Horribly Ever After

The Phone Call

I dash outside, breathing a sigh of relief when I spot the beat up Kia parked near my mailbox. I give a small wave as Tyler looks up from his book and am rewarded with a sparkling grin.

Tyler.... Tyler is my best friend. My ground. And... My one love affair that just didn't get anywhere.

Okay....okay. He's my one love affair that never started, and never ended. While Typer is the only guy I've ever been attracted to, I don't believe in love and I don't think I ever will.

It's not that I don't believe love exists, I just see so many people get hurt because of what they want to believe is love and I can't stand it. Life sucks, love sucks. That's just how it is.

I hop in the car, not bothering to greet Tyler as he speeds off towards school. Once there, I smile at him.

"Thanks Ty, you're the best."

"Nah, just doing good for the poor Hannah. See you later?" I nod at him, exiting the car and making my way into the school. Before I can get very far, my phone rings. Ugh. Mom.

"Yeah mom?" I answer, annoyed that she needs me ten minutes after I've left.

"HAN-" I stop walking and listen nervously to the phone. After a few seconds of muffled scuffling, I freak out.

"Mom! What happened? Are you okay?" The blood is pounding in my head, speeding the pulse of my heartbeat. I take a deep breath and listen closely.

Silence.

I check my phone and notice that the line has gone dead. Desperately, I try to call back and am relived when I hear the click that means she's answered the phone.

"Mom? Are you alright?" There's a few seconds of raspy breathing, and then whoever is on the other line chuckles and whispers an answer in a voice that only be a man.

"I wouldn't come home if I were you."

And then there's silence.