Lost

Chapter 2

"Hey stranger," said Anthony as he hugged me tight.

I hugged him back just as tight. I stayed quiet though and I felt my eyes start to tear up so I let go.

"How are you doing?"

"Honestly," I said slowly. "I'm doing terrible, but it hit Jackson the hardest. I wish he wasn't with him that day."

"I know it's hit you both hard. You haven't missed any of my games in two years until last week."

"Hey, I feel bad enough about that as it is!"

"It's fine. Really. I know it sucks."

We laid on top of the blanket that he laid on the ground and listened to the water for a few minutes. I decided I would talk to him about what's been going on in his life. It would give me a break.

"So," I said. "How are you and Lexi?"

"That's a funny story actually."

"I'm up for a funny story right now."

"Well, she actually got jealous of you. Like, extremely jealous. She said that if I was going to spend more time with you instead of her, I might as well date you and then she dumped me."

"I'm sorry. I know you really liked her."

"Yeah, but I have you to take care of. If she doesn't understand that, then screw her."

"I've told you multiple times, I can take care of myself."

"Yeah, well, as my jail records can prove, I don't believe that."

Anthony went to jail once for me. Well, it wasn't necessarily for me, but it was over me. There was this guy I was talking to and one night he was drinking when I went to his house. I didn't know he was drinking until I got there. I thought it would be rude to just leave, so I stayed. We weren't actually together, so I didn't expect anything to happen, but he kissed me. After he kissed me, his hands kept getting lower and lower, and it made me nervous, but I still stayed. Some stuff happened, but we didn't go all the way. Then I left because I got uncomfortable. When I got home, I immediately told Anthony about it. Let's just say, that night, Anthony figured out where he lived and things did not end pretty.

"Then I had to bail you out of jail, so was it really worth it?" I asked.

"He made you feel uncomfortable. His hands were going places they shouldn't have went and you weren't ready for it. So, yes. It was worth it. Even if I had to sit there until my court date, I would do it again."

When he said that, I snuggled up to his chest. I've missed his cuddles. He is the best at it. I just hate how protective he is sometimes. It can give mixed signals.

After a while of silence, I looked up at him. He had fell asleep it seemed. He was so relaxed with his arm around my back. He always made me feel so comfortable no matter what the situation is. I always seem to call him first. When I found out about dad, mom made sure he was there because she knows he is my comfort spot. He is also the only person, other than Jackson, that I will open up to. The only difference is that Jackson doesn't know everything. Anthony does.

I went to get up so I could go to the rock by the water and sit. I tried not to wake him up, but I'm sure I did. Either way, I walked down and took a seat on the rock and I quietly listened to the water move and I watched all the fish and the pebbles float downstream. It's to cold to get in, but it's never to cold to enjoy the sounds and to watch. As I went to get up, I felt a pair of arms grab me and wrap around me. I just sat there and let him hug me. It was a comforting feeling. Then all of a sudden he kissed the top of my head. I felt my heart flutter a little.

"Are you ready to leave?" he asked. "It's getting late,"
"I know I need to," I said quietly. "But no. I'm not ready."

"We can stay as long as you want. You're with me so I'm sure your mom won't mind."

It's true. My mom loves him so anything I do that has to do with him, it's an automatic yes. If I'm late coming home, it's no big deal. It never has been.

"I'm going to go walk downstream a little ways," I said as I stood up. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Alright. Be careful."

"Always."

I started to walk downstream looking at all the bushes and trees. Some had flowers, some had berries, there was even an apple tree. I remember when I was a little girl, my father, Anthony, and I would all come down here and pick the ripest apples that were on that tree and eat them on the walk home. Then we would bring baskets and pick berries and take them home so mom could make sweet cakes with them.

After walking a bit, I was fixing to turn around, but my instincts told me to look around me. So, I did. Right as I looked up, I heard feet crunching on the autumn leaves. Lexi.

"Well, well, well," she said. "Look at what the stream brought down."

"Lexi, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I could ask you the same thing, but I already know. Daddy died so now you have to catch up with little Anthony who's down there waiting patiently for you to return to him just like he always has."

"It's not like that Lexi. I don't know why you're acting like this."
"I know more than you think I do sweet heart. From me reading his journal without him knowing and what all I've heard and seen today, I don't need to know anything else. There isn't anything else to know."

"So, you've been spying on us? Why doesn't this surprise me?"

"Watch it human. Remember the power I have over both of you."

I smiled slightly.

"Remember that I don't care? Or have you forgotten that while I've been gone these past three weeks?"

She took some steps off the ledge and walked over to me and lightly grabbed my wrist. I didn't flinch and it surprised her.

"You know," she said. "Considering how close he is to you, I wonder if he would love you the same if you're a monster like me."

"I'm not going to sit here and scream and beg you to not do something to me. Do what you want."

"Well, I could kill you, I could turn you into one of me, I could even let you run free. There are multiple things I could do right now. I just have to figure out which one I want to do."

I stood there waiting. I always knew she wanted to hurt me, but I never knew the extent of it.

"You know, now that I think about it, why hurt me? I've never done anything to you to make you hate me like this," I said.

"Oh," she laughed. "But you did. You took the only person I've ever truly loved away from me."

"If my memory serves me correctly, you left him."

"Yes. Yes I did, but it was because his heart didn't belong with me. It belonged with you. I'm quite sure even you knew that."

"Maybe if you talk to him, you could work things out? He really liked you, you know."

"There's a difference between liking someone and loving them sweetie. He spent most of his time with you anyways. Not me. I'm the one he should be spending his time with."

"Well, apparently he didn't want it that way."

"Which is exactly why we are about to find out if he will think of you the same if you are a monster like me."

She grabbed my wrist and went to put it towards her mouth.

"Just remember," I said as she paused. "By doing this, you are making me equal to you."

"Oh dear," she said. "Is that a threat? I love a nice challenge."

She bit me and I immediately hit the ground grunting from the pain of the bite.