50 Reps of 69

Shadow

"AJ! GET BACK TO PRACTICE" the coach yelled. Adrian turned around and ran back to Hunter and started playing catch again.
The coach was walking towards me, as he walked he questioned me on my name and where I was from. "I'm Sam Brown" I answered "I've come from a small town in Texas". The coach looked confused and asked me "well then what brings you to Arkansas? It's kinda far to just pack up and move". I looked into his eyes then to the ground, "I was receiving death threats and getting beat up daily at school there". It took him a minute to reply but when he did there was a bit of humor in his voice, "oh! You're that gay kid with the mental issues, right?"
I let out a small sigh. "So baseball? Where do you want me to go for practice?" He looked out at the field and pointed "left field with Andrew and KC". I started to run over to the left field and he jogged to me and stopped me "I'm Coach Beer by the way. I forgot to tell you that". I nodded then continued running to left field from right.

'I wish he'd of put me in right field so I could be closer to Adrian....I guess I can see him from here, he's only at first base....'

Baseball went on and after practice I got my things and walked to the quick stop by the school. I bought a drink and went to a table to do homework. An hour or two went by and I was done with my work. Gathering my stuff I got up and walked out the back door. I saw a dark grey, lifted 4x4  in the parking lot. It looked familiar and I thought I had seen it before but I couldn't remember where. After getting maybe a block away I could hear a diesel engine start up and begin to drive.

'They are just leaving the store. It's just a coincidence.'

The sun was starting to go down and it was starting to get cold. I stoped on the side of the road and put on my hoodie then continued walking. Two or three blocks after I first heard the diesel it was getting a tiny bit louder.
I decided to turn around.
Right as I turned, so did the diesel. Whoever it was turned right into someone's driveway; maybe theirs. I shook my head and kept walking.

'Only four more blocks to home. God I need a vehicle.'

Three blocks away from home I could hear the 4x4 again.
Two blocks away from home it was louder.
One block away from home it was closer.
At home it was parked across the street.

'That's where I've seen it before, whoever drives that diesel lives across the street from me........hopefully.'

I had been at home by myself for about an hour then, I heard the front door open and my mother said "I'm home my sweet little Sammy Brown". "Okay mom! I'm in my room" I replied. Which is true because I was and I am now. I'm writing in a journal that my mother got me to help deal with stress. Today was the first day I've actually writ-*CLINK*

'What was that?'

I turn around and walk to my window. I open the curtains and look down to the ground. I can see a blob of a person. I open my window and yell out "who's there?", there is no reply. The figure runs to my front door, sets down a box then runs to the dark grey 4x4 across the street. The person gets in and starts the vehicle then drives quickly away. I run out of my bedroom and down the stairs to the front door. I open it and grab the box. "What's that?" My mother asked. I try to look calm "it's nothing, just something a classmate brought me". Doing that awkward mom smile she says "that's nice sweetly".
I run back upstairs.

'What is in this thing? Who was that?'

I unfold the top of the box and look at its contents. There was a piece of paper folded up in the bottom. I pick it up. Written on the paper is "Call (555)678-9999" in very stringy handwriting.

'Do I call the number.....? Maybe it'll tell me who was in the diesel vehicle..........'

I take the paper with me and sit on my bed to think.

'What if it's a prank.......No. it's not a prank, I'm gonna call'

My phone sitting right next to me I look at it, hesitate, then pick it up and open it. *ringing*

'I hope they don't answer.....'

*ringing*
"Hello" a voice on the other side says. I stutter out a hello. "....is this Sammy Brown....?"

'Don't lie'

"Yes" I say. "Th-this is Adrian Jack....you remember me from school today?" "I do" He is quiet for a minute then says, with shame in his voice "I was the one who followed you home...".

'I knew that I had seen that vehicle before somewhere. It was at school and baseball practice...'

"You know what I'm going to ask" I said stern-fully, "why'd you follow me home?".
Another long pause then he replied "I...I wanted to make sure you got home okay".

'.....maybe he's wanting to be my friend.......or maybe he's just a really nice guy.....'

"Are you still there?" Adrian asked. "Yes" I pause "sorry". "It's okay" stopping for a minute he continued "meet me at the baseball field at midnight". Then he hung up, not even waiting for a answer from me.

'I guess I'm going to the baseball field tonight at midnight.....'

I close my phone and put it down then hear my father come in the front door. Tripping on the first step, I go down stairs. I walk into the kitchen and see my mom cooking supper and my dad kisses her cheek.

'It's only 8:36pm.......I guess I'll wait till they are asleep'

After about 20 minutes supper was ready and we ate. My dad went to the living room to watch tv and my mom was playing on her phone on the couch. "I'm going to bed" I stated, pointing up. They both say goodnight in almost unison. I run up the stairs then close and lock my bedroom door. I turn off the light and lay down. I don't go to sleep tho; I sent an alarm for 11pm.

'Why am I nervous? You're not gonna get beat up......are you...?.....I'll guess you'll see at midnight......'