Forsaking Lilly

Chapter Fourteen

"Calla, my goodness, you're alright!" My mother's arms wrapped tightly around my neck, pulling me overly close. I'd only just walked in the door, but I knew why she was so worried. I'd been lost in the woods for quite a few hours, but it wasn't like I wouldn't find my way eventually.

"Jesus,woman, I'm all right," I huffed once I pulled her away. I'd just been rejected, I wasn't in the mood for her dramatics. My mother smiled through her tear streaked face and I looked at her more closely. It was obvious that she'd gotten worked up about this, but it really wasn't that big of a deal. "Mom, I'm alright," I mumbled, a frown settling on my face. She was ruining her make-up, and she had looked so pretty...

"Cooper called his mom and he told us what had happened, I rushed home." Guilt nearly punched me in the chest and I became ashamed of ruining her night out.

"Yeah, I wanted to let them know what was going on...just in case." Hearing Cooper's voice, I looked around my mom and found him standing near the couches, awkwardly. For once he wasn't smiling, he actually looked as if he too were worried. I found myself laughing.

"Well next time, we'll stay put." A crooked grin spread across his cheeks and he snorted out a cross between a chuckle and a scoff.

"Will do," he said as he rolled his eyes. Outside, a horn blew and Cooper became reanimated. "Oh, that's my mom." He smiled at my mother,gave her a little wave, then turned towards the door. " Bye,Nora. Bye, Calla."

"Bye, Cooper," My mother chimed. " Calla will walk you outside." Her eyes found mine, something playful sparkling within them. I sighed, knowing that she'd never give up with this. I started to open my mouth but shut it again, too tired and dirty to argue with her.

"Yeah alright," I grumbled, walking after him. Once outside, I was grateful to still have on Marcus's sweater( Even though I hated him right now ), because the wind was still very icy and humid. I never thought it could be cold, and wet outside. Usually, you only got wet weather when it was hot. But, then again, this was Texas weather.

When he got out to the porch, he stopped and shoved his hands down into his pocket. " You know, it was your idea to run." For a minute, I wasn't sure what he was talking about. Once it dawned on me, I narrowed my eyes and reached forward to jab him in the arm.

"Yeah, well you were the one who couldn't keep up." He shook his head, raising a brow at me.

"I was right behind you for a while, and then you suddenly just turned ahead of me. I turned too, but you kept turning. Eventually, I just lost you." Now, it was my turn to look at someone like they'd barked.

What is he talking about, I ran straight.

In my head, I tried to figure this out. There was no way that he could have possibly seen me turn, I'd made a purpose of going straight so that I would stay ahead of him. Besides all of this, I didn't know my way around well enough to make all those turns. "Well, anyways, see you at school tomorrow, Calla." I shook myself mentally, nodding my head.

"Yeah, see you," I mumbled. I watched him trot down the porch and over to where his mother had parked under the awning. Once he was in the car, I turned and went back inside.I couldn't shake what he said, and I wondered if maybe I had turned but just didn't know. I mean it was possible, right?

I let myself inside and locked the door. Now, all the lights in the house were off except for the one over the stove. I wasn't alarmed, I knew my mom was most likely in bed. Actually, I was pooped too. I thought about just going to bed, but then I remembered how filthy I felt. My limbs had already made the decision of a nice shower and were carrying me to the bathroom with swiftness. I couldn't shake the sensation of things crawling across me, and I sent up a silent prayer that there weren't any spiders or bugs nesting into my hair.