In Dead Men's Shoes

Chapter 28

"Jess?"

I grunted as I rolled over in bed, late morning sunlight greeting my tired eyes. My mother stood above me, her face creased with concern.

"You okay?" she asked. "It's almost one - you slept through lacrosse practice. I tried to wake you up, but you barely stirred. Seemed like you needed your rest."

Normally I would hate myself for missing a team practice, but I had more pressing issues to dwell on. "Yeah. I guess I just needed to sleep everything off."

"Okay, sweetie. Anything in particular you're worried about? I heard you come home early last night, too, but I didn't want to bother you."

I picked up my phone from my nightstand. "Nope," I fibbed. "It was just kind of lame, and I needed some sleep."

"You sure?"

"Yeah," I snapped. "I'm fine."

"Honey, I just care about you. Don't get mad at me."

"I know. I know. Just trust me, okay? Everything is fine. It's -" I cut myself off as my eyes met my most recent text message from Catalina. And two missed calls.

jess, i need help, she'd sent.

isaac. That was the second text. Just one word. One word that was enough to convey the urgency of it all. One word that was enough to make me leap up out of bed, mind racing.

"Everything still fine?" my mother asked.

"I think Catalina had another episode," I said. "I have to go see her."

I swiped up on her message and typed a hasty reply: on my way.

"Do you want a ride?"

"I'll take my bike. It's not far."

"The car would be faster -"

"I just want to go alone, alright? I'll be fine." The harshness of my tone washed over me after I had already spoken, and I wanted to swallow my words whole. "Sorry," I added softly. "This is just kind of scary. We thought he was gone, and, well - who knows how intense his return could have been. He was quiet for a while. In her."

"I understand," my mom said, putting a hand softly on my shoulder. "Just be safe. I love you."

"Love you too."

I got out of bed and splashed my face with water, threw on some clothes, and scarfed down a granola bar as I made my way outside and unlocked my bike.

I quickly put my phone in my back pocket and hopped on my bike. Catalina's house was only a couple miles away, so I knew the ride wouldn't be longer than twenty minutes, but it may have been the longest twenty minutes of my life. Every moment that passed was a moment that I wasn't protecting Catalina. As much as I knew I could've just taken up my mother's offer for a ride, I only felt truly right braving the situation alone. I could undo whatever Catalina was going through, and I would do it myself.

My phone began to buzz with a call just five minutes or so from the house. I skidded to a halt on the sidewalk and pulled out my phone, and upon seeing Catalina's name as the caller ID, my heart skipped a beat.

"Catalina?" I said worriedly, putting the phone to my ear. "Is everything alright? Are you alright?"

"Oh, yeah," she said, and her voice was surprisingly nonchalant. "I'm fine. I just wanted to let you know, um - you don't have to come over. Isaac's gone, and I'm fine, and, well, you don't need to be bothered."

"Catalina, of course I'm still going to come. I'm already on my way. I still want to check up on you. He could come back, you know. Like an aftershock. Or even if he doesn't, I'm sure you still need support right now -"