F E A R

chapter six, california

My jaw seems to fall to the ground, and my body is shaking uncontrollably all due to utter shock. I have no clue of what the hell is going on. This kind of stuff just doesn't happen in Grenola, doesn't really even happen in Kansas, and why of all people, would it happen to ME?

"Alayziah?" A deep, strained voice breaks through my fear-stricken thoughts. "We should get you h-"

"No, stop. I want an explanation, and I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on. Who were those people? Why did you have a gun? Why are they all after you?" My questions stop and my voice gets quieter. Grayson's eyes are searching mine, his eyebrows knitted together. He looks as if he's almost debating with himself whether to tell me or not. When he doesn't answer, I start to get heated.

"Answer me!" My hands go to my hair, running my fingers through it frustratingly. "I deserve an explanation don't I, don't I deserve that much?" I throw my hands up in the air, my irritation obvious to Gray.

"I-I'm sorry, I can't.. I can't tell you." His gaze drops down to the ground, he looks almost sad? "You need to get home to your family, come on." He steps closer and reaches out to grab my arm. I flinch back, turn around, and walk away from him.

My life could've been taken from me only minutes ago, for reasons unknown, and he "can't tell me"? How ridiculous. If he thinks I'm going to be around him a second longer he's most certainly wrong. I barely even know him, and I know if I'm ever around him again, I'll be in danger. I continue walking to my house alone in the dark, praying he won't follow me. And he doesn't.

When I get home, I force myself to sleep downstairs on the couch and lock the door. The clock reads nearly 4:15 in the morning.

I wake up around 11:00. When I head upstairs to my bedroom: Ryan, Grace, and Chris are all sitting on my bed with my window wide open.

I scoff. "This is breaking and entering. I could sue all three of you."

"Maybe if you wouldn't always leave your window cracked open, we couldn't get in?" Grace sassed, and I smile.

"I missed you guys, it seems like I haven't seen you in forever."

"We just saw you yesterday, Layz." Chris chuckles, and rises from the bed to hug me. The other two follow.

"So, what are we doing today?"

"Yeah, let's do something!"

"Fishing and then go cruising tonight?" I ask aloud, and they all excitedly agree.

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After a long day of fishing and jamming to our favorite songs, Grace drops me off at my house around midnight. I attempt to open my front door as quietly as I can to avoid waking up mom. Once I close the door, I turn and face my mother, startling me.

Weirdly enough, she was already standing near the door with a look of pure excitement on her face. "Mom? Why are you still up?"

"I have news! Good news, no, GREAT news actually!" She's practically bouncing up and down with the biggest smile on her face, causing me to smile too just by her being so happy.

"Well, spit it out! What is it?" My voice rose in anticipation.

"We're moving to California!" My mom was squealing now, whereas I was dead silent. My heart seemed to drop to my stomach.

"W-what? Why?"

"I've been promoted! It's such a fantastic opportunity for me, for US, Alayziah. I'll be making anywhere between $250-$450 an hour, depending on my clients and the type of case. And honey, that's just my beginning pay. After months or years, who knows how much I could be making. This is a once and a lifetime chance, Al-"

My mom continued her enthusiastic rambling, while all I could think about was never seeing Grace, Ryan, and Chris again. I guess I could see them from time to time, but after awhile they would forget about me. They would move on. They wouldn't need me. The thought of having to leave my life-long best friends was scarier than anything I've endured the past few days.

I cut my mom off. "But I can't leave my friends, mom. How do you expect me to do that?" Tears began to form in my eyes, begging to spill. I held them back. It was so hard to be happy for her, when I was also so, so sad.

"Oh honey, they will still be here when you get back. We can plan visits, and maybe when I start making more they can be more frequent. I'm sorry Al, but this opportunity is too precious for us to let it pass by. I have to take it, I have to. I'm so, so very sorry honey."

As much as I wanted to be happy for her, I couldn't be right then. I ran outside with tears falling down my face, and went to the only place that I know could cheer me up.