Forces of Nature

Playing Hooky

Footsteps sounded down the hall. Riley was up, no doubt getting ready for another busy day at the office. I looked over at the clock on the bedside table. Eight fifteen. About the time I should have been leaving for school. The alarm had gone off at seven just like every other morning. I'd groaned and rolled over, bashing it to within an inch of it's electronic life, just like every other morning. But then, most unlike every other morning, my first coherent thoughts had not been of making sure I had some coffee and water with my sugar, but instead of Aidan and the threatening words he'd said to me yesterday. So very full of promise and intent. Intent to do me both physical and psychological harm.

"Serena's pranks will look like child's play compared to what I can do."

I shivered at the thought all over again. I'd been unable to think of anything else, my overactive imagination running away with all sorts of gruesome things he could be planning. I was already trying to come up with counter plans. Like hold your breath when someone dunks your head into the toilet, or aim for ass first instead of head first if chucked down the stairs. More cushion to break the fall, not to mention less vital organs. Not that I thought he'd go for something so obvious and predictable. No, I was sure Aidan would be after something more creative. He was malicious like that. I'd need eyes in the back of my head to escape his unwarranted wrath.

I heard the shower start up, and for a couple of minutes just listened to the muffled spray of water as it hit the shower floor. Hopefully my brother would leave without noticing I was still in the house. I wasn't up to explaining exactly why I wasn't going. Nothing good could come after the words, "Hey Ry, yeah I'm taking the rest of the week off because my ex boyfriend-turned-stalker is out for misplaced revenge on my ass and I'm a teeny bit afraid that he's going to do me serious bodily harm."

Riley would be down at the school in a heartbeat, demanding to see said ex boyfriend so he could beat the crap out of him. A successful businessman my brother might be, but he could still give a good ass whooping when it was required. And as much as I thought Aidan deserved a tremendous ass whooping, I didn't want to be partially responsible for Riley going to prison. No, better to just handle this one on my own, roll with the punches and all. I'd do exactly the same thing I'd done with Serena. Take the high road and ignore him. Eventually he'd get bored and leave me alone. Or concentrate on getting a reaction out of Tyson instead, something that could produce interesting results. I had no doubt that Tyson wouldn't just lay down and take it. He'd come back swinging, full force. Something told me Aidan wouldn't stand a chance if that happened. Which begged the question: How in the hell did Aidan think he was going to get to Tyson?

I lay quietly for the next half hour, listening to the sounds of Riley's morning routine. Every morning after his shower, he went downstairs to have a coffee and check his emails, then at precisely ten to nine - I glanced at the clock when I heard the front door shut and smiled. Right on time. At ten to nine, he leaves the house and sets off for work. I listened for the sound of his SUV's engine rumbling to life, but nothing happened. I frowned as the door opened again and I heard Riley's footsteps on the stairs a second later. That wasn't part of the morning routine. I shrugged mentally. Maybe he'd forgotten something.

Or not. The door to my bedroom swung open and my brother filled the doorframe, an amused smile playing about his lips.

"If you're going to play hooky, you might want to park your truck down the road. Or at least in the garage. That way it won't be blocking my car in when I need to leave for work."

Damn, he definitely had a good point. I hadn't even thought about my hard-to-miss truck taking up the majority of our driveway. You'd have to be blind not to notice it. I sighed, cursing my stupidity.