A/N: Well, I've been inspired. So I hope that this chapter helps get things going with this story. I really have this story pouring out of me. I am still working on the other story, but this one may get updated as often as possible. Hope you enjoy it.
Send me a review and let me know what I can do to improve or whatnot… love you all, you are wonderful.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
DISCLAIMER: I am not Stephenie Meyer. I hope you don't mind me playing around with her characters though.
MPOV
The next couple days passed slowly, but I remember only a few details of that time. My mom, Renee, was always there to be my support system. Tammy, Susie and I had to give a statement to practically every single police officer that worked within Orlando. Although, Tammy and Susie never had Charlie going on and on at their homes about paying attention to details. I was the only one who really paid attention to what the suspect looked like.
They went to the club and interviewed all the bouncers, but none of them fit my description. Charlie and the rest of the force had a drawing of the man I had seen. I was never allowed out of the house without a friend or parent with me. Charlie believed that it wasn't safe for me. He tried to get Susie and Tammy's parents to do the same, but they didn't believe that we were in any danger. After all, we were just kids in high school.
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The night before I was supposed to return to school, I was by myself in the house. All the doors were locked and my parents had had to run to my aunt and uncle's for a moment. The phone rang suddenly and I jumped. I paused the movie I had been watching and picked the phone up.
"Hello?" I asked trying to mask my fear that was silly to have.
"Hello Marissa." The voice was creepy and raspy.
"Who… who is this?" my voice shook with fear as the person on the other line.
"Why don't you tell me. You seem to be pretty good at telling the police who I am." The voice laughed.
"No…" I breathed.
"Be warned. I'll be seeing you." I hung up as the voice started laughing again. I had tears coming down my face when my parents came back home.
"Marissa! What's wrong?" my mother rushed over to where I sat crumpled on the floor.
"Mom! Dad! He… he called… he knows who I am… where I live.. Our number… What are we going to do?" I sobbed into my mother's and father's chest. I just felt so helpless.
"We'll figure something out, Marissa. Don't you worry about it." My father's voice was strong and confident. But I could still hear the fear that was being hidden underneath.
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Susie, Tammy and I had finally made it back to school after missing three days. We were walking to and from classes while Tammy clung to her boyfriend Kyle. Kyle knew what happened, but wasn't sure how to help. As the day ended, we all walked to our cars.
Susie got into her red convertible. "I'll see you guys tomorrow. I'm going to go home and spend the night with my parents before I head off to dance class." We all waved good-bye before turning back to each other.
Kyle was telling us about a party that he was planning on throwing at his house. "It's gonna be great. I've got a band coming to play and everything. I was thinking tha…"
We turned as an explosion. We all turned towards the school entrance and screamed! Susie's convertible was a ball of fire. "SUSIE!!!!!!" We all ran closer to where the car was burning at the entrance of the school.
Dad and the rest of the police force showed up within minutes along with the fire department. The firemen immediately put out the fire, but it was obvious that Susie was dead. Her remains lay charbroiled in the front seat.
Tammy clung to Kyle while she cried. Charlie rushed to where I stood. I vaguely remember he leading me away from the accident and placing me in the cruiser. I loathed this car, but I doubt I would be able to drive without killing myself.
Maybe that's what the criminal wanted. For us to be dead. Oh my God! Susie was dead because of that bastard!
We drove to Susie's home to tell her parents. I could hear her mother's screams of pain as my father told them the news. She collapsed in the doorframe as Susie's dad tried to hold her up. I watched the anguish on their faces as they grieved for their only daughter.
Eventually we made it home that night. Mom was waiting for us and rushed out to help me into the house. She practically pulled me up the stairs to my bedroom. She helped me undress and helped me into bed. I fell asleep knowing my mother was sitting in the rocking chair beside my bed. I thought I heard my parents whispering beside me, but I was too tired.
"Charlie, I can't lose my baby. We have to take her away."
"Renee, we can't do that. It would be too easy to find us."
"But Charlie, I can't let him hurt her. She can't die. I won't be able to survive without her."
"We'll figure something out, Renee. I won't let anyone hurt my little girl."
I drifted off into a dreamless sleep after that. When I woke up the next morning, both parents were sleeping near my bed. Mom was still in the rocking chair covered in a small quilt. Dad was on the floor at the foot of my bed with his head resting in his arms. I smiled at my family. I was scared and didn't want to them to go through the pain I had seen on Susie's parents' faces last night. I vowed in that moment to stay as safe as possible.