Red Rose

Early Morning

                It’s Wensday morning. It’s been only a day since Tommy’s death. I get out of bed and walk to my bedroom window, pushing open the cutains I see what a beautiful day it is. I got into the bathroom to take a shower and get ready for the day then I head downstairs. Since we don’t have classes for a couple of days everyone is still sleeping, me on the other hand couldn’t stay in bed that long.

          I wanted to leave the house and go for a walk, a drive, maybe jog down to Casey’s Café, but I know that the rules for now is to not go anywhere alone. I sat on my living room couch bored and not knowing what to do. I leaned back on the couch and turned on the television. Then I thought to myself, If I drive down to Casey’s café that’s safe enough I’ll be in a car no one can jump out and attack me when im driving down the street.

          I got my car keys and walked to the door. I pause in my steps not knowing whether I should really do this or not. I looked around outside where the sun was just coming up. I flipped the hatch quickly and quietly, then I moved my hand down to the nob and turned it very slowly and popped the door open, I held it there hoping non of the gilrs can hear me trying to sneak out of the house at 6:00am in the morning.

          After waiting a few seconds I opened the door all the way and just before I could take a step out I heard footsteps behind me. “Anna, you would make the worst robber in history.” I turned around to see Jenn standing there her hand on her hips. “Okay, okay you caught me, but I really wanted to go out this morning and all of you guys were sleeping.” I then looked at what she was wearing and she was ready for the day also.

          “Well where were you going?” Jenn stared at me like a dear in the headlights. “Uh, um well I was just getting ready for the day I don’t like staying in my pajamas the whole day it makes me feel lazy.” She looked at me nodding her head. “And you Jenn would make the worst liar in history.” She laughed. “Well where are you going?” I asked. “I was going to go down to Casey café to get some breakfast.” She replied. “With what car?” “Well, I was going to jog actually.” Her words slowed down when she realized how stupid of and idea that would be. “Jenn-“ “Well I was one of the fastest runners on the highschool track team so I was going to sprint to Casey’s.” She stood there waiting for my response. “Jenn I should slapp the shit out of you, were seriously considering going for a jog on your own after what had just happened!?” I told her. “Shh, the girls are still sleeping and yes I know it was a really stupid idea, I’m just glad that you were here before I did something stupid.” She replied. “Do you think the killer really does that?” She asked. “Does what?” “Come out everynight around campus and looks for victims.” “I don’t know but no other deaths have been reported so if he is, he won’t find anyone people have been locking their door and following the rules.

          Jenn and I walked out to the car and got in. I pulled out the parking lot and started the drive down to Casey’s Café. I began to think about the rules and the whole bring everyone together and tell everyone to be safe thing, and now I’m beginning to think it was a bad idea. “Jenn, I’m beginning to think that whole rule thing is a bad idea.” “What, why?” “Well first they brought everyone together and told them what to watch out for, never go alone, don’t go out late at night, that type of thing…but what if the killer is one of the students.” I looked over at Jenn who looked like she just saw a ghost. “You mean that day when we were in the auditorium, the killer could have been amongst us.” I looked at her and ive never seen her so worried. “Jenn don’t worry about it lets just stick to the rules…but theres one more the teachers left out…don’t trust anyone.” We pulled up in the parking lot of Casey Café and got out.

          Walking inside Jenn spotted on of her classmate and walked over to say hi to her. I told her I would order for the both of us and walked up to the counter. Waiting for someone to come to the counter, I pulled out some money. “Well, well, well, what can I get you today Anna.” I looked up to see Ryan standing there. “You work here?” I asked him. “Yeah just getting a side job to get some extra money, I spend most of the time at my dads police station.” “Wanna be a cop?” I asked him. “Uhh not really sure yet but I might consider it.” “Oh do you mean after what happened here on campus?” “Yeah mostly, having something like that happen just made me all the more want to be able to help and defend people…protect them.” He stared into my eyes like everything he was saying he wanted to do for me. I looked back at him and he smiled. “So what can I get you Anna?” “Oh yeah I’ll have two small coffees, a blueberry muffin, and a chocolate donut.” “Is that all?” I gave him a nod and he walked away from the counter to one of the other workers to give the order. I stood there waiting turned around to see Jenn still talking to one of her classmates. I turned around and Ryan was back at the counter he opened the small door at to get out from the counter and leaned on the counter next to me.”What are you doing? You have work.” “I just talked to my manager and he said I could have a little breakfast, could I join you?” I looked at the manager and he gave me a little smile. “Oh, no um Ryan I think your manager think we’re togeth-“ “No he doesn’t I told him that your a friend of mine…so what do ya say.” I paused and Justin came to mind. “I have a boyfriend.” I looked up at him to see what he would say, he gave me a blank look. “Cool so now could we have breakfast?” “Wait so you not trying-“ He turned around and grabbed  my coffee muffin and donut along with his. “I’m here with Jenn though…” “Well Jenn is here with Rosey.” “You know her?” “Yeah she come here everymorning to do school  work.” He told me. “Wait she come here alone?” “No, not anymore…you know after what happened, so I walk with her.” “Cool.” I handed Jenn her food and she gave me that sorry look. I smiled and nodded and then took a window seat in the café with Ryan.

          “So your more of a morning person?” Ryan asked. “What do you mean?” “Well people aren’t really awake this early in the morning.” “ Oh, well yeah I guess, and I guess your one too coming to work this early.” “Yeah I guess you could say that.” He replied with a laugh. “So whos the special guy?” I paused before answering “His name is Justin, we’ve been together for two years.” “Wow, that’s pretty serious.” “Yeah but we haven’t seen eachother in a while.” “Why?” “Well he transferred.” I answered but then I looked up at him thinking maybe I shouldn’t have said that, me being on campus with no boyfriend around what if he thinks he can have a chance. But when I told him that I had a boyfriend he didn’t react, so maybe it’s okay. He took a sip of his coffee. “Well he’s a lucky guy.” I smiled and looked away. “What? It’s true!” He said laughing, I laughed too, He started again “I mean your nice, kind, funny, pretty.” “And taken.” I added. He let out a laugh and took another sip of his coffee looking at me over the rim of his cup.

          I looked down at my barely eaten chcolate donut, and coffee that was loosing it’s warmth. I took a few sips of my coffee and a few big bites of my donut. I stared at my cup of coffee watching the swirls of cream twirl around the cup making all these fancy designs. I looked up and around the resturant. I caught Jenns glance as she was watching me while her classmate was typing something on her laptop. Her eyes then looked over at Ryan who was staring out the wondow and then back at me. I gave her a reasurring nod that I wasn’t going to do anything, and she nodded back. Then she back to whatever she was talking about to Rosey.

          “Anna, as friends could we keep in touch…get to know eachother better, you seem like a really cool person.” Ryan said. I nodded and added “Just as friends.” He nodded back and reached in his pocket to get his phone. That’s when it hit me. The dream…we were sitting I looked around the scenery remembering everything in my dream. I was sitting at a table and Ryan was sitting across from me, and we were tossing back and forth those lame flirty line. The only thing was me and Ryan were not flirting. I instantly felt uncomfortable in my position.

          Ryan pulled out his phone and slid it toward me. “If you don’t mind could we swap number and maybe just talk sometime?” “Sure.” I said and began to put my number in. I then handed him my phone and waited for him to give me his number. I didn’t feel guilty about this because I knew that I had no feeling for Ryan at all and that the one that I really cared about was Justin. “I don’t know how I didn’t notcie you here for so long?” Ryan said. The words weren’t exact but they were very familiar, that was almost exactly what he had said to me in the dream. “What do you mean?” I asked slowly not sure if I wanted to hear his reply. “I mean how didn’t I notice a pretty girl like you coming here.” Not aware I accidently tipped my coffe over when I went to grab it I picked it up right away before it could make an even bigger mess. I then stood up grabbing napkins to clean up the mess.

          “Anna, Anna it’s okay I got it.” Ryan said smileing. I felt so embarrased, I grabbed my purse. “Hey, I’m really sorry I didn’t mean to do this… I’ll text you?” And with that I walked out of the café and Jenn came to follow me. I didn’t even turn around to sse the look on Ryan face. Jenn and I got in the car and started on our way home. “Well, Anna what happened, I mean your talking to him one second and then throwing coffee on the floor the next?” She said trying not to laugh. I looked at her and she looked at me, then we burst out laughing. “Ohh Jenn I feel so bad…did he look upset?” “No but he did look confused.” While we turned the corner, we began to laugh again until we saw the flashing red lights of another ambulence.