Apartment 502

Chapter 3.

Chapter 3.

"Watch where you're going"

It was a boy, about 16 or 17 maybe. His light brown hair feathered at the top, his hood was half off of his head, with his hands clenched in fists at his sides.

"I'm so sorry." I looked down, not wanting to make eye contact with him, "I didn't mean to."

He looked at me in confusion.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing?"

He stepped forward, intimidating me.

I stepped back. " I was just-"

"you were just what?" He took another step.

I backed up some more, 2 steps this time. "I was just going t-. I mean I was go-"

Before I could tell him, he laughed. Not quite a real one, but a laugh.

Another step forward.

"You know it's dangerous over here at night. You never know what kind of trouble you'll get into." he said, his eyes trailing the street behind me.

"Y-yeah. I um. I know." I stuttered, my stomach turning every minute I stayed stuck in this situation.

He took another step towards, this time he was so close to me that I can smell the musty cologne on his neck. What was wrong with this kid? Did he not know about personal space?

"Especially, for beautiful girls like you"

I stiffened.

I quickly looked around to see if anyone was there, trying to do so nonchalantly but I think my nervousness gave me away. He ran his hand down my arm and smiled. His eyes dark and filled with so much emotion I didn't know what he's feeling.

I stared at him for a second, not wanting to make a fast movement because he might attack me, but I pushed him away from me. I tried to run past him, but he grabbed my arm.

I screamed, but I didn't hear anything. His hand was over my mouth. I tried to pry it but he's too strong.

"Stop," he said, indicating that I was causing trouble for him.

I stopped struggling when he pulled out a pocket knife and held it just inches away from my face.

Gretchen was right. I should've listened. I kept my hands on his arm, not trying to remove it because of the threatening knife he had in front of me.

"Tell me gorgeous,why is someone like you walking around this neighborhood this time of night?" His voice sent chills running down my spine.

My heart started beating faster as he swayed the knife back and forth, I watched the blade move swiftly in front of me. He slowly moved his hand away from my mouth.

"Don't scream Parker."

I froze in my place.

Did he just say my name? No, he couldn't have. I've never seen this kid before in my life. How would he know my name?

"Parker, Parker, parker. That's a beautiful name. Are you named after anyone?"

I tried to say something, but nothing came out. I was too scared. I shook my head.

"What's the matter?"

He let go of my arm and circled around to face me.

"Do I make you nervous?"

I wanted to run, but it's like I was nailed to the ground. I felt my knees grow weaker by the minute.

He turned around and faced his back towards me. At first, he just stood there, staring straight ahead. He sighed heavily, put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a lighter. I thought about attempting to run past him, but he faced me again.

"You know whats funny Parker?" He pointed the lighter at me, wiggling it in the air.

"I could've sworn your cute little friend Gretchen warned you about me. Am I right?"

I felt my palms grow sweaty, he knows Gretchen too.

"Am I right?" He demanded an answer from me.

I swallowed, nodding my head rather quickly. I hoped he wasn't referring to who I think he was.

He moved closer to me and cocked his head slightly to the left. I inched back slightly.

His eyes moved from my legs and up, until they met my eyes. He smiled and lifted up the blue lighter he took from his pockets minutes ago, and lit it, just at the bottom of my hair.

I screamed, jumping back and frantically patted my ends with a look of fear on my face as I listened to him laugh at me.

I backed up and I watched him turn the lighter on and off, and stare at it in amazement

"Don't worry babe, If I wanted to set you on fire, I would."

I swallowed loudly, and wiped my hands on the side of my skirt.

"wh-who are you?" I managed to stutter out.

I stared at him for a long period of time before he gave me his answer. His broad shoulders covered by his black hoodie. His jawline clenched tightly as he narrowed his eyes at me.

"Take a guess Parker."

I knew exactly who he was, so why was I still standing there? I had my chance to run, but I didn't.

"Are you going to tell me what you think?" He insisted I answer him.

There was a long silence before I choked out the words he wanted to hear.

"Jason McCann."

He smirked and looked me up and down one more time. His hand gently brushed mine as he swiftly moved past me and walked away, down the dark road Gretchen warned me about.

I stood there for a moment, scared he was still behind me when I turned my head to see if he was. I squinted my eyes, backing up little by little. It was too dark to see if he had gone into the apartment, so I turned around and started to run down the street to Gretchen's, not sure if he would follow me.

I didn't stop until I reached her steps panting out of breath. I banged on the door, not acknowledging how late it was, and not caring who was sleeping, until she opened the door groggily.

"Kay? What are you doing here?"

I ran inside and locked the door, running into the other room to check the sliding door too.

"Parker! Can you please tell me what's going on?!"

Ignoring her pleads, I felt the bottom of my hair to check if any damage had been done.

"Gretchen you were right."

"About what Kay? Tell me please I'm getting worried."

I paced her living room floor and finally sat down in the couch. I waited long enough so that I can register what just happened in my head.

"I just ran into Jason McCann"