Purple

Chapter 8

I hurriedly run out of the clearing and start to make my way through the woods, stopping running so I wouldn't get lost. When I was seven Jer and I got lost and it was probably the most terrifying experience in my life. Right next to the girl getting run over today, but the day is young.

I shutter at the thought and push it away. I've replayed that experience over and over in my head enough to last a lifetime. I look down at my feet, watching my converse step on twigs as they snap in half. I dog my hands into my jean pockets, not because I'm cold but because I need some kind of security. I feel something paper like in my pocket and pull it out to find a gum wrapper, folded in half.

I curiously unfold it and stare down at the wrapper. Written on the wrapper in blue pen is the note

"Ha-ha stole your last piece scar. Watch your pockets next time ;) -Jer"

Chuckling to myself, I stuff the wrapper back into my pocket and look up from the ground. It looks much darker then it did last time I looked up and I wonder how long I've been walking. I can just faintly make out the outline of trees and panic flashes across my mind.

I think of running, but if know it won't do me any good. I'll just get lost with my terrible directions. Instead, I walk calmly in the same direction, trying to recall which way I came earlier today. I'm just about to give up and sleep in a tree like freaking katniss when I hear my dad call my name for the second time. He sounds close, so I must not be too far from getting out of the woods.

"Coming dad!" I call back, reaching into my back pocket and pulling out my phone. I turn it on and flick on the installed flashlight. Light appears in front of me and I am instantly relieved. I shine the light in front of me so I can see where I'm going and I see the edge of the woods and my dad's shape, although I have to squint my eyes to see him.

Walking faster, I get closer to the end of the woods. I suddenly stop in my tracks, unaware why I did. I look around, shining the light from my phone around me. As cliche as it sounds I can't get the feeling that someone is right behind me every time I turn out if my head. This is stupid, pull yourself together Scarlett Jane.

I turn my back and walk the way I was going before. Although I know it's stupid, I start to run to my dad. I can see him from where I am. Seconds later I am by his side and I'm not quite sure how I got to him so fast. I shrug it off and conclude that woods give me buckets of adrenaline. When I look up at my father there's a scowl on his face.

"Scarlett, where the hell have you been? Your mother and I have been worried suck ever since we got home from work. We haven't seen you all day and you expect us to let you run around like an untrained animal."

" I didn't expect you to care" I mumble under my breath with a sigh. It must not have sounded English because my dad's frown grew.

"What was that?"

I shake my head "nothing, dad." I reply, although it's surely something. What I mumbled was true. Why would my parents care? It's not like they're ever home anyway. They're always somewhere without me, working on their writing. I won't deny that they're good writers, because they are, but I wish they would spend less time worrying about writing books for adults that I don't even want to read and more time doing stuff with me. My dad leans down and grabs the handlebars of my fallen bike, standing the bike up in its wheels.

"Didn't think so. Let's go home, your mother is scared as a sissy" he says coldly and i do nothing but nod.

The short walk back to the house is silent except for the sounds of my bike as my dad pushes it along and the gravel under our feet as we walk. When we finally arrive at the door of my plain white house, my dad leans my bike on the railings of the porch steps before walking up the stairs and opening the door.