Running Scared.

Chapter Ten

I sat up in bed smiling. My first time in a comfortable mattress and no nightmares. I added a few things from my old room to give it an even homier look. I had a flat screen TV, a bean bag chair, and a desk. I already have my own laptop. I even had my bathroom connected to my room, so I wouldn’t need to go into the hallway. I made my bed and took a shower. The shower head was better than the one in Georgia. I loved my new room and my now bathroom. Everything is great. I wrapped myself in a towel and brushed my teeth. I looked in the mirror and looked at my ribs. It’s been a while since I checked them out. The bruises were completely gone. I walked back into my room and checked out the clothes in my closet. I put on a white t-shirt with a lace sweater over it, light blue jeans, and black toms. I added a black knit cap for an accessory. I looked in the mirror and then went downstairs.

    “Dad,” I said as I jumped downstairs. I checked the kitchen. There was a note on the counter. I picked it up and read it. Got called in, I’ll be coming home a little late. –Dad I double checked to see if I had my phone and left the house. I walked around New York looking at the sites. I grabbed a couple doughnuts and milk from the café Jeremy and I went to. After I finished eating, I threw it away and walked in a park. While I was looking at the flowers, my phone rang. I looked at it and saw that it was Dani. “Hey Dani, how’s it goi-” “What the hell Lola!! You just disappear. No note or anything you just vanish.” “Dani something happened. Something bad, I had to get out of Georgia. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. But I really needed to leave.” She kept asking me to tell her why I left, but I couldn’t. She just hung up. I sat down on a bench and took a deep breath. I couldn’t tell Dani. Even though she was my cousin, this was a something I couldn’t tell her. She would call the police, FBI, army… anyone with power to lock Derrick away. I tried calling the police one time he was beating me up. He smoothed talked them. Saying that I was playing a prank so he would leave, mentioning that he was my step-father. He’s unstoppable. My phone rang again. I quickly answered it and said, “Dani look I’m sorry abo-” “Hi Lola,” Derrick said calmly. I jumped up and quickly looked around. “Derrick why are you calling me?” “Because I went to your room and you were gone. There’s was a note in your place, telling me you know. So I came to chat.” I quickly hung up the phone and started to hyperventilate. I looked around and saw Jeremy with his friends looking at me, Jeremy with a hurt look on his face. Tears fell from my face and I ran.

    I ran through the crowd, pushing them aside. I ran to the school. There was a tree behind it, a larger oak tree. Next to it was a large pond. I fell on my knees before it, screaming. Everything was fine, until Derrick called. He knows, now I’ll die. I cried because my dream will actually come true. He’ll find me and he kill me. I called my mom. After ringing a couple times, she answered the phone. “Mom,” I said, “Derricks’ a murderer. And before you say anything check my sheets. He raped me after he got suspicious.” She was silent then said, “Okay… I’ll check.” I heard a door open then close, and then she hung up. She just hung up. I hope she saw. Maybe that’s why she hung up. I sat by the tree in silence. “Just shut up, she’s my best friend,” Jeremy said. “Why don’t you just have sex with her? We know you’re completely in love with her. Ever since we met you, you’ve been talking about her. Now that’s she’s here. You can’t stop talking about her. I put on my headphones and quickly walked past them. Hoping I would passed them, I bumped into one of his friends. He had black hair blue eyes, Lucas. I continued to walk. Jeremy stopped me and tried to get me to talk. After I wouldn’t say anything, he threw me over his shoulder and brought me back to the tree behind the school. “Okay we’re alone… tell me what’s wrong? I saw you in the park yelling on the phone, and then you were terrified. I never saw you that scared before. Tell me.” A tear fell on my cheek. “Derrick called me… he now knows I know and I know he’s going to kill me. I’m dead.” He wiped the tear off my cheek and said, “You’re not dead because I’m going to protect you.” I walked away from him. “How could you protect me? He’ll find a way to get to me. He won’t stop. I know he won’t.” He grabbed my shoulders and said, “Trust me. I’m here for you. Don’t forget that.” He looked me deep into my eyes then kissed me.