Why Me?

Chapter 11

Noor:

            I was sitting next to a tall guy named Josh. He was actually really nice. He was also super strong. I know that because he challenged me to an arm wrestling competition and he won thirty-four times. He had long light brown hair that was always falling in his face and large brown eyes. We were watching the game as our team totally crushed the other team when I saw Drake. He was looking around like he was searching for someone. With a start, I realized that he might be searching for me. I grabbed Josh’s hand and he looked at me surprised.

            “What’s wrong?” he asked.

            “Nothing,” I said unconvincingly, letting go of my death grip on Josh. Josh looked where I was looking and saw Drake.

            “Oh him. He’s really creepy. Is he bothering you or something?” Josh asked.

            “No,” I said quickly, still staring at Drake and hoping he wouldn't notice me sitting a few feet away. Before Josh could say anything, my phone vibrated, signaling a text message.

            “Noor, Drake is after you. He wants to kill you!” she had written. I could have thrown the phone but then I saw the crack on the screen from the last time I threw it and tucked it into my pocket instead. Of course Drake was after me and wanted to kill me. Hadn’t I already told her that? She picked the worst time to believe me.

            I spent the whole game nervously looking around for Drake and hoping he wouldn't come near me again. Luckily the bleachers were so crowded that you couldn't possibly find anyone in the crowd. Still, I was hiding behind Josh when the game finished. He didn't notice. He was too busy talking about the game and how the team should have done something and how they shouldn’t have done something else. Drew had told me to meet him when the game was over because he was dropping me off at home.

            “Bye Josh!” I called, waving to him.

            “Bye! It was nice meeting you! See you tomorrow!” Josh yelled back then jogged off. I stood by the fence as the team celebrated their win and one by one they drifted off. Soon Drew was the only one left. Even the coach had left.

            “Hey, I have to pack up. Do you mind helping?” Drew asked.

            “Sure. What should I do?” I asked. Drew pointed to the far right side of the field. That side had no light on it and was made even darker by the forest which started there.

            “The ball rolled over there. Can you get it?” he asked. Without waiting for me to answer, he turned and started to walk away. I thought about Drake. He might have be lying in wait over there, just waiting for me to go over there so that he could pounce on me and end my life. I turned to ask Drew if I could do something else, but he was gone. I was about to go after him, realizing that I was all alone and it was dark outside, when I saw a dog. It was a small dog that looked harmless. He also looked hungry. He whined and pawed at the ground. He looked so pitiful that I had to help him. I could give him to the animal shelter or something. I approached the dog, but it stood up and backed away.

            “It's okay,” I told him. “I want to help you.” The dog barked at me then ran a few feet back. I followed.

            “Don’t be scared,” I said. He stopped and gave me a suspicious look. I crept closer. Then I stopped. How in the world would I get the dog to follow me? There was no way I was touching it. Who knew how many diseases it was carrying?  I gestured at it.