Is This Smart? (Under editing and revising)

Chapter 16

"Leaving? What do you mean, leaving?" I lean forward and slam my hand into my knee. Wincing, I try to hold back my tears. Jordan sits down next to me and starts rubbing my back as Maggie speaks up, "We don't have enough money for another hotel. There's no where else to go."

I look up and Jennifer looks broken, "I'm really sorry guys. I hate to leave too, but the buildings on lockdown by the police. We have to leave."

After she finishes, Ann asks the same question I'm thinking, "Where will we go? Maggie's right. We didn't come all this way for nothing. The hotel room was reserved and it wasn't cheap either."

Letting out a big huff, Jennifer tries to sort out an answer, while Jordan looks at me. He's trying read me. My emotions. He wants to know how I'm handling this. And, the truth is, I'm not handling it very well. Not very well at all.

Finally, Jennifer continues, "Guys! I'm sorry! What more do you want me to do?"

A sarcastic remark comes from Maggie's mouth, "How about keeping your promises?"

Ouch! That hurt. But, it barely shows on Jennifer's face. Unlike me, she can hide how she feels. But, I can tell, just barely, I know it stung. I thought Maggie and Jenn made up? Well, I guess that didn't last long.

"You know what?" Jennifer begins, "You're right. I broke my promise that this wouldn't happen again. But it has. I may not have control over the super natural, but you can't hold it against me since I never planned for this to happen again. But, I can promise, I will protect you and keep you safe."

Tears fill my eyes yet again. With all this stress, I just about cannot handle it anymore. My friends fighting, the strange reappearance of my nightmare in the hall, my knee pain. I am just done with all of it. I am just about to say so when a police officer walks up. His name badge reads Tyler Simmons.

He asks, "Girls? What are you still doing here? You need to line up with the others." He turns and is about to walk away, when stops. His eyes focused on me, I think. Then, he faces us again. Directing his attention to me, he asks, "Are you hurt? Do you need us to call an ambulance?"

My eyes open wide and my fingertips begin trembling. Jennifer, Ann, Maggie and Jordan are all watching me. I open my mouth to answer, but not a sound comes out. Before Tyler walks away to call for help, Jordan speaks up for me, "No, that's alright, officer. I'm sure she'll be fine. Won't you, Chels?"

Thankful for Jordan and his quick thinking, I nod my head vigorously. An uncontrollable smile plastered  across my worried face.

Tyler smiles and says, "Alrighty then, go grab your stuff."

Politely, Jordan answers again, "Thank you, sir." Then, he turns to me, squats to my level and picks me up in his strong arms, "Do you want me to carry you?"

Again, I cannot control myself. "Yes, please." I say, with a load of giggles and smiles escape with my answer.

We all pack up our things and are escorted out of the building. We are the last ones to leave. Not surprised. We are nearing the street, a voice calls from behind us, "Wait! I'm really sorry about this!" Jordan turns and I see that it's Colin.

Jennifer is the one to confront him, "It's not your fault! You have to do what you have to do. Safety is an important key right now. " Then, the manager walks up and starts talking with Jenn and Colin. Sighing, I lean my head on Jordan's shoulder.

"Hey. What's wrong? You can tell me. Come on. I know somethings up." Jordan asks.

Then, Maggie walks over to join Colin and Jennifer. And Ann goes to get us a taxi.

Willingly, I reply, "Jordan, it's just too much. I cannot handle this again. With Maggie and Jennifer fighting and I keep getting hurt. I don't know if I can handle it anymore." Tears slide down my face. Carefully, Jordan wipes my tears away and tries to calm me down. I look over to my friends, Maggie looks fired up and Jennifer looks upset. Jordan's hand slide under my chin and pulls my focus back to his gorgeous eyes.

Then, he starts talking, "Hey, hey. Chelsea. Calm down. Okay. Everything will be okay. You heard Jenn, she isn't going to let anything happen to you. And neither will I. Nothing more will happen to you. I promise. Do you believe me?"

I breath in and out slowly, then I look up at him. "Yes. I believe you. And, of course, I trust you. Please don't let me down. Please?"

"Come on, Chelsea. You know I won't. I will never leave you." He adds with a laugh.

Just then the others all join us at a taxi, which Ann arranged for us. Jordan carries me around to the driver side and sets me inside. After telling me he has to head home, he hugs me, and leaves.

After riding in silence for five minutes, Maggie speaks up, "Jenn? Is the something you're not telling us? Hence, the place where this taxi is taking us? Jenn?"

"What?" Jennifer asks.

Then, I bravely build onto Maggie's question, "Where are we going?"

"Promise you won't get mad at me?" She whispers.

"Sure, we'll try not to." Ann answers, with the slightest bit of humor.

Eventually, Jennifer breaks and tells us, "We're staying in a cabin."

I feel confused, then Maggie retorts, "You're not serious. Are you?"

"Oh, I'm more than serious." Is Jennifer's answer.

The taxi driver pipes up, "I don't know why you girls want to get off at the park at this time of night, but here you are. Just don't cause any trouble, alright?"

Confidently, Jennifer assures him, "Don't worry, sir. We won't."

Jennifer pays the man, we exit the taxi and being unloading our things. After he pulls away, Maggie questions Jennifer, "What cabin are we staying in?"

Then, I smartly ask, "Is this the cabin you wanted to investigate yesterday? Ann told me. She told me when we went to get some pop out of the machine at the hotel."

Instantly, Ann turns to Jennifer and apologizes, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Jennifer comforts Ann then turns to me, "I shouldn't have kept that secret from you. I just didn't want to bring you all into this again. My curiosity gets the better of me sometimes, but--"

SNAP!!!

She doesn't just stop. And none of us has cut her off. Instantly, I hobble over next to Maggie.

"What. Was. That?" I ask, already shaking.

Jennifer steps over to me, "It's probably just an animal. They like to roam out in the middle of the night."

And all I can do is... Hope Jennifer is right.