What About Us?

Chapter 9

Jacob

"Melisa! MELISA! Wake up!" Jeez she sleeps like a rock. She sat bolt upright rubbing her left palm

"Jacob it hurt SO much!" She cried

"I know, I know. Its dinner time, come on Angela and Jackson are waiting."

She just stayed there rubbing her palm and muttering under her breath. Her breathing became really labored, like a dog left in a hot car, but she didn't seem to notice. I dug an inhaler out of my pocket and forced it into her hands. When she realized what was going on she took a few puffs before settling down.

"Mel, it was just a nightmare." I soothed

"But it happened, it was REAL! She . . . she . . ."

I pulled her into a hug. When we started dating she told me about her nightmare of July and how it she misbehaved, or acted like a normal 7-11 year-old, July would burn her hand on the stove top. Only her left hand. The finger prints on that hand had been burned off and the skin there always felt unnaturally hot.

"Come on, Jackson and Angela are waiting outside."

<*>

Dinner was good, it was late, so the warm food was cold, and the cold food was warm. We would have been here earlier but we "lost" Melisa.

I walked Melisa back to her dorm.

"You ok?" I asked

"I'm fine. Better now, I hate nightmares." She said. I bid her goodnight and left for my dorm.

<*>

I was just opening my door when I heard a gunshot. I bolted inside and locked the door. My phone started buzzing as another shot went off.

"He . . ."

"Jacob! Thank god you're ok! What's going on?" Melisa asked

"I don't know. I'm going to call the director, you call 911!" I dialed the director's number.

He asked why I was calling so late and I practically screamed at him that someone had opened fire in the dorms. I heard running followed by more gunshots. I stayed hidden in my closet Melisa was frantically talking through the phone, at least I knew she was safe. Sitting in there started bringing flashbacks and I led myself into a panic attack.

"Jacob, you're ok. Everything is fine, just calm down." Melisa soothed through the phone. I couldn't calm down

I tried texting Angela, but she wouldn't answer.

<*>

Late the next morning police came around and unlocked all the dorm rooms to tell everyone it was safe to leave. Melisa had followed the police over. I was glad because I was still in panic mode and having an armed officer walk into my room and find me in the closet freaked me out even more.

"Jacob, you're ok," Melisa soothed. I was still buried in the closet. She sat right outside my door, "Everything is alright. He's gone now, we can leave."

I inched my way out and she pulled me into a hug. My mind was moving faster than atoms at the center of the sun but all I could focus on was Melisa. She was safe.

"I was worried about you." I said, finally coming out of my panic

"Me too." She agreed, "Let's go check on everyone else."

<*>

"What if something happened?" Melisa panted behind me. We made it to the cabin and banged on the door. Angela opened it followed by Jackson.

"Thank goodness you too are ok! I saw Teddy and Charlie this morning, their fine. Teddy was having a bit of a panic attack but otherwise fine." Angela said hugging us, "I would love to hang out, but I am exhausted, we'll catch you later."

Melisa and I slowly made it back to the dorms. Angela and Jackson looked shaken up. Melisa offered to let me sleep over with her, since she didn't have a roommate. I climbed into bed with her and we fell asleep.

<*>

"I'm sorry!" I pleaded

"Sorry won't fix it! This is your fault!" He fired at me and I ducked. I bolted for the door, but he blocked me

"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!" My dad yelled

I scrabbled away as he fired at me some more. I ran to my room and locked myself in my closet. I could hear him kick open the door and stomp around looking for me. His footsteps reached the outside of the closet and he wretched the door open . . .

<*>

I sat bolt upright and tried to regain my bearings.

"Mmm, Jacob what's wrong?" Melisa mumbled sleepily

"Nothing, go back to sleep." I panted. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She studied me for a moment before pulling me down and laying on top of me.

"It's just a dream, you're with me now and I love you." She said snuggling into me

I listened to her breathing steady out as she fell asleep.

I kept thinking about that dream. I remembered that night vividly. Dad was mad because mom had left and hadn't taken me. My dad was an experienced hunter and had a never-ending supply of weaponry. When he found me in my closet, he ordered me out and he took a shot at me as I raced for the front door. I managed to get out and as I was running down the hall, he shot me in the shoulder. It went straight through, luckily hitting nothing important. It gave the hospital staff a good scare.

I laid awake playing with Melisa's wavy hair. She was beautiful, even when she was sleeping. Her red hair fell in beautiful beach waves and matched her emerald green eyes. Her lips were the color of pink carnations and her face was sprinkled with freckles.