Dancing With Murder

Friend or Foe

Scared and hurt I stayed far away form the an and made sure that there was always a five foot space between us. He looked nice and there was a side of me that told me to trust him, but I couldn't. Not yet.

"Can you tell me your name?" His response was really weird and I was just trying to get that out of my head. He smiled at me and gave me a slight nod.

"My name is Rowan, Rowan Walden." I stared at him. "What's with that stupid look on your face?!" I shrugged. He had on a large black trench coat and jeans. He was also wearing a green turtle neck and yet he didn't look like a freak.

"Eh uh nothing. That's just such a weird name." He glared.

"Well what kind of name is Jessie Arnold." He sniffed. I flushed a scarlet color and punched is arm. Although it seemed to hurt me more than him.

"Who are you?" I demanded. All of the friendliness that had just been there seemed to evaporate from the area and I shivered. He turned his icy blue eyes on me and smirked.

"Me, I'm just some guy who happened to walk through the woods and found a girl being bullied. I frowned.

"It was more that being bullied." I took another step and suddenly collapsed. It was as if all the pain that I had endured came rushing at me. I gasped as my already sore legs hit the pavement. Rowan suddenly knelt down next to me and started to look me over. I could feel his chilly gaze run over me and I pushed him aside. "I'm fine, really." But even as the words left my mouth they felt hollow and fake. I felt a pressure under my legs and on my back and then I was suddenly being lifted up off the ground. His breath tickled my neck and I had to turn my head so that I wasn't looking him in the face.  We had walked about a block when I demanded. "Put. Me. Down." Rowan smirked and I felt my face burn again.

"I think that you'll need more help than you think. Anyway, how are you going to explain the scratches all over your self?" My gaze ran over my arms and legs and started agree when I remembered something important.

"My bike! I left my bag and my bike in the woods!" Wiggling in his arms I almost managed to fall onto the ground for the millionth time, but he tightened his grip.

"You can't go back. Not now anyway. What will you do if the guys are still there? What if they stole your bag and bike?" He sighed. "I think that the best think for now would to lay low and recover." It was weird. I've never met this man, never even seen him before, and yet he was still helping me when I needed it most right now.

"Why?" I demanded.

"Well they might t-"

"No, why are you helping me?" He appeared taken aback for a seconded before he regained his composure.

"I'll tell you later, till then we are now approaching your home." I glanced up from my lap and saw that my house was no more than ten feet away. Rowan stopped and gently laid me down. He took off his coat and wrapped it around me. Without his coat I could see that he had defined muscles and looked like he was more around my age than I thought. We walked up to my house in silence. Just as I was about to open the door the handle flew out of my hand. My mother filled the doorway and a wave of emotions crossed her face in an instant.

"Jessie! Thank God your safe." I frowned and stared at her.

"Why wouldn't I be?" She was about to reply when she saw Rowan.

"Who are you?" She asked straightening up. Rowan gave her a warm smile and held his hand out.

"My name is Rowan Walden, I just moved here the other day and happened to run across Jessie on my way back home from the library." My mother, one who never seemed to trust anyone, instantly smiled and shook his hand.

"I see, I was just so worried when some boys from her school said that she had been attack by a strange man." I gave her a bewildered look.

"Some boys from school? Who were they?"  Before my mother could answer though Rowan burst out laughing. "What is wrong with you? Do you feel okay or something?" I was really worried because I didn't know anyone who just burst out laughing.

"It's just that you and your mother are so alike that I was taken aback for a moment. Please forgive me." My mother smiled and turned to him.

"Would you care to stay for dinner? I made hamburgers." Rowan gave her another honey smile and replied.

"As much as I would like to , I'm afraid that I have to decline. You see my father isn't feeling well and my sister will be coming home from preschool soon. I would prefer to be at home if you don't mind." My mother and Rowan exchanged a few more words before my mother retreated inside. "Well I'll be off now." I smiled and watched as he walked down the sidewalk and across the street. He then walked up to the house directly across the street and walked inside. I frowned and slammed my foot against one of my mother's potted plants. It flew and crashed into the yard. Worried that my mom would come out I hurried inside and shut the door. Going upstairs I realized that I still had Rowan's coat on. Shrugging I laid down in bed and soon passed out.

The next morning I found myself running late since I didn't have my bike. I ran to my locker as fast as I could, when I opened my locker though I found my bag sitting there as if it had never left. Perplexed I ran into class just as the bell was ringing. As I was sitting down the chairman walked into the room and whispered something to the teacher.

"Students I would like you to meet out new student. He is from Ireland and is happy to be joining up here." I perked up and waited to see who would walk in. It was a boy who looked to be about my age. He was wearing a fitted blue t-shirt and dark jeans. He had on a black leather jacket and had a big smile plastered on his face.

"Hello, my name is Rowan Walden. It's nice to meet you."