Because of You

Chapter 8

I had a few days until my... date with Jayden. It was still weird to think of it as a date. Since the dance competition I hadn't really had much to do because I had a little while off of dance. I basically sat around my house listening to music or reading books or petting my cat or sleeping. I know I'm boring.

I was about to grab yet another book off my shelf when my phone buzzed. I looked down excitedly hoping it was Jayden, but... it wasn't. The caller ID said Mom. I took a deep breath. I had promised myself that if she called again I would answer and try to solve this problem. I put my thumb over the answer button... and pressed it.

"Hello?" I whispered.

"Oh Wendy! You answered! I was beginning to think you'd never speak to me again!" my mother said, sounding relieved. She stopped waiting for me to answer, but I didn't know what to say so there was just a moment of awkward silence.

"Look Honey, we really need to talk. Dad and I have been feeling awful about what we said to you when you lef–"

"When you kicked me out," I interrupted.

She sighed. "Anyways. We really want to talk this out in person. Please come over sometime. We were hoping next Saturday would work for you."

Next Saturday. I did want to solve this problem, but that was when I had my... date. I didn't want it to sound like I was avoiding them though. We did need to talk about this no matter how much I was dreading it. "Saturday then."

"Oh thank you Honey! We'll see you then!"

"Bye," I said quietly and the line cut off. I sighed. This was going to happen. Maybe I could finally make up with my parents. I needed something to calm me down. Talking to my parents seemed very stressful.

I decided to just take a walk. I went out my door and started down the sidewalk. I lived in a quiet neighborhood. Most of my neighbors were old cat ladies. When I decided to get a new house I figured why not move into a neighborhood where I could fit in forever? I smiled faintly at the thought. I had always known I was destined to be an old cat lady.

I had almost finished walking around the block and I was nearing my house again when I saw someone I didn't want to see. It was the man from the park awhile ago. I quickened my step and ducked my head, but he had seen me. He started walking slowly in my direction without seeming obvious. Or at least that's what he was trying to do; it was pretty obvious.

I went to turn to go into my house, but then I realized I didn't want him to know where I lived... if he didn't already. I turned in the other direction: toward the park. There were lots of people there and maybe I could get lost in a crowd somehow. Except... there weren't as many people as I hoped. Why were there only a few people there? That was just my luck.

I started walking even faster, looking behind me and still seeing the man following me. I started to panic. I didn't know what to do. Suddenly I hit something. I should've been watching where I was going. I turned my head back to the front embarrassed and saw... Jayden? No. This can't be happening to me.

My whole face turned a bright red. I could feel it. He looked surprised at first, but then he smiled. "S-s-sorry," I stuttered.

"It's fine. Who are you running from?" he asked looking over my shoulder. Then, he must've saw the man that was following me because he frowned. I glanced over my shoulder and saw him standing a short distance off eyeing me every so often. I felt an arm go around my shoulders and I stiffened. It was Jayden.

"Walk," he said quietly. I didn't know how to function with his arm around me and I wanted to know why his arm was around me, but somehow I forced my feet to move. He guided me right past the man who was following me and when we were right in line with him Jayden squeezed my shoulder and laughed. I was so confused, but I looked over at the man and he was glaring daggers at Jayden.

Jayden walked me all the way home, not saying anything. We walked up my driveway and I opened my door. Jayden dropped his arm from my shoulder. I stepped into my house slowly and then glanced back at Jayden, frowning. I was still confused. He just smiled at me though and said, "Stay safe." Then he turned around and walked off.