Mad Maggie II

Stayner

Joanne's POV

"Uggggh, so tired..." I groan as I rub my eyes, leaning back in my chair a bit. I guess I was right about today - it is tiring. I have been working on my homework for a few hours and I'm all done with them for the week and yet I feel like I can't really...relax. I know I don't have a lot of stuff left to do - I literally just got that done.

Is the big reason why I can't relax is because the serial killer that's roaming out there somewhere, searching for his next victim to kill? I guess you could say that. 

Could it be...?

No, no. Please let it be a crazy serial killer instead of Maggie. Anyone but her! I mean, she killed Hannah, but she doesn't know where my college is at! Where my dorm is, where my classes are at, and whatever I have around here.

Or does she? 

The thought of it shakes me to the core. I can feel the same feelings I have felt before in Martha's Vineyard, after Maggie died from a prank that got fucked up. It wasn't actually my fault that it happened, I actually wanted to end the war between me and Maggie once and for all - but that chance got away when the bucket landed on her head, killing her. I guess I was supposed to be relieved that I don't really need to end it, or something like that. But still, I don't feel relieved...or free at all. I may be free from the terrors of the killings back home, but the nightmares continue to taunt me, reminding me what I have done to her for many years. Whispering in my ears that it's my fault that I started a lifelong war and I have picked on the wrong person all along.

Maybe I deserve to die for my crimes against her. Maybe I should save myself by confessing everything to the police. Maybe I deserve to be in jail...or do long community hours. Maybe my parents can get me to a special school for girls instead of jail. I deserve to be punished for what i have done to Maggie.

But then again, maybe I don't. I may feel regrets now and then, but I don't feel sorry at all. I'm not sorry that I have hurt her. She's a freak and she still is. Why, all of sudden, am I doubting myself and telling myself that I should confess? That's fucking stupid. I don't have time for that. 

I groan out loud as I gently slam my fists onto my desk. Man, I have kept many secrets before, but this secret is almost too much for me to handle. No one else except Anne-Marie, Eric, Omar, Jack, Kiara, Mary and Dave knew the secret, and they all paid the price for not confessing. They all got brutally killed by her, all them were dead because no one else besides me and my friends knew what we really did. If they knew, we'd be dropped like hot potatoes and abandoned like a bunch of water bottle. They'd mock us everyday, setting pranks on us, calling us names...

My cell phone rings, making me jump a bit. I grab it from my desk and pick up the line. I mutter as I run my fingers through my hair, "Hello?"

"Hey, baby." Stayner answers. That perks up my mood. I smile as I respond, "Hi."

"You sound tired. You alright?" he asks me.

"Yeah. It's a...tiring day, I guess." I rub my face. Good thing I already removed my makeup, leaving my entire face bare like a baby. Stayner comments, "Damn, it's been a long day for you, huh?"

"You could say that." I nod, grabbing my bottle of water and sipping it down. Stayner softly chuckles before he says, "Wanna come over to my apartment? You know, just to hang out?"

"I can sleep over there tonight if you wanna." I shrug.

"But I thought you have morning classes." Stayner mentions, his tone uncertain. I look at my planner and look through it before saying, "Well...usually I do, but my Justice in the Law class from 8AM to 9:30AM is cancelled because my teacher has to attend a funeral in Canada. And my Private Law Workshop from 10:15AM to 12:45PM is on hold."

"On hold? What the hell does that mean?" Stayner asks. I shrug again, "Something about the teacher being replaced or whatever the hell is going on, I dunno. I never liked Mr. Goldberg, he's fucking mean as hell."

"Well, that leaves you with one last class...the early American court?" Stayner asks again. I correct him, "The Early American Republic. 2:30PM to 4PM."

"Perfect, you can sleep over at my place, baby." Stayner snickers. I hear himself plopping onto his bed. 

"I'm hoping you'd say that." I chuckle as I lean back in my chair, placing my feet on the desk. "I'm worrying that my roomie would, uhm..."

"Wake you up from your beauty sleep? I get it, baby. See you soon?" Stayner finishes my sentence. I smile a little and say, "Yep. See ya soon."

A few minutes later

Now here I am, arriving at his apartment suite. I remember I have slept there before we went to the abandoned mall to see ghosts and spooky stuff. Instead, Maggie found us and ripped Hannah in half. The blood, the spilled guts, the broken glasses, the...

Joanne, stop. Take a slow, deep breath. You're gonna make yourself scared by thinking about that. Stop. You're gonna be with Stayner, the hottest guy in the world. Just stop thinking about the horrific things that have happened. My mind scolds me. I take a few deep breathes. I want to, I just can't stop...

I walk on and a little bit later, I have arrived at his apartment door. I press the doorbell and it rings softly. I hear soft footsteps inside the apartment, and then the door opens.

"Hey baby." Stayner greets me at the door. He's shirtless, showing his abs and all he's wearing is a pair of distressed jeans and black boxers, peeking at the brim of his jeans. His hair is messy but clean, and his smile is soft and lazy.

"Hi." I softly say as I step right in, nearly stepping on a beer can. I'm not surprised that his apartment can be a bit messy sometimes, since he's living alone. 

"Oh fuck, I forgot to take the cans out. Sorry about that, baby...I'll be back soon, gotta take them out." Stayner apologizes as he quickly picks up the can and tosses it into the blue box. He takes the box out and he's gone for a while, perhaps walking to the recycling dumpster at the moment. I take off my jacket and place it neatly on a high chair.

"I'm back." Stayer announces as he steps in and locks the door behind him. 

"That was pretty quick." I comment as I raise my eyebrows. He chuckles a small laugh.

"It's not that far." Stayner grins as he settles the recycling box down onto the floor at the corner of the hallway. He walks up to me and places a warm kiss on my forehead before he enters into the kitchen. I hear the fridge door opening, a few things quietly clattering around and then the fridge closing. 

"Wanna watch a movie?" Stayner gestures at the large flatscreen TV in his living room with a small, lazy smile. 

Oh hot damn, how am I so lucky to be with this guy?

"Sure." I shrug as I take off my flats.