Don't Talk to Strangers

Chapter 2

My front door was unlocked so I knew Mia was already here. I walked into the kitchen and saw her sitting at the table on her phone eating from a bowl of M&M's.

"Hey Mia," I said glancing at the clock on the wall noticing it it was a little after four.

"Where have you been, Kara?" She asked me, still texting on her phone.

"Well, I had to show a new student around the school after I went back for my Biology book." I said sitting down in the chair across from her.

"Oh, well you could've texted me, I mean you don't even know them." She seemed annoyed and I did feel bad for neglecting to tell her I'd be late.

"I know and I'm really sorry but he knows me." She looked at me wide eyed and I realized how creepy I made it seem. "I mean he used to go to school with us and he remembers me, I don't remember him though. But I hope you don't mind, I kind of invited him over tonight?" I felt my face get warm and I hope she didn't get mad for me inviting him over.

A"Kara, why didn't you just say so!" Her excitement kind of confused me but I was just glad she wasn't upset. Her smile faded suddenly and turned into a look of disgust.

"Whats up with the baggy sweatshirt?" She said looking at Josh's deep blue sweatshirt that hung mid thigh.

"Oh man! I forgot, it's Josh's, I'll have to give it back to him tonight," Secretly I didn't want to though, it was so comfortable and it smelled of cologne. I then noticed Mia smirking at me mischievously.

"What?" I asked, confused. She shook her head and let out a little giggle.

"Hey, maybe we can invite Ryan over too? I mean it is your house but there will be another guy so-"

"Thats fine Mia," I laughed at her and wondered why she was being so strange, "Can you text him while I put my stuff upstairs?" She nodded and I headed up to my bedroom.

I walked into my room and noticed it was extremly warm. I went to my window to open it but when I looked out the window I noticed something, well someone. Directly out my window I could see Josh, sitting at a desk on his computer. Although his house wasn't directly next to mine, the way it sat on a hill I could see his bedroom almost perfectly.

Wow, how creepy.

I walked over to my closet and changed into a tank top that fit perfectly and my favorite pair of cotton shorts. I brushed my straight dark brown hair, I loved it. It was my favorite thing about myself.

I went back downstairs and found Mia looking at a stack of classic horror films.

"These?" She asked eagerly pointing at the stack. I shrugged my shoulders, personally I wasn't a fan of horror but I didn't mind them.

I headed into the kitchen to order some pizza but there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see Ryan in his sweatpants and red tee shirt.

"I wore my 'comfy stuff' like Mia said to" He said laughing. I motioned him to come in and he headed into the living room with Mia. I called and ordered the pizza before I forgot to- I had a habit of doing that. From the kitchen I could hear Mia giggling, what could be so funny?

I walked into the living room and saw them sitting on the couch together. Since there was no extra room on it I sat on the floor like usual but something felt off. It didn't feel as relaxed, maybe it was because Josh was coming over.

Almost as if on cue there was another knock at the door and I opened it to see a smiling Josh.

"Hi Josh," His hair was a mess still, probably from the wind, but it seemed to suit him nicely.

"Hi Kara," He said with a hint of laughter. My face went red again and I told him to come in. We went into the living room to see Mia and Ryan laughing yet again.

"Mia, Ryan, this is Josh. Josh, this is Mia and Ryan," I said and I noticed Mia looking at him, but not saying anything.

"Hey," Ryan said, snapping Mia out of her daydream. I laughed at Mia who started blushing as she looked down at the floor.

"So do you like horror movies?" I asked Josh hopefully breaking the awkward silence.

"Only the classics, the new ones are too gorey." He replied with the same answer that would've came from Mia.

"Well you're in luck because Mia chose a bunch of classic horror for tonight," I could tell Mia liked Josh, but it was odd, usually she's not like this.

There was another knock at the door and I heard her moan, "Who is it now?"

"Pizza, help me out Mia," She followed me into the kitchen and I gave the pizza man a twenty. I set it down on the counter and turned around to see Mia staring into the living room.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," I whispered into her ear. She playfully slapped my arm and got some paper plates from the pantry.

"How are you so lucky to meet a guy like- like Josh?" She asked me quietly.

"What do you mean?" I asked laughing at her for being such a girl.

"Are you blind Kara?! Look at him! He's no Ridgeway guy," It was true though. He was a lot better looking than everyone we went to school with. I laughed over the fact that we ironically lived on the same road the school was named after.

"So, maybe he's a jerk Mia. Don't judge a book by it's cover," I said smirking at her. She rolled her eyes and put a slice of pizza on each plate and we carried them out to the living room.

She sat down next to Ryan on the couch and I sat back on the carpet and patted a spot next to me and Josh sat down.

The movies started and in no time it was pitch black. The house had cooled down and I grabbed a couple blankets for everyone from the closet across the room. On my way back I managed to get caught up in an unfolded blanket and fell onto Josh.

"Oh my god! Im so sorry!" I said getting back up, thankful it was dark so no one could see me blushing.

"Do you always make exciting entrances like this?" Josh asked jokingly and everyone burst into a fit of laughter.

After a few moments of laughing we had all settled back down. I wondered when my mom was coming home, it was already midnight and she still wasn't home. I went into the kitchen to call her but she didn't answer me. Instead she sent me a short text.

Buisness trip. Love you.

How could I have forgotten? I walked back into the living room and noticed Mia asleep on Ryans shoulder, who seemed alseep too.

"Should we wake them up?" Josh asked me, his voice smooth in the quiet night. The black and white movie flickered around the room and made his eyes light up.

"No, it's fine. My mom is away for a week so they can just stay over tonight," I smiled at them, snuggled on the couch together. I sat back down next to Josh and he looked at me with an expression I've never seen before.

A loud scream came from the movie and out of habit I jumped and turned away towards Josh. How cliche. He put his hand on my back and laughed a little.

"Ugh, I'll probably have nightmares all night now," I said gripping the blankets.

"You'll be alright, Mia and Ryan are right there," He said soothingly. I looked at them and figured they be no help if someone tried to murder me in my sleep. I turned back to Josh and smiled sheepishly.

"You can stay over too, if you want." I asked, blushing horribly.

"You sure? I mean im practically a stranger," He said slightly laughing. A memory flashed into my mind of my father telling me when I was younger, "Don't talk to strangers, Kara. It's bad." Why was I thinking of something so childish?

"No, it's fine, really." I replied. He yawned and leaned back against the the couch, gently resting his head on mine.

"I'll protect you, don't worry." It was weird that he was acting this way, I felt liked I'd known him all my life. I felt so close to him, yet I barely knew him. I closed my eyes and smiled, and I could tell he knew I was smiling.

"Sweet dreams, Kara McConell,"