Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The rest of the week was much the same. Wake, school, home, repeat. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but the feeling of being followed was still present. On Friday afternoon we were being ushered into the gym for a pep rally when something caught my attention. The line slowed to a stop in front of the trophy cases that housed all of Forks High's former achievements - trophies, metals, plaques, and certificates, framed pictures of winning athletes and their coaches – all lit up behind glass doors. There was a framed picture of a long-distance runner standing with his coach at the very end of the case. It was one of the smaller pictures not more than a 5x7, but the runner's eyes caught mine. They were a captivating green, but it was the description card under it that made my breath hitch.
"Coach Clapp and Edward Cullen class of 2010"
Class of 2010? My head was spinning. As the line began to move forward again my attention was pulled to the opposite side of the hallway where the other line of students was shuffling forward and where Edward Cullen was now staring daggers at me.
A few minutes later I was seated on the metal bleachers in a daze with the rest of my physics class. My mind was replaying the picture and caption on a loop in my head. Something just wasn't right. Why would Edward lie about his age and be back in school as a senior when it said that he graduated almost 4 years ago? That would make him 21, 22? Definitely not 19 like he claims. Maybe I read the year wrong. I mean he did say he was a senior last year but had to repeat the year due to absences.
I made my way down the aisle towards my teacher claiming to need the ladies room, once excused I left the noisy gym for the relative quite of the hallway. I reached the display case, but the picture was gone. There was a faded rectangle on the paper where the frame was just moments ago. As I stood there in shock, almost thinking I had made it all up, a reflection in the glass case made me freeze. Edward Cullen was standing about 5 feet behind me on the other side of the hall, a recognizable frame in his left hand.
I sucked in a breath and turned around to face him, but came up empty. The hallway was deserted except for the closing of a door and the sounds of footsteps retreating down a hallway.
Deciding it was high time that I share all of this with dad I made my way down to my locker to retrieve my cell out of my jacket that hung inside. My shaky fingers had me re-entering my padlock combo twice before I was able to finally pull it open. I pulled the cell out and opened a new message to send to dad "SOS", my finger was about to press 'send' when a voice spoke over my shoulder into my ear.
"I wouldn't do that." Edward said lowly.
It was as if someone just dumped a bucket of ice water on me. I was absolutely petrified. His arm came around my side and his hand wrapped around mine snapping the phone shut. I stood there frozen, eyes wide, and terrified to move in any way. He plucked the phone from my grasp and pocketed it.
"We have some things to discuss it would seem." He said.
As if a switch had been flipped in my brain, I was suddenly in survival mode pulling to mind all of the things that my father had taught me over the years. I butted my head backwards forcefully hearing a sickening crack as I simultaneously stomped on his foot and elbowed him in the ribs. While he stumbled back and doubled over, I used the opportunity to make a run for it.
Sprinting all out, I'm only a few yards from the metal front doors when I hear his footsteps gaining on me. Slamming into the metal bar the door opens easily and I take the stairs two at a time headed straight for my truck. I pull the key from my pocket mentally cursing myself for not thinking to get a vehicle with doors that automatically open. Only slowing enough not to crash into the door on my approach I shove the key into the handle and turn the lock pulling the door open and slamming it shut behind me as Edward pounds his fist on the window causing me to scream out. I only just hit the lock button on the door as his hand yanks on the door handle to no avail.
His eyes are wild, and he has blood dripping from his nose as he yells "open the door!"
I put the key into the ignition starting the truck as he shakes his head at me daring me to drive off. His eyes go from mine to his Volvo that sits about 10 cars down the lot and back several times as I put the truck into drive and slam my foot on to the pedal lurching forward and causing Edward to step back before he is off lightening quick to his car. I hear the chirp of his automatic doors as I round the parking lot headed out onto the main road.
Without my cell my options are limited in how to contact my dad to have him meet up at our emergency location. I would be sitting there for hours waiting for him to realize I'm not home before he would think to go there. I think through my alternatives as I speed through random residential side streets trying to avoid a familiar silver Volvo. Finding somewhere very public to hide out is probably the smartest thing to do for now. I can move about trying not to be noticed and blend in with the crowds. If only Forks had a mall!
I think back to the strip of stores in the center of town. Directly behind Cullen Urgent Care is a small three story parking garage, and the perfect place to hide the beast of truck I'm driving. Making just a few turns I find that I am not far from my destination and speed up pulling into the entrance way too quickly causing my back bumper to hit the cement ramp. Spiraling up to the third deck I squeeze the truck between two dark colored SUVs. It doesn't hide the truck completely, but it's the best I can do for now. Turning off the engine, I sit back and take several much needed deep breaths as I look over each shoulders thinking what my next move should be.
The strip of stores across the street are not likely to be too busy on an early Friday afternoon, but I don't want to just sit in my truck either. Pulling on a gray hooded sweatshirt that was conveniently left on the passenger seat the other day, I shove all my hair under the hood pulling the strings tight and securing it around my face. Quickly and quietly I make my way down the stairs to the ground floor ever conscious of every sound and movement in the area. Triple checking that there is no one in sight I make my way across the street and into Newton's Outdoor Gear.
The bells on the handle of the door announce my arrival, and as I turn around to quiet them I see a silver Volvo creeping down the main road.
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