Safe Haven

Chapter 11: Tarzana

Weeks passed since the date and nothing really happened. No texts, no calls, no figures standing in the shadows. Chris and Clara still stuck close to me, especially when we left campus. Someone, the following Monday after my first date, confessed to paying someone to attack me as a lesson. I was given a formal apology and the guy was suspended. The thing was, I had never seen this guy before. I had never talked to him and couldn't understand why he had something against me. 

It was now mid October and starting to get cold. Clara and I had gone recently and bought some nice sweaters to wear over our uniforms. I've never really been in places where it was cold for months on end. We were always somewhere warm, so to be in a place where it was going to snow was a little exciting. I had to prepare for the snow though. I needed warmer clothes and winter boots. I had to take Jax with me so we could get him some warmer clothes as well. Grandma wanted to take us out this weekend since my birthday was right around the corner. Clara was planning a party for me, but I wasn't too interested in partying. I wanted to spend time with her and Chris. 

Speaking of Chris, we weren't exactly dating yet. School had picked up and Headmistress Bennett had him doing a lot more around the school. Clara had badgered me when I had returned to the room; asking me what we did and what we ate. She approved of my outfit of choice and straight away asked if he had kissed me. I tried denying it, but I wasn't good with hiding things and she knew it. She had seemed happy for me, but would hardly talk to Chris now. I really wondered if she had a crush on him. She was still dating Andy though. 

"Earth to Cabela." Charlie said waving her hand in my face. I focused in on her and realized I hadn't been listening to her conspiracy theory. I gave her an apologetic smile and focused back on her. We were sitting in the library, in a secluded part away from other students. "So I found proof that the boy who paid that guy to attack you was being used as a cover up. I was snooping through the school's records and there are no records of him ever attending Safe Haven. And before you say something like they may have taken his files when he left, the school is obligated to keep his transcripts for at least ten years. That would be proof that he attended classes and when I looked for his, there was none."

"What would he be covering up? Who would have something against me, other than maybe Tabby." I said flipping through a book. "And isn't snooping through other students' records against the rules?"

"Think about it. She has something against you and she has the means to do something about it. Tabby is a prime suspect." Charlie said jabbing the table with her index finger. "So unless you have someone else after you, she has to have been the one to have sent your attacker after you. And don't worry, know one has caught me yet."

"Tabby is mean and petty, but I don't think she would stoop so low as to have me attacked. She's left me alone for the last couple of weeks anyways. It is a good argument though." I said hoping this didn't make Charlie mad. She had seemed to relax a bit since the last time I disagreed with her. 

"Hey, if I turn out to be right, you owe me." She smiled. "Well, I've got homework to do. I'll see you tonight for the beach party." 

"Bye Charlie, see you tonight." I smiled and started working on my homework. I had almost forgotten about the beach party tonight. A few kids thought it would be fun to have a party on the beach before it got too cold out. These were the same kids who were planning out the big Halloween bash. I had never done anything for Halloween myself, but it sounded like fun. Dressing up, pulling harmless pranks, all things I never really got to do. The longer I stayed here at Safe Haven the more I realized how much I actually missed growing up. I would never trade my childhood for anything, but I did wish that I could have done some of these silly things. 

"There she is." Someone said from behind me. Chris sat his books down and took the seat next to me. I smiled at him, closing my textbook. "You ready for tonight?"