Mallory's POV
"It's 5:30 AM! Wake up sleepy head we have to go on a run!"
"I've been home for two hours & a half. I've slept for ten minutes of it. Can I not skip one day?"
"No! Get your ass up before I pour ice down your shirt!"
"God no! I'm coming! i'm coming!"
"There you go! You've got a cup of coffee waiting for you in the kitchen!"
I loved Caroline. She was the best friend in the world. She was fun, smart, & nice. But living with her, sometimes it was just a pain in the ass. She had a strong personality at times, & sometimes, that's what I needed.
"You're running, in sweatpants?! Come on its summer!"
I didn't feel like wearing shorts. I was totally uncomfortable with what happened last night, in that short skintight dress. I felt naked in running shorts. Especially with the facts that they're loose, it made the feeling even worse.
"Don't Jude me, Caroline."
"Okay, I'll try not to when you have a heatstroke."
Damn it. She was good at this game where she always found a way of manipulating me. But I knew it was because she loved & wanted the best for me.
"Be right back"
"Where ya goin?"
"To go change into shorts, idiot."
"Love you loser!"
It was 6:00 AM by the time we got out the door. Good thing i was in shorts, I really would have had a heatstroke. We started out slow, like usual, & we worked our way faster & faster. We reached the end of Wexford Dr. We had two more streets to go until we were halfway done with our morning run. I loved the last two streets of the morning route, because the sidewalk belonged to little town houses, & it was a busy street filled with cars. I loved busy streets, the sounds of cars & traffic made me think of city life. We were halfway down Wexford Dr. when I noticed something different. Something seemed out of place. Passing by the bright brick colored homes, I glanced at each one & realized that it was just a curtain. Usually, everyone is still in bed when were out running. It wasn't normal for someone to be awake, especially having their curtain open. I didn't think much of it, we continued on. By the time we hit the end of the street, Caroline needed a break.
"I don't know why I feel so worn out right now. Usually I don't feel like this."
"That's what you get for leaving me at the club last night."
"What are you talking about, leaving you? I was looking, but I didn't see you anywhere. I just guessed you left with someone."
"Oh I left with someone alright."
"Oooh, tell me! Is that why you got home so late?"
"Ugh, shut up. I'd rather not share details with you."
"Mallory had some fun, didn't she?"
"Shut up!"
I got up from the bench & stood in front of Caroline.
"We'll, we'd better get home, I still have to wash up."
We both put our headphones & started going. Within four minutes of the trip back to the house, my music stopped & I got the tone, a text message. I stopped & pulled my phone out of the clip pouch. Caroline stopped & looked back, she was waiting on me. I waved her to keep going.
"I'll catch up to you!"
I swiped my screen & viewed the text. It was from an unknown number.
'How's your run so far?"
Apparently I have received a message from this number before. I looked up at the text received before. It read,
'Goodnight, darling.'
Oh my god.
