The Day Girls Started Chasing Me

Chapter 7

I'm terrified of animals: dogs, cats, horses, birds, even fish. Just name an animal and I'll tell you, Oh that thing. Yeah, I just peed my pants after looking at it. I always hated this part about myself. It's really hard to live ordinarily in the real world when the sound of a dog barking has you jumping out of your skin in terror.

I'd say my fear for all animals started at around the age of eight. I was walking with my little sister in the park back home after a competitive game of frisbee. Then I saw a classmate from my school in front of me. His name is Frank and to this day he remains my best and only friend. I was about to run up to catch up with him but I couldn't help but see this dark figure run up to him. Before any of us could prepare ourselves for what was about to happen next, the figure opened its mouth to display its sharp, grimy teeth and wrapped it around Frank's calf. His scream pierced my ears as it rang through the air. And that image, that sound, has left a scar not just on Frank's leg, but my life. Eventually, this one incident just lead to me overgeneralizing and placing the fear on all animals. I guess it was just too much for an eight year old to handle.

Funny thing is, Frank loves animals, especially dogs. His parents have many back home and he plans on getting a few of his own once he gets an apartment.

But I fear animals, specifically dogs. Big Dogs.

So when Steve and his pack approached me my insides began twisting and clenching themselves inside my stomach. I think I was about to be sick.

"Well, well, well. Would you look at what we have here? It looks like the chihuahua has come to get bitten by a pack of wolves," Steve boasts with that stupid smirk on his lips. If I wasn't so scared, I probably would've considered knocking that smile off his face. But since I am scared, I do and say nothing as him and his pack laugh at me.

"Now, didn't I tell you that you weren't invited to my party?" He mockingly asks. "I thought I made that pretty clear. No losers allowed." The laughter grows and my heart sinks. This is so embarrassing. I don't even know why I came. "Are you going to answer or are you just going to continue to stand there like a deer in headlights?"

"I-I," I can't get the words out of my mouth. I want to tell him I'm not a loser. That a girl actually invited me to come with her to your infamous party. I want to tell him to leave me the hell alone, that he's a big fat jerk who likes to use people and that I really, really, want to hit him. Of course if I said any of this I would be the one to get hit. And six against one was definitely not in my favor.

"What? Cat's got your tongue?" he prods, scowling down at me. I clench my fists at my side as I try to hold back the heat of anger racing through my chest. "Get lost Alex." He bumps past me and in that moment, I can no longer hold it in.

"It's Adam." I mumble.

He pauses. "What did you just say?"

I'm about to hesitate, tell him I said nothing. But I was just sick of his attitude. I'd already lost my pride, the least I could do was have my name. "I said, my name's Adam."

He scoffs and walks back to face me. "Look, I don't care what the hell your name is. You don't talk back to Steve Wrecker."

"YEAH!" Mike, the sidekick, yells from his post among the pack.

"Shut up!" Steve screams snapping his head to face Mike. Then with a huff, he turns back to me, "Watch your back, Adam. I won't let you off so easily. I know your name now after all." And they disperse inside the house, leaving me outside all on my own.

"So, what did he want?" Ezra asks suddenly appearing by my side.

"Gosh! You scared me," I say with a start.

"Well?" he prods.

"He was just being an arrogant asshole." I answer, pulling at my collar to give my now sweat dripping body some air. "You know, I think I might skip this party thing. I'm suddenly not in the mood."

"Are you kidding me? Are you really going to let the Wrecker ruin your chance at a good night?"

"Well, yeah." I mean, he did. He just called me a loser and told me to watch my back. Going to his party was probably the last thing I wanted, or should do, in this situation.

"Okay, then are you really going to stand Cheryll up? Remember, she's kind of your date."

I didn't think about that. I just figured that by saying I was her Plus One I could get into the party and then we'd just be on our separate ways. I never thought about it as a date. Was it a date? I mean, would she think it is a date? Am I overreacting? Is Ezra just saying stuff? Is he serious? I she serious? Am I serious? "Yeah, I swear, if I see one more question go through your head I'm going to knock you out," Ezra warns.

"Wait, how did you know I was asking questions?"

"You're an open book, Adam! Seriously, I can read you like I can read the numbers on this wall. You're so obvious I'm wondering if it's even possible." He sounds exasperated, but a glimmer of laughter itches at his tone. "You're not going anywhere Adam, not on my watch."

Ezra grabs hold of my wrist and pulls me in the opposite direction. It was counter-intuitive, but since Wrecker's house was the last place I wanted to be, I didn't fight it. It's not until I notice the signs when I realize Ezra had different plans than me. He was pulling me towards Wrecker's backdoor.

"Stop! I don't want to go!" I scream in my meek attempt to get out of Ezra's grasp. Despite his skinny frame, he was much stronger than me. Everyone was stronger than me.

He ignores my protest and instead pushes me towards the closest wall, taking his hand and covering my mouth. "Shut up before I shut you up." From that point on, my lips were sealed, even as he pulled me towards Hell's doors.

When we get to the door, Ezra hastily reaches for his pocket and pulls out his keys. "Watch and learn." He kneels down and sticks the keys inside the doorknob diagonally. He pokes and prods, one eye shut closed as he peeps through the hole. I hear a click, he turns the knob, and we're in.

I can't believe it. We just broke into Steve Wrecker's house.

"So Adam," Ezra starts, "ready to party?"

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I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, even though I'm 9 months late updating. I hadn't even realized it had been so long. As you can tell, the school year has just been super busy. But summer is nearing closer which means updates will be more frequent.

So, what do you think will happen at Wrecker's party?

What do we think of Steve Wrecker?

Let me know in a COMMENT below. Don't forget to also VOTE to show me some support and FOLLOW me if you haven't already.

HAPPY EASTER!

I'll see all your beautiful eyes in the next chapter. Chow! :D