The girl next to me dodged out of the way as I performed an exaggerated hip thrust before shimmying down to rest on my ankles and back up to the same effect. She raised her eyebrows as I moved past but I ignored it and the other unseemly glances I was receiving. Their loss, I was a terrific dancer. I extravagantly bobbed my head to prove that point and continued to slide down the crowded hallway as it parted to let me pass. Like the Red Sea for Moses. Or the judgemental teens for the short one with mad skills.
"I have no idea what my brother sees in you," Jackie commented as I slammed to a stop at the locker besides Claire's and ending my performance with nary a clapped hand to acknowledge it. Bastards.
"Something your brain cells are obviously too stunted to see," I answered and rolling my head back against the locker to address her and Claire hiding her grin behind her locker her door. "Thank God it's not genetic." Jackie rolled her eyes at me and dramatically sighed before turning and walking down the hall away from us and her cheerleader skirt flouncing with the movement.
"I thought it was pretty good," Claire congratulated, leaning back with her hands tightened on the metal of her shelf and keeping her from falling.
"Why thank you," I curtsied – harder to do in jeans then you'd think – and was rewarded with a laugh that was shorter than the reaction in me warranted.
"So what do you have Mark have planned for tonight?" She wondered, laugh still in her voice and on her lips as she pulled out her binder and let it rest heavily in the crook of her arm.
"Dinner and a movie. My pick if I'm lucky. Second base if he is," I pressed my shoulder into the metal and felt it crackle back and forth under my weight. "What about you?"
"I don't know," she sighed, dropping another binder onto the first and locking the door behind her. "Might try and figure out the new video camera dad got me. Way more complicated than it looks." She took my hand with her free one and laced her fingers through mine as she started to lead me down the hall.
"Well if all goes well maybe we could use it to record a sex tape," I swung our clasped hands between us and a group of guys we passed raised their eyebrows as we did.
"I'm not having a naked Max Wilcox on my video camera," she protested and directing us down another hallway and past the trophy case to my locker.
"It's not for him. It's for us," I corrected and she threw her head back to laugh and exposing the soft lines of her neck that I resisted the urge to reach out and trace. Instead I satisfied myself with a kiss to her cheek and slinging my arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.
I tossed my shoes onto the rack precariously set by the door and closed it behind me with a turn of my ankle. I nearly fell with the loss of balance and righted myself before anyone could see. It took me a moment for the sad realization to sink in that there was no one around to see. I shook the thought loose and ran my fingers around and over the table before walking to the kitchen and tipping my head under the faucet for the tepid water that I didn't want to wait to turn colder. I turned the tap off and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and then in succession on the front of my jeans. There is a note taped to the fridge by the array of magnets that were obviously a wise investment but I don't bother to read it already knowing what it said: I'm working late, don't wait up, there's food in the fridge, I love you yada yada I opened the fridge door and scanned the half empty shelves that probably weren't even worth that distinction. A half empty bag of milk, cartoon of – lifting the lid – egg, mouldy tomato and the ends of a loaf of bread that had probably been around since bread was discovered and we were the sole owners of that legacy. I shut the door behind me and rested my hands on the handles and ran my fingers over the bumpy grooves of the surface. Just under my touch on the right hand side was an invitation to a piano recital I'd been listed under to go to from almost a year ago. I ran my fingers under the fold and the lady bug magnet struggled under the pressure. I had put it at her seat at the table hoping that she'd ask about it before caving and sticking it on the fridge where she'd have no excuse but to see it. She hadn't. And I didn't go. Suddenly angry I ripped it off of the fridge so the magnet fell and rattled over the tile and ripped the paper into shreds so the cursive written inside shattered into nonsensical sentences. Your daughter, performing, we'd be honoured if ... I tossed the pieces into the garbage can and shoved them down so I couldn't see them anymore before stalking back into the hallway, grabbing my shoes and slamming the door shut behind me.
"So ...? What do you think?"I turned to show off the fall and cut of the dress and the spin allowing the folds to spin out around my knees as I did. Not one to usually wear dresses there was something tempting about one tonight and I was allowing myself to mild indulgence. Claire sat up from where she was laying on the bed and the other clothes I had tried on sprawled out underneath her.
"Very nice. Very ... un-you though," She folded one of the other dresses over her lap and the lace trim of it brushing her fingers.
"Um ow," I teased and turning back to look in the mirror and tracing the delicate lines of it. It was modest enough though with a little primping it could show a decent enough of cleavage. Though on me I'd have to show the whole breast to be considered someone's decent. Ah self pity.
"I didn't mean it like that," she insisted and stood up to walk behind me and wrapping her arms around my waist. "I just meant ... it's delicate. And you're strong. So from that perspective ... it's un–you." She rested her head onto my shoulder and I blinked rapidly for a moment to resist the urge to close my eyes and lean my head back against her neck. I might be able to feel her pulse if I did. See if it raced as much as mine was and if I could get it to run faster. There was a knock on the door and I jumped inside Claire's arms and she laughingly pulled back with a quick kiss to my shoulder.
"Come in," she called and reaching over the chair to pick up the jacket that went with it and pressing it to my arm to make sure it was the right one. The door opened and Sandra poked her head through the opening followed by Mr. Muggles who was supported by her arm. Hairy rat.
"Oh don't we look nice," she professed and stepping through so she could see me better. I dropped into a curtsey to thank her – much easier in a dress – and she clapped to congratulate my efforts and Mr. Muggles glaring at me since I encouraged the interruption. Oh bite me fur ball I look good.
"I'm guessing the boy downstairs has nothing to do with the outfit?" She asked and smiling at her little joke –?– and returning her hands to running her fingers through Mr. Muggles fur.
"He's here?" I asked and running over to the window to pull back the curtain and seeing his Jeep parked in the driveway and the lights inside still on. I grinned to myself and turned back away from the window to take Claire's hand and leading her around Sandra – Mr. Muggles doesn't count – and into the hallway. The carpet creaked under our feet as we made our way down the stairs and Max patiently waiting in the front entry with his hands tucked into his pockets. He grinned when he saw me and I let go of Claire's hand to approach him and standing up on my tip toes to give him a kiss hello. I pulled away before one of us could get carried away and flicked a strand of hair over my shoulder, suddenly feeling shy but not sure why.
"You look very pretty," he murmured, his lips by my ear and his breath raising goosebumps under my skin.
"Thanks, you're not too bad yourself," I replied and he grinned, pressing his lips against mine again but this time I let him linger.
"Hello, Mrs. Bennet," he greeted when I pulled back and raising a hand to greet her where she stood from the top of the stairs.
"Please call me Sandra," she insisted and lightly stepping down the steps, forcing Claire to walk down first so the two of them wouldn't run into each other.
"If you insist," he grinned and lacing his fingers through mine at his side. His grip was tighter then Claire's and I tried to wiggle my fingers looser from the grasp but he either ignored it or didn't seem to notice. "So I'll be bringing Jess back here?"
"Yeah, here would be good," I answered and turning so I faced away from them and not wanting to think about the emptiness of the house and the invitation that I'd ripped up and stuffed in the trash. Denial was a strong character trait I had and I wasn't willing to drop it just yet.
"Just bring her home by eleven," Sandra filled in and even without looking I could tell that she was smiling.
"Will do," he reassured her and I finally managed to work my fingers free from his with purple prints worked into my palm. "Oh sorry, babe."
"Your jacket," Claire reminded me and balling it up to throw it at me but coming untangled in the air so that I caught it by the sleeve. I opened it up to wrap it around my shoulders and Max opened up the door behind me so I spun back through it with my arms tangled and somehow managing to work in a wave goodbye.
"Oops, sorry sir," Max said behind me and I finished the turn to see Noah walking up the driveway with his brief case in hand and his glasses perched low on his nose.
"Max," he nodded as he passed before turning to look back at me as I followed. "Jess?"
"Yeah?" I turned back, finally working my arm successfully through the sleeve and looking like I could pass as half decent company. Of course with me you'd have to show the whole breast to ... no it didn't work in this case.
"You going out?" He asked, stepping closer and folding his hands politely over the handles. I couldn't tell in the dark but with at least one of his cases Claire and I once filled the linings with stickers and pieces of artwork we'd done so he'd have a surprise when he opened it. He'd come home to find us hiding and giggling and loudly professed that they had stepped up their game with designing their brief cases and that he would have to look into ordering more for his colleagues. I didn't know why I remembered that.
"This isn't the way in?" I asked in exaggerated panic and even in the dark I could tell he was grinning. It glinted behind his glasses in his eyes.
"Ha ha very funny. You and Max? You're going on a date?" He nodded to where Max was standing behind me and I looked over my shoulder to check that he was standing at the car door and his fingers frozen on the handle as if debating whether or not he should open it.
"Yeah just to dinner and a movie. We'll be back by eleven," I promised and tucking one side of the jacket over my front as I felt a cold breeze. The other side was on its own.
"Alright just ...," he took another step closer and dropped his voice so that only I could see him and the light from upstairs from Claire's window illuminating the frame of his face. "Just ... be careful, okay? Call me if you need to be picked up."
"I will," I promised and stood up on my tip toes to press my lips to his cheek and feeling the bristles along his jaw. "You need to shave." He laughed and ran his hand over his face and seeing for himself if I was right.
"It's that time again," he admitted and I started to walk back to the Jeep and the gravel shifting under my shoes. Max took it as the hint that we were in the clear and slid into the driver's seat and resting his hands upon the steering wheel. I walked around to my side and jerked open the door with the self reminder that it stuck.
"Jess?" Noah called from the front steps and I stopped before climbing in and looked to him and whatever else he had to say. He hesitated for a moment before lifting the hand holding the briefcase to wave and the move triggered the outside light so I could see it was the case we'd decorated and the sentimentality of it making my chest hurt. "I love you." I smiled and made my final move to get into the car.
"I love you too."
Max ran his fingers up my arm and over the folds of my jacket so they furrowed together and stopped on the lines of my shoulder. I pulled back and slid it down my shoulders so goosebumps ran under my skin before leaning in to kiss him again and tangling my fingers into his shirt. I could feel the lines of his collar bone under the fabric and briefly wondered what would happen if I sank my teeth into it. Would it hurt or would he like it? I'd never really done this before so it was anyone's guess at this point. Or not anyone's just mine. Whoop Dee Dee.
"You warm enough?" He asked and ran his lips down my neck and pulling the strap of my dress down as he went. The prickles under my skin intensified and I dug my fingers tighter into his collar.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I assured him and he lightly bit at my shoulder and I visibly shuddered as his tongue soothed the bite. See, this was easy? Nothing complicated just ... kissing and a little biting. We were balancing between human and vampire. I'd prefer werewolf but ... now was not the time to be debating this. He turned his head to lean around to my other shoulder and started to unlace the strings holding shut the bodice. Cold air ran along the insides of my breasts and I loosened my fingers to hold a hand to his chest and push him back.
"Sorry," he said with a nervous grin and I tightened the strings again to cover it up but just enough showing so he wouldn't think it was a total loss. I smiled so he'd know it was alright before kissing him again and tracing the muscles of his arm. Playing football did have its perks. Brain injury was another one though not as highly recommended. Sarcasm. His hand started to run down my side and to my hip before his fingers crawled over my skirt and lightly pushing it up from the hem. I pushed his fingers away before entwining them through my own and holding them over my ankle. Somewhere significantly safer. He laughed against my lips before pulling his fingers loose and trailing them back up my leg again and underneath the fabric to my thigh. I pushed his hand away more forcibly this time and held it at my knee just where the hem met. He pulled back and glanced over me quickly, his eyebrows creased in confusion.
"Are you okay?" He asked, his eyes more focused on my chest then my face.
"Yeah ... just a little too far," I tried to laugh it off but aware that his fingers were again moving up my leg. I kept seeing Noah and the smile on his face when he lifted the brief case and the memory of stuffing the insides with our hard earned collection of heart and Winnie the Pooh stickers. It hadn't been our best work but when you were eight and nine years old supplies came limited.
"Come on, it's okay," he laughed and kissed me again but harder this time and pressing me back against the door. His shoulder dug into my chest and I shoved him as it started to bruise my lung.
"No it's kind of not," I held him away from me and my fingers trembling at holding his weight. I glanced at the Dashboard and the numbers 10:45 blue and illuminated over the radio. "We should probably get going it'll take about fifteen minutes to drive back."
"It's okay it'll be quick," he tried to kiss me again and the muscles of his arms contracted under my grip as I tried to hold him back, wanting to laugh it off but starting to feel uneasy.
"No ... I don't think so not now," I turned my head away from him but he took it as an invitation and bit into the side of my neck. "Ow. Stop it." He was heavier then he'd been a moment ago or I'd grown weaker and was leaning over me so his knee was between my legs and forcing them apart. "Stop it. Get off. Get off!" I scrambled for the door handle behind me and managed to get it open so the wall that had been supporting me disappeared and I fell back through it and onto the gravel. It dug into my bare legs and back and I scrambled off of it and away from the car, thinking I could just stop at a safe distance and we could talk about this but he was out of the Jeep before I could start and my instincts told me to run.
"Jess!" He was angry and terror knifed itself into my stomach so I turned to run but he hit me from behind and landed on top of me so he straddled me before forcing me to roll underneath him and between his legs.
"Stop it!" My breath caught in my throat and I tried to scream but he was heavy and all of his weight was pressed on me as he tried to get my legs apart and fit a hand between them. "Stop it! Please! Get off!"
"We had a nice time Jess," he forced between his teeth, grunting with the effort of trying to hold me still. "I was nice and you dressed like a whore what did you expect?" He held my legs open and slipped a hand between them and I choked on a sob that made it feel like glass in my chest. "Just stop struggling and it'll be over before you know it." He pressed his knee into my stomach and started to fumble with the buttons of his jeans. Realization hit me like a fist of ice to my stomach and spread to every inch of my body so I felt encased in it like raw adrenaline pounding in my veins.
"Get off!" I shoved at him as hard as I could and energy burst out of me so hard and fast it stole my breath and sent him up and off of me and back with a crash that shook the ground. I choked and sobbed as the air came back into my lungs and struggled to sit up with my legs cramping and flecks of blood on my thighs from where he had grabbed me too tightly. Every inch of me felt drained and I struggled not to pass out as things came back into focus and froze at what I saw. The Jeep which had been parked several feet away from where he'd stopped me was now on its side with the wheels still spinning and smoke underneath the hood. The side of it was cracked and dented and the glass from one of the windows shattered with spider webs embedded into the surface. Time slowed and I must have stood because then I was walking towards it and the black smears across the ground where it had been hit and shoved. By me. The ... energy whatever it was came from me. I stepped back and the idea of it cut its way through my thoughts and tore each one to shreds to make room for it. No ... I couldn't have. I wasn't – no one was – strong enough ... impossible ... My legs gave way and I sank onto the grass and seized it between my fingers and held onto it like if I could it could rewind and deny the last few minutes. No ... I couldn't have ... there's no way. Max. The name snapped me back to my senses as I heard a groan from the other side of the fallen vehicle and the relief – the horror – that he was still alive. Panic flared inside of me and I forced myself to my feet and half stumbled half ran as fast as I could across the park and choking on sobs that blurred my vision and stabbed knives through my ribs and into my lungs.
My legs gave out from beneath me and I half crawled over the gravel as whatever he had done between my legs made the bruises raw and my ankles trembling so I couldn't stand again and I couldn't see through the tears blurring my eyes. I didn't know where I was. I couldn't stand. I couldn't see and there was a suffocating panic under my skin that I could taste like bile in the back of my throat. Stop ... please stop it ... dressed like a whore ... what'd you expect ... the energy ... not me ... it couldn't have been me ...
"Jess!" He found me. I struggled to my feet but I couldn't stand properly and sagged against a tree with my fingers digging into the bark to hold me upright. He'd found me and he was going to be pissed. I couldn't fight him off this time ... I couldn't even stand. I gasped against another sob and sagged against the tree, unable to do that any longer and no longer as driven as I had been a minute – or an hour – before.
"Jess! Jessie?" It wasn't him. I ran an arm across my eyes and sniffed so I could see the SUV on the street fifty feet away and the man running across the grass towards me. The glow from one of the street lights illuminated his face and I could see the glint of his horn rimmed glasses from even where I stood. Relief crippled me and I hit the grass hard as he finished the remaining distance between us and pulled me hard into his arms. I buried my face into his shirt and started to sob against him and distantly aware of him brushing his fingers through my hair and trying to soothe me. I clung onto the front of him and aware that I was soaking it but I didn't care. He was here and I was safe and that was all that mattered. Stop please ... stop ... get off!
"What happened?" He pulled away and held my face in his hands as he wiped away my tears and tried to make eye contact with mine. "What happened? What did he do?" His eyes were sad as if he already knew and I couldn't get the words out. I could still feel him, the weight of him, his hands ...
"Did he ...?" He didn't finish – didn't need to and I painfully nodded so the bile came loose from my throat and I leaned over retching like my insides were on fire.
"Shhh," he attempted and draped his jacket over my back and tucking the sleeves over my sides as I choked and gasped so my tongue felt like acid and burned inside my mouth. "Shhh. I got you. You're safe." I wiped the back of my hand over my mouth and trembled, the dampness of the blood now crusted and cool on my legs.
"There was an energy," the words came out bitter and I spat into the grass with the rest of the vomit and hopefully not the promise of more.
"What?" He righted me so our eyes meet and his own confused in the near dark. "What'd you say?" I swallowed down the taste and the words but it came back up and I saw the Jeep now more clearly and hard over my struggling legs and the darkness of his eyes.
"When he ... when he tried to ... I pushed him off ... there was an energy," His eyebrows were starting to crease and I wasn't thinking properly enough to think of how it sounded aloud. "It came from me."
My fingers shook as I lifted the mug to my lips and the steam hot on my nose and then my tongue as I took a sip. It burned the inside of my mouth but was better than the vomit so I swallowed and ran my finger along the base and under the handle with the heat of it burning my fingers. Get off ... please ... get off! My hands shook so hard the tea spilled over the rim and onto the carpet and I lowered it back onto the table and dapped at the stain with the blanket Noah had given me. I pulled myself back up onto the couch and burrowed deeper inside the sweater I had borrowed from Claire and the wetness of my hair soaking the collar. Noah said that I'd feel better if I showered but I could still feel the weight on my chest and between my legs and wanted to tear at it until my skin was bloody but the memory was gone. The office door rattled open and I looked over my shoulder to see him stepping out from between the glass doors and giving me a calm, sad smile.
"How're you feeling?" He closed the door behind him and walked around the couch to sit down and join me, the pillows sagging under the weight.
"Okay. I guess ...," I tucked myself closer into the corner and crushing my hands between my knees so he wouldn't see that they were shaking. "When's Claire getting home?"
"They said they should be home in about an hour. Stitches took longer to get then they suspected," he put a hand lightly on my foot and ran his thumb back and forth on my toes. This little piggy went to market ... "Now ... about that ..." I raised my eyes to him as he stared down at the carpet where I had spilled and for a moment I thought he was going to ask and call me out on it.
"About what?" I swallowed hard and I could taste bile again. He looked up at me and shifted so he was facing me and his knees resting on my feet and holding me still. His glasses were low on his nose and I could see his eyes behind them and something in them that I couldn't read. My hands started shaking again.
"I think it would be best if Claire didn't find out about tonight. Or ... anyone else for that matter. It would be ... in your best interest if you forgot about what happened and try to live your life as normally as possible. Is that clear?" His voice had gone quiet and he said each word slowly like there was significance to each one. The inside of my mouth was burning again and I desperately wanted to reach back over for my tea.
"I'll take care of it," He answered whatever question I hadn't asked myself first and that kindly smile I'd known him to have so easily returned and the assurance in his eyes that I was safe and that he'd protect me. But it came a moment too late and there was doubt where there should have been comfort.
"But what about ...?" I didn't know what but I had to ask.
"I said. I'd take care of it," He said it more firmly and his smile no longer looked right with how uneven it was to his eyes. He held them; waiting for me to say something and I could only nod as whatever he had built up dropped and his smile came more naturally.
"You must be hungry. Now how about I make you something to eat?" He leaned over and kissed my forehead before climbing up from the couch and around to the kitchen. He started to rummage around through the fridge and cupboards, his voice drowning out as words echoed in my ears and slit up under my skin like tiny blades. Stop ... get off! Stop ... Please! "Ms. Newport?!" I turned at the sound of the voice and Claire's hand slipping from mine and the bandage covering the stitches rough under my fingers. Principal Marks was standing outside his office and disappearing and reappearing as the crowd moved around him. "Can I see you in my office for a minute?" I turned back to Claire who made a move to come with me.
"I'll be right back," I pulled my bag strap higher on my shoulder and walked along the line of lockers to him and pressing closer when people passed and grazed me as they did. Principal Marks held out an arm to lead me through and I paused as I saw a police officer standing by the desk and his hat off his head and folded between his hands in front of me.
"Have a seat," he gestured to a chair and the door closed behind me and drowning out the noise of the hall. I suddenly wished I had taken Claire up on her offer but nonetheless walked over to the chair and uneasily sat – wincing as I did. This wasn't my first time in the Principals office. It was a new one for having a police officer though and coupled with last night it ran cold down my spine. Principal Marks walked around the desk before sitting in his own chair. I felt the sudden urge to demand my rights read.
"Ms. Newport we've had one of our students go missing – a Mr. Maxwell Wilcox and we were wondering if you had any idea where he might be?" He clasped his hands in front of him and leaned forward with what he most likely assumed was a non threatening gesture. My vision tunneled for a moment and I felt that coldness turn hot.
"Why would where he might be?" I licked the dryness of my lips and repeating Noah's words in my head. It would be best if no one knew what happened. I'll take care of it. I had to trust that. Trust him.
"Well you are dating him, aren't you?" He glanced up at the officer as if he were more qualified to know. The officer didn't answer and instead stared down at me with a less then trusting eyes. Sure I had a reputation but it wasn't that bad.
"I am," I bit down on the last word. Was. Past tense. Not anymore. Not after last night.
"Well I have a witness from his sister who says that you two were on a date last night? A Ms. Jackie Wilcox?" His brow furrowed on the name and I barely nodded to show that he'd been correct.
"Yeah we had a date. He was fine though," I shrugged like it didn't mean anything but I could still feel the weight. Still hear my screams.
"And when did that happen?" He pulled a sheet of paper out and a pen like he was going to take notes.
"Before eleven?" I tried to phrase it as a statement but it came out as a question. I cleared my throat to cover it and brushed back a strand of hair. "My curfew is eleven so it must have been before then." They could tell that I was lying. They had to. I was good but not that good. Principal Marks raised his eyes to the officer but neither of them said anything so the glance must have been enough.
"Have you seen this man before?" The officer finally spoke and tossed a picture down on the desk that he had apparently been hiding behind his hat. Rabbits were overrated anyway. I leaned over the desk to see it and tried not to wince as I did. It was a blurred photo of a tall, bald man with dark skin and a yellow jacket that ended just below his waist. He was looking over his shoulder at something and in the background I could see something large and fallen to the side. The Jeep. I tightened my fingers into the armrest of the chair and resisted the urge to throw it and run hysterically from the room.
"No. Why?" I glanced up at the officer and waited for him to answer for me. Obviously not impressed he took back the picture and held it back behind his cap.
"He was the last person to be seen with Maxwell before he disappeared," Principal Marks answered and dismayed but kinder then the officer that I hadn't known. "We were wondering if you knew him or had any idea why Maxwell would go with him?" He stared at me expectantly and I forced myself to meet and hold his gaze. Guilty people couldn't make eye contact. That's one of the tricks of how you knew someone was lying. I had nothing to hide. I'd done nothing wrong. But even thinking if felt off and I could feel it weighted down with the rest of me feeling too light.
"No. I have no idea," I blinked to drop the gaze and he sighed, convinced enough that I was innocent or at the very least he had no other reason to hold me. The bell rang for the start of class and the sound of students rushing to beat it rushed from behind the door.
"Thank you. That'll be all Ms. Newport," he nodded for me to leave and I stood up for the door with the officer beating me to it and holding it open. I walked past him and out into the hallway where Claire was waiting for me and moving away from beside the fountain where she'd be standing.
"If you think of anything that might be of help, please don't hesitate to call," the officer informed me and reached into his pocket and pulling out a card that he held out for me to take.
"I know the number," I told him simply and his eyes narrowed as he continued holding it before slipping it back into his pocket and walking away and into the crowd. People passing by glanced at him as he left before looking over to me and most likely wondering what I'd done this time. I tried to smile at Claire who looked worried and led her through the flow in the direction of the science hall.
"You okay? What happened?" We stepped out into the sun to cross the quad and a breeze picked up the pulled at the strings of the jacket I hadn't taken off in hopes it would cover the bite mark on my shoulder.
"Yeah, everything's ...," I froze or everything else did and I alone kept moving. Across the parking lot was a man – the man from the photograph standing silent and watching me. My heart beat slowed as his eyes met mine and a heavy silence seemed to press down on my ears and suffocate me. I could hear screaming – my screaming in my chest and in my head and the weight of him gone and the dent along the side of the Jeep. The same that he had been standing beside and no one had made a mention of being destroyed.
"Jess?" Everything snapped back into focus and I turned to look at Claire who was watching me in growing concern and a hand reached out to touch my shoulder. Without even meaning to I moved back. "Jess, are you alright?" I looked back to where the man stood and only found an empty spot where he had been. It felt too hot all of a sudden and I couldn't breathe inside my skin.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," the lie came more easily than I thought it would and I forced a smile as she took my hand again and led me across the crowded Quad to the other hall.
"Probably cut him up into little pieces and sacrificed him to the Devil or some shit. Wouldn't be surprised she seems like the type to go murderous bitch. No wonder did you hear about her dad? Probably killed himself to spare the shame and now we know why. Devious little slut ..." I ducked my face behind my hair as people glanced at me passing and made no real effort to hide what they said. It started after lunch when word of my meeting with the police officer spread and soon everyone had an opinion of what I did and why. It was almost funny if you counted out the fact that none of it was true and that even if it was it wasn't in character. I pulled my bag higher over my shoulder and turned to avoid a group of cheerleaders but one of them slammed into me and I hit the floor hard so the contents of my bag spilled out and papers scattered over the tile.
"Watch where you're going bitch!" She called after me as the others laughed and I started to scrape the papers together in some sort of order to put them back in my binder. Not like I paid much attention anyway.
"Here let me help," Someone knelt in front of me and I looked up into the eyes of a guy about my age with headphones around his neck. Zeke or Zach or something. He stretched to gather up the papers I couldn't reach and shuffling them back together and into my bag.
"Ignore those girls they're bitches," He tried to comfort me but I didn't hear it properly and only the whispers of those still around us and not one of them bothering to help.
"Looks like she's got another victim. Gotta go after the gays now. Watch out or she'll kill you too."
"Thanks," I swung my bag back over my shoulder and hearing it clink against the lockers as I misjudged the weight behind it.
"I'm Zach," he held out a hand to me as we stood and I raised my eyes to his face and finding something unnaturally kind and out of place about it. Max had a nice face. Max had kind eyes.
"Like I care," I shoved past him and down the hall as more people laughed and whispered after me and the weight of them like rocks on my back.
"Jess! Dad's here," Claire ran up and slid her arm through mine as a group of boys younger then use shied away when we got too close and making a bigger deal out of it then necessary. She led me out into the parking lot where the SUV was parked and Lyle already in the front seat.
"What took you so long?" He whined as Claire pulled open the side door and climbed in first.
"I was gone five minutes," Claire told me and tousled his hair which made him whine louder and messing it back to the "right amount." I stepped in after her and slammed the door shut behind me, one or two people slowly passing and at a distance trying to get a glimpse at me.
"How was your day girls?" Noah asked from the driver's seat and I paused to meet his eyes in the rear view mirror and his glass glinting off the light from the frame. He smiled at me when he saw me looking but it didn't reach his eyes and I felt the last 24 hours hit me in a rush. Be careful, get off, stop, that was me, an energy, no one should know, do you know this man, I'll take care of it ...
"Good," It came out before I could think worse of it and added a smile that was halfway convincing to go along with it. "It was good." Mr. Bennet grinned and nodded as if congratulating me on the lie.
"That's good. Now ... who wants take out?" He started to start the car and Lyle enthusiastically cried his approval and even Claire seemed excited. I turned in my seat to pull on my seat belt and distantly through the parking lot thought I could see the man again. Silent. Staring. Watching. But when I blinked he was gone and it was different words I could hear in my head and not the list of restaurants that Mr. Bennet was suggesting.
I'll take care of it, I'll take care of it, I'll take care of it.