Tainted

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I woke up the next morning with a pounding in the back of my head. I knew I'd regret all those shots the girls persuaded me to have. I'm too easily influenced by them.

I got myself ready before sending a quick text to June and Lois to check we were still meeting that morning. We had all met at Starbucks almost every morning at 9:30am for nearly 3 years now. It was our little tradition. Plus, I knew for a fact, nothing cures a hangover better than a Caramel Frappucino.

I said goodbye to my Grandmother before heading to Starbucks in my little blue mini. I parked my car in the public car park, a few streets down. While I was walking towards the cosy little cafe, I felt somebody grab my arm and pull me into an alleyway. I looked up to see the guy from last night. Tall, blonde hair, tattoo sleeve, yep, definitely him.

"Get your fucking hands off of me." I hissed at him. He ignored my mini outburst.

"Look, don't ask me why, but you have to come with me." He spoke with a thick cockney accent, something we weren't used to in Birmingham. His eyes darted around nervously, before he began to tug my arm, dragging me away.

"I'm not going anywhere with you." I said before throwing a kick to his crotch. His hand instantly left my arm and flew down to the impact point while he shouted certain cuss words that weren't really necessary. Just in case that didn't get the message across, I swung my fist back and into his eye, so he fell back into the brick wall behind him.

I'd always known how to take care of myself. One thing I do remember about my parents; they were very skilled in the form of martial arts and self defence. Sometimes, my dad would teach me some moves. I mean, I was only 7 but I still picked up some stuff. Throughout my childhood, I had also attended many after school clubs related to martial arts and self defence. It's not like I was violent, but it gave me a power like nothing else could. To know that I could protect myself, awarded me with a lot more confidence.

Now sprinting down the street to Starbucks though, I couldn't seem to gather that confidence I had moments before. When I finally reached the doors, I burst through to see June and Lois sat at our usual table. I ran over to them, they both looked up at me like I hadn't just disturbed a whole cafe and sprinted up to them like a stampede was chasing me. They're so oblivious sometimes, it scares me.

"We have to go." I told them, still out of breath from my little sprint.

"What?" "Why?" They both asked, so oblivious and calm, more worried about their coffees than my safety.

"Someone is trying to get me. He grabbed me and told me to go with him, but I kicked him in the crotch and then punched him. So, I guarantee he is going to be pissed so we have to go NOW!" I explained hurriedly before grabbing them and yanking them out of their seats and dragging them out of the cafe.

We crossed the street and then began to sprint back to the car park. After paying for the parking ticket, we jumped in my car and I sped away. We drove back to my house. I had to warn my Grandmother.

When we got to mine, we straight away went to my living room, where my Grandmother was shouting at a football game which was playing on our flat screen TV. Yeah, she's not a normal grandmother.

I ran in front of her.

"Gran." I said.

"Oi, get out the way, Chelsea are about to score, I can feel it!" she shouted at me.

I turned around and switched off the TV. My Grandmother huffed and fell back into her armchair.

"Look, someone is trying to get me. I saw him outside the club last night and on my way to Starbucks, he grabbed me and told me to go with him, but I kicked him in the crotch and then punched him. I think he's looking for me for some, specific reason but, I don't know what to do." I explained.

She sat there with a thoughtful look on her face before she spoke quietly "look girls why don't you just go to the mall for a bit. I can sort this." She stood up and walked across the room to the doorway. "But-" I began, confused about the whole situation, before she cut me off.

"No buts Maisie. Just do what I said." She told me before she walked up the stairs.

I stared in shock after her. That's all she could say?

"Come on Maisie, lets go." June said quietly, while she guided me back out the front door. Lois climbed in my car first, into the drivers seat. June called shotgun, while I clambered into the back.

When we arrived at the shopping mall, I had decided to try and forget about the incident earlier, just look at it as a one off. No point in dwelling on it now.

Firstly, we headed to TopShop, my favourite store. Settling on a black crop jumper and a pair of torn jeans, we then made our way down to Starbucks, as June and Lois hadn't been able to finish their coffees earlier, prior to a certain incident.

As we made our way across the mall, I saw a familiar 'mystery man' walking in our direction. I immediately ran into the closest store, dragging June and Lois in with me. I took a look around before turning to them. The Disney store. Well, it could be worse I guess.

"What the fuck Mais?" Lois snapped. "You just pulled my new top." She said and then began to inspect her sleeve carefully.

"He's here." I whisper shouted nervously, looking around while Disney employees and customers eyed us warily.

"The 'guy'?" June leant forward, also whispering cautiously.

"Well, if he tries anything. He's gonna wish he never looked in our direction." She growled, looking outside the shop.

I crept up to the shop window and peered outside at the many people strolling past, not a care in the world. Unable to see my stalker, I signalled to June and Lois and we cautiously left the shop, speeding up towards the direction of the car park.

Once we had reached it, Lois payed for the parking ticket while me and June ran to the car. I quickly accelerated out of the parking spot and drove to where Lois should be coming out. After a few moments, she did, and I then proceeded to hurriedly leave the building, carrying on towards Junes house. It had gotten quite late by this point and we had agreed to all return to our own homes, where we could be safe with our families.

I walked up to my Grandmothers room, once I had arrived home, to find her sound asleep on her bed. I quietly shut the door and went for a shower.

You know when your in the shower, you sometimes find yourself lost in your thoughts, losing track of time? Well yeah, that may have happened. So, forty-five minutes later, I stepped out of the shower, my skin shrivelled and my eyes sore. I proceeded to apply my beauty regime, the various creams and products I had to use to keep my face on an even keel. Once I had dried my hair and got changed into some cotton shirts and an oversized t-shirt, I climbed under my warm covers, not caring about the time, just needing to sleep, to get my mind straight about the days events.

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everything will become clear in the next chapter, like literally everything so hold fire because its all coming out now!!