One Day At a Time
"I quit," Taylor whispered, placing the papers on Dean Martin's desk.
Martin looked at the paper, quietly glancing at the lines and her signature before sighing. "Look, Taylor. I know you've been through a lot, but is this really what you want? Journalism was your dream and the documentary you made about serial killers was dark, but incredible. It gave incredible incite to the police on what to look for and gave teens information they needed to stay out of those situations.
"I'm done. I want to do something else. I can't stay in this town. Glen Echo just holds too many memories for me and being so close is just too much," Taylor whispered, her eyes wavering as she looked at the dean.
Martin sat in silence, pondering what to say as he looked at the young once aspiring journalist. "If this is what you want to do, then I can't stop you."
Taylor nodded and exited the office, closing the door behind her. As she walked the halls of American University, her heart skipped a beat as Doug approached her, his brow furrowed as he approached.
"So you're really doing it?"
"It's what I need to do," Taylor whispered, eyes falling to the ground.
"Taylor, he's dead."
"The morgue burnt to the ground, his body wasn't there. He prepared everything so that he would survive and I will not stay here knowing he's out there. I can't have anyone around me without worrying that at any moment he could kill them too," Taylor yelled as other students stopped to stare at her before scurrying away.
"Taylor," Doug whispered, grabbing her hand gently. "There's nothing to worry about."
Taylor brushed his hand away, "Doug, I'm sorry, but I don't feel that way about you. You stay here, get your degree. I would say that we could still be friends, but not even that is a possibility."
"Fine," he whispered, shaking his head and walking away.
Taylor walked to her already packed dorm and grabbed the few remaining boxes she hadn't taken to Todd's old van. Stacking them carefully in her arms, she walked through the halls, vision blocked by the stacks in her hands. Her feet moved quickly beneath as she made her way to the door only to bump into someone, sending the boxes flying from her hands and her tumbling to the floor from the impact. Sighing, she rose from the ground and took a deep breath, looking down at the scattered boxes.
"I'm so, so sorry," a familiar voice said, reaching to pick up the boxes. Taylor looked up slowly to see curly red hair bobbing up and down as she picked up the boxes one by one, stacking them in a pile before standing up straight with a gentle smile.
"Jamie," Taylor whispered, her voice hoarse as she shivered despite herself.
"Taylor, I was actually looking for you. I heard you were leaving Glen Echo."
"I'm not telling you a thing," Taylor whispered, her eyes not leaving Jamie's.
Jamie smiled innocently, "Taylor, I wasn't involved in what happened to you."
"But you knew. You knew it was me, didn't you?"
Jamie didn't respond. Taylor nodded as she picked up the stacks of boxes and hoisted them up once again, pushing the doors before her open with her filled arm. Jamie followed, staying on her heels as Taylor picked up the pace to get to Todd's old van. Placing the boxes in the back, she shut the door, turning to face Jamie once more.
"Did you come here just to harass me?"
"No, I came to tell you that he'll find you no matter where you go. It's easy to track addresses and fake names 'Callie Grace'. That's how Eugene found me. He was always one step ahead of me."
Taylor laughed hysterically, trying to catch her breath as Jamie eyed her quizzically, "Leslie and I are nothing like you and Eugene."
Jamie came in close, placing her lips right next to Taylor's ear before whispering, "How do you think we met?"
Taylor stepped back, taking an uneasy breath. "Any feelings I may have had for Leslie he destroyed when he tried to kill me."
Jamie shook her head, placing a gentle head on Taylor's shoulder. "You can keep running, but eventually you'll give in."
Taylor turned away and walked to the driver's side door. "If you see Leslie give him a message for me. Stay the hell away from me."
"Will do, dear," Jamie whispered in a too familiar way as she chuckled to herself, stepping away from the van. "Oh and this," she said, pointing at the van, "is a tad tasteless."
Taylor rolled her eyes, before stepping into the van and driving off.
"Callie Grace. Apartment 2A," the landlady whispered, checking through her database. "I see. Alright, everything checks out Ms. Grace. Your apartment is on the second floor. My name is Mrs. Lafayette, if you need anything I live on the first floor. Pay your rent on time and we'll be fine. If you need an extension one month I need to know two weeks in advance."
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you ma'am," Taylor whispered, turning to go back and get the boxes out of the van.
"Oh, miss! If you need help unloading your things there is a nice young man in 3C that would probably help you."
"Thank you, I'll go ask."
Taylor walked up the stairs glancing around her surroundings, her eyes always falling on the exits. When she reached the third floor entrance she pushed the door open and glanced down both ends of the hallway before stepping inside. Her feet moved down the hall quickly eyeing each door as she passed by until she reached 3C. Knocking lightly, Taylor shuffled her feet as she waited for the door to open. As the door swung open Taylor's blood ran cold.
"Hey Tay Tay!"
"L-Leslie…" she stuttered, backing away from the door, tripping over her feet as she scooted backward until her back met the wall.