The next morning my phone went off eight and I knew it was time to get up and go to work. I streched and cracked my back before hopping in the shower and washing the beach off of me. By eight-thirty I was in the kitchen grabbing a waffle from Paul. He looked me up and down before noticeing the name tag on my black shirt.
"You got a job," he noted and then went back to cooking. I got no good morning so I took it as that he was cranky and tired. All I did was nod and grabbed my hoodie and purse and began to leave but he stopped me.
"I'll give you a ride just give me a second," he said as he put everything into the sink or trash. He walked right past me with no coat one which made me think he was crazy or just use to the weather. We climbed into his old truck and said nothing to each other until we reached the bakery. I knew something was up with him and I was going to get to the bottom of it. I opened my door to leave but my mouth got the better of me.
"Whats up with you?" I asked as I turned back around in my seat. He blinked a few times before reliazing I was still there. I sighed and when I was about to get out Paul stopped me.
"Whats up with you and Jacob?" He asked but as soon as he said it I knew he regretted. My eyes widened as I waited for him to say something else but he said nothing just sat there looking like a owl.
"Jacob reminds me of Blake. Its why I let him drive me to the bon fire last night, nothing is going on," I said with a whisper wondering how he even knew about what Jacob did for me. He sighed and looked at the steering wheel for a long time.
"Look I got to get to work," I told him and when I was about to slam the door angerly he fixed everything with one sentence.
"I'm so sorry Adele. I've just been working alot lately. With the markert and the cop thing its getting hard to handle both and I'm taking it out on you but I really shouldn't," he muttered something else but I didn't catch it. I shook my head and chewed my lip ring.
"Will you be home tonight? I'll cook dinner," I shrugged at the lame mending offer but he grinned and nodded as I shut the door and waved goodbye. He waited until I was inside to pull away. I prayed he would tell me what was really going on tonight.
At eight Rose let me go with a smile and as I walked home a car pulled up behind me creeping. I didn't look back I just sped up a bit. I remember walking the roads of Austin alone at night when I still didn't have a car. I remembered how much I hated it when someone creeped along with me. Almost always they'd just give up but sometimes they'd stalk me for nights just to mess with me. I kept walking and as I got to the apartment buildings is when the car sped up and cut me off. I groaned and run towards a fence I passed yesterday when I was walking. I knew if I could hop that fence I could take a straight shot towards Pauls apartment.
I heard my boots echoing down the alley as the people form the car chased me. I got to the fence and started climbing but it was no use, the guys had caught me. They pulled me down and onto the ground and started yelling. Something about monsters and cold ones. They started throwing cold water on me and kicking me in the ribs and chest. I wouldn't make a sound until they thought they'd finished what they wanted to do. Then I'd strike. After a few minutes they started asking each other what was wrong with me and why wasn't I attacking them. Thats when I reached out and punched one of the guys in the back of the shins and then I leaped up and climbed the fence then took off towards Pauls apartment. My ribs were killing me and I kept wiping blood off my mouth as I bolted up the three flights of stairs and flung the door open. Paul was in the kitchen when he saw me. He dropped the pan he was holding and ran towards me.
"What happened?" He asked as he took my face in his hands. I tried to get lose and go to the bathroom but he wasn't letting it happen. He asked what happened again and I knew he was near panic mode because he was shaking like he was having a seicure. I touched his arms to calm him down and within seconds the full blown shaking was a dull vibrating.
"These guys got me confused with someone else," I told him knowing it was a lie. Who could confused me with someone else? I mean I have mulicolored hair and peircings which I have seen no one else in this town have. Paul shook his head and asked more questions.
"Look I was walking home because the bus already left and this car started following me but I was use to that because they did it in Austin to but this time it was different. In Austin the people never got out of the car or talked to me they just messed with me. But they guys got out and cahsed me through the alley and ripped me from the fence and started kicking me and throwing water on me calling me a monster and a bloodsucker and so much more," by the time I was done I was full blown crying my eyes out in Pauls chest. He stroked my hair and kissed my forehead as I cried. This moment reminded me when I was kid and my moms boyfriends would touch me or rape me and I'd cry in Blakes chest. I looked up at him and told him I was sorry for causing trouble.
"You did nothing. You did nothing to deserve this," he said as he looked into my vunerable eyes. He kissed my nose softly and led me to the kitchen so he could clean face and cuts up. I cried silently throughout the entire thing. Once he was done he picked me up and carried me to his room and laid me in his bed.
"I'll sleep in your room tonight or something. I don't want you sleeping on that small bed when your like this," he kissed my forehead one last time before shutting the door and leaving me to cry myself asleep in the dark.