Find Me

1.

                              July 8, 2008
I watched the ground as the dark sorrowed us. Tristan was next to me right now, he was breathing heavily due to the fact we just ran as fast as we could to get here. We were playing man hunt at the moment like we did almost everyday because of summer. I slapped my hand over his mouth. "Tris shhh or you're going to blow our cover." I whispered at him looking in his big green eyes then looking away quickly. Then a felt a warm, moist wet thing drag across the inside of my hand. HE LICKED ME.

I quickly pulled my hand from his mouth."GROSS!" He smiled and chuckled under the low light coming from only the moon.I rubbed my hand on his shirt trying to get off the slobber. He looked at me, and I looked straight back. Our eyes locked, I almost forgot we were playing, before I heard footsteps behind us. We whipped our heads around, only to be greeted with our friends, Greg and Joey, standing behind us.

"GET THEM!" Joey yelled. They charged at us, as they ran the dry dirt underneath their feet rows up creating a cloud of smoke.

I grabbed Tristan by the arm and pulled him up. "Run!" I shouted to him. And we both ran as fast as we could. Pumping harder and harder on our legs. Dust rose from the ground as we ran. The base was a small beaten up bench on the side of the small park. Breathing got harder as we reached the bench and Tris was only a few inches behind me. I put my hand on the base and Tristan followed after quickly. I looked at the road it was lit by the singular Street light. Oh god, I'm supposed to be home.  "How long have the street lights been on?" I asked Tristan,panicking.

"Uh I don't know but I gotta get home." He added and started sprinting to his house.

"Bye Greg! Bye Joey!" I shouted as I ran away and toward my house. My mom is gonna kill me. I had promised her that I'd never be late again. I really messed up this time.

I can see my house getting closer with every step. Just a few more steps and I'll be there. Maybe mom won't be mad. Maybe she'll be sleeping. Whatever she's doing, I'm just hoping she forgot about my time limit.

I approach the porch, sprinting up the stairs as fast as I can. I quickly open the door, making sure to close it quietly. No sign of my mom, which is a good sign. I kick off my shoes, placing them next to the door. I make my way toward the stairs, maybe I can -

"Alex Karter Price, come here. Now." I hear my mother say from the kitchen.

I sigh, great. I know what's coming. I walk into the kitchen, seeing my mother sitting at the circular table placed in the middle of the room. I slowly walk over to my usual chair, and sit. Next to her is a huge wine bottle. I'm dreading every moment of what's to come.
She takes a sip from the bottle before speaking; "Alex, can you tell me what time it is?"  I lean to the side, looking at the stove. The digital clock reads 9:05.

"9:05." I say quietly. She moves her head toward me. I flinch.

"Speak up, my dear. I can't hear a word you're saying." I can smell the wine on her breath this bottle is probably the second or third one.

"9:05." I say louder this time, so she can hear me better.

"Correct. Now, what time are you supposed to be home by?" She says, while taking another sip.

"When the street lights come on." I say. She drinks the last of the wine from the bottle. Staring straight into my eyes. Unlike Tristan's warm, inviting green eyes, her empty, piercing blue eyes stare straight into my soul.

"Wrong. I said what time. You have one last chance to answer correctly." She says, smirking. Tears start to roll down my cheek.

"8?" I say, closing my eyes. I feel her stare still set on me.