“Told you she’d say it,” Emily laughed.
Danny hugged me goodbye, and Emily waved from the doorway.
***
“Do you like him a little or a lot?” I could hear the smile in Emily’s voice. We had our backs to each other, putting on our pajamas getting ready for bed.
“I’m still getting to know him.” I smiled, trying to hold back my laughter.
Emily on the other hand, didn’t hold it back. “Seriously?” She asked as she got into bed. You’ve known him for how long now?”
“Yeah, as my brother’s friend.” I reminded her, turning off the light and climbing into bed as well.
“You know what I mean.” She told me, softly. Then she faced me and asked, “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
She paused a moment. “You sure?”
“I don’t know.”
“They got him, you’re safe.”
But I had a horrible gut feeling that refused to go away. I could hardly sleep because of it. Every time I’d shut my eyes, all I could see was Eli’s hateful face. Picking up my phone, I went out into the loft. Sitting down I called Nick.
“Hello?” His voice sleepily.
“Hey, I’m sorry, did I wake you?”
“No, you’re fine.” He yawned. “Are you okay?”
“Um,” I paused, unsure of how to answer. I bit my lip to keep myself from crying.
“Summer?” He sounded more awake now.
I sighed. “Not really. I can’t sleep.”
“What’s going on?” He asked.
How was I supposed to tell him that his brother was basically giving me nightmares? How does anyone tell someone that? It didn’t seem as easy as it sounded.
“I just, I just wanted to hear your voice.” I chuckled. “I know it sounds cheesy.”
Nick chuckled. “It’s not cheesy.”
“Um, how are you doing?” I asked. “Are your parents okay? I know I don’t know them, but, um, you know just with Eli going to jail – well, that can’t be easy on a parent.”
There was a long pause. “We’re okay, Summer.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Nick paused. “How are you holding up?”
I let out a long breath. “Well, um, to be honest with you, I’m scared.”
“Summer, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay; it’s not your fault.”
“Hey, it’s not yours either, okay?”
“It definitely feels like it.” I heard myself say.
“I promise you, it’s not.” He said.
“Just -,”
My bedroom door opened and Emily came out to sit with me. “Are you talking to Nick?”
“Yeah.”
“What?” He asked confused.
“I think I woke up Em.” I chuckled.
“No, you didn’t.” She said.
“Tell her hi for me.” Nick yawned, again.
“Nick says hi.” I told her.
“Hi, Nick.” She yawned.
Now I yawned, too. “She says hi and to stop yawning.”
“Sorry,” He laughed.
“It’s okay. We should probably go to sleep.”
“Probably a good idea,” I could hear the smile in his voice.
I smiled. “Goodnight, Nick.”
“Goodnight, Summer.”
Putting down my phone, Emily took my hands in hers. “Hey, it’s okay. I know you’re scared, and that’s okay – but it’ll be okay.”
I nodded, hugging her. “Thank you, Em.”
“You’re welcome.”
Seven
Winter Formal
Two days later…
I sat in front of my mirror sitting very still while Emily was curling my hair.
Last night, my parents gave me the news that I could go to the dance tonight. I was excited, but as the day went on, I grew more and more anxious. Fearing that Eli would somehow show up at the school tonight. Of course, I didn't think it was very likely, but suddenly, I really didn't want to go.
Emily could sense something was wrong. “Are you okay?”
I looked up at her reflection. Her kind hazel eyes full of worry. I smiled at her. “I'm fine.”
“You don't like your hair, do you?” She asked, sadly.
“Emily, I love it! It's adorable!” I reassured her. My black hair was up, and in perfect curls.
She smiled and picked up a can of hair spray. I shut my eyes tight as she dumped half the can on my head. Not only did my makeup make my green eyes stand out, but so did my dress. It was knee length and a dark purple color. I stood up once she was done killing my hair and took one last look in the mirror. I smiled, I really did look good.
“Thank you, Ems.” I turned around to hug her. Her black and grey dress was knee length as well and her brown hair was half up, and a little poof on top.
“Are you almost done?” Tyler asked walking in my room. He wore a light grey suite with a hot pink tie.
I smirked at him. “Thanks, you look good, too, Tyler.”
Emily chuckled.
Tyler smiled, “You do look nice, Summer.”
I beamed. “Why thank you.”
Emily and I followed Tyler downstairs to our dates. Sam wore the same color suite and tie as my brother. They always color coordinate, it's cute. Danny wore a black suite and a grey tie that matched Emily's dress. Nick wore a black suite and a purple tie that matched my dress.
“You look good, babe.” Danny told Emily hugging her.
“Wow, we look awesome!” Sam told Tyler.
“Summer, wow,” Nick said and I blushed. “You look amazing.”
I blushed slightly. “Thanks,” I told him softly.
He took my hand and pulled me to him.
“Smile!” My parents came into the front hallway with cameras, taking our pictures with the flash on.
After a few, Tyler finally spoke up, “Cut it out, guys. We're going to be late!”
“Oh, alright.” Mom sighed.
She gave us a hug and kiss, and we all quickly left the house.
“Kind of surprised your parents let me in the house.” Nick said in the car.
“Why do you say that?” I asked looking at him.
His eyes flickered to my wrist in the splint.
“It's fine, don't worry about it.” I told him, taking off the splint. It was rather annoying to wear; I’d be fine without it.
He shook his head. “No, it's not.”
I sighed. “Nick, I'm fine.”
There was a long pause. “Okay,” he finally said.
As we got closer to the school, I felt uneasy. I pulled out my phone to text Emily. I felt the car turn off, and I looked up, but when I did, we weren't at the school. “Summer, I don't think we should go.”
“What?” I asked shocked.
“I need to tell you something.”
When he didn’t say anything else, I asked, “Okay, well, what is it?”
He let out a long sigh, running a hand though his hair. “Alright, uh, Eli –”
“What about him?” I asked quickly.
He sighed, again. “Well,” he paused, “Eli was released.”
I blinked at him, almost laughing I said, “Uh, I’m sorry. I think I heard you wrong. Did you just say that Eli was released.
Nick pressed his lips together and nodded.
The knot in my stomach was back. “Are you serious?”
Looking more than worried, he frowned. “I just found out five minutes before I left my house.”
I let out a long breath. “I'm sure it's fine.” Maybe the more I say it, it'll be true.
My phone started to ring.
“Summer, where are you?” Emily asked.
“We'll be in here soon.” I said and hung up. I turned to Nick. “I'll be fine, okay? We're going to have fun; you shouldn't have to worry.” When he started to protest, I added smiling, “It’s okay. We’re going to have fun.”
&n
bsp; He pressed his lips together again. “Alright.” He said starting the car again.
The next time he turned off his car, we were sitting outside of the school. The school was all lit up and there were people outside carefully walking, because of the ice. There was a girl walking in six-inch heels. How the hell could she do that? I didn't know, nor did I want to find out.
Before I could reach the door handle, Nick was standing there with the door open, smiling at me with his hand reaching out.
I smiled up at him and took his hand, stepped out of the car.
We made our way to the front doors of the school. Nick handed them the tickets and we made our way to the back, where Emily and Danny were taking pictures.
“Let's take our pictures first.” Nick said in my ear.
“Okay.” I blushed. We looked through the different poses, when we agreed on one we liked, we stood in the small line, waiting for our turn.
We took a few pictures, then made our way to the gym, where the music was blasting and students were dancing in the dark with different colored strobe lights. I found Emily and Danny, she was trying to get him to dance, but he wasn't really having it. I laughed and joined her dancing to some song I wasn't sure of. She put her hands on my hips while Nick and Danny cheered us on. The song ended and we both laughed, hugging each other. A slow song came on, and Nick bowed to me, offering his hand.
I felt like one of those girls from those old story books. Where the girls wore ball gowns and her hair was all done up, all pretty.
I took his hand and he led me into the middle of the dance floor. He rested both his hands on either side of my hip, and I rested my arms around his shoulders.
“Your eyes are amazing. I love how green they are.” He said.
“Thank you.” I blushed.
“Are you blushing?” He chuckled.
“What?” I laughed. “No, of course not.”
“Can I kiss you?” He asked.
I thought it was a little odd to ask, but at the same time, it was cute. I nodded. He lightly kissed my lips, breaking away.
“Can I ask you something?”
I felt butterflies, but I nodded.
“Will you be my girlfriend?” He asked.
I smiled at him and kissed him again. “Yes.”
After the song ended, I kissed him, then pulled him over to a table where water and punch were sitting.
Handing him a water bottle, he asked, “Do you want to head out soon?”
“Sure,” I said over the music.
Then, I pulled him through the crowd to the doors to go back into the main hall of the school. “I'll be right back, okay?”
“Alright, I'll wait here.” He kissed my cheek and I headed towards the bathrooms. The line was too long, and no one was guarding the doors that led to the rest of the school, so I went over there.
I looked back to find Nick giving me a questioning looked. I waved my hand at him, signaling him to come with me. “Where are you going?” He asked on the other side of the doors.
“The bathroom has a line, and I'm not waiting that long.” We made our way down the hall, the lockers were a grey color, while the floors were white, teal, and black.
At the second bathroom, Nick waited on the stairs while I went in. I looked in the mirror to find my hair a little messy from dancing, but nothing too bad. My hair looked better with messy curls, anyway. I took my lip gloss out of my purse, and when I looked back up, I saw Eli staring at me in the mirror.
“Nick!” I screamed as loud as I could. Eli covered my mouth to keep me from screaming, but it was too late.
Nick rushed in the bathroom and tried to get him off of me.
My eyes rolled to the back of my head and I slumped to the floor.
The last thing I heard was a body hit the wall or floor, hard, but I wasn't sure if it was Nick or Eli.
Eight
A Dark Place
The next time I opened my eyes, I couldn't see anything. I must have fallen asleep on the way home – but why did my head hurt?
Groaning, I turned over, feeling dizzy.
Suddenly, images came rushing back to me – Winter formal, dancing, lights, music, Nick… the bathroom… Eli!
Blotting upright on the bed, it moved a little. I moved myself up to the freezing cold metal headboard. I didn't know where I was, or how far away from home I was. I didn't know where Emily, Danny, or Nick was.
Panicking, my breath became quick and it was soon the only thing I could hear. Trying to remain calm, I realized I was still in my dress. I let out a small sigh, feeling a little relieved. The dress didn't seem to be ripped or anything.
Sitting there, I tried my best to not make any noise so I could maybe hear anything. I couldn't see anything in the room, and my breathing started to quicken.
I was having a panic attack.
I hated the dark; I always have and always will. This was bad enough. Why the hell would someone put me in a dark room like this? Tears rolled down my cheeks and I was having a hard time breathing again.
My eyes started to hurt from crying, so I shut them, waiting for the pain to go away.
***
The next time I opened my eyes, there was a lamp that was on by the bed. I quickly sat up, looking around the room. It was small. There was a dresser on the right side of the bed, and there was a small chair sitting in the left corner of the room, next to the door.
I still didn't know where I was, and I just wanted to go home. I wanted my mom and dad, Tyler, Emily and Danny; and Nick. I wanted to be in my own bed, in my room, in my house. I just wanted to leave. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs for help, but I didn't know who was here, if anyone at all. I didn't know if I was underground, or in a basement, or on the second floor of a house.
Tears rolled down my face again. I brought my knees to my chest and rested my head on them. That's when I noticed the food sitting on the nightstand.
Chicken soup.
It was just made because I could see the steam coming off it. Looking at the door, I wondered how long ago someone came in here. My eyes moved down to the end of the bed. There were clothes neatly folded.
How long were they in here? Who was in here?
It had to have been Eli…
Looking back at the food; I couldn’t bring myself to eat it. I felt sick and cold.
I laid back down staring at the ceiling; I almost reached over to shut off the lamp, but thought against it, remembering it being too dark in here before.
Shutting my eyes, I started humming softly to myself to calm down. I felt myself drifting off to sleep, when I heard the door unlock. My eyes flew open, then I shut them tightly, trying to control my breathing as I heard the door open.
I next heard footsteps and the door closing and locking again.
Was someone in the room with me?
The footsteps coming closer answered my question. Tears squeezed out of my eye lids, as I tried my best to stay calm. If they're going to kill me, I wanted it to be fast. The footsteps stopped at my left side of the bed.
There was a long pause. “Summer?”
My eyes flew open to find Eli staring at me. I jumped up and moved as far away from him as I could. I stared at him with hateful eyes, and he stared back with loving, apologetic blue ones. “What's going on?” I whispered. “Where's Nick?”
His eyes turned dark and he made his hands into fists. “He's not here!” He yelled knocking the soup on the ground.
I let out a gasp. After a moment, I asked uneasy, “Where am I?”
He smiled. “You're under the basement.”
I swallowed, trying to keep my voice even. “Am I in your house?”
“I live with my parents,” he said. “But yes.”
His parents? That means there was hope. I could get out of here. It also meant that Nick was here, somewhere. But it also meant that no one would be able to hear me. I stared at him, scared out of my mind. “Why am I here?” I asked softly.
“Because I l
ove you.” His smile was cheery, and it made me sick to my stomach. I inched away from him, but he grabbed the chains and pulled me towards him. “Don't move away from me.” He said through clenched teeth.
I cringed, shutting my eyes tight, turning my head away from him. “Please stop.” I whispered, my voice uneven.
“Stop what, baby?” His voice softened, a little, but was still dark.
“Don't call me that.” I said through clenched teeth. It was disgusting. How could anyone do this? I felt something hard smack my cheek and I turned to look at him to find him standing up straight, holding his right hand.
He had slapped me.
I stared at him in disbelief, and put my hand to my cheek. “Did you just slap me?” I asked him shocked and mad.
“I'm sorry.” He whispered, coming towards me again.
“Don't touch me!” I moved back as far as I could, which ended with me falling off the bed. My back hitting the cold, hard concrete floor; I yelped in pain, and he rushed to help me up, but I yanked my arm out of his grip. I backed into the cold wall, wishing I could dissolve into it.
He stopped, staring at me.
“Don't touch me.” I whispered, tears falling again.
He turned on his heel, walking to the door, but stopped to face me. “It's late. Go to sleep.” He opened the door and slammed it shut, locking the door behind him.
I let out a sigh, and let the rest of the tears fall. In the distance, I could hear another door shut. Looking around, there were no windows; the walls were stone, too. Was I seriously underground?
What the hell was I supposed to do to get out of here?
Then I saw the clothes neatly folded for me on the bed. Shaking, I quickly changed out of my dress and into the tee shirt and sweatpants as well as the socks; it was unsettling how well the clothes fit me. It was like he was planning this all along.
The hot soup was now cold on the ground and my stomach growled at me. I began wondering how late it was; there was no clock in the room so that didn’t help me, either.
Picking up my dress, I looked inside the hidden pocket –
My phone! It was there!
Filled with hope, I turned it on to find it at fifty percent – but no service.
Never Talk to Strangers Page 6