Chapter 7:Checks

Turns out what they said was true.

He did have a good heart or so it seemed.

I had spent most of my time last night with Jake. Once I let my guard slip and let him in it was like I couldn’t turn off. For me he was so easy to talk to but it didn’t help that I was drawn to him. Like a moth to a flame as they say.

I still found it strange. I had never felt so attached to a person I didn’t know before. It was like I had known him for years. I still believed my new friends were hiding something but I had decided to let it go. If they were going to tell me then they’ll tell me.

It had just gone past 6am and I was planning on going on my first run since I got here. I wasn’t a sporty person, I didn’t do much exercise but I did enjoy a run first thing in the morning. I didn’t have a beach but I did have an open forest that was right on my door step.

Clipping my iPod to my arm I placed my empty cup in the sink. My gran was still in bed, all the early mornings were starting to take toll on her. Pressing play I headed out the back door and began my journey.

I had given up.

I was officially lost and didn’t have any reception. It also didn’t help that I didn’t know the area or that there were so many different paths to take. I thought it would have been one big circle, an easy path to follow but no.

“Why do I always get myself in these situations?” I groaned rubbing the sweat from my forehead. All I wanted was to go for a run and clear my head. With my back against a tree I slid down bringing my knees to my chest.

Maybe I should just pick a path and hope for the best? It was still early so I had lots of daylight left. To busy in my own thoughts I didn’t hear them approach.

“Leah?”.

Feeling my body relax I got to my feet. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you”. Kane was standing in front of me with 2 of his friends.

“You lost?” He smirked.

“Who knew these woods were so confusing. Can you help me out?” I asked.

“Sure thing we were just heading back anyway. Leah this is Tim and Eric you’ll see them around school when you start”. Giving them a small wave I started to follow them back.

“What are you doing out here anyway?”.

“Isn’t it obvious?” I grinned motioning to my running gear. “I like to run, usually on a beach but seeing as I don’t know where that is I opted for the forest”.

“You shouldn’t come out here on your own it’s not safe”. My belly did a flop as the words left his mouth. How was it not safe?

“Apparently there have been wolf sightings in these woods and I’m not talking about little small ones I’m talking about wild beasts”. I couldn’t help it I started to laugh. Wolves? really? was he trying to scare me?

He didn’t find it funny.

“I’m being serious. Tim was out here a few weeks ago and saw 4 but he couldn’t get close enough to get any proof. From what I’ve heard there is a pack”.

Was he listening to himself? He sounded crazy.

“A pack of wild wolves?” I questioned.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you”. As we fell into a comfortable silence I began to think more about what he said. I could have sworn I heard a wolf howl the other night. But surely that wasn’t real? I mean wolves here in Texas?

Before I knew it I was standing outside my back gate.

“Thank you for helping me out. I’d have probably been stuck out there for hours if you weren’t kicking about”.

“Anytime Leah but don’t be going back out there on your own. Would hate to see a pretty girl get eaten”. Winking at me he gave me a salute before jogging off to catch up with his friends.

I could smell the brewing of fresh coffee before I got inside. Pulling open the back door I noticed my gran wasn’t alone. Jake, his dad and a few of his friends were sat in my kitchen eating breakfast. Well this was a surprise.

“Enjoy your run?” My gran asked passing me a cup of coffee. I was glad to see she had got my note. My gran was a worrier.

“I got lost” I grinned catching Jakes attention.

“Leah you have to be careful out there. There could be anything lurking about they woods. Promise me if you’re going for a run you’ll take someone with you next time”.

See worrier.

“I’m fine I got back in one piece didn’t I?” Sipping on my coffee I knew he was already boring holes in me. I had come to realise he liked to stare.

“You should listen to your gran”. Jakes dad put down his coffee “Anything could have happened out there”.

“I bumped into Kane and he brought me back. No big deal”. I shrugged.

“Kane?” Jake hissed his knuckles turning white with how tight he was holding his cup. “Fucking Kane”. Teeth bared he got up knocking over the chair in the process. I wasn’t going to lie it frightened me. His reaction, his stance. He looked ready to kill.

“Jake” His dad warned his tone low but it held some sort of power over him, authority.

And then he started to shake.

“Leah sweetheart can you do me a favour, can you run and get Alanna?”. Jake’s dad asked but I couldn’t move. It was like I was in a trance. I couldn’t stop staring. Grabbing a hold of my shoulders he shook me gently. “Go and get Alanna”.

So I did I ran all the way to their house.

Bursting through the front door my cheeks instantly grew hot. Alanna was a little too distracted with Kane for me to be disturbing her. Turning my back on them I bit my lip “I’m sorry but you need to come with me now. Your dad-..” And then I heard it.