The Truth In My Lies

19

MADISON

I CAN'T get comfortable. I took a shower and watched a movie. I even tried reading a book and doing some homework. I can't shake this uneasy filling I have in my stomach. I've had this constant feeling that Marcos is going to come into my dorm room and take me. I've contemplated calling Kaiden multiple times, but I don't want to talk to him ever again. I can't believe he would take me somewhere like that, then have the nerve to tell me that Marcos is the one who took Allie. How pathetic does he think I am? I would be an idiot to ever look his way again.

The worst part is, I can't even call Kassie to come stay with me because she's staying at Cameron's, and Claire is staying with Jordan. I'm all alone and it terrifies me. It's almost eleven now and I can't stop staring at the locks on my door. Any second, someone could come barging in and I would have no way to protect myself.

Finally, I grab some melatonin and take two. That should knock me out. Thirty minutes later, I'm still fighting sleep, but I can barely keep my eyes open. Every little sound I hear scares me. Finally, when I can't stand to keep my eyelids open any longer, I fall asleep.

BANG!

My eyes snap open and I jolt forward. The time on my alarm clock reads 2:56 A.M. I haven't been asleep that long. I can't tell if I dreamed about the banging sound or if it was real. Either way, my heart is racing away in my chest. There's absolutely no way I'm going back to sleep now.

I grab my phone and do the unthinkable. I call Kaiden. I guess I am an idiot. He doesn't answer the first time, so I call him again. This time he answers on the second ring.

"Hello?" He groggily says.

"I'm scared." My voice comes out small. I don't want to be too loud if anyone is listening to me. I'm way too paranoid.

"Why are you scared? What's going on?" His voice is clearer now and I can hear shuffling in the background.

"I can't sleep and I keep hearing noises." I start to cry. I'm probably getting worked up over nothing. No, I know I'm getting worked up over nothing. There's nobody in the hallway waiting for me to fall asleep. There's nobody listening to me through my door. I just need to calm down.

"Text me your dorm number. I'll be right there."

I don't argue with him because even though I'm pissed at him, I'm terrified to be alone and he's the only one who can protect me.

I text him my dorm number like he said and wait for him to come. It doesn't take long for him to get here. As soon as he knocks on my door, I almost jump out of my skin, but I calm down when I realize it's only Kaiden.

He's wearing a sweatshirt and a pair of grey sweatpants. "Are you okay?" He asks and steps inside. He shuts and locks the door behind him.

"No, I'm scared. I keep thinking they're going to come for me like they did Allie." I let the tears flow freely down my face. I'm never going to be able to sleep by myself again.

"They won't come anywhere near you, okay?" His brown eyes search mine. I nod my head even though I don't entirely believe him.

"What if they do?" I croak out. "I have no way to protect myself."

He sighs and pulls his sweatshirt up. There's a gun tucked into the waistband of his sweatpants. "I'll protect you."

"If you get caught with that, you'll get expelled! And I'll get expelled too!" I gasp. Actually, I'd rather get expelled than get taken by an illegal drug lord.

"I won't get caught." He mutters and looks around my dorm room. "You have an empty bed?" He nods at Emma's old bed.

"Yeah, my roommate was horrible so she got moved out." I sit down on the edge of my bed and wrap my cover around me. I'm sleep deprived and I've been crying, so I'm starting to get a headache.