Safe (Rewritten)

Absolutely

# Absolutely # 

"This is the story of a girl, 

Who cried a river and drowned the whole world. 

And while she looks so sad in photographs, 

I absolutely love her, 

When she smiles." 

- Nine Days, "Absolutely"

I lay on the dirt, listening as his car starts and pulls away. It's cold. So damn cold. Before, when I'd been fully dressed, I had been warm. Now, as I stare at the stars in my birthday suit, I'm freezing.

It takes me a while to sit up and actually start looking for my clothes. My underwear in in one piece, but one of the cups on my bra is falling off. I pull as much of my dress on as I can. My shoes have disappeared.

The walk out of Grover Woods, down Highway 17 and back home is one of the most horrible, terrifying things. Every sound, every shake of the trees, makes me jump. I have no idea where he is, but I fervently hope he's left town. I pray he's left town. I never want to see him again.

Screams fill the air. I realize that I've made it back home. My legs tremble beneath me as I stand on the porch, barely able to support myself. Arms reach for me shoulders, Mom shouting for Dad. I wrench myself from her grasp, only feeling his fingers.

"So, seeing how none of you in this class are switching out next semester, your new assignment is going to be due after Christmas break," Mrs. Leonard begins, despite the groans that fill the room. She rolls her eyes, uncapping her dry erase marker to write down the assignment on the white board. "This assignment is to be done in pairs. Boys with girls. That's what I thought. No one's protesting to that."

Oh, she can't be more wrong. If I were to open my mouth, I wouldn't be able to keep the stream of profanities to myself. Every adult, and each of my friends, seems to be hell bent on shoving me and Eric together. God damn it, I've already friendzoned the poor guy.

"You will be writing an essay about your partner. What they like, what they don't like. Their habits, what gives them pride. Something that has changed them." At her words, I can practically feel Eric's gaze on the side of my face. Instead of looking over, I let my hair create a curtain between us. "This paper will be worth half of your second semester grade, so choose your partners wisely."

Mrs. Leonard steps away from the board and motions for us to pick our partners. I don't even have to turn to know that Eric's giving me an expectant look.

His hand appears before my face, waving back and forth to get my attention. "You better not be expecting any other options. I'll decapitate them."

I sigh and turn in my seat. "But Bobby was excited."

Eric grimaces. "Bobby? I was hoping you'd come up with a more creative name."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Jacob? Lewis? Lucas?" He shrugs, obviously not noticing how my face pales.

He's psychic, I'm convinced of it. I blink, studying the wood of my desk. Lucas isn't a rare name; I should have been prepared to hear his name at some point.

"What?" Eric asks, sounding worried. "Are you okay? What did I do wrong?"

A girl appears by my desk. Adriana Grace, one of Tash's minions, with her belt sized mini skirt and skin-tight tank. It's December, for fuck's sake, isn't she freezing?

"Eric!" She gushes, wrapping her hands around Eric's bicep. "Oh my goodness, you should be my partner!"

Long ago, Adriana was a quiet-spoken girl with a crooked nose. Sometime at the beginning of high school, Adriana's caramel colored locks were lightened to a pale blonde and her nose narrowed. She's trained her voice to be high and nasally, coming out like a smoker's. It really is sad how much of a skank this once pretty girl has become.