The Beast of Fox Hill

Ten

I awoke from a deep sleep to a banging noise which sounded to be on my window in my bedroom. Startled, I sat up, the banging continuing. 

I flung the blankets off of my body and quickly made my way to the window. I pulled the curtains open and then the blinds up with the pull string. To my surprise, a worried Booker stood outside my window. 

When his eyes fell on me he visibly calmed, the worry leaving his face. I gave him a confused look before motioning for him to go to the front door. 

I did not even bother to put proper clothes on and I met him at the front door in my long sleeve dark red shirt and my black and gray plaid boxer shorts. I clicked the locks open and pulled the door to expose Booker who'd walked around and was now standing at the front step. 

"What have you been doing since like nine last night? I saw you called later and I got worried so I called you back and then you didn't answer so I called again. I assumed you might have fallen asleep so I called earlier and you didn't answer again and then I really got worried," Booker rambled on and on. 

"Booker, relax okay? I went for a walk and then I came in and went to bed early after calling you to apologize for being rude last night," I explain with a shrug, wrapping my arms arms around myself. 

"Would you like to come in?" I asked as a gust of wind blew  my hair. 

"No, I can't. Cassander is-" he was cut off by Cassander and Zane jogging up the crunchy driveway. Once they reached the stairs, Cassander and Zane both looked irritated. 

"You're fucking kidding me! She's been here the whole time?" Zane asked exasperated. 

"I was worried okay!" Booker said rubbing the back of his head. 

"You made us run the entire length of this god forbidden dirt road for nothing!" Zane yelled. 

I instantly threw my hands up in my own defense, showing that it wasn't me that caused the issue. I honestly couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped my lips. 

"Okay, Zane. Enough," Cassander said. "It was just a misunderstanding," he said, calming Zane down. 

"I'm not quite sure what's going on or why you're all looking for me, but would you all like to come inside? I can put coffee or cocoa on," I offer with a chuckle at the once bickering men. Both men looked at Cassander as if they needed approval from him, which confused me but I brushed it off. 

"We'd love that," Cassander answered, his facial features softening. 

"Great, come on in," I say with a welcoming smile. 

I walked into the kitchen and turned the coffee pot on before turning to the three large men who were standing awkwardly behind me in the kitchen. Cassander looked a bit angered, while Booker had a face of worry. Zane, however, looked calm and even had a bit of a sarcastic smirk on his face. 

"Nice boxers," Zane said with a flick of his head. This earned him a smack in the back of the head from Booker. Zane rubbed the back of his head and shrugged. "What? They look comfy!" he said in his defense. Both Cassander and Booker glared at their friend who again shrugged in confusion. I gave them all an eye roll and walked off to my bedroom, not particularly bothered at the men seeing me in my sleep shorts. 

"Feel free to sit down!" I yelled from the hallway. I heard the men begin to bicker again, to which I simply chuckled and went about my business. 

I changed out of my sleepwear and into a pair of black leggings and a long sleeve, black and white striped shirt that was long and slightly baggy. I slipped on a pair of fuzzy black socks to keep the cold from my feet before leaving my room.