"Coming home late?" He says with a thick voice.
Here I thought today would end on a high note then here he comes. I haven't seen him since I spotted Tara and him on the homecoming float. The last time after that was in the bathroom two weeks ago. He is notorious for showing up unannounced.
"Wha-how- what do you want?" I try to muster out some words, but they get stuck in my throat.
"Awe look at you. You're so flabbergasted by my presence you can't get your words right." His eyes drop low as he slowly strides over to me. I quickly back up until I run into my car. Nowhere to go now.
"Don't run now." He swiftly traps me against my car.
"What do you want? Why are you here?" I sneer at him. He lets out a fruity laugh while eyeing me closely.
"Well... I want you." His hands come up to my hair stroking it softly. I cower under his touch, he disgusts me.
"I'm not up for sale. All I have to do is scream and my Grandfather will come running out." I say with boldness in my voice.
He swiftly grabs my face squeezing my cheeks. I can feel the blood rush up to my face.
"If you so much as let out a squeak I will run in that house and snap your Grandpa's neck so quickly you won't see it coming." His eyes turn jet-black.
I frantically nod letting him know I understand. His hand moves from my face.
"I had to come to check on you."
"For what?"
"To see if there are any changes." He looks at my arm and neck. I jerk my body away from his touch.
"What are you looking for?" I ask with curiousness in my voice.
"A mark." He grabs me back to him and continues his search. Once he finds nothing he backs away. He lets out a deep growl of relief.
"Don't tell anyone I was here. If you do, I will snap your Grandfather's neck like a twig. You understand me?"
"Yes," I say softly.
"Glad to see we're on the same page. Now turn around." I hesitantly turn around, my feet shaking beneath me. Within seconds I hear a whooshing sound behind me. Hastily turning around and Myers is gone.
I clutch my shirt as I hold on dearly to my car.
I look in the mirror as I button up my shirt. The memories of last night flood in my head. I remember his hands on my face, squeezing it as hard as he could. His foul breath glides down my face. His hands roamed over my neck and arms.
I hope I never see him again. Walking over to my bed, I sling my purse over my shoulders walking out the room. Trailing down the stairs I let out a yawn.
What happened with Myer's had me up all night. Mostly was thinking about what he was looking for, a mark. Last time I checked I had no birthmarks or scars on my body.
Probably was just making it up so he could have a reason to harass me. Coming down the staircase I'm met with silence. My Grandfather left early his morning; I have no idea where he went. I remember him coming into my room at 5 this morning kissing me on the forehead.
I walk with a pep in my step to the kitchen grabbing a banana. Walking over to the door, I grab my car keys from the silver bowl. Exiting the house, the cool fall air invites me in. All week the weather has been amazing, usually, it's too hot or too cold. Today and this week have been just right. It makes me want to go up to San Francisco to the beach. That's only If Lyra and the girls want to go.
I jump in my car and start it up. Backing out the driveway I turn down the street and head to The Tribune. I've only been working at the internship for three weeks now and it's been amazing. Yes, we mostly do paperwork and filing, but sometimes we get to help out with interviews and listen in on phone calls.
A few minutes later I pull into The Tribune parking lot.
I grab my purse, phone, and jacket while getting out of the car. Locking the door, I walk carefully to the door. Today I'm wearing heels, I don't usually wear them because they hurt my feet. Since this is a professional place, I need to look at the part. Also, the flats that I used to wear were ripped apart and I didn't have time to go to the store and get some new ones. These were the backups.
I walk through the glass doors to the table to sign my name. Once I do that, I say hi to the secretary while walking over to the elevator. The elevator opens up and I enter, pressing the 4th floor I wait.
Arriving on the 4th floor, I walk into the office seeing Lyle writing on some papers. When he sees me walking up to him, he flashes me a dazzling smile. I sit my bag down, leaning over the table to see what he's writing.
"Ms. Timmons wants us to fill out these reports." He points to a pile of papers near him.
"Ugh alright." I groan. Lately, we've filled out tons of paperwork. Most of them are people sending in stories and we have to read them and summarize the stories. "So, how's your day going?" I asked him.
"Decent. I got an A on my biology project." He replies to me.
I give him a smile and a pat on the back. "Look at you being smart and stuff. Good job." He thanks me while grabbing more paperwork.
"Homecoming is this week. You got a date?"
"Nope. Just going to be a third wheel with Lyra and her boyfriend." I say lamely.
He lets out a shrill laugh while clenching his hands together in a fist. When he sees the expression on my face he stops laughing. "Wait are you serious?"
"As a heart attack."
"No, you can't be a third wheel. Let me take you." He suggests.
"Ah no, you probably will be busy." I shrug him off. It's nice of him to offer, but he may be bored or just doing it to be nice.
"If you call watching anime busy then yeah, I'm booked." He lets out a hearty laugh. "It's no problem, plus I would like to meet your friends. Also, I want to see Lyra dance it has to be funny."
"She dances like a duck on drugs. Are you sure you want to go?"
"Yes, Quinn I'm sure. No girl should be alone on homecoming."
"Fine, then you're my date. You can wear whatever you want it doesn't matter."
"Ok, then I'll wear a trash bag." I lift my eyebrows while giving him a funny look. "Hey, you said I could wear whatever I want."
"Someone's a funny guy. Let me be specific, black suit and tie." He gives me a nod.
"I get the humor from my dad."
We spent the next 2 ½ hours filling out paperwork. In the time of doing this, we just joked around with each other. He is a very funny guy.
"Ok guys great work today. See you all next week and for those of you who go to Batcaver's have an excellent homecoming." Ms. Timmons says while clapping her hands.
We thank her then walk out of the room to the elevator. We enter and wait to go to the first floor. Walking off the elevator, I and Lyle start up a conversation.
"Ok, so what time do you want me to pick you up?" He asked.
"You don't have to. My and my friends rented a limo so just meet me at my house around 7:30 and we'll all go together." I tell him.
"So luxurious, will there be snacks in it." He says greedily while rubbing his hands together.
"Yes, there will be." I laugh.
We walk through the door leading out to the parking lot. "Ok see you on homecoming day." He flashes me a smile as he walks to his car.
"You too." Before I'm able to take another step, I hear Lyra calling my name.
"Where are you going?" She asked grabbing my arm.
"I thought you left already," I speak.
"Right. What were you and Lyle talking about?" She asked. We proceed to walk through the parking lot over to her car.
"He was asking me does he need to pick me up for homecoming." Her eyes widen at what I just said.
"He's going to be your date? I knew he liked you." Her eyebrows wiggle together.
"Likes me? No, not Lyle he was just being nice." I say reassuring her. I have felt no indication that he liked me. I don't think he does? He can't, he doesn't give me romantic looks or try to get near me.
"Quinn you can never pick up on this stuff. Trust me he digs you."
"Whatever you say, Ly."
"Quinneth can I use your shower gel? I left mines at home!" Kate screams from the shower.
"Yeah, use the strawberry one not the lavender-scented, it's expensive!" I scream back to her.
Tonight's the night for homecoming. The girls decided to get ready at my house, mostly because they didn't want to ruin their houses and no one is at home so we have the whole house to ourselves.
Since we didn't have school today, because of homecoming, we watched a movie in the living room while eating burg-oh-wow. Now, we're all up in my room getting ready for homecoming.
"Quinn, come over here please I need help zipping up my dress," Lyra says to me while struggling to zip up the dress.
"Ok, hold on a minute." I walk on my heels over to her. Mary just painted my toes, so I can't get them wet. Arriving at her, I pinch the dress with my two fingers while zipping it up.
"What do you think?" She turns around to me looking for a happy expression.
"Sexy." I give her a wink.
"Exactly what I was going for, Jack is going to love me in this." She turns back to the mirror smoothing down the dress. She's wearing a strappy lavender dress with lavender sequins; she does look sexy.
"You can't wear that necklace with the dress it clashes," Khadijah tells Mary.
Mary rolls her eyes at Dij while putting on the necklace anyways. "Your opinion is so irreverent."
"Then why ask for it?" She grunts while falling back on my bed.
"You know how I am. If someone disagrees with me, I always know that I'm right so I just go with my own opinion." She bends down and straps on her heels.
"I can't stand you sometimes, you better be lucky were best friends," Dij says responding to Mary. She gets up and walks into the bathroom.
"Ahh!" Kate screams as Dij walks into the bathroom. "I'm in here Dij!"
"Oh please, there's nothing you have that I don't have." She rolls her eyes as she grabs a towel from the rack.
"Hey grab me a towel I put too much perfume on my neck," Lyra says as she tries to wipe perfume off her neck.
"Can I put on my dress now?" I ask Mary.
"Yeah, they're dry." Mary walks over to the rack and hands me my dress.
"Kate hurry up! The guys will be here in like 30 minutes!" I scream to Kate as I hear the water shut off.
"What time is it?" She asked.
I walk over to my vanity mirror checking the time on my phone. "It's 5:30."
"Are you freaking kidding me. Mary you were supposed to tell me when it reached 5:30." I hear her feet plant on the ground. She walks out of the bathroom with a fluffy pink towel wrapped around her.
"Sorry, I was texting Darren. He's having a hard time finding the right socks."
"Socks? I have no hope in you anymore, anybody needs me I'll be in the bathroom changing." She grabs her dress then shuts the bathroom door.
I sit on my bed as I put on my white platform heels. I've had these heels in my closet for months, this is my first time wearing these.
"Here's your towel Lyra." Khadijah hands Lyra the towel.
"Thanks. Hey Quinn can I borrow your necklace with the stone in the middle?" Lyra asks.
"I think it's in the jewelry box on my dresser or vanity," I tell her.
"How do I look, you guys?" I ask them. I get off the bed trying not to tumble over in my heels.
"Fantastic."
"Perfect."
"You look like a goddess."
"Thank you, guys," I say to them.
Kate comes out of the bathroom with her dress on. She looks drop-dead gorgeous. Her dress is red crimson with no straps. The other dress she bought had some slight tears to it, so she went back and found this number. I'd never seen Khadijah so happy.
"Damn Kate you look better than me, and that says something." Khadijah winks to Kate.
"This a lesson to you guys. Never rush beauty. Have you guys seen my bag with the heels in it?" She bends down looking for the bag.
"It may be downstairs let me get it," I tell her. She thanks me as I walk out the door.
I hold onto the stair railing trying not to fall flat on my face. Looking in the living, the room I spot a green sparkly bag by the TV. I grab it and start to head upstairs until I hear the doorbell ring.
Opening the door, I'm greeted by Khadijah's date, Andre. "Hey am I early?" He asked adjusting his tie.
"No, your right on time. Come on in the girls aren't ready yet so just make yourself comfortable in the living room. It's right through there." I point towards the living room as I head up the stairs. Walking in I see all the girls running around frantically trying to get everything in order.
"Who was that downstairs?" Mary asks putting on her earrings.
"Andre." Khadijah turns around with bulging eyes.
"He's here already?" I give her a nod while grabbing my silver purse with the rhinestones on it.
"What is he doing?"
"In the living room watching TV," I speak. "Here's your shoes Kate." I hand her the bag with her shoes in it.
"Thanks." She sits down and puts her heels on.
Suddenly, the doorbell rings again. "Chop Chop guys," I say clapping at them.
I head out of my room downstairs to open the door. Before I'm able to open the door, Andre already got it for me. Walking in the door I see Jack come in.
"Wow, jack you look... amazing." He does. He's wearing a satin dark purple shirt with black slacks. His hair is slicked back.
"I try." She says with a cocky tone. "Is Lyra ready?" He asked.
"See for yourself." We turn around to see Lyra walking down the stairs. She looks amazing. Her dress shines bright with her red hair all on one side. I turn around to see Jack's mouth hanging wide open, he looks at Lyra like it's the first time he saw her. "What do you think?"
"I think you look drop-dead gorgeous. Come here." He walks over grabbing her by the waist. Leaning down, he kisses her on the cheek she instantly pushes him away.
"No kissing me on my face you'll mess up my make-up." She wines. He rolls his eyes as they move to the living room.
Kate, Mary, and Khadijah finally come downstairs all dressed up. It takes a couple of minutes but all the other guys showed up, except for Kate's date. While everyone is in the living room mingling, I walk over to see Kate staring out the window.
"Where's Carlos?" I ask.
"He isn't coming. He's come down with some bug, can't even get out of bed." She says sadly. I rub her back trying to make her feel better.
"It's ok. You can hang out with me and Lyle." I point over to Lyle who's conversating with Darren and Jack. He's getting along with them pretty well.
"No Quinn, I can't be the third wheel, it's embarrassing." She mutters.
"Come on, I was the third wheel to Lyra and Jack for two years." Suddenly Lyra interjects the conversation.
"Yeah, she was, everywhere I and Jack went there she was like a loser," Lyra says laughing. I give her the eye as she holds her hands up.
"A very pretty loser, she will be missed." She holds onto her chest making a pouty face.
"Ignore Lyra she has no brain." In the window I see lights pull up to the house, must be the limo. Looking out the window, I see it's indeed the limo.
"Come on guys the limo is here time to go." We all hustle out of the house towards the car. I lock the door behind me, while everyone goes to the car while Lyle waits for me.
"Did I tell you how amazing you look tonight? I've realized that I've only ever seen you in business clothes."
"Next to wearing a dress, business clothes have to be my second favorite," I say sarcastically.
"You don't look bad yourself." He took my advice and wore and black and white suit, his hair hung loosely around his head.
"This ole thing. Just had it laying in my closet." He pops his collar.
"Hurry up you guys. By the time we get to the dance, we'll be old!" Lyra screams at us.
"You heard what she said." Lyle holds out his arm for me to grab. We walk down the driveway entering into the limo.
"This is nice," Kate says in awe. It was a nice limo. Stars were all over the ceiling and sides of the car. Surrounding us on the sides were snacks such as candy bars, chips, and drinks.
"Told you their would-be snacks," I say patting Lyle on the leg while he devours some whoopers.
"Next year I'm taking you to prom." He says with his mouth full of candy.
"Homecoming here we come!" Khadijah screams. "You can go now." She says to the driver.
He pushes on the gas and we head down the road. While everyone is conversating and Lyle is stuffing his mouth with candy I think to myself. This is the night that I had been waiting for. Originally I saw myself with Myer's then with Alexander. The thought of Myer's maybe showing up again scares me to the core.
"Are you alright?" Lyle looks at me with a worried expression.
"Yeah, just thinking," I tell him.
ns 18.68.41.140da2
