I took the cue stick from his outstretched hand and tried to concentrate on looking like I had no clue what I was doing. I used to play with one of my old families, and boy did I play well. I had everyone beat at the age of 12, including my foster father at the time, Roger.
I bent over the pool table, "May I break?" I asked sweetly.
"Go for it." He replied coolly.
I drove my stick right into the green felt. Patch glanced at me, his expression was unreadable. I took a step back to let him take a turn, but he caught me by the wrist.
"Something's off." He declared.
I gulped nervously. I had no clue I'd be so easy to tell apart, but these people couldn't know, right? I had replaced Nora in every aspect of their minds; I even discovered a new birth scar on my wrist that morning that certainly hadn't been there before. So how could he tell?
"Off? I don't know what you mean." I argued, a bit too defensive.
"For one, I noticed that you just took your shot very carefully, aiming directly at the table, not a ball. And for two, I swear yesterday I couldn't have gotten you to come out with me if I had bribed you with money. Let's not forget that top either, I haven't seen you wear anything that revealing…ever." He looked me up and down, and I had never felt more naked. Everything I had done had been noticed. I was going about it wrong, but I still didn't understand his interest. Why would he care if I was good at pool, or dressed like I was? I resolved to put an end to his questions instead of divulging everything.
"To answer your speculations, one: if I could play pool, I doubt it'd matter. I was just trying to let you win, I know how guys get. Two: Maybe I was just looking for something to do tonight and you offered. And Three: I hate to offend your eyes, but it's laundry day. It was this or a bulky sweatshirt." So I had lied. It's been done before. I knew I didn't have to lie about number three, but standing there with his eyes on me, I felt had to make some excuse to cover up my apparent desperation.
"I never said I didn't like the outfit choice. Actually, I think it's rather tempting." He explained devilishly.
Tempting? What a weird word choice, I thought. No matter, I picked my pool stick back up and took a shot at the neatly arranged balls. I sunk two striped balls into the far holes and glanced up at Patch who continued looking at me like a predator more than a friend.
"Nice." He commented while picking up his own stick, "Guess I'm on the solid then?"
I nodded and we played the rest of the game in silence. He ended up beating me which he wasn't ashamed to brag about, but deep down, I knew he had a lot more practice than I had and I vowed to get better.
"Good game." I commended.
"Isn't this the part where you smack me on the butt?" he winked.
"Actually, I think that only works between men, but I have no problem asking the next man I see to slap you wherever you'd like." I joked back.
He laughed and it sent vibrations down my spine and tingles in my stomach. I enjoyed spending time with him here, it wasn't my setting, but it was a nice break from thinking about my old world. Crap, I thought, I totally forgot to do some digging. Patch was walking to the bar to get us soft drinks, and I was enjoying the view.
"Lexi, what do you want?" he called back to me, not without noticing my eyes placed firmly on his backside first.
"A coke is fine." I blushed.
While Patch placed the order, I tried to collect my thoughts. I needed more information, first I wanted to know if people remembered Nora at all, if maybe she was in my place now, or if I was her for good. I also wanted to find a way out, but I wasn't sure how I had even gotten in. Maybe if someone else knew a way….
Patch interrupted my thoughts by handing me my drink.
"Thanks." I told him.
"Anytime, so where would you like to go after this?" He asked me suggestively. The last thing I wanted was to be alone with him, but I needed answers.
"My house?" I replied nervously.
His grin widened and he nodded. His grin gave me goose-bumps, but not in a romantic way. I had seen that grin before on almost every psycho killer in every scary movie ever made. I tried to wash my nerves down with Coke, but it didn't help.
"Let's go." He spoke quietly, and I could only nod in response.
He took my hand and led the way out, leaving our drinks behind at the table. The grip around my hand tightened and I suddenly felt nauseous. I always felt queasy when trouble was near, from a very early age, and I was really hoping I didn't follow through. We hopped on the motorcycle and I held Patch tightly. I was still nervous even though we had made it to Bo's safely.
We pulled up to the farmhouse a half hour later and I shakily got off of the bike.
"Steady there." Patch said to me, but I wasn't really listening. Between the nerves I felt for having him at my home alone and for riding on a motorcycle twice on a day, I thought I was going to hit the ground at any moment.
I took a deep breath and was able to calm the trembling in my knees and legs, and walked to the front door. I pulled the key out my pocket and pushed it into the door's lock slowly, I was trying to buy time. Did I really, really want him in the house? My interest in this new life won over, and I turned the key. Patch followed behind me as I made my way into the living area.
"Nice house." He commented.
I could only blush and smile in response. After all, it wasn't really my house.
He immediately hurried towards the kitchen.
"Hungry?" I asked him with a slight smile. I had no clue what he was doing.
He glanced up and winked at me, I blushed again.
He busied himself for a moment while I took of my jacket and hung it on the coat hanger near the front door. I could hear him turn around, and I know that he must've seen me in just my corset top. It was a drastic measure, but I knew men answered more honestly when they were slightly distracted, and I was certainly not above using my feminine charms. I stayed turned around for a few more seconds, pretending to busy myself with the jacket sleeves, while I let him drink me in.
When I finally did turn around, I gulped. In his right hand, gripped tightly, was a sharp metal object. No amount of sexy clothing could make up for this, I thought.
"What're you doing?" I asked, hoping I would hear an answer that made holding a knife seem normal.
"Lexi…."He sighed.
I noticed his gaze trailing off as he searched for words, and that was all of the time I needed to run up the stairs and to my bedroom. He took after me immediately and I tried to pick up the pace. Unfortunately, running had never been my strong suit. I made it to my room and was closing the door when he kicked it. The force sent me skidding on my butt and leaving me next to my bed. It had shocked me so much, my reaction time slowed and he hauled me off of my feet and threw me onto the bed.
"What the…" I tried to yell, but his hand clamped down around my mouth.
I had no clue what was happening. This didn't seem like the Patch that was introduced in the book, but who was I kidding, I hadn't even gotten that far. I felt guilty, knowing I wasn't doing Nora's character justice. I'm sure she didn't get killed by the second chapter.
I bit his hand and kicked him in the stomach, surprising him, I ran to the bathroom closing the door behind me. I locked it and said a silent prayer. Maybe I could trick him into stopping, I thought. I heard him banging on the door.
"Lexi, let me in. I'm stronger than you know, and I can take down this door." He yelled.
I began to tear up, this is what I had left my life for and I was going to die. I didn't feel a sense of belonging, all I felt was dread. But I had to try. I didn't have much, but I knew any life was worth more than getting killed so soon.
"I'm not who you think I am!" I screamed.
"Not buying it." He called back from behind the door. He gave me an ultimatum, either I let him in and it could be easy or he would fight his way into the room.
"Please, just wait. My name is Lexi Thomas, I'm not Nora. I was just thrust into this world. I don't belong here and I want to go home." I pleaded.
I heard a pause outside the door, knowing I must've said something right for the first time all day, I continued.
"It's true. I come from Maine, but not Coldwater. My parents both died in a car accident when I was ten. My most recent foster parents were Patrick and Sally. They disappeared and I didn't know where they went. I wished to be somewhere else and I ended up here. The real girl's name is Nora Grey, I took her place. I'm so sorry. Please don't hurt me. We can….we can talk it out." I rambled on nervously.
There was quiet throughout the house and for a moment I thought he had left. If only I was so lucky.
"Lexi, open the door." He calmly commanded me. I don't know why, but I obliged.
"Good girl." He said smugly.
I noticed the knife was still in his hand, but his grip was significantly loosened. I knew running wouldn't work, so I continued with my plea.
"I swear, I am not who you're looking for. Let me go."
"Lexi." He murmured. He looked up at me with acuteness.
He believed me, he had to. It's the only way he would've stopped. I looked up at him hopefully. He grasped the knife in his hand intensely again, all the while his eyes never left my face. He raised the knife up and it was the last thing I saw before I screamed. Everything around me went black, and I was sure I was dead.
