I Dare You...

Chapter 6

Right now I am scared. I am fucking scared for my life. I’m scared for my rep too. I was just casually sitting at a lunch table with my new friends, collecting phone numbers, when I get a text message from my mom. I breathe in deep and then clicked the view button.

Mom:

I need u home right after school 

we need 2 discuss sumthing with u asap.

I look up from my phone and find Matt is texting and the rest of the gang is discussing something from some marvel movie. I tap Matt on the shoulder.

“Can I talk to you somewhere private?” I whisper.

“Sure.” He replies. He tells his friends goodbye and then gets up with me. We dump our trays and walk out the doors and into the commons. I walk with him silently until we reach a bench in the far corner underneath some trees. We sit down quietly.

“So. I got a message from my mom saying we need to discuss something asap.”

“Your mom texted you?”

“Yeah. I know she found out about it. I just know but, I don’t get how she could if Kimberly didn’t have the picture. Are you sure she doesn’t have it?”

“Yeah but…”

“Then Kimberly couldn’t have ratted me out.”

“I don’t think that’s why your mom texted you.”

“What else could it be?”

“Well um…something with work.”

“I doubt it. They have never left me in on anything with work. Why start now?”

 “Well. I think that’s what the message is about. Don’t worry so much about it.”

“I am going to worry about it until I figure out what it is.”

“Well. I really don’t think it’s anything bad.” There was a look in his eyes that seemed promising, like who knew everything would be okay. He had become my best friend in such a short amount of time and yet I trusted him. I thought he was the everyday man whore but he is more than that.

“Did you know you are like my best friend now,” I said.

“Oh. Cool.” He said back looking down at is phone. I obviously didn’t matter as much to him as he did to me. I would always be a loser to someone. I got off of the bench and began walking away.

“Where are you going?” He said as I began walking.

“To my locker. I am going to get my stuff for chemistry.”

“Oh. Well, text me later and let me know how the thing with your parents goes.”

“I will.” I said. I turned around and kept walking down the stone path and into the building. I walk down the empty hallway and listen to the click of my heels. This school is so shallow. All through these hallways are slutts, man whores, and all kinds of drama. It seems so simple yet so hard. I am tired of being forced to fit in. I get to my locker and swirl the lock to open it. As the door opens, an envelope falls out onto the floor. I reach down slowly and pick it up. On the front of it, the words Anonymous are written in black sharpie.

Dear Marissa,

I told you Kimberly would lose it all. I knew things would work out for you too. I promise your parents aren’t going to find out about what you did and how you are. The real you can come out for a while. It is way more wonderful than the fake you that you use to hide how you really are.

Anonymous A.K.A MakeHerHappy21

This guy is really good. He predicted this would happen and it has. This guy seems to know me better than I know myself. I really need to know this guy personally.  I can’t help but study the hand writing to see if I recognize it. It obviously is foreign to me. I sigh and sit on the ground outside my locker. Lunch isn’t over yet so I don’t have to worry about being late to class. I just sit there and try to think of a time when it wasn’t this complicated but of course it always has been and always will be.                                      I can’t stay at school for the rest of the day. I need to get away from everything. I get my bag from my locker and walk out the front doors. In the student parking lot is Matt. He is standing beside this awesome bright red Ferrari.

“Woah. You can drive?”

“Well yeah. Why are you not in class?”

“I need to get away from it all. Why aren’t you?”

“My parents called and checked me out. They need me right now.”

“Is something wrong?”

“You’ll find out later. Want me to take you somewhere?”

“Could you drop me off at my house? My parents aren’t home at this time of day.”

“Sure.” I hop into the passenger seat and pull my sunglasses out of my bag. He gets in and starts the car. It starts so smoothly compared to my bug. He pulled out of the school parking lot and onto the open road. He cranks the radio up and blasts Rise Against. We start head banging and laughing and it is just so much fun to be myself around someone.                                                When we get to my house, I invite him for some lunch before he has to go and meet his parents. We walk onto the front porch and I sift through my bag for my keys. I didn’t realize how much crap I have in here. I have sunglasses, keys, lotion, my books, my sweatshirt, a longer skirt, a bottle of water, my wallet, phone, and iPod. When I finally manage to find my keys, we walk inside. I put my bag in the coat closet and walk to the kitchen. I almost freeze when I see my parents sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee and looking at papers.

“Marissa?”

“Oh…uh Hi.” I reply. I know at this point that I’m screwed.

“Oh hey, Mr. and Mrs. Parker. Marissa was feeling sick so I thought I would take her home on the way to my parents’ house.” Matt says so casually. This guy has got my back. He just came up with the perfect excuse in less than ten seconds. I would have been stuttering for like five minutes trying to think of a realistic excuse for why I am home in the middle of the day.

“That would explain the outfit. I guess you put two on and didn’t realize until later. Well thank you very much, Matt. We appreciate it. Marissa, why don’t you go on up to bed?” I take this as my cue to leave and then walk up the stairs. In the kitchen I continue to hear my parents and Matt talking about something. I walk into my room and go to my computer. I check for any new messages from MakeHerHappy21 but he hasn’t sent any. I go to my bed and lay down, trying to fall asleep.                                                                           I wake up from my middle of the day sleep and walk downstairs. I can hear my parents talking to some other adults. I walk down the stairs with my bed head and into the kitchen to see what’s going on.

“Hey honey,” my mom says. In the kitchen, sitting at a table, is my parents, Matt, and I’m guessing his parents. Surrounding them is a couple of suitcases.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“Well. That’s what was so important. With the case we are working on there is some trouble with Matt’s parents. We have moved them into a hotel to make sure they are safe against someone they believe is stalking them. Matt will be staying here with us for a while though.”

          Holy fuck. Matt is staying in my house? That’s what was so important? How could he not tell me? I realize that I am staring at Matt with my mouth hanging open. I close it quickly and shake my head. I cannot believe that he is moving in with me because of some creepy person who is stalking his parents. I guess this is what he meant by you will find out later. I obviously found out now. This is fucked up.

“Cool.” I turn around and walk out of the kitchen. I run up the stairs quickly and slam my door shut. I just can’t believe he wouldn’t tell me.