Fire

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"This locker taken?" Jumping back I smack into my locker door as a tall blonde boy smiles down at me sweetly. I look to the locker next to mine he is pointing to and blink confused.

"Lockers are assigned. Either this is yours, or you're about to get lost." Beck comes up behind me and taps the locker tauntingly. I turn away from the boy that walks off in a hurry and up to Beck. "Hey baby."

"Beck I'm too jumpy and my hands are shaky plus I just don't want to be alone today knowing those creeps go here." I whisper as I push my bag into the locker. Sneaking his arm around my waist Beck pulls me into his chest and leans down to my level.

With wide eyes I look around to see practically everyone gawking at us. Turning back to him I smile as he winks at me. "I'll make sure you're never alone."

"I have a bunch of classes you don't. What about then?" I close my locker and head off to art. I have this with Brad thankfully. Beck slides his fingers in mine and squints his eyes while thinking.

"You try to stop me from being the hero."

-

"Okay lets talk about distance. Some of you went away for spring break while others well, sorry you were stuck here." Mr.Pangborn spins around in his chair and points to Brad and I in the back corner. "You two. Daniella and Brad. Come forward."

Looking to each other we get up and walk to the front. I ignore the looks my legs bring and keep my eyes down. Brad speaks up bored and annoyed. "Now what?"

"How many steps was that?" Pangborn questions mocking Brad. I look to Brad and the path a just took. "Well since you don't know, how about Daniella count the steps it takes you to get to the opposite end of the girls locker room, and Brad you do the same for the boys."

I walk out silently and count my steps closely, walking my shoes and not the hall. Bumping into someone I look up at an amused Beck. I try to hold my smile as I cross my arms and look him over suspiciously. "You're blocking my path."

"Your path huh? Counting foot steps?" Beck steps to my side to walk with me. I bump my shoulder into his as I watch two of my step equal his one. "What's on your mind?"

"So many questions. Pangborn is picking on me and my strong brave boyfriend wasn't there to protect me." I stick out my bottom lip and look up at him with wide eyes. Nodding he looks down at me and takes my hand in his.

"I sent my sidekick to look out for my pretty girl." Beck says in an duh tone. Rolling my eyes I stop at the front of the girls locker room door and turn to him.

"You mean Brad? Pangborn is picking on him too." I put my hand on Beck's chest once he tries to get closer. "Get to class so I'm not distracted from my step counting."

"Okay okay. See you after class, beautiful." Holding up his hands he turns away and heads off to class. Smiling to myself I push open the big door and step into the dim locker room. There isn't gym last period so lights must have been shut off. I flick the switch and only a few come on. Nice. Creepy locker room.

Even though I am alone a tip toe around, quickly counting my steps. A locker slams shut making me jump and swirl around. The room is empty from what I can see. The bad thing about this locker room is that there are all kinds of turns and separate spaces so it's not too packed and the showers are more secluded.

I hear footsteps making me smack my hand over my mouth as slip into the nearest unlocked locker. I grab the open padlock before slowly shutting the door, sliding it through the hole from the inside, holding me in.

"Hello?" I call out, leaning back into the cold metal when someone starts to whistle. I watch as two tall boys walk past, looking around quietly. I wish I was small enough to sit down, curl into myself and hide. Instead I'm forced to look out of the slits provided at my convenience.

"She's gone." One whispers, the other hitting a locker when the bell rings. Beck, Brad. They will look for me.

"She's hiding. Check the showers." James. I recognize him. His name is James McCartney. He is a troubled kid. In and out of foster homes. He's only a sophomore, he better run while he has the chance.

I bite my lip as he starts opening unlocked lockers, inching his way to mine. He takes a second to look in the slots before swinging them open. Dramatic.

"Ella?" Beck. James makes it to my locker and looks me right in the eye, laughing before yanking on the door. His smile vanishes and the door doesn't budge.

"OPEN UP!" James screams and hits the locker. Beck pops out of nowhere and shoves James away, looking in at me. I barely have time to gasp before the other boy jumps on Beck, tackling him to the ground. I squeeze my eyes shut and plug my ears as Beck gets his back slammed into my locker, denting it in towards me.

"What the fuck?" Brad. I look just in time to see Beck slam the boys heads together and kick them to the ground. Caleb pops up in front of me, rushing me to open up. I unlock the locker and jump behind Brad. Beck sits on the bench in front of the two boys and wipes his mouth.

"Who put you up to this?" Beck asks, annoyed and tired. "Hmm? You two in a gang?"

Of course it doesn't take long for two little boys to spill their guts to the intimidating seniors.

"He... he isn't in a gang. Just some rich guy. He is like an obsessed stalker." James reaches in his back pocket and pulls out a bunch of money and a picture. Beck snatches the picture up before I can see it. A stalker.

"He just wants your life." The other boy says and looks at Beck seriously. "He even calls himself Beck."

"If you see this man ever again, you better tell him he is dead if he comes near me, or my family again. Is that clear?" Nodding they both lean back and wince at their pain. Beck grabs my hand and pulls me out of the locker room.

"What is the picture?" I whisper, biting my lip nervously once he ignores me. Not the time.

"Call Danny, tell him we know what's going on. There is an obsessive gang leader trying to replace me and fight him. Everyone meet at my house tonight. Tell him that too." Beck looks down at me with an angry face once I stop and tug his hand back.

"I need my bag and phone." I mumble while looking to my locker. Nodding Beck drops my hand and turns to Caleb who is on the phone. Unlocking my locker I jump back when pictures come pouring out of it. Me. Beck. Beck and I.

At the beach, in the woods, the lake, the dance, my house. My bed.

I pick up one where Beck is kissing me for the first time. One stuck to it is us 'dinning n dashing'. I grab another where I'm taking my shirt off. Then another where I'm digging through my dresser in just a towel. I reach for one of Beck on a run but stop when I spot a folded up piece of paper.

"Daniella? What is this?" Brad starts picking pictures up off the floor as I unfold the note. Beck grabs my bag then pulls me into his side, looking down at the pictures in my hands.

"That freak." Beck practically growls and starts shoveling the mess into his and Brad's bags. I grab one of us just in our underwear before Brad does, blushing embarrassed by the lack of privacy I've actually had.

Beck shuts my locker once it's cleared and turns to me quietly. "Shouldn't we go to the police?"

"Don't worry, we will catch this creep." Beck takes the photos from my hands and slides them in his bag, leaving the note I hold tightly in my hand.

I slowly open it to a messy letter.

Dear Daniella,
I long to meet you and your beautiful boy. Meet me in the gym tonight at 12:00 and please do ever so kindly bring your lovely friends.
Love, the right Beck.