AVRIL'S CASE -BOOK 2

Chapter Eight

Cassie had her mouth hung open, as she stared at the woman who winced in pain. She subtly observed everyone that was around her to see if someone caught sight of the exchange between herself and the injured woman. No one seemed to have seen them, and so, she slowly backed away, and when she was a safe distance from the crowd she ran to her car. She started the engine and sped off. She drove with great desperation, her hands shook frantically. She drove fast until she was sure she was far away from Joseph's neighbourhood.

She could feel some moistness on her face, which slid down to her mouth and left a salty taste on her tongue. She drove but she did not know where she was going to. All she could think of was the woman who she was not even sure was still alive. The woman had warned her to run, which meant that someone dangerous would be going after her. Her heart beat faster than usual, and she found herself looking being her through her rear-view and side mirrors. At every red light, she would turn her head to the backseat of her car in order to make sure that there was not someone or something dangerous there. She was overly paranoid.

Once she arrived at her house she jumped out of her car, she was so nervous and frightened that she left her key in the ignition, before realizing and going back to get it. She locked her car and pulled the door handle twice to make sure that it was indeed locked. She stood by her car and scanned her neighbourhood with a very watchful and attentive eye before feeling comfortable enough to walk into her house.

She walked backward up to her doorstep; she took short steps as she did so. The memory of the woman's mouth weakly saying the word 'run' kept on playing in her mind. She tried to make herself doubt that it was directed to her, it could have been directed toward anyone, it was probably just a coincidence. Another part of her, the part she knew was telling her the truth told her that it was indeed directed to her. The woman looked Cassie in the eyes, and she pleaded. She also knew that it was no coincidence that it was the same woman that she had seen at the restaurant. Whoever shot the woman was trying to prevent her from delivering a message to Cassie, and she wanted to find out exactly what that message was.

Cassie got into her house and shut the door. She felt safe in the comfort of her home. She leaned her back against the hard wood of the door and took in a deep breath. She shut her eyes and stood there thinking about what to do next, for any move she made could harm her.

"Cass, what are you doing?" Cassie heard someone say. She opened her eyes and saw Phoebe look at her with both confusion and amusement in his eyes. Phoebe had in one hand a bowl of popcorn and in the other a can of soda.

"Nothing," Cassie quickly replied, "I'm just tired."

"Okay," Phoebe dragged the word "I would've made some for you, but I didn't know when you'd be back," Phoebe said, holding up the popcorn. "Where'd you go anyway?"

"I went to see a friend," Cassie said, and then she shook her head "actually I went to see someone I hate very very much," she scoffed, thinking about how much Joseph had infuriated her.

"While we're on the topic of hate, I need to talk about Andre with you," Phoebe said desperately

"Err Phoebs, I'm really not in the mood for that right now, maybe later?"

"K," Phoebe said in a small voice and then started climbing up the stairs. Cassie followed suit. "So how's Tyler? I haven't seen him in a while," she asked as she climbed.

"He's good, just a bit stressed about his dad's company," Cassie replied with a small sigh.

Phoebe got to Cassie's door and pushed it open, and then she plopped down on her bed. She set the popcorn down on the neatly made bed and held the soda in her hand. Cassie joined her on her bed and reached into the bowl for some popcorn, but Phoebe slapped her hand away before she could grab any. "It's all mine."