Ink (Book 1 of the Ink Series)

Night visitor

For about five minutes I was lying face down listening to laughter down the hall from my bedroom. Either Dad was really funny, or something else was going on down the hallway.

I found my headphones in my desk drawer, pulling them on to mask the noise. I browsed my playlist, settling on some Lifehouse.

I was drained. I rolled to my side, resting my Ipod on my pillow.

Tucker and I had shared a kiss. But like it or not, it wasn't the same feeling I had whenever Slade and my lips met each other's. Tucker's was different. Almost familiar and friendly. Not exciting and electrifying as with Slade.

"I miss you," I whispered into my pillow, touching my wrist where the memory of that tiny black heart once rested against my skin.

I closed my eyes, listening to the song's lyric and tried to shove Slade far from my mind. I couldn't keep thinking about him. Things were over. Things had to be over.

I curled up in a tight ball tapping my feet along to the music. I was just starting to nod off, when something with a whole lot of mass weighed down the lower end of my bed.

My heart seized up. I clenched my hands into tight fists, terrified to make any kind of movement. I cracked one eye, the soft moonlight hardly allowing me to see anything. I prayed it wasn't Ezra again. She really needed to leave me alone already.

Finally channeling some guts, I snapped on my light and let out a scream, jumping out of my bed at the sight of Slade. My Ipod dropped to the ground, ripping my headphones down my neck.

"Hope!" Dad yelled, beating on the door only seconds after my startled scream. Crawford howled along.

I held my chest. "Dad, I'm all right. I just fell out of my bed."

Silence. Then laughter. "Are you okay? Do I need to install a bed rail?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine," I assured him. "Goodnight." I jerked my headphones off, setting them on my desk. Slade sat perfectly still on my bed. His hands on either side of him, holding tight to my comforter.

"You really shouldn't be here," I told him, staying across the room, as far away as I could in the small confines of my bedroom.

"I'm only here because Kidd told me you were out with Tucker." His expression was cold.

I crossed my arms. "Yeah. And why is that any of your concern?"

Slade sighed. "It's not. But you know as well as I that he is bad news."

"Funny, Tucker said the same about you once."

"I mean it," Slade said, overlooking my snappy disposition.

I couldn't believe he had entered my room after all that had taken place. To have the nerve to come anywhere near me did not sit well with me.

"You have to leave. You're crazy ex girlfriend is not one to mess with. And I really don't want to deal with her anymore. The next time, she probably will kill me." I grabbed hold of my curtains, directing him to go outside. "Get out."

"I wouldn't let her near you," Slade said, standing up.

"That's not what I'm concerned with. I'm worried about once you're gone. Now leave. I do not want anything to do with you, Slade," I said, raising my voice.

"I was only doing that to find a way to be with you," Slade said, all of a sudden coming nearer. I stepped away, my heart thudding in my chest from the fear of Ezra.