Midnight

Read Me

Anxiety plagued me the next day; not in a way where I was jumping out of my seat at every noise but, in a way where every second filled me with enough dread and anticipation to the point of nail biting or hair pulling. I knew what my schedule was like and I knew what the people would do. Elric again bothered me and today I made the smarter choice of going to the cafeteria with the girl- who I learned was named Josefine. Of course I am still the topic of hot gossip but, not to yesterdays extent and that makes me feel better. Sticking with Elric, Josefine and, their friend Mick has made me far less interesting and less of an enigma to the rest of the school. 

None of that could save me from getting hit with a dodge ball or embarrassing myself by blurting out an answer without raising my hand only for the teacher to call me a clown or getting no sleep because of the shadows I thought I saw in the trees all night. Worst of all none of that could have steeled my heart against the pain I felt when I- anxiously dreading seeing Evan found him to be absent that day. At first I was relieved but then I realized I had wanted to see him and hear his amazing voice- that was the worst feeling. In a way, I missed him. 

I arrived home alone, to a note scribbled on a scrape of receipt paper in blue ink attached to the fridge from Charles. It read:

"Left you some grocery money. Buy whatever you like. Save some leftovers for your dear old dad okay." 

I don't know why he didn't just text me this on my way home but, I grabbed the tip money off the table and jetted out of the house to walmart. As I was walking down the snack isle I saw Roslynn and Alicia there. I wanted to turn around and pretend I wasn't there but, it was too late and they had seen me. Bravely I continued on my way stopping to pick up my favorite snacks; the entire time they stared- well Roslynn sneered at me unmoving. I had one more thing to grab but it was right next to Alicia. 

"Excuse me" I politely said trying to indicate I need to get past but they remained still like a wall.

"I just need the-" I stopped and pointed to the snack I wanted. Alicia picked it up and handed it to me; our fingers made slight contact and I shivered at how cold she was. I went to say thank you but then I saw her face burst into a friendly grin and she nudged Roslynn who smiled at me as well-all be it a little more forced. 

"Thanks" I rushed out and turned around and deciding to get the remainder of my food later. 

When I got home I organized all the cabinets and put away the food. Instantly, I began cooking. I boiled some water and took some noodles and poured the water in the cup. I really didn't feel like cooking. When I finished I finally checked my phone which I had turned off for the past few days only to see no messages from my mom. I called her. 

"Belle?" she asked

"Hows it going mom?"

"It's 3 am" She said bluntly. 

"Sorry" I said but she had already hung up. Mom was extra grumpy when she was tired. 

I decided to read Harry potter for fun however, I didn't get very far into it before I heard the door open. 

"Isabelle!" A seductive voice called out. I shuddered with excitement and fear. Evan. What brand of crazy was he! She slid into her closet trying to hide from him as she could her him stalking through the hall and his voice rattling walls. 

"I can smell your cup ramen, my love!" He said in an overly wild whisper. Belle's heart had waned to respond to him but belle's mind was saying heck no! I heard the door fly open the door slamming instinctously I jumped. He seemed awkward in the room, having to slump slightly at the low ceiling and suddenly my room felt very childish. He kneeled down and sniffed my sheets, licking them like a cat addicted to cat nip. 

"I saw you at school today with those boys" He sneered. 

"The way you let them touch you was disgusting. Do you have feelings for them Belle. Are you some sort of sick wicked woman? Have you even saved yourself for me" His voice crackled and boomed as he got closer to the closet. His eyes now a blood red and his canines protruding from his pale craggled lips. He looked crazed and thirsty. 

"Carl could help you with that situation you know! On call to him and those boys would disappear and so would you and no questions would be asked Belle." There was a small clunk and I heard Charles call out for me. I feared for his safety for a second but, Evan looked dazed then he opened the window which groaned in protest and left the room. I went out and talked to charles for a while not mentioning what happened. 

The night came slowly and I feel into a deep sleep.