Once we got home, I went straight to my room.

I could hear Rebecca and Dad talking in the kitchen and tried so hard not to scream. Now they're definitely going to send me back to therapy. 

Why is my life so messy right now. Why me? 

Angry tears poured out of my eyes as I wiped them away with my sleeve, controlling my erratic breathing while my phone pinged with a message.

555-345-987
Oops, it was an accident.

I felt my insides twist with anger, my fingers clenching around the phone as another text came through.

555-345-987
Lets just hope the cops don't find out.

I furiously typed on the keyboard, spamming the group chat until all of the online buttons turned green.

Me
Did anyone else get those texts??

Mason
Yeah, stupid prick.

Evelyn
Mhm. How r u?

James
Alive

James 
For now

Me
I'm so angry 

Me
I wanna go to the cops

Mason is typing...

While I waited for Mason's text to come through, I peeled off my gross clothes and wrapped a random towel from my floor across my body.

"I'm going for a shower." I called, "Okay, don't take your bandages off." 

I closed the bathroom door shut and leaned against it. Anxiety filling my stomach.

My hands shakily turned the shower knob while I dropped the towel. Usually I could look at myself and be somewhat satisfied. Now I look at myself and see nothing but disgust.

I squeeze my eyes shut. I want to stop crying. Why can't I stop crying? 

Black and purple bruises were painted on my shoulders and stomach, scrapes on my back and blood splatter on my neck and legs. 

I felt defeated, hobbling to the shower as I sat down on the floor, letting the water trail down my body and relax my tense shoulders. 

I finally got out after what felt like hours, throwing on a pair of shorts a random shirt before climbing into bed, rolling onto my back - the only part of me that doesn't ache when I breathe.

Just as I got comfortable, there was a soft knock at my door, "Come in." I said annoyed, sitting up. "Hey." Rebecca smiled, a steaming bowl of pasta in her hands. 

My mouth watered and suddenly everything I felt melted away as I inhaled the wonderful smell of creamy tomato pasta. "Thank you." I smiled, swirling some around a fork.

Rebecca smiled back at me, taking a seat on my bed.

"Bon't tell Dad but, fis is the best fing I've ever fhasted." I said with a mouthful of food. 

But Rebecca didn't say anything. She played with engagement ring around her finger. The one my Dad gave her. I remember being so angry the day that he told me he was marrying her.

Now I realise that I'm not mad about it. Just confused. But Rebecca playing with the ring means two things. One, she's nervous or two, hiding something. Or both...?

"Rebecca, what is it?" I asked, placing the bowl down.

"I... when you jumped out of the car-"

I held my breath, here comes the punishment, "I saw." She said quietly.

Huh?

"Saw... what?" I asked her, "The figure. In the black hoodie." 

I choked on air and my eyes widened, "I have't told your Dad. But I think you should."

I put my head down, completely speechless on what to say. I thought I was careful about everything. However, I was angry before.

"You jump every time your phone goes off or flinch whenever you see a person in a hood. What's going on? This whole.. situation makes me think there is something. And don't lie." 

I was stuck on words, my mouth gaping open and closed like a fish looking for water, "I don't know." I whispered.

"What do you mean you don't know?" 

I shrugged, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.

"Just wait, I have this thing to show you." I laughed, "This thing happened at school today-"

I opened my notes app, my fingertips moving like lighting across the keyboard.

If I tell you I'm scared you could get hurt. I turned the phone around and showed her, her eyebrows furrowing, "What are you-"

"It's funny right? My teacher is such an idiot." 

She finally caught on and raised her lips.

I'm being watched

It was then, she finally understood the danger of my situation.

+ + + 

When I woke the next morning, the house was empty. 

My mind went straight back to yesterday. The explosion, James and... telling Rebecca. Shit, fuck I should not have done that!

I scrambled for my phone, dialling her number.

"Sofia? Are you okay?" Her voice was like music to my ears, "I'm just making sure you're okay." I sighed, "I'm fine. I promise, I'm just at work. Can I call you back later? We need to talk." I nodded, upon remembering she can't see me, "Yeah all good. See you later." 

I ignored the dozens of notifications on my phone, only looking back when I see one from an unknown number.

555-345-987
I'm glad you're not the only one who was hurt.

"What kind of sinister shit is the fucker-" I stared directly at my door when I heard the downstairs door open, "Freezing mid sentence." 

I gripped the sheets, breathing a sigh of relief when I heard my name being called and the familiar voice of Evelyn, "Coming!" I said, riddled with anxiety.

Rushing down the stairs, I nearly tripped on the bottom step while throwing myself into her arms, "I'm so glad to see you." I said.

She laughed, "It's only been a few hours." 

I pulled away shrugging, "I missed you." 

My eyes flitted to the other two figures making their way through my doorway.

"Two's a crowd but fours a party." She winked. 

"Welcome to my humble abode." I flopped onto my couch, the slight chatter of my friends calming my racing heart, "You guys scared me." I said.

"Why's that?" 

I blinked, "You guys didn't get a text?" I sat up, looking directly at all of them before focusing my eyes on Evelyn, "Not since yesterday, why? What'd you get?" 

"I got this." I pulled up my phone, showing them the cryptic text, "They're glad you guys got hurt?" Mason huffed, "I think we're looking at this in the wrong direction. Time to google psychopaths in Churchhill, and in a ten mile radius." 

Why am I the only one who got a text? 

"What are you guys doing here anyway?" I asked them, brushing off my weird feeling.

"I didn't wanna be alone and Mason offered to hang out, so we decided to come here." 

Fair enough.

"Let me get changed and I'll come back down." 

I practically sprinted to my room, which wasn't a good idea because I got super dizzy really fast. I sat down for a second, slipping my shorts off my legs and deciding on grey sweatpants.

Someone knocked on my door and assuming it was Evelyn, I called for them to come in.

I pulled my shirt over my head and turned around. I gasped and my eyes widened, a hot blush rising to my cheeks. "James I-"

"Sorry! I should've waited I- um fuck. I'm sorry." He said. I shrugged, "No it's fine. It's okay I mean, I- what's up?" After mentally cringing from my case of word vomit, James finally spoke, "Where's your bathroom?" 

"Down the hall." 

+ + + 

Oops... awkward?

Thanks for reading babies Xx