Neighbors

Neighbors XIV

Chapter 14

W E  A R E  A  C O U P L E

It's Saturday morning, and the party that Carol wants me to attend is in a few hours. She also wants me to come over a little bit earlier and help her set up. I don't want to. But I will because I have nothing better to do.

Right now, I'm sitting in my car, scavenging in my purse for some money for gas. I finally find some and do what I need to do, then walk in the gas station to find something to drink. I walk around the store looking at all the drinks, my eyes landing on a Monster. As I'm grabbing the drink I hear the door beep, admitting someone coming into the store. Another beep. And another. Three people. Another; four.

I suck on my cheek as I decide what Monster I want. Blue? Red? Green? I go with green. After all, it is the best.

I stand up, rubbing my eyes since is about ten thirty in the morning and I just woke up due to my mom screaming at me about ditching school yesterday.

Walking to the cash register, I bump into an aisle thing and open my eyes since I was still rubbing them. I fix the food that fell and start walking backwards, turning around in time to bump into something else. I walk backwards, looking up at the back of the guy I bumped into.

"Sorry." I mumble and move around him, walking to the counter. I hear whispers behind me and then the unspeakable happens. Something hooks onto my arm and drags me back.

"Weird seeing you here again." A familiar voice says, sending shivers down my spine. I picture my subconscious throwing herself under the blankets and peek out. I look at the sleeved arm of tattoos and veins popping out like rivers. I look at the three, holding the Monster close to me. My eyes shift to the register to find no one there. I then look outside to see someone in a suit helping someone out at the pumps. So I'm here. Alone. With Parkers friends. From the mall.

Somehow, I put on a hidden face.

"Do I know you?" Innocence is my best defense here. I'm not strong, I'm alone, two bad things. And if what Parker says is true about the guy named Tats—I'm thinking he's the one holding me with black hair—and what he wants to do to me...I'm screwed.

The lengthy guy raises his eyebrow and meets Tats nonbelieving glare.

"Are you sure?" The lengthy guy inquires, raising a pierced eyebrow at me.

"No, Rule, if she says she doesn't know us, she doesn't. But that doesn't mean we don't know her." Tats says to 'Rule'. I'm thinking Rule is the taller and skinny one. That leaves Nash as the black guy. I lick my lips with the realization and rip my arm out of Tats grasp.

"Thank you." I say, setting my Monster on the counter and running out of there like the store is on fire and a giant dragon is chasing me.

I fumble to start up Bullet, but when I do, I pull out of there, leaving the dragon behind. A sigh escapes my lips and I go to the destination Carol texted me. I pull into the big house, realizing it's not that far from my house. I bite my lip as I rush to the front and open the door, not bothering to knock.

"Oh, hello. Can I help you?" A woman's voice stops me from rushing up the stairs to seek Carol. I look at her, my face paling. The girl has long curly hair, and somewhere in my mind the realization this is Carol's mom snaps in.