Who's Shadow

Dear Alice

Jase never even showed up for school. I wish he had so I wasn't constantly panicking looking everywhere trying to spot him. I had pulled Lulu away during lunch and told her what had happened. She was so angry with me for not calling the cops but she understood that I couldn't get my parents involved.

I really miss them, my mom and dad. I haven't heard from then since last month. I think I'll check the mail once again when I get home, I have that gut feeling whenever I get a letter.  The past four times I confused that 'gut feeling' with cramping but this time I'm sure. I picked up my algebra book from my white locker before heading upstairs to leave.

Someone stopped me in my tracks by grabbing my left arm. My brain went into this now new defense mode and without thinking I swung around and punched the person right in the jaw. I thought it was going to be Jase but it was Ocean. Ocean. I yelped as I saw him fall back grabbing his face. "What the heck, Alice?"

"I'm so sorry I didn't think it was you!" I grabbed his face inspecting for cuts or whatever I was supposed to look for.

"Who did you think it was?"

"I thought, never mind it doesn't matter, are you okay? Like really, I know I don't hit that hard but are you okay? I'm not sure if your cheek is swollen or if its just in it's natural sweetness." I pinched his chubby cheek.

Ocean laughed, "No, I'm okay. Promise. Are you ready?"

"For what?" It's not like me to forget things?

"Remember? The other day when we were on the phone you said I should take you to the party because you didn't want to be in the car with 'A jerk, player, stupid head' "

I laughed out loud remember what I had once thought of Parker.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, its just, I don't think that way of him anymore. He's actually really nice, under all those layers of what you just mentioned."

"What happened with Jase?" I looked down from Oceans blue eyes and down at our feet. I saw him step closer and closer until our toes touched. Ocean tilted my chin back up to meet his gaze. "What's wrong?"

"I can't, you'll tell." A feeling of guilt swarmed over me as I started to back away and head to the schools front blue and white doors. "Alice, if he laid a hand on you I swear I'll kill him. Say the word and he's done  I would never let him near you again. Parker said to watch out for him, is it because he tired something? I-" I was out of the door before he finished and tears were streaming down my face. It breaks my heart I can't tell my best friend what happened.

I walked down the front steps and down to where we hung out in the morning before school. I sat down at the blue table and continued to cry silently, occasionally tasting the salty tears seep into my mouth.

I spotted Parker across the front lawn with a few baseball players and the next thing I know he's walking,  no running, over to me. He crossed the road without looking and barely missed getting hit. He threw his bag down and squatted in front of me and inspected my body with his eyes looking for new cuts or bruises.

"Did you see Jase? Did he touch you?"

"No, I'm fine let's go." We walked down to the junior parking lot and got into his jeep. I saw Parker give me a long look from my side vision then he started the ignition and took off.

Once we arrived at my house I asked if he could drop me off at the mail box. I got out, thanked him, gave him a sweet smile, and said see you later.

I really wasn't in the mood for this party but I promised and when I promise something I always keep that promise. 

I flipped the lid open on the mail box. Nothing. My parents didn't write me once again. I'm not sure if I was worried or angry but most of all I felt lonely. I was promised one letter a week and my last letter was two weeks ago, well now three weeks.