Laney (10 page)

Chapter 13 - Library

Monday was lame. That’s it. Just lame. No Oliver equaled lame.

On Tuesday morning, I expected to run into Oliver on the way to my car. Okay, I was hoping to run into him. But he wasn’t there and neither was his car. My hopes were that maybe he was already at school.

I scanned the school parking lot, but his car wasn’t there either. With a heavy sigh, I headed for class.

He missed both of our classes and he never showed up while I waited under
our
tree.

I went home after school feeling a little moody. Tuesday wasn’t over, but I was making myself crazy, hoping he’d show up any moment, so I decided I would at least try to occupy myself by getting some studying done. I told Kiera I’d be at the library. She was heading over to Carter’s for dinner and to study.
Yeah, right! Maybe study his lips
. I admit I might have been a little bitter.

The sun was low as I drove back to the campus to do some studying in the library. Fall was growing closer, leaves were being to change, and it was getting dark earlier.

I parked by the curb right outside the library. The brick building was older, like the college, and it had that musty library smell to it. I sat alone in a short-backed, mustard-colored leather chair near one of the huge windows that lined the side of the building that faced the street where I had parked. Every now and then, I’d get an uneasy feeling, like I was being watched, but when I looked around, no one was looking at me. I strained to see out the window, but the only thing I could make out was my own refection. Not being able to see out, but knowing others could see in, gave me a creepy feeling.

After a couple hours of studying, darkness had completely set in and it was getting late. I gathered my things from the side table I had stacked them on, shouldered my backpack, and headed for my car. The streetlights were dim and the sky was dark. I couldn’t even find the moon. I had stayed too late and hadn’t gotten much done. Mostly, I daydreamed about Oliver, something I could’ve done at home. I wondered where he was and what he was doing.

Suddenly, I had a terrible feeling—like I was being watched, like there was someone there I couldn’t see. My body tensed and I felt a scream on the verge of escaping. It was so stupid that I had stayed so late alone. My car was in sight when I heard the crunch of leaves from close behind me. Every muscle in me tensed and terror shot through me.

I was at the front of my car and I pushed the button to unlock it. There was a loud “thud” behind me and what sounded like a dog snarling. I stopped dead in my tracks, too afraid to turn around and too afraid to run. I was terrified and frozen. I had no idea what was behind me, I didn’t want to know. I took a single deep breath, exhaled, and bolted for my car door. I reached for the handle and something grabbed me. I screamed louder than I’d ever screamed before. I struggled and my backpack and keys hit the ground as I was forcefully turned around to face someone I didn’t recognize. It was a man, young and strong. It was too dark to really see what he looked like. His eyes were dark and his breath was rancid; it made my stomach turn. He slammed me against the car and I let out another scream, but it was cut short as he slammed me hard against the car again. My vision blurred. He grabbed my face and turned it to the side. He leaned in and smelled me.
What the hell?
I struggled once more, but it only made him slam me against the car again. This time my vision became fuzzy around the edges for a brief moment.

“Well, well,” he said in a deep, raspy voice, “What have we here?” He looked me up and down and then smiled a wicked smile. I saw what looked like fangs.
This can’t be happening
. My breath hitched. I was too scared to move or scream, afraid he’d slam me against the car again and this time I’d fade out completely. Someone had to come out of the library soon. It was packed and would be closing soon. “You’re a nice surprise, little one.”

He had me pinned against my car in the dark, his hands holding my arms and his body pressed against mine. I couldn’t find it in me to scream. I tried to struggle, but he had me pinned too tightly. Tears stung my eyes, my heart was racing, throbbing in my head, and my breath was coming in shallow sobs.

“You’ll hold me over for a long time.” He trailed a finger down the side of my face.

What? Was he going to eat me? Was he some sort of mutant dog?
I turned my face away and squeezed my eyes shut causing a tear to run down my cheek.

He grabbed the back of my hair, licked the tear from my face, and jerked my head back. A small scream escaped my lips and my eyes flew open. All I could see were tree tops and the dark sky. I felt his breath on my neck—it was cold. Tears welled up in my eyes.

“Let her go!” I heard a familiar voice, the one I’d longed for all day. It was frightening, but next to this nasty thing pressed against me, it was heavenly.

I felt movement, but still couldn’t move my head to look around.

I heard another growl and then Oliver’s arm was around me. He pulled me against his chest and I was able to see the freak who had pinned me picking himself up off the ground about ten feet from my car. I must’ve blacked out and missed something. He came running at us and I dropped to the ground in a crouch and hugged my knees, waiting for impact. The impact happened, just not as I had expected. As he came at us, Oliver shoved him, though that doesn’t seem like the right word. He shoved him hard and the guy flew back to where he’d just picked himself up from. He silently rose up from the asphalt, with a movement that made me shudder, seeming unharmed, and stared at us from where he stood. Then he fled into the darkness. He was gone.

I drew in a long, shaky breath and started to tremble all over. Oliver scooped me up in his arms and held me tightly against his body. I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head against his chest. He said nothing as he put me in the passenger seat of my car. He tossed my backpack in the back seat, slid into the driver’s seat, locked the doors, and drove me home. I was in shock and he knew it.

He carried me upstairs to my apartment, unlocked the door, and laid me on the couch. He flipped on a light and I watched him go into my room and come back with a blanket. He covered me up and stared into my eyes like he was searching for something. He kissed my forehead, lifted my head so he could sit, and rested my head in his lap. I stared up into his eyes while he stroked my hair.

I woke up alone on the couch. I didn’t know how long I had been asleep, but I didn’t think it was too long. It was still really dark out. The front door was open. I still felt rather unsteady as I got up and peeked outside. Oliver was sitting on the top step, just outside my apartment. I watched him for a moment. He was so still, like a statue. He was holding his phone and it lit up with a message and I watched as his fingers sped across the keys in response. Without looking at me, he asked, “How are you feeling?”

“Shaky,” I said, slowly walking over to sit beside him on the step. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer, and I sank against him. He let out a big sigh and kissed the top of my head.

“What happened?” I asked quietly. “I think that guy was talking about eating me.”

“What?” Oliver chuckled, but it had a hint of nervousness to it.

“He said I’d hold him over for a long time.”

“I’m pretty sure that guy is mentally ill.”

“He looked like he had fangs.” I shot a quick glance at his face to see his reaction. I figured he’d think I was still in shock or completely crazy. His expression didn’t seem to change.

“With all the vampire hoopla going on, you’d be amazed at what people do.” Then he said is a soft voice, “You scared the hell out of me tonight. I couldn’t find you. You didn’t answer my call or text. You weren’t home. I found Kiera with Carter at my place. She said you were at the library, but I couldn’t find you there, either, so I started searching the parking lot. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if I’d been a couple minutes later.”

Neither could I. A shiver ran through me and I snuggled in closer as he held me tighter.

“I didn’t hear your call,” I said quietly.

“I’m just glad I found you.” He kissed the top of my head again. “A girl got attacked tonight; they found her and her boyfriend in pretty bad shape.”

I bolted upright. “Here?”

“Yeah, that’s why I was freaking out. They haven’t caught the person who did it, but I have a pretty good idea who it was and I think you were next on his list.” He pulled me into him again and I started to shake. “Let’s get you inside.”

We sat on the couch and he pulled the blanket around me. I know I should have been freaking out, but being near him was so comforting that it calmed me.

Then I had a moment of panic. “Where’s Kiera?”

“She’s fine; she’s with Carter. I told him to keep her there and I let them know that I found you. They don’t know what happened to you. That’s your choice, if you want to tell them.” He brushed my hair away from my face, cupped it in his hands, and searched my eyes. Then he pulled me against him. “I don’t want you to be alone tonight. Do you mind if I stay?”

“Please stay,” I whispered against his chest. Sure, I finally get my alone time, but it’s follow-up to danger and drama.

I cuddled against him as we sat on the couch, flipping through channels, until I fell asleep.

It was still dark when I woke up, comfortably sandwiched between Oliver and the back of the couch. He was cuddled behind me with his chest against my back and his arm wrapped snuggly around my waist. The blanket was draped across both of us. I ran my finger down the arm around my waist until I found his hand. I interlaced my fingers with his. His fingers tightened on mine and he snuggled me tighter against his chest. He kissed the back of my head and I smiled at the comfort and safety I felt in his arms.

When I woke up again, it was to Kiera coming home, the early morning sunlight streaming in as she opened the door. She had a guilty look on her face as she rushed past us to her room. I turned onto my back under Oliver’s arm. He propped his head up on his other hand and brushed the hair from my face with the hand that had been around me all night.
Oh, how I wanted to wake up like this every morning.

“You okay?” he asked me.

I nodded my head. He kissed my forehead and told me he’d go get ready and be back in a few minutes to drive me to school. He locked the doorknob before shutting the door behind him.

I lightly knocked on Kiera’s door.

“Come in.”

“Hey,” I said quietly, as I entered her room.

“Hey. Sorry I woke you when I came in. Didn’t know you’d be on the couch.”

“No worries.” I sat on the edge of her bed and watched her ready herself for the day.

“Did you hear about that couple that got attacked last night?” she asked.

“I did.” A shudder ran through me.

“I read the update on them this morning,” she continued. I really didn’t want to know. “It said that she had lost a lot of blood, but was recovering, and her boyfriend pulled through with a broken arm, some broken ribs, and a mild concussion”

My interest piqued. “How did she lose the blood?”

“The guy had started to cut her throat when her boyfriend stopped him.”

More like bit her. I pictured that guy from last night and the fangs I had seen. I shuddered again.

“Are you okay?” she asked, sitting beside me.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said with a fake smile I hoped she couldn’t see though. “Well, I’m going to go get ready for the day,” I said, leaving her room.

I needed a shower. I think Oliver may have just been a distraction. It hit me—
that guy was going to kill me or rape me
. I sobbed for a long while as the warm water ran over me.

When I left the bathroom, with one towel on my head and one around me, Oliver was there, sitting at the kitchen bar. I blushed and rushed to my room. Kiera must’ve let him in before she left. I was hurrying to get dressed and brush out my wet hair when there was a light knock on my bedroom door.

I jumped. “Yes?”

“Laney, may I come in?” he asked.

“Just a sec.” I flung my pile of clothes into the closet and slid the door shut. I opened my bedroom door and there he was, gorgeous and protective. All of my fears and worries melted away.

He came in and had a seat on the foot of my bed. He patted the spot beside him, smiling at me. I couldn’t help returning the smile and I sat.

“Are you sure you’re okay to go to school today?” He seemed genuinely concerned.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired,” I responded, hoping he wouldn’t see through me.

“Oh, okay.” I thought I sensed a hint of disappointment.

“Why?” I asked. “What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking maybe we could just hang out and watch movies. Just take it easy, you know.”

I thought about it and what it could lead to.
Hmmmm
.

“I mean, you could still be in shock and it would be better for you to be home, just in case. I’ll stay with you.” He was beginning to sound almost flustered.

“Really, I’m fine.” I didn’t want him to spend time with me out of pity. I wanted him to do it because he wanted to.

I grabbed my backpack from my desk chair, had a moment’s thought about how it could have gotten there, then said, “Let’s go.” I smiled at him, still hoping he didn’t see through it.

The rest of the day was the same as usual, except Oliver seemed a little edgy and protective of me. He also didn’t leave my side, which I didn’t mind, but he seemed somewhat preoccupied and he was texting a lot.

“Who are you texting with?” I asked that night, as we sat on my couch watching TV. I picked at a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I had made for myself. Oliver had said he didn’t want one.

“My niece and a friend of mine.” He sighed and looked at me. “My sister seems to be having some sort of mid-life crisis and she’s causing drama. My friend Felix is at their house trying to help her man and my niece deal with it.”

“Her man?” I laughed a little. “Husband?”