Running Scared.

Chapter Three

We arrived at our local bookstore and began to work. I restocked the books, while Dani checked out customers. Dani and I are cousins, but a little different. She’s tough and speaks her mind no matter how much trouble she gets in. I’m tough, but I don’t want all attention to be spotlighted on me. “Uh Lola,” Mr. Kent said, “Could you restock the fantasy section? Some of these books can’t stay on the shelves.” I grabbed the fantasy cart and headed to the fantasy section. Mr. Kent was a nice guy. He was middle aged with black hair and blue eyes. He always talked about how he loved his wife and kids. He really is a nice person. I restocked all of the ‘Beautiful Creatures’ books and all of the ‘Twilight’ books. These books are actually pretty good, very vivid detail. I stocked the rest of the books and alphabetized the used books. After about an hour, Mr. Kent let us clock out and go home.

    Dani parked her car in front of my house and said, “If it gets worse, you tell me… okay?” I grabbed my backpack and said, “I will, I promise.” I got out of her car and walked up my marble driveway. I opened the door to see Derrick making out with a woman with bleach blonde hair. I knew it wasn’t my mom, because my mom has black hair. “What the hell,” I yelled tossing my bag on the floor, “Who is she?” Derrick got off her and said, “Uh Lola, this is a friend. She’s an actress who needs help with her lines. It’s a sex scene.” The girl put on her shirt and left as Derrick was talking. Derrick walked up to me and stroked my cheek. “Come on Lola. Let this be a secret between us?” He leaned in to kiss me, but I pushed him away. “Really Derrick, You kiss another woman and now you try to kiss me. You’re so dead.” I pushed past him and tried to walk upstairs, but he grabbed my arm and pinned me against the wall. I tried to push him away but he pressed his fingers harder against my arms. “Let go of me,” I yelled. He smiled and said, “Not until you tell me you’re not going to tell April.” I continued to try to push him away. I crossed my fingers between my back and said, “If I agree not to tell. Will you let me go?” He shook his head and said, “As soon as you uncross your fingers behind your back.” Man he’s clever. I uncrossed my fingers and said, “Okay, now let me go.” He backed away and I walked past him. He grabbed my hand and pulled me close. “You know if you weren’t such a pain in my ass, you might be adorable.” I tried pushing him, but he’d only pull me closer. He leaned in and kissed me. I wanted to push him away, but he was a really good kisser. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. He pushed me against the wall and kissed me. I ran my hands through his hair. He picked me up and ran his fingers down back. While he was shoving his tongue down my throat, I realized what I was doing. I pushed him away and said, “Oh god, what am I doing? This is so wrong.” He looked at me with a confused look. “You are dating my mom. You’re twenty-eight, I’m seventeen. I hate you… you hate me.” I picked up my bag and walked to my room. He stopped me and said, “So you’re just gonna leave, like that?” I sighed and said, “You’re eleven years older than me and my step-father. This was a huge mistake.” I walked up the steps to my room and closed my door behind me. “God I’m so stupid,” I said. I sat on my bed and took of my shoes. I couldn’t believe I made out with Derrick. I hate him so much, but he was an amazing kisser. No wonder my mom can’t keep shoving her tongue down his throat. I decided to call Jeremy. I need some advice. Hopefully he won’t judge me as harshly Dani would. After ringing a couple times, Jeremy finally answered. “Jeremy, listen don’t hate me okay. I kinda sort a made out with Derrick.” He yelled so loud. I could tell he was mad and confused. “Jeremy just listen, it was an accident. I caught him kissing another woman, and he kissed me after he made me promise not to tell.” He asked me if was going to tell. “Of course I am. I have to tell her. It’ll crush her if she finds out I knew and never told her.” We started talking about life in New York. It sounded great to me. I would love to leave Georgia and go to New York. I could live with my dad. “Lola, I have McDonalds. Come get it.” I sighed and said, “Jeremy I gotta go, dinner’s downstairs. I talk to later.” I hung up and walked downstairs. Mom was sitting on the couch eating her burger. Derrick was sitting on the counter eating my fries and about to eat my nuggets. I ran towards him and yanked my nuggets and fries out his hands. “Don’t you have your own dinner?” He finished my fry and said, “I finished it.” I grabbed my barbeque sauce and headed upstairs.

    I closed my door and jumped on my bed. I turned on my flat screen TV and watched TV as I ate my dinner. ‘This Means War’ was on. That movie was good, Chris Pine’s cute. I finished my dinner and tossed it in neon garbage can. I grabbed my polka dotted pajamas and headed to the bathroom. As the hot water was running, I shook out my hair. It needed a wash. I stepped in and immediately though about kissing Derrick. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The more and more I thought I telling mom, the more and more it seemed like a horrible idea. I could picture it now. Walking up to her and saying, “Hey mom, your boyfriend Derrick and I made out while you were gone.” That’s a horrible idea. Plus she’ll be distant like when dad left her. I decided not to tell her. I stepped out and dried off, tomorrow would be Saturday and I wouldn’t have to get up early. I put on my pajamas and lied down on my bed. I wanted to forget about kissing Derrick, but I couldn’t. Someone knocked on my door. “Come in,” I said still looking at the ceiling. I looked at Derrick as he closed the door and walked in. I groaned and said, “What do you want?” He sat on my bed and said, “I wanted to see if you still won’t tell your mom about me kissing another woman… and you.” He was scared. I chuckled and said, “Wow, you’re scared I’m gonna tell. Wow… what if I do tell. What’re you gonna do? Beat me up? Tell her I’m crazy… that I’m a liar?” He was silent. He laid back and looked at the ceiling with me and said, “Well, I don’t what I’d do. Leave? Use one of your choices?” I sat up and said, “Yeah, hit me again. Let the girls in the locker room gawk at my bruises.” I scooted away from him. He touched my back and said, “I meant tell her you’re lying to her.” I shook my head. “I won’t tell if you won’t beat me up anymore.” He held out his pinky and said, “Pinky promise.” We pinkie promise and I laughed. He leaned in and kissed me. I pushed him off me and said, “Really Derrick. We just pinky promised.” He backed up and said, “I was giving you a good night kiss.” I shook my head and pointed him out the door. A good night kiss is on the cheek or the forehead, not the lips.