom, but there isn't. The only sound is my breathing and the stealthy footsteps. Each time, they seem to be getting closer...closer...closer.

Boom. The first stall is smacked open.

Boom. The second stall.

Boom. The third.

Boom. Fourth.

Two shoes protrude at the doorway of my stall. Oh no. I'm found. I shut my eyes, scared to face what I saw earlier.

Boom. The door of the fifth stall hits the side board hard. The door rebounds back. It doesn't smack back into the doorframe like the others did. Someone catches it between their fingers.

I continue to close my eyes. I grit my teeth and furrow my eyebrows, waiting for the doom to greet me. But nothing happens...One eyelid slowly peeks open. Standing in the doorway is not who I thought it was.

"Lacey?" questions a gentle voice.

Both of my eyes immediately flutter open as I jump off the toilet seat.

"Parker!" I yell with excitement.

My arms bring him into a tight embrace as I lightly cry into his shoulder. His arms slowly wrap around me, confused at my erratic behavior.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you here!" I look at him and brightly smile. Roughly, I take my arm and wipe it across my face, ridding it of my muddy tears.

"Whats wrong?" He asks caringly.

"Nothing, I'm just happy to see you!"

"No, no. I saw your face when you ran into here. I was coming out of class to go use the bathroom and I saw you run down the hallway. You looked like something was chasing after you."

My face immediately drops along with the position of my head. Parker lightly grabs the end of my chin and tips my face up.

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me."

I nod and wrap him into another hug. He hugs me back a little akwardly, but tries his best to comfort me.

"Come on, let's get you to lunch. Maybe some food will help."

I nod, agreeing to his statement.

I continue to hold onto his waist as he walks us out of the bathroom. His arm is casually swung over my shoulders. It makes me feel protected.

We walk into the lunchroom and Parker sets me down at a lone table. Everyone stares at me scoffing or give me a short head shake. Shortly, Parker arrives with multiple slices of pizza. I take one and bite into it slowly. Parker's eyes scrutinize me, studying the way I eat a pizza? He then grabs one and folds it in half. His mouth opens and takes in a rather big portion of the pizza. Both of us sit in silence as we eat and study each other eating. His jaw muscles move in unison with his chewing, and his lips look like perfection. It's a shame that I still haven't gotten the chance to kiss him yet.