Share
Chapter 15: You Can Run But You Can't Hide
Related chapters
Atticus Chapter 16
** Candice **I'm about to open my locker when I hear someone call my name. I know the voice and when I look up, I see Brad walking straight toward me. It's been two whole class periods since I last saw him and somehow he's managed to look even better than before. How is that possible?"Hey, you," he says, already flashing me his signature grin."Hey." I smile back because I can't help it."Need a ride home?" he asks, looking at me with his incredible brown eyes. I'm too mentally drained to check out the house anyway. After dealing with crowded hallways, my weird conversation with Mrs. Stephens, and at least one mini-panic attack, a ride home sounds pretty good. Besides, it gets dark earlier every night and the thought of looking around a mysterious house when its pitch black makes me beyond nervous. "Sure." **We're several cars back, waiting our turn to exit the parking lot, when he reaches for my hand between shifting gears. Piece by piece, I can feel my walls start
Atticus Chapter 17: What Am I Doing?
I glance over just before unlocking my front door and see that he's already back in his car, looking up at me. When our eyes catch he smiles and it's pretty clear he's waiting to make sure I'm safely inside before he leaves. I have to catch my breath. Nobody has cared enough about me to make sure I get into a building safely. He-this-scares the crap out of me. I have no idea where it's going. Hell, I'm not even sure this is a good idea, but spending time with him is starting to blur my own judgment. I smile and shoot him a quick wave and he nods as I pull the door behind me.I'm in trouble. The familiar stench of cigarette smoke yanks me back into reality. I can't stand it and jog over to the window, pulling the curtains aside as I push the frame all the way up. Instantly, a cool breeze flows in, hitting my face. I'm grateful for fresh air-part of me feels like I should sit right here until Mom gets home and complains that it's cold. I'm pretty sure she's never even considered crack
Atticus Chapter 18: Mom - Forever 21
Fifteen minutes later, she flies down the stairs with a fresh coat of makeup and a heavy smell of Aqua Net. Her hair is teased, her lips are crimson, and her too short skirt is paired with a ridiculously skimpy crop top. Save for looking like a middle-aged hooker, she's not half bad. Yanking her car keys from the coffee table, she dashes to the door, not even looking back when she yells, "I'm meeting Tom for drinks. Don't wait up!" The front door slams and I'm alone again. I could get used to this.Before I jinx it, I feel like I should cross my fingers and kiss rosary beads, even though I'm not Catholic. Maybe she was too wasted last night to remember our fight. It's a huge relief, but I'm pretty sure I just used up the last chunk of luck I had left. I turn the lock behind her, knowing full well I'd better savor every drop of peace she just gave me tonight. Surprisingly, my heart beats with a little less hate for her.I flop onto the sofa, thinking about the house again, thou
Atticus Chapter 19: A New Need
Within a matter of minutes I can see the house. I have to stop for a second and catch my breath, flushed with exertion and relief, but I barely get more than a few seconds. The extreme wrench in my gut is back with a vengeance and the need to keep going consumes me all over again. It's beyond strange, even a little frightening, but I don't have time to think about it-I have to get inside. Glancing in both directions, I dart across the street, hoping no one sees me. Thank God it's pretty much a ghost town this early in the morning, the light from the sun barely peaking over the horizon. I have no doubt I look like a lunatic, that crazy girl on her way to a house, rumored to be haunted.I run as fast as I can to the window, the same window that completely changed my life. I nearly trip when I sprint through, almost landing on the disgusting mattress. I couldn't see it until now because it's so dark but there's just enough light for my eyes to adjust. I scan the room and my first thoug
Atticus Chapter 20: Lost Time
Where the hell am I?My eyes flash open and I'm about to scream when I realize it wasn't real. It was a full-on nightmare. I was standing on a banister with my neck in a noose. I was about to jump. I was dreaming. Dreaming. But it felt so real I think I might throw up.A beam of sunlight blinds me, making it impossible to see anything. No, no, no!My eyes dart around the room. I touch my watch, scooting over the second I see a dark spot, still groggy from sleep. I catch a glimpse of the time, but I must be reading it wrong. I probably need another second for my eyes to adjust. Checking it again, the air is sucked out of my body.Holy shit.There is no way it's 3:23 in the afternoon. A split second later, my stomach plunges in a downward spiral of nausea.What.Is.Going.On?I jump up, pulling my body off the floor, but have to catch my balance from the instant head rush. I can't give it a second thought as panic overrides everything. How can this have happened again?
Atticus Chapter 21: Drama Queen
"C'mon, Bradley. Don'tcha miss me?" She whispers in Brad's ear but I can hear every word and I'm pretty sure she's very aware of that fact.Holy shit, who does this?"I said stop it, Sarah," Brad snaps back, biting out his words, looking at me the whole time. "Why don't you take your little friend home and meet me back at my place so we can talk? You know, somewhere private." Sarah smiles and then narrows her eyes directly at me. She smirks like she's won Brad back.Her confidence is freaking amazing, I'll give her that. But I also want to slap her across the face."We broke up two months ago. There's nothing to talk about." Anger contorts Brad's face, turning it almost blood red as he holds her wrists away from him. "Who says we're gonna talk, sweetie?" Her syrupy voice drips with condescendence, like she's all of a sudden talking to a child.Ick.Brad doesn't answer and pushes back, letting go of her. Her face changes and I can tell she's shocked he choose crazy-dressed-zer
Atticus Chapter 22
** Brad **Candice couldn't get away from me fast enough. Jesus, what the hell was Sarah thinking? I haven't spoken to her in weeks and she pulls that shit? A normal person would have moved on but she isn't normal and she hasn't changed. She's still the same immature, entitled, over-privileged girl I was stupid enough to date. This is my fault. I should have known when she walked up to us nothing good would come from it. Why didn't I just ignore her and walk away? Either way I looked like an asshole. Glancing over at the passenger seat, I can still imagine Candice sitting there. Hell, I can still smell her and it's driving me nuts that I don't know what's going on inside her head. When she got out of my car, I realized something. I want to spend as much time with her as possible. But I have to be cool about it because she's almost like a scared animal and I don't want to spook her. It's entirely possible I'll scare her away. Instead of going home, I decide to drive around to cle
Atticus Chapter 23
** Candice **The second I shut the door, the flashing light on the answering machine catches my eye. I almost trip on my own feet, trying to get to it before it blinks again. I'm pretty sure I know who left a message before I push play. As soon as I hear a woman's voice, saying she's calling from the school attendance office, I hit erase. God must be smiling down on me at this moment because if Mom had gotten to that message before me, I'd have hell to pay. I probably won't be as lucky next time. I have to put an end to this insanity. But why is it happening? And why am I dreaming about Atticus? Who is he? Hell, what is he? All I know is, he seemed very real this morning and in my dreams. He even told me he has psychic abilities, so maybe there's a way I can talk to him in my sleep. Assuming he shows up at all. The front door slams, startling me out of my thoughts. My head automatically turns toward the sound and I see my mother carrying a grocery sack into the kitchen. I suc
Latest chapter
