Hometown Hero

Chapter Ten: This Ain't a Scene

I can remember the day it started, about a week later.

The first time.

Dads and I were in the grocery store. It was kind of our special thing, going to the market and picking what we were going to make for dinner that week. I wandered down the produce aisle, listening to Papa talk about buying the right tomatoes.

Wandering, I saw them. The marion berries. I picked them up, placing the container down in the cart. Dad nodded, “Good call, DJ. Oh, we need bread for the Palmer party; would you mind grabbing some from the bakery, sweets?”

“You got it.” I replied, walking to the other end of the store. Glancing around, I could see diner regulars: Mrs. Hayes, who wasn't fooling anyone by passing off Becca's pies as her own during town meetings. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman looked at canned goods, talking to Mrs. Fields, the minister's wife. They all went to the same church or whatever volunteer commitees people attended in this town. There were others, all faces I'd seen while cleaning tables at the diner, but no one of notable mention. Of course, for me, I only wanted to talk to one person.

Reaching for a loaf of bread, I heard the automatic doors open, and I glanced over, seeing Matty and his lumberjack drones. Damn it.

Don't look up, I said to myself, don't give them the satisfaction.

I hoped that he'd walk away, forget I was here.

The sound of chuckling tempered as I looked for Papa and Dad. I clutched the bread too tightly, and started to walk away; until Matty cut me off sharply.

Disoriented, I tried to walk around him, but I could see the others close in slowly as he smiled.

“Look who it is.”

I closed my eyes, taking a breath before looking at him “What is your problem?”

“Who says I have a problem?” He shot back, smiling and reaching for my arm “You're the one who won't take a strong man's advice.”

Slapping his hand away, I grit my teeth “Don't touch me.” This didn't help. He backed me further against the shelves, and I found myself wondering how the hell does a girl get assaulted in a freaking grocery store?

“Dawson?” I heard Dad call, poking his head out from around the corner. Matty backed up, and somehow, all the other boys seemed to scatter.

I cleared my throat, “Coming.”

Ignoring their sniggering, I walked back to the isle my dads stood in, studying if there were any spices we needed for meals. I saw the marion berries sitting in the cart, and I smiled, thinking about how long it would take me to bake a pie if I wanted to get it across town before it got dark.

Papa tapped my shoulder, “Dawson?”

Zoned out, I came back slowly “Hm?”

“I swear, you're just getting zapped with the hypno-beam lately.” Dad sighed, shaking his head “Pop was asking where you're parking the car these days. He swore he woke up last night, and it wasn't in the drive.”

Last night...Yesterday was Monday. Indie had to meet with one of the people from work in Corvallis, which seemed like an obscure place to meet someone, but I didn't ask. He was there to pick me up for work, and I drove him home.

I shrugged, “It was there when I went to work this morning.”

“Odd.” Papa said. I glanced over my shoulder, and saw the boys wandering a few steps behind us. We kept walking through the store, my pulse buzzing in my ears. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I looked down.