Warning to all first readers: This is the third story in a series, my "The Girl I Like.." series. I am rewriting the entire 1-800-WHERE-R-YOU series in Rob's POV, and this is the rewrite of Safe House. I already rewrote When Lightning Strikes and Code Name Cassandra, and you might want to read those stories first. It's not entirely necessary; if you know the books well enough you should be fine, but it's still probably a good idea. They're called The Girl I Like Was Struck By Lightning, and The Girl I Like Is Code Named Cassandra.
Hey, guys! Yes, as I've promised, here's the start of SH. Just a warning before I begin: I have several tests scheduled for several classes in the next week or so, so you might not be able to expect the usual chapter-a-day. Just warning you now. But they should still be at least every other day or so.
Not the best story name, but I have a theme and, according to my friend Cathy, it's better than the other one I had in mind, so... yeah. This is just an introductory chapter, of course. No events that are actually in the book, but it ends right before Rob shows up in SH chapter 10.
Oh, and a response for the anonymous review I got for the last chapter of TGILICNC, just in case you're still reading (I'm guessing so):
Lollipop: Trust me, I'm flattered. Seriously. And please... try to say it. Use lots of adjectives and titles too, those are always good. ;) Oh, and as to your last statement, not question - hey, you were right! Here it is, partially thanks to your statement, BTW. Enjoy :)
She was home for three days before I even knew she was here.
Jess Mastriani, of course, is the 'she'. She didn't come home after that camp, because she went to Ruth's summer home, and I guess once she was gone, I just lost track of the time. So I didn't realize when she got home.
Oh, sure, that shouldn't be a big deal. I know that. Why should I care that I missed her for three days? After all, it wasn't like I was still in high school anymore. I had no reason to know that school was starting.
And I hadn't called her house in over a month; if fact, I'd only called it once and that was before I heard about her going with Ruth. Once I heard, I decided I'd just wait until she got home, and then she could call me.
Jess was always the one who called me before, why should it be any different now?
I had honestly expected that, as soon as Jess got back, she'd call me, or come down to the garage and say hi, like she used to, last spring. So, it came as a big shock to me when I heard she'd been back for three days.
Of course, maybe it had something to do with the way I found out. Yeah, my mom told me, in the middle of dinner, completely nonchalantly.
"Actually," she'd said, in the middle of a story about work, and how the head chef always arranges the toppings on a pizza for a certain table into a heart if a couple sits there, because it's the most romantic spot in Mastriani's – my mom works there as a waitress – "That reminds me… You know who I saw there today?"
I just looked at her, highly doubting I'd be interested in who came and sat at the 'Date Table', as it's apparently called. And I wasn't, not when she started talking, anyway.
"She was there with this nice boy. He was very polite." I just nodded, not really paying attention, taking another bite of my spaghetti. And of course, the moment I started chewing, Mom added, "I just thought might mention that I'd seen Jess – that is how she prefers to be called, right? Jess – It was really nice to see her again. I can see why you like her."
I choked on my food, and started coughing heavily. "What – Jess – Why – "
Mom just smiled innocently at me, when I finally managed to stop coughing. I stared at her suspiciously. I had no idea what she was thinking; my mom can keep a perfectly blank face when she wants to, a habit I've inherited. It's nice and all – and a lot of the time, very useful around Jess – but it's a little annoying when she turns it around on me, because it always seems like she can see right through me.
"Mastriani's back? When… when did that happen? Did she call while I was at work?"
Mom shook her head, smiling at me with something like pity. "No, honey, she hasn't called. And I don't know when she got back, but Ernie Pyle started on yesterday, on Monday, Rob."
"But – she… wait…" I was completely confused. It was Tuesday – late Tuesday night (my mom works the dinner shift, so we eat our dinner late). "Are you sure she didn't call?"
Mom shook her head.
"Oh…" I sighed, with a sinking heart. Okay. So Jess had finally given up. That – that was fine. Really. I was just… It wasn't exactly… Oh, god, I just hadn't expected her – I hadn't actually wanted her to!
But… it was a good thing that she had. I couldn't try to stop her, or anything. That would be… well, it would be pretty stupid of me. I mean, I'd just gotten exactly what I'd been trying for for almost a year now; Mastriani to leave me alone.
So why did it hurt so much?
I nodded. "Oh… That's cool. Thanks for, you know, letting me know."
Mom smiled at me, amused, and we went back to eating dinner, and chatting about various things. After dinner, I washed the dishes, and then I went up to my room, planning on reading a new spy novel. But something kept nagging at me.
For the longest time, I had no idea what it was. I finally had to throw down the book, and go out into the barn, to work on the '64 Harley I've been rebuilding. It's almost done, but tinkering with bikes always relaxes me. I was hoping – at the time – that working on it would help me figure out what was bothering me.
And, okay, the moment I walked into the barn I though of Jess, but that was just because I'd had to spend the night out in the barn with Sean Patrick O'Hanahan, the first kid she'd ever found, last spring.
And really, a lot of things make me think of Jess lately. I can't go to work without being reminded of the times she'd come and visit me, sitting on a tool bench and talking to my boots as I worked on a car, occasionally handing me tools. Every time I get on my Indian, my mind snaps to her, riding it behind me, for a few seconds until I managed to shake it off. Driving past Lumbley Lane – well, that's obvious. Eating in the kitchen, I remember the time she ate breakfast here – hell, even in my bedroom I can't help but be reminded of her, because she slept in my bed one night, the night when Sean and I slept in the barn.
So, when I thought about Jess as soon as I started working on the Harley, I didn't think it was anything, really. I mean, okay, so she'd finally given up on the idea of going out with me. And I was upset about that. But I could accept it. It was fine, even if it hadn't really sunk in yet. That wasn't what was niggling at me, annoying me and making me feel like I'd missed something.
I'd finished working on the bike for the night – it was getting late, technically tomorrow already – and gone inside to take a shower by that point, still thinking hard.
But what else could it be? Aside from the fact that Mastriani was back and was no longer interested in dating, there wasn't any – wait a minute.
Dating. The Date Table.
She was there with this really nice boy…
Wait a minute. Mastriani was back – okay, so I could handle that. She didn't… didn't like me anymore? That… that one I wasn't doing so good with, but I could deal, really. But…
She was already dating other people! Other guys? How could she?
I mean, the entire reason I'd been so relaxed about her still in high school, where there were plenty of single guys her age, was because none of them liked her! Not that I'd really be able to do anything if they had, but…
She went out with another guy?
That was what I asked my mom, once I finished my shower and got dressed, although not in those words.
"Hey, Mom…" I said, glad she hadn't gone to sleep yet. Normally, she would have, but I guess she was off tomorrow.
"Yeah? What is it, Rob?"
She was reading a book in bed, and she folded it closed, looking at me, as she waited for me to continue. I cleared my throat, awkwardly. "Uh… you said you saw J – Mastriani today, right?"
She nodded, starting to smile. I looked at my feet. "So, uh, didn't you mention something about…? She was, uh, with somebody?"
I looked up when she answered, then glanced away at the wall, embarrassed. "That's right," Mom smiled. "A nice young boy… I put them at the Date Table."
Date Table. Right.
"Okay," I said. "That's all… Uh, good night, Mom."
When I looked at her, she looked as if she was trying not to laugh.
I closed the door and went to my room, where I stood, frozen, for about two minutes, until I couldn't handle it anymore.
I was gone before another five minutes had passed, driving down the dark highway toward her house.
I was going to pay Jess a little visit.