The Girl With The Dice Necklace

Chapter 10- Peter

     "Don't have any soda this time..." One of the Sophomores' cackle cut through the brisk autumn air. I could barely hear their mocks from over my panting and racing heart beat.

I turned into an alleyway and hopped up onto a trashcan. Without thought, I climbed up onto the roof of the building. I kicked the trashcan to it's side, hoping to gain some time. However this didn't gain me time for they were using the fire escape stairs instead. In retrospect I guess stairs might've been easier...

I grabbed a loose pipe that was on the floor of the roof and held it as a barrier between the four of us. I held it out in front of me, horizontally, not sure what I was going to do with it. Obviously it didn't help when I got a punch in the stomach, making me double over in pain. I stood up taller and tried to ignore the pain, deciding I would tend to it later.

Seeing an attack coming from the side I threw my leg into the air in a harsh kick, knocking over the blonde sophomore. I needed a way down from here, so I opted to taking the stairway rather than jumping down two-stories. So I ran down the fire escape stairs, with three boys chasing after me so they could kill me. Once I reached the near bottom I stood on the railing and jumped down off the red rusting staircase.

Here I was running again, just like how I always start. I pushed myself to run even faster but soon my body gave in and I couldn't get any faster. I was in front of the music store, barely standing up, and just waiting to be killed. My vision was blurring from the last punch in the stomach. Finally the stillness stopped and the sophomores attacked and punched and kicked and my body automatically defended itself, punching and kicking back.

Out of the corner of my blurry eye I swore I saw a figure get close. A tall figure, about two heads taller than me walked right up to the fight and started fighting. Kicking the sophomores and punching them. One last and final shot finished me off though. When the leader of this chaos, Sid, kicked me in the neck and punched me in the stomach, with the force of a hurricane's wind.

I doubled over and crumpled to the ground, physically unable of anything. I tried to get myself to stand up-- nonetheless sit up. Everything flashed by, but at last, somehow the stranger had defeated the bullies and they had gone, run off.

"Are you okay?" The stranger asked worriedly, leaning over top of me. I nodded a yes but realized how much my neck hurt in doing so.

"I'm fine. Are you hurt?" I asked hurriedly searching him for any sign of serious pain.

"Just some scratches." He reassuringly half-smiled back.

Suddenly his heroic face made sense! Suddenly I knew who he was and recognized him!

"You're-- that boy from the dance aren't--" I croaked. How embarrassing! Lying on the dirty street, beat up by some kids and needing saving!

"Yeah." He said in bewilderment, his dark eyebrows coming to a face of concern. He smirked, perhaps realizing I remembered him, or perhaps realizing who I was.

"How--?"

"Shhh... Your vocal chords might be damaged." He said, running his smooth, hard fingers over my neck.

"But--"

"Shh... I work across the street from here and saw all the commotion." He explained, pointing across the street. I opened my mouth to ask something but he covered it with his hand.

"I guess we should get you home."

"I'm fine." I persisted, not having the energy to deal with the embarrassment of "we" in the sentence.

When he helped me up I realized how much I was shaking. I stood up and closed my eyes for a moment, feeling dizzy and light headed.

"Here," The boy from the dance handed me a water bottle out from the backpack I didn't even realize he had. I gave him a questioning look, not sure if I should take it.

"Drink it." He insisted. I chuckled.

"What?" He asked, my smile contagious.

"I know you're supposed to drink water! Thanks for the reminder!" I said giggling. He sighed and smiled, handing me the bottle, which I drank a sip of. He told be to drink more, so I did, graciously.

"So you're not going to tell anyone when they ask about your bruises right?" He said, knowing perfectly.

"No..." He shook his head.

"Well you should."

"I know." I couldn't tell if it was nagging or genuinely caring behind his statement. I didn't know what else to say, so with that I started off, leaving him watching and confused. Like he was going to say something.

"Oh and--" We said at the same time.

"Go ahead," He told me.

"I just wanted to thank you." I blushed.

"Oh, no problem..." He returned an identical flush of pink.

"I never got to ask--" He stopped, not knowing what to say. I nodded him on to keep going, he blushed again.

"My name?" I tried. He gave me a nod.

"I'm Audrey. Grey. Audrey Grey." I said, "And you're the boy from the dance." I continued.

"I'm Peter Paravano."

"Well I guess I really will see you around then." I told him, referencing the words I had spit out the night of the dance. I had a feeling he would just keep popping up.

"Yeah... See ya." He said almost sadly. He winked, perhaps having sensed the sad note in his voice.

"Bye! Thanks again." I said a little louder as I walked off.

"Your sure you'll make it home fine?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." The truth is, I wasn't okay. I could hardly stand up and had to walk three blocks to get home. And I didn't want to leave Peter. I wanted to know him. Would if we don't 'see each other around'? That name, Peter Paravano, no, I'm pretty sure we'll meet again.