Chapter Seven-Get Together

~Arianna Wicks~

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. I searched for it blindly, not wanting to open my eyes to the light yet. I did find it, after I knocked the clock off my side table. I opened it, finally opening my eyes. I had a new message.

Morning sleepy head. Teresa wants to know if you want to go to the mall with us.

I groaned softly. It was way too early in the morning to bed bothered by any text messages about going anywhere. I rolled over, closing my phone. I would answer later, when I was awake.

But I wasn't that lucky. My phone went off again. I groaned again opening it. Another text.

I am so sorry to keep bothering you. Teresa won't leave me alone till you answer her. She is driving me crazy. I know you want to sleep more, but just answer me. Then I will let you sleep.

I wanted more sleep, that was it. I would do anything to get it. I replied quickly, messing up on my words due to being tired.

Yea sur. Whatever.

I pressed send quickly and rolled over again. I wanted more sleep.

Again I was not so lucky. This time my phone went off telling me I had a phone call. I groaned even louder, and answered it. "Hello?" it came out harsher than I wanted it to but right now, I didn't care.

"So sorry. Really. But she is being persistent." Caleb's voice was filled with sadness.

"Tell her yes, whatever." I rolled over, hiding my face in my pillow.

The next voice to speak to me through the phone was not Caleb, and it was not nice.

"Come one girl, get up. You have two hours. If you are not up, dressed and ready in two hours, I will wake you and dress you myself."

I shot up in bed, awake now. "You wouldn't."

Caleb must have taken the phone back, because he spoke next. "If I were you, I would listen to her. I have been trying to talk her into letting you sleep longer, but she wouldn't leave me alone. She threatened me with my cd collection if I didn't text you. I am very sorry."

I moaned. "Don't be, it is not your fault. I will be ready by then. Will you be picking me up?"

"Yes if that is ok with you."

"That is fine. And do me a favor, tell her that if she ever does this again, the next project we have to work on together will not be very pleasant."

Caleb chuckle. "I will. And I will see you soon. I will pick you up first. I have to run to the store, and Tess wants more time to get ready."

"Yea yea." The line went dead. I dropped my phone on my pillow and laid back on my bed, on my stomach. I had two hours before they got here. I had enough time to get a little more sleep.

But I couldn't fall asleep. Something in me told me to get up and get dressed. I groaned again and got up. This time getting completely out of bed. I didn't look at my clock as I walked out of the room to the bathroom. I didn't want to know what time it was.

I took my time with my shower, letting the warm water wake up my body like I did every morning. I got out and got dressed. I put on a pair of sweat pants and an old t-shirt. I knew that wearing this would piss Teresa off. And, after the wake up call this morning, she needed payback.

I grabbed my phone and my keys and quietly headed downstairs. I went into the kitchen and quickly drank down a cup of milk. I washed my cup and put it up to dry before I slipped out of the front door.

I didn't see Caleb's car as I crossed the front yard to my car. I sighed as I pulled myself to sit on the hood of my car to wait for the arrival of my two kidnappers. I didn't have to wait too long.

"You seem board?"

I sat up quickly, startled. I had not heard anyone approach me.

Caleb stood beside me, chuckling softly. "Sorry." He held his hands up. "Didn't mean to scar you."

I shook my head. "It's fine." I smiled at him.

"Well come on. If I keep Tess waiting any longer, she will have a fit. I will more than likely return to my entire wall of cd's destroyed." He shuttered slightly.

I laughed softly as I patted the pocket of my jean jacket to make sure I had my keys, then walked across and slid into the seat. He closed the door behind me, smiling, as I buckled myself in. Then he climbed into the driver's seat.

A few times, as he drove down the roads, out the corner of my eyes I saw him glance at me. I wonder why? "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."

"Why do you keep glancing at me?" That caught him off guard. He didn't reply. But I can see out the corner of my eye that he was surprised. "I see you doing it out the corner of my eye."

"Where did you get that jacket?"

If he wasn't going to answer, neither was I. "You didn't answer my question."

"I will. As soon as you answer mine. It has to do with your jacket."

I looked down at the jean jacket I wore. "This? I got it years ago. It was given to me. I was going to return it, but I never saw the person again."

"Do you remember who gave it to you.?"

I crossed my arms across my chest. He was trying to be slick. "Nope." I turned away from him, popping the 'p' in 'nope' as I answered him. Answer my question first."

He sighed, not taking his eyes off the road. "I had a jacket just like that. The design on the inside is even the same."

I turned and faced him in surprise. "How do you know about the design?" No one knew about the design, not even Courtney. It was a bleeding heart, wrapped in barbed wire, and surrounded by flames.

"I caught a glimpse of it as you slid off your car. Do you remember who gave it to you?"

I hesitated. It would have sounded weird if I told him that it was from the person that saved my life fifteen years ago, that it may be from him. I opened my moth to reply when suddenly the back door opened.

"Hey Cable. Hey Anya. So glad you could join us."

"Well hello Tess. I am glad I was forcefully invited." I grinned back at her.

"Oh, come now. You make it seem like you had no choice."

"She had the choice, but I would be the one punished." Caleb looked into the rearview mirror at Teresa. "If I didn't get her to say yes and come, I would have been the one to suffer. You have destroyed all of my cds."

"I would have spared a few." Teresa shrugged.

Caleb sighed and turned back to me. "Will you answer me or wait till later?" Caleb asked me, reminding me of his question.

"Oh. I am sorry. Did I interrupt you two? I didn't mean to." Tess said softly, clearly felling bad.

"No. it's ok, Tess. And I remember some stuff, but not a lot. I was really young when it all happened."

"I see." Was all he said.

We all stayed quiet for a bit. I guess none of us was sure as to how to break the silence. So I decided I should. "So," I turned completely to face Caleb. My sudden outburst surprised him and I had to fight to contain the giggle that wanted to escape. "What other questions are you going to ask? And please make it quick. I would like to start my paper too."

Caleb laughed. "Relax. You will get your turn to ask your questions. I just want to learn a bit more, that's all."

"Learn a bit more? What do you mean?"

"Oh silly." Teresa leaned forward and whispered in my ear. "He likes you. He wants to learn more about you."

"TESS!" Caleb snapped. He was clearly embarrassed by Teresa telling me. I couldn't help but giggle. "Thanks a lot Tess. I know now not to tell you anything."

"Don't worry dear bother. I will still find out." She giggled from the back seat.

He chuckled softly, shaking his head."She is right though. That was why I didn't introduce myself in the parking lot the other day. You caught me off guard."

"I caught you off guard?" He had to be joking. He couldn't be serious. Could he?

"Yea. I was surprised by your…" He hesitated, clearly embarrassed. He took a deep breath and finished quickly. "By your beauty."

I was speechless. My mouth fell open and my flew wide. My beauty?! He had to be joking, I knew that for sure now. I was not that beautiful that I could stop a guy's train of though. I never saw myself as someone who could make a guy speechless just by my looks. He had to be joking.

"Anya?" I felt his hand gently touch my check, snapping me out of my daze. "Are you ok?" He was concerned for me. It was clear in his voice.

I shook my head slowly, trying to clear my thoughts. "I'm fine. Sorry. You caught me off guard now. With what you said."

He chuckled softly, shaking his head slowly. "You are silly, Anya."

Suddenly the door behind me was pulled open and I felt an arm reach around and unbuckle my seatbelt. "Let's go." Teresa said cheerfully behind me as she just about pulled me from the car. It happened so quickly that Caleb was still buckled into his seat as the passenger door was closed.

She turned me to face her, and for the third time in two days, I was at a loss for words. This seemed to becoming a regular thing now. Teresa was beautiful. She took hold of my hand, her skin cold against mine, and dragged me towards the mall entrance. I didn't even notice we arrived at the mall. I guess I was so lost in what Caleb had said that I was completely disconnected from the world. Wouldn't be the first time it happened to me.

I looked over my shoulder at Caleb as he came walking around the back if is car, following behind us. He was shaking his head and laughing softly at Teresa pulling me across the parking lot. He even gave me an apologetic smile. He knew what in store for me. Man, I wish I knew too.