Chapter 7

I dreamt about him. Just as he wanted me to.

I had a smile on my face after visualizing how close he was to me. His breathe hitting my skin. How insanely hot he felt. How bright his eyes glowed..

I thought about that monster in the backyard. My smile vanished after thinking about those bright golden eyes staring at me. How vicious they looked.

"Angel! You need to get up! It's past noon!" I hear Jess call from downstairs.

I grab my phone to see it was almost one. Along with it I saw a few messages. Two from Alice and one from Lucas.

'Hey! What happened with you and Lucas the other night? I thought you'd text me or SOMETHING but you never did. He won't even tell me anything. Are you okay? -Alice'

'Please please please text me! :( -Alice'

'Just to let you know. You have my number now ;) -Lucas'

I crack a smile on Lucas's comment but start to feel bad about not texting Alice, so I go ahead and do so.

'Hey sorry about that. I'll let you know what happened tomorrow. Promise! -Angel'

I head to the bathroom to freshen up before changing in some cleaner clothes. After changing into a comfy pair of leggings and a big t-shirt, I jog down the stairs to see what's going on.

My dad's on the couch watching a hockey game and Jess is making tiny sandwiches.

"Where's Dex and Sophie?" I ask as soon as I hit the bottom step.

"Dex went to a car show the town over and Sophie went out with her new hubby Daniel."

"You're kidding right?" I think back on that night at the party.

"Don't worry Angel, you're boy is cute too." She gives me a grin but all I can do is just stare at her.

"Do you happen to know where they went?" I ask ready to leave as soon as she told me the destination.

"Umm..I think they said they were going to the bowling alley."

Right as she said those words I was gone. I grabbed the keys to Jess's Nissan and was heading to the door.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Jess calls out.

"I'll be back, thanks for letting me borrow your car!" I call out as I'm closing the door behind me.

I jog up to her black Nissan Altima and quickly hop in and turn on the ignition.

After backing up and heading down the road all I can imagine is what Daniel could possibly do to her.

My adrenaline pumps as my anger grows, my hands clutch tight on the steering wheel until my knuckles are white.

I can see the old bowling alley in my field of vision and I start to get butterflies in my stomach.

I pull into a parking spot and quickly jump out.

I ran to the entrance and burst through the door to the sound of pens being hit and the smell of pizza.

I scan my eyes around the room then finally spot Daniel and Sophie at the far end of the alley.

Half running, half walking I make my way to them in seconds.

"Sophie, we need to leave." I go to grab her arm but I get blocked off by Daniel.

"We're bowling." He still had a small gash from the fight on his cheek.

"I don't care what you're doing. I'm taking Sophie and we're leaving." I go to grab her again but this time she moves away.

"I don't want to leave." She tells me.

"Sophie, please." I say in my most sincere voice.

She looks from me to Daniel a couple of times then finally gives in, "I'm sorry Daniel, I'll call you okay?"

Without letting him answer she goes up on her tip toes and kisses him on the cheek where the cut is.

We walk out of the bowling alley but I notice she keeps her head down the whole time until we get to the car.

We hop in but I don't start the car just yet.

"What's wrong with you?" I ask without meaning to be snappy.

"I really like this guy. I didn't want to leave but the way you said what you said, it seemed serious. What's going on?" She looks at me finally.

"Daniel's dangerous."

With complete surprise she bursts out laughing.

"Why are you laughing?" I ask in shock.

"Because you don't know him like I do. He's so sweet and charming. There's no way in hell he's dangerous."

"Sophie, you don't know him."

"What do you know?!" She's partially yells out with anger.

"More than you." I say under my breathe. Luckily for me she didn't hear.

"You know what, I'm done with this conversation." She opens her door and takes off toward the bowling alley.

There's no convincing her a second time to come back so I take the defeat then head back home.

I pull up into the drive way, turn off the car, then rest my head against the steering wheel.

How can I tell her about what Daniel's done for her to believe me.

I think to myself. Shortly after I hear a tapping on my side of the window which makes me jump.

Jess's body is hovered over the window to get a better look at me, with the face of concern.

I open the door to get out then close it back to rest my body against.

She cocks her head to the side then asks, "What's going on? Are you okay?"

So many thoughts run through my head on how to even try to explain this to her, so I just do my best, "Sophie needs to stay away from Daniel."

"Why is that? He seems like a nice boy."

It takes me a few minutes to try to get this off my chest, I look at the ground to make this easier, "He sexual harassed me at that party..and when him and Sophie had that study date, I woke up with him in my room next to me."

I look up after a few seconds of hearing nothing from Jess to see her face what looks to be a mix of anger, disgust, and betrayal.

"Have you told Sophie about this?" she finally manages to say.

"That's what I went to try to do, but she just got mad with me and went back with him."

Unexpectedly she grabs me into a hug holding me tight, "Angel I know I'm not your mother nor can never replace her, but you are like a daughter to me" she holds me out at arms length, "and I will protect you with my life..he's no going to get away with this."

I give a slight smile then manage to say the words, "Thank you."

She grabs me into a hug again and we stay like this for who knows how long.

I hear a car horn behind me and we both let go of each other to see who it is.

There's a simple old looking navy blue truck and I can see Lucas behind the wheel, suddenly my heart begins to race and I get excited to go run over to him just to feel his arms around me, the only thing that stops me is seeing another older man with him, which must be his dad.

"By the way, we invited them over early so we could watch the game before making dinner."

I look at her once more, "Please keep this between you and me for now. Just so I can come up with a game plan." I have beg to her.

She kisses me on the temple, "Certainly." however she doesn't seem to pleased to keep it in the shadows.

We make our way towards Lucas and his dad.

"Welcome back Steve!" She says with a hyped voice and makes her way towards him, I can notice he's limping a bit but he doesn't look old enough for that yet.

I look at Lucas to find him already staring at me with a cheeky smile.

I go to his side and he slips his arm around my waste and kisses the top of my head.

"So you're the one who stole my son's heart away." Steve has a big smile on his face and wrinkles that form at the edge of his eyes.

"Oh I wouldn't say stole Mr. Living." I say with a small smile on my face not yet reaching my eyes.

He gives out a hearted chuckle which eases my nerves a bit from the Daniel thing.

"Charming women indeed. Well," he gives a clap, "let's go watch a football game."

Him and Jess make their way to the house while making small talk. As I begin to take a step as well I a hand grab my wrist.

"What's wrong?" I hear Lucas ask after I turn to look in his sad eyes. He definitely picked up on my vibe.

I look at the ground and begin to say, "Sophie went with Daniel today on a date, I went to go get her but she rejected me after I tried to warn her that he's dangerous."

He grabs the bottom of my chin and tilts my head back so I could look at him, "I felt something off with Ms. Jess too. I'm guessing you told her what happened?"

I slightly nod, "She agreed to keep it on the down low until I come up with a game plan."

He then grabs both of my hands in his and rest his forehead against mine, "I am so sorry." he whimpers.

I let go of his hands so I could hug him. I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a kiss on the jaw close to his ear.

He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight, making no indication that he wants to let go.

I hear that soft rumble again except this time I can feel it against my chest.

He let's go just as it happens.

"What is that?" I ask before I could stop myself.

"Uh, just a heart murmur."

"It doesn't sound normal." I put my hand on his chest where I felt it coming from but he quickly grabs my hand to kiss the knuckles.

"We should go inside." He lases my fingers with his and we make our way towards the house.

The evening was pretty uneventfully other than watching the game, Lucas and I cuddling on the couch, and eating that deer I shot.

Sophie called in saying she's going to have dinner with Daniel and Dex already said from this morning he'll be out all day until 10 p.m.

Lucas and Steve get ready to leave, Dad and Jess walk Steve to the truck while Lucas and I linger back.

He stops on the porch with me and he turns to me, "Thanks for the delicious catch." he says with a grin.

My hand's in his and I begin to rub my thumb on the inside of his palm, "Thanks for coming over."

We stand there and look into each others eyes motionless. All my worry go away when I'm with him.

He bends down as I reach up to him and our lips meet, his mouth so warm against mine.

I hear the rumble which makes me want more of him but I contain myself with the fact we're on my porch with everyone probably staring at us.

We pull apart but keep our foreheads against each other.

"Dream of me." He tells me as a farewell.

I grin so sincerely as my heart floats on air, "Always." I answer back.

He pulls away slowly then makes his way to the truck. I lean against the post on the porch and just watch as he pulls away into the night.

I think I'm falling for this guy.