Running Scared.

Chapter Eight

Dad took the day off, so he could buy some furniture and pick a style for my room. I picked out red paint and he picked out the furniture for the room. With our taste combined it was perfect. He ordered the furniture and we painted to room. While we waited for the furniture to arrived, he registered me at the same school as Jeremy. He thought me knowing someone would be good. We sat in the living room eating slices of pizza. “So tell me,” he said while chewing, “Is April the same?” I swallowed and said, “Of course, she comes home late always bringing fast food. Plus since you left her, she’s been all over… Derrick.” Saying his name brought up bad memories. Dad quickly realized and said, “Hey let’s watch ‘The Cabin In The Woods’. Have a little horror movie night. Sounds fun?” “Yeah, sounds like fun.” We watched ‘The Cabin In The Woods’ in fear. I cringed behind a pillow as each of the nightmare creatures appeared.

     After a week being in New York, life kinda of gotten better. I was still sleeping on the couch, since the furniture only came in and not my mattress. I already unpacked my stuff all I needed was a mattress and a comforter. “Okay,” dad said while getting off the couch, “You have to go to sleep. You have school and I have work tomorrow. Good night sweetie.” His kissed my forehead and walked upstairs, turning off the kitchen light. I pulled the cover over me and drifted off to sleep.

I was sitting in a dark room. I stood up and used the light from my phone to see where I was. Seeing a couple leather jackets, I realized I was in my house… locked in the closet. I didn’t open the door, I had a feeling something terrible was outside it. “Lola,” Derrick screamed, “Get your ass out here. When I get my hands on you I’m going to kill you!!” I heard him slamming door, glasses breaking, and him yelling when he didn’t find me. I put my hands over my mouth, trying to control my breathing. When he tried opening the closet door, he said, “I know you’re in there, Lola. Open this door dammit!!” I backed farther into the closet crying, covering my ears. He banged on the door until he kicked it down. He stood in the door framing, fury in his eyes. “Please Derrick,” I pleaded and he dragged me from the closet by my hair, “Please don’t hurt me.” He didn’t seem human anymore. He got on top of me and said, “This is maybe going to hurt me more than you.” He placed his hands around my throat and began to strangle me.

    I woke up with my dad shaking me. “Lola,” he said sounding scared, “What’s wrong? I heard you screaming.” I sat up and looked around the living room. The sun was peeking through the curtains. I sighed and said, “I had a dream I was at my house, hiding in the closet. Derrick was looking everywhere to find me, and when he finally did. He tried to kill me.” He held me close and said, “Don’t worry Lola, he’s not here.” Someone knocked on our door and I went to answer it. It was Jeremy. He was wearing a plain white shirt, red jeans with black suspenders, and black converse. “Hey Lola,” he said. Once he noticed the tears on my face he said, “What’s wrong?” He touched my cheek and I moved away. “I’m fine… just give me time to get ready.” I ran upstairs, grabbed some clothes and jumped in the shower. I brushed my teeth and hair and put on a red shirt, grey jeans, and red converse. I grabbed my backpack and walked out the door. Jeremy tried matching my pace then grabbed my arm. “Okay, Lola. What’s going on?” I sighed and told him everything. About Derrick killing someone and raping me. He didn’t say anything. I walked away and he stopped me. “Okay, that is really shitty, but please don’t shut me out.” I hugged him and said, “Okay, I won’t. Now could you please walk me to school?” he smiled and walked me to the subway. We sat down and talked about the kids back home. I liked being back with Jeremy, he was my rock. We were sitting together, listening to his music. We had the same taste, ‘Bruno Mars’. We were listening to his song ‘Treasure’. I kissed his cheek in the middle of the song. “What was that for,” he said. “For being there for me when I needed it.” He smiled and leaned his head against mine.