So I wasn't going to post this till Friday but then Megan begged me to post it so here it is, early. Hope you enjoy it Gin!
Slamming open the kitchen door, I snatch the envelope of money off the counter, jamming it into my pocket, and made my way to the bathroom. I check my face and it's ironic that the cut Jay gave me is in the exact same spot that my dad hit me for the first time; the scar is opened and I know that when it heals the scar will be even more predominant.
I clean my swollen lip and then walk to my room. Grabbing out my two suitcases, I dump all my stuff in and then take them out to my car. Heading back in, I scurry to my dad's room and over to his desk. The top drawer is locked and I give it a kick, the cheap lock breaking under the force. Taking any papers I would need, I walk back to my room.
Taking my clock off the wall, I forcibly throw it on the ground, not having the patience to deal with unscrewing the back. I kneel and take the money that is revealed; the wad tucked into my pocket with the envelope. Grabbing the box of my mom's stuff, I take a last look before heading back outside. After placing everything in my trunk, I stare at the house that has been my source of pain for the last couple months. A need for destruction and chaos takes over me and I stalk back inside.
Grabbing a matchbook from the kitchen drawer, I open the cabinet where the liquor was stored. I began throwing the bottles around; as each bottle breaks, I could feel my anger being released. With the last bottle in hand, I unscrew the cap and begin to walk towards the front door, letting the alcohol pour out behind me. I dump the last of it on the rug and let the bottle fall empty to the ground.
Walking down the front steps, I take out the matches and pull a single one out. Striking it, I let it burn. Finally, I flick it towards the front door. It twirls in the air before hitting its mark; the trail of alcohol ignites and soon it spreads to the rest of the flammable liquid and the house begins to smoke. I watch, satisfied, as the house engulfs in flames and smoke begins to billow out; the hot flame of the fire matching the one of anger inside me. Faintly, I hear the sirens in the distance. As I hear them come closer, I hop into my car and take off, one destination in mine: LA.
So why LA? First of all, it was all the way across the continent, and second, my grandmother lived there and I knew I could probably get answers from her on this unheard of 'Robin'. My fingers drummed the rhythm of the music as I flew down the high way with the top down. If felt nice to be free for once.
I pulled up to a gas station a few miles out of town and purchased gas, a map, and some food as the attendant eyed me warily. I knew that the cut and bruise on my lip was drawing more attention then I hoped for. I flashed him a smile and paid for my stuff. Just as I was about to exit, the TV caught my attention.
"Starting off the news tonight, a house fire is the current task for local firefighters. A house on Shepard Hill went up in flames around 9 o'clock this evening. The fire is currently 80 percent contained and fortunately has not spread to surrounding area. The house belongs to local resident Arthur Gilroy. His current employer stated that he was out of town for the week. The whereabouts of his daughter Erin, age 18, are unknown. Police suspect that the teenager may have been inside the house but it is unconfirmed until an investigation can be conducted. The creation of the fire is also unknown and no eyewitness were present…"
"That's horrible. I hope the girl is okay," the attendant commented.
"Yeah, me too," I said quietly.
I quickly walked out the door as the newscast began to report on a different story. I dumped the items in my car and paused; the worry of getting caught faded and I felt more liberated than anything. Looking up at the sky, I could see the dark cloud of smoke that curled in the night sky, the outline of it barely visible.
Jay would probably hear the news and go bonkers thinking I was still in the house. I gave a cynical laugh thinking of the worry he probably would do. Serves him right, the ass. I would call Megan and Rachel when I got to LA and let them know I was alive. Probably would be a good idea to get a cell, I mused.
I stretched out before getting back into my car. Reversing out of my spot, I veered back onto the highway and set out.
I had just entered LA about a week later when I heard a strange noise coming from my car. I immediately pulled over and turned on my emergency lights even though the highway was pretty empty as the later hour of the night. I circled my car and let out a groan as I found the source of my problem: I had a flat. I kicked the flat tire and pouted. This was so not what I needed.
I opened my door again and popped the trunk. Lifting up the mat, I pulled out the spare, jack, and wrench. So how did Kyle do this again? I stared down at the tire and let out a sigh. I set the jack on the ground and paused as a car stopped behind me. I looked over to see a black car with fireworks painted on the hood; it was impressive. What I thought was the passenger door opened vertically and a girl got out.
"Need some help?" she asked closing her door. When she turned to me, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. This girl looked exactly like the one in the picture I found; though her eyes were a different color but there was no mistaking the similarities.
"Yeah, help would be great," I said as I regained use of my mouth.
"Whatcha got, oh a flat. Simple, we'll have it fixed in no time," she said pulling her long black hair into a bun. I nodded absently and handed her the wrench. I watched blankly as she fixed the tire and then got up.
"Okay, all done. Hey are you okay there?" she asked waving a hand in front of my face, bringing me out of my stupor.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just you remind me of someone," I replied honestly.
"I get that sometimes," she said with a smirk, her sky blue eyes flashing in amusement. "Here's a card to the place I work. We'll put some new tires on for you and give you a tune up since you've been driving for quiet a while," she pulled out a white business card from her wallet and passed it to me. DT Automotive, it said.
"Thanks, but how do you know I've been driving for a while?"
"You're plates."
"Oh," I said feeling dumb. She let out a laugh and set the flat tire and tools in my trunk.
"So just drop by and we'll look over it, make sure everything okay," she said closing the trunk.
"Thanks for the help."
"No problem. See ya around," she replied as she began to walk to her car.
"Wait, what's your name?" I asked and crossed my fingers, hoping she would say Robin; but in the back of my mind, I knew it couldn't be true, the girl was too young.
"July, but everyone calls me JJ," she said opening her door.
"I'm Erin."
"Well Erin, nice to meet you. Hopefully you'll bring your car by and we can hang," she said and waved bye before getting in her car. It fired up and she honked the horn before dashing out onto the highway. I scrambled into my car and took off after her, but lost her. I let out a defeated sigh before pulling into the closest hotel; I could find my grandma's house tomorrow.
July parked her car in her driveway before heading over to the fort. The party had already got underway and the music pulsed from the house. She walked in the front door and was promptly intercepted by Vince.
"Hey, what took you?" he asked with concern as his arms encircled her.
"I was almost out of town by the time I lost the cop and then I stopped to help some girl that had a flat on the side on the road," she answered.
"I was worried something happened to you," he said kissing her lightly on the lips.
"Nope, just helping someone," she murmured against his lips.
"Do you guys always have to be doing that?" Leon asked as he entered the living room.
"You're just jealous," July told him. Leon muttered something incoherent before heading towards the kitchen.
"Go easy on him," Vince said pulling her down onto the sofa.
"I'm guessing he's still sore from Letty."
"Yeah and I don't think Letty getting with Mike helped any," he explained. "I'm not saying that Letty and Mike together are wrong," he added when July looked like she was going to argue, "I'm just saying that I think it hit him harder then he would have liked."
"When did you get all perspective?" she asked leaning close to him.
"Being with you can make a lot of changes," he replied. "Good changes," he added and captured July's lips.
July woke up with a scream and it died in her throat as she realized she was in bed. Vince sat up and put an arm around her. As he pulled her to him and rocked her back and forth, the nightmare began to fade away, the image of Arnold and the knife growing fainter. It had been almost 10 months since the real nightmare happened, but every once in a while she would have a dream about it. Mike told her sometimes he even did.
"Nightmare?" he asked even though he knew the answer. July nodded yes against his chest. Vince's arms came around her, securing her to him and July felt safe. Vince pulled her back towards the bed and she snuggled up against him, savoring the feeling of his skin on hers. Whenever he touched her, it caused little sparks of electricity to cover her skin. He rubbed her back and kissed her forehead. She knew how lucky she was to have Vince and wouldn't trade him for the world.
"Feel better now?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied sleepily. "Love you."
"Love you too baby, now sleep," he told her as she closed her eyes and drifted away.
Vince had moved in with her about a week after the 'kidnapping'. July loved waking up to him every morning. Mike and Letty moved into the same room a while after too and were very happy together.
Amy had taken over Letty's room when July asked her to move in. Secretly, July felt bad for Amy. After the whole fiasco, her mom had fallen apart and Max moved far away, glad to be free of his dad's controlling hand. Amy was left on her own and July felt sorry for her and asked Amy to move in with them. Although she was over with Jesse ninety-nine percent of the time, July didn't care.
Amy and Mike had just finished their senior year and graduated last weekend. Mike helped out at the garage and was working at Racer's Edge too, taking Brian's old job; Amy helped Mia down at the store during the week. It all worked out perfectly.
Erin woke up with a groan, the smell of the hotel room almost making her gag. She quickly got out of the bed and dressed. Picking up all her stuff, she checked out and got back to her car. Now was the time to see if she still remembered LA. Pulling onto the road, she took various turns and ended up on the right street. She cruised down it and took in the new houses.
Pulling up to a white two story house, she parked her car and looked around. Everything was still the same, the lawn green and trim and not one thing out of place. That was the way her grandmother was: strict and neat. Erin walked up the walkway and knocked using the brass knocker on the door. She shifted from foot to foot as she waited. The door finally creaked open and an old, weary face greeted her.
"Erin?" the man asked opening the door wider.
"Hey grandpa," she said as she took the older man into a hug.
"What are you doing here?" he asked as he let her go.
"Came to visit for now, maybe move out here."
"Rosemary, come look who's here."
"What is it Tom? Oh my goodness," the older women gushed as she saw Erin and gave her a brief hug.
"Hi grandma," Erin said quietly, her grandma always making her feel intimidated.
"Does your father know you're here?" she asked and Erin almost cursed at her luck.
"Not exactly," she replied wearily.
"Oh for goodness sake's Rose, let her in and we can all talk," Tom said as he grabbed Erin's arm and escorted her in.
Erin swirled her spoon in the tea her grandmother had set in front of her and stared as the slice of lemon twirled in the cup.
"Now you were saying about you're father not knowing?" her grandmother prompted.
"Well, he was on a business trip and I kind of spontaneously decided to come see you guys, since you know I haven't seen you guys in a few years," Erin answered and Tom gave her a warm smile. Erin looked up to see her grandmother poised and impassive, not one black strand of hair out of place.
"So you're saying that you drove all the way from the east coast by yourself and without your father's consent?" Erin frowned at the way it sounded.
"Yeah."
"Well, I'll have to call your father immediately and let him know you're okay," she said as she stood up from the table.
"Don't mind your grandmother, she's being a mother," Tom said quietly to her and Erin gave him a smile. "Now tell me what happened to you lip," he asked eyeing the fading bruise and half healed cut.
"Oh this, I feel down and hit my lip, nothing serious," Erin lied. They sipped their tea in silence until Rose returned to the room.
"I've learned the most interesting thing," she commented as she sat down and locked her eyes on Erin.
"What's that?"
"Your father returned home to find the house burnt down to the ground."
"What?" Erin said with fake shock. "When…when did that happen?"
"Last Saturday. Everyone thought you had died in the fire," Rose said as her eyes searched Erin's face for answers.
"Did you tell him I was okay?" Erin asked with mock concern.
"Yes, he says he's coming here."
"Oh, that's good," Erin replied as her insides began to squirm. The last person she wanted to see was her Dad.
So that's the chapter, don't forget to review and let me know what you think.