“Heads up!” was all I heard before I felt something slam into the back of my head, knocking me to the ground. Why did I bother coming today of all days? I could have stayed in my comfy bed. Oh, how beautiful the thought of you is you amazing, wonderful bed… But no, I chose to go to school and go to cheer practice. Where did that get me? Oh yeah, sprawled across the astroturf after a freaking football nailed me.“Holy crap! Jamie, are you okay?” Callie, yells from somewhere above me.“Ugh… Fine.” I blinked. She extended her hand toward me, and I took it, pulling myself up to my feet. Great, I just washed this uniform last night. With both hands, I quickly brushed off my uniform and pulled it back into place.“Collin! Watch it! You could have killed her,” Callie snapped at the quarterback as he stepped up to retrieve the ball. I see it now: Jamie Summers, death by football to the head. What a way to die.“I said heads up,” Collin shrugged, tossing the death ball to another team member.
Back at the apartment, Sam and I had dinner, and then I went to my room to shower and get ready for bed. It was only eight, but I’ve been enjoying my routine of watching a movie before bed. So, I crawled into my big fluffy comforter, flipped the TV on, and browsed the movie selection. Gojo stared at me with those big, crisscrossed eyes of his through his bowl.“Hungry?” I asked leaning over to grab his jar of floating fish food. He kept swimming at the side of the bowl until I dropped a pinch into his tank. I watched as he swallowed them whole. Within seconds he was back at the side of the glass begging for more.“Gojo, you eat too much.” I plopped three more pellets into his bowl. Unfazed by my comment, Gojo kept nipping away at the floating sticks at the surface of his tank. After finishing these last three off, he returned to the tank’s side again. I put my finger against the glass in front of him and moved my finger across the surface. Gojo followed my finger around in a complete
The next day of school went by quickly and peacefully. There wasn’t any sign of a new kid that Callie or I knew of. By the end of the day, I ruled it out as paranoia. I met Callie in the gym, and we went over a few cheers with the rest of the girls. After, Callie and I decided to go for a walk around the field track.“Have you heard of any new kid?” Callie asked as we left the gym.“Nope. Nada,” I sighed. “I’m beginning to rule it out as paranoia.”“Or, it could be that he skipped today,” Cal replied matter-of-factly, “In stalker code, one-o-one you are not supposed to get caught, aka not a good stalker. Maybe he is too embarrassed because he sucks.”“Something tells me I don’t think that’s it,” I laughed.“Miss Cannon?” We turned to see Mrs. Galvez walking out toward us, “Miss Cannon can I speak with you in my office please?” I turned to Callie, and she shrugged at me, meaning she also had no idea why she was being called to talk with a teacher.“I’ll be back,” Cal called over her sh
Back in my room at the apartment, I put on a nice blouse and a blue jean mini skirt. I left my hair wet and wrapped my robe around me. Then I packed a small bag with my brush, hair product, and makeup and stuffed it in my nightstand drawer by the window. When I was finally ready with all the details, I went out into the living room and sat down with Sam for a few minutes while he drank his beer and watched more criminal shows.“Going to bed?” Sam asked when a commercial came on and I stood up.“Yeah, there’s nothing else to do since you won’t let me go to that party.” I crossed my arms and pretended to be upset about it.“I’m just looking out for you Jay,” Sam sighed. “I know I’m not Thomas, and I won’t ever replace him. But I am trying here, Jay, I really am.” I couldn’t be mad at Sam. He was just like a father to me, maybe even more of a father than my real one was. He was at all of my recitals when I was growing up. He helped my mom with all of my decorations and birthday parties.
“Morning, Sleeping Beauty!” Callie jumped into bed with me. “My mom is allowing us to be grounded together here at your house, isn’t that the most awesome punishment ever?”“Go away,” I groaned, pulling the comforter over my head.“It’s almost ten, Jay,” Callie whined. “Are you going to sleep the entire Saturday away?”“What are you?” I mumbled into my pillow as she snatched my blankets away. “You’re not human, humans need more than three hours of sleep.”“I’ve had eight,” she cheered. “Not my fault if someone doesn’t care about her beauty rest enough to go to bed when she gets home.”“Go away for like, a few more hours,” I groaned again. She grabbed my legs and started pulling me off the bed. I quickly grabbed the bottom of the headboard and held on for dear life.“I’ve made eggs Benedict!” She announced throwing my leg aside exasperatedly. “I slaved in the kitchen for you this morning for what? For you to not eat it? I don’t think so. If you do not get your butt out of this bed in f
Hunter wasn’t in any more of my classes. After fourth period, I went to lunch and met up with Callie in the lunch line to debrief her on the whole Hunter situation.“I like him.” she declared. “He’s foreign and spunky.”“You haven’t even talked to him yet,” I muttered back, taking a seat at the closest lunch table.“I’m a great judge of character, Jay. Trust me,” she winked. The rest of the cheer squad started taking seats around us, gossiping about who knew what and I couldn’t care less until I heard Mia say Hunter’s name.“That new kid Hunter Masters is in P.E. with me,” Mia informed the table. “I think he may try out for the football team. That means I may have a chance with him.” My stomach tightened.“What makes you think he will choose you?” Natalie growled back. “You’re scrawny and pale.” Mia hesitated until Kara came to her rescue.“And you think he will choose you?” Kara replied, “Any intelligent man would know better than to get tangled up with you. He might catc
After school, we didn’t have practice since there were no practices held on Mondays. I took my usual hike to the cemetery. Lately, I have felt less and less of a pull towards it. But today I felt it. I pushed through the gates of Shadow creek Cemetery and crunched through the leaves to the bridge that leads to my family's resting place.“Jamie?” I was stopped before I made it completely across the bridge.“Hunter?” I eyed him, “Are you following me again?”“I’m not actually.” He looked uncomfortable, “I was visiting someone and when I looked up, I saw you.”“Oh…” I said, “Who are you visiting if I may ask?”“My mother.” He smiled sadly in my direction, “Today marks another year of not having her here. Kinda sappy, anyway why are you here?”“I’m visiting my family too.” I looked down at my feet, “I’m sorry about your mother. I lost mine a little over a year ago.”“Yours is fresher than mine then.” He walked onto the bridge and leaned on the opposite rail I was on, “Aiden got a tip that
We pulled up to Callie’s wide two-story house. It was surrounded by trees. The wooden house always seemed to be getting smaller and smaller every time I came back to it. Callie was waiting on the front porch swing and jumped up to meet us at the police car when Sam threw it in park.“Jamie!” Callie exclaimed, “It’s been so long!” “I know!” I fake cried as she wrapped her arms around me, “A whole three hours!” “Crazies.” Sam shook his head and popped the trunk for me to grab my bag out of it when Cal let go that is. “So will you be home when I get out of school?” I asked throwing my backpack over my shoulder, Callie reached around and grabbed my duffle bag.“I should be. Fingers crossed that nothing would come up.” Sam put an arm around me and gave me a half hug as we all walked to the door.“Sam!” Mrs. Cannon answered as the door swung open, “It’s been so long since I have seen you! How have you been?”“I’ve been great, Candice. Thank you for letting Jamie stay over.”“Oh nonsense,
We followed Leah through the trees to a large opening, we hung back behind a large tree and observed. Delazar’s covered the hillside, Sam hung back close to the forest, but not too far from the hill. He was too far away to call without drawing attention. Leah was about to walk over to Sam but stopped and stayed with us when Collin walked to the front of his group.“You have The Heir?” When Collin spoke out, a hush fell upon his group.“Where is Delazar?” Sam said.“On another errand.” You could hear the smile in his voice, “You will be doing business with me today.”“Where is the one I am trading for?” Sam continued. Two men stood on either side of a person walking to stand by Collin. The person had a bag over their head, you couldn’t tell who it was just by looking at them, but a feeling came over me, it was Nathan.“Where is Hunter?” Collin asked, shoving Nathan in front of him.“Here,” Sam motioned behind him and a few escorts brought hunter out of the forest, his hands were tied i
Hours passed and it felt like before the van came to a stop. I heard voices outside of the van talking, that told me people were getting out of the vehicles and getting on with the plan. “I’ll wait with the van.” Mrs. Cannon said, “I won’t be of much use on the battlefield anyway.” A few more voices were speaking after her that weren’t very recognizable, and then the voices faded off. “Sounds like they are heading over to the meeting place,” I whispered to Callie. I crawled over to the door and slowly pushed it open with just a crack. When I saw no one, I pushed it a little further, but then a force stronger than mine flung the door completely open. “What are you doing here?” Mrs. Cannon exclaimed, then looked over at her daughter “Callie, you too?” “I wasn’t going to let her go alone now, was I?” Callie said, standing up and walking over to the doors. “Neither of you are supposed to be here at all.” She sighed heavily, “If S
Callie was scribbling furiously on her clipboard when I ran into the medical room. “Callie, have you heard the news?” I ran to her breathlessly. “Heard what?” She peaked quickly at me over the clipboard but before I could answer, Jen threw herself through the door. “The prisoner has escaped, stay here in the… Oh, hey Jamie,” Jen yelled. “The exchange has changed.” I found my voice after my breath finally caught up with me, “The new time is today at noon.” “What?” Jen exclaimed. “That’s no time at all to prepare,” Mrs. Cannon replied peeking out of her office, “But I’m guessing that’s Delazar’s plan, catch the other team off guard.” “I need to get to the study,” Jen said turning to leave. “Don’t go to the study, they are in the gym,” I replied, Jen, nodded back and left. When I turned back to Callie her clipboard was on the floor. “What happens if we don’t make it in time for the
Smoke filled my lungs as trees burst into flames around me. Voices rang in my ears, they beckoned me to their side, they could easily take me captive. No one was here, where was everyone? I started to panic.“Just come to me. It will be easier for you.” Someone laughed to the left of me, “Running only prolongs the inevitable.”“Sam?” I call out, jumping over the fallen branches in my way. I was only answered with silence. Hunter and Callie weren’t anywhere to be seen either.A few moments later I emerged from the forest and came upon a large dirt hill. I squinted my eyes and saw a figure through all the smoke.“Sam!” I called, it was him, it had to be. I half-ran crawled up the steep hill, “Sam, he’s coming.” I came up behind him. The figure turned to face me, it wasn’t Sam at all but Nathan. He stared past me, almost like I wasn’t even there. His facial expressions looked scarily like Sam’s.“Collin.” Nathan called from the hill, “Come face me.” Collin? How did I not recognize his vo
The time at the shopping center flew by quickly. We found a mattress but told Sam to keep looking just in case. The day was great considering Jake decided to tag along. He hasn’t said anything weird to me since yesterday in the hallway, I had reason to believe that was because Sam was here too. It was growing close to five-thirty, and we were just a few blocks away from the meeting place.“Do you mind if Callie and I go girl shopping in the outlet stores?” I asked, pointing ahead of us to a very lit, very pink shop that screamed girls only.“Yeah sure,” Sam said, Jake looked unhappy about the idea of going into a hot pink store.“Sam, why don’t we let the girls go and we go there?” Jake pointed to the guns and hunting supplies store next to the pink one.“Well…” Sam looked like he was on the edge of considering it.“We will be just next door, what could happen?” Callie said, tipping him over to persuasion.“Okay if it’s only next door… “ Sam said hesitantly.“Great come on Cal.” I gra
I passed on dinner and went straight to my room. I sat there in bed and replayed Hunter and my moment in his cell. I blushed as I remembered his lips on mine. I hugged my pillow and tried to force the images out of my head so I could think about the meeting tomorrow night, but it was no use when my mind kept making a connection to get back to him. I tried to think of how we were escaping and then it linked to how we broke in and then why we broke in and how I was in his cell and then he kissed me… No! I’ll think about the meeting. So, after we escape, we will need to take a break for Cal’s car in the back of the funeral home, Hunters car is impressive, I wonder what it would be like to make out in it? Ugh… round three. When I meet his brother, I’ll… “This is so pointless!” I groaned and fell back in bed. “There you are!” Cal burst through the door carrying a couple of pears in her hand, “You weren’t at dinner! I have been looking everywhere for you!”
A few minutes, a right turn, and I was to his room. I knocked but there wasn’t an answer. I twisted the knob and since it was unlocked, I let myself in. I looked around but he wasn’t there. I walked to his bed and sat down, looking up at the vent we saw him in when we were searching for Hunter.Then I remembered he was looking at a photo. I looked over at the nightstand, but it was empty, besides a small lamp. There were three drawers on the stand, I looked back at the door before I decided to pursue further. I opened the bottom drawer and found old papers, letters it looked like. I didn’t bother reading them since I was already crossing so many boundaries opening his drawers. I opened the second and found pencils and drafting paper. And finally, I opened the top drawer and found something that looked like a journal. I picked it up and flipped it around. I saw something sticking out the top. I took the pages in my fingers and flipped to the marked page. There was a photo. I took it wi
Callie wasn’t at dinner again. I was beginning to have withdrawals from not having my friend around anymore. Why did she need to be doing medical stuff twenty-four seven? I walked over and got my food. The serving lady smiled sweetly at me as she always did and handed me my plate. I was considering going back to my room when something, or rather someone, caught my attention. Jen was sitting next to her brother on the other side of the cafeteria. She called my name again and waved me over to their table. I sat down across from her and watched Jake as he stared blankly at the empty seat beside me. I guess he still couldn’t see me.“I envy you right now.” Jen giggled, “You know how useful that power would have been growing up with this guy?”“Jen…” Jake warned, “Not in the mood.”“I don’t even know how it happened. I just wanted him to leave me alone.” I was still staring at him as he still stared at the same empty spot, “Does he think I’m sitting there?”“Well, he’s leaving you alone al
I didn’t see Callie until I woke up the next morning, she was still sleeping. I rolled over onto my back and stared at the ceiling for a while. I thought about Hunter I wanted to see him again. Every time I tried to think of something else, I saw his image pop into my head, and it brought me right back around to thinking of him. He had gone through so much to just get medicine for his brother, why didn’t Sam just give it to him? I wanted more answers. I wanted a lot of things. But there was one thing I wanted more than all of it. I thought back to the tunnels when I was able to penetrate Hunter’s thoughts and speak to him through our minds. I tried to concentrate hard on him. I thought of his name over and over again. Closing my eyes, I blew out a steady breath and tried again.“What are you doing?” Callie giggled. I jumped and looked over at her. She was propped up on her elbow staring at me like I was crazy.“What do you mean?” I rolled out of bed and shuffled through a box marked ‘