You'll Always Be Mine (10 page)

              “Katie,” I said sternly, “He’s a cop and he’s much older than you.”

              “Age is just a number, baby.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me.

              “Nice to see that you’re back in school,” I heard Sean’s voice hover over me, “And I’m not surprised you’re still drinking Diet Coke.” He reached over my shoulder, picked up the can and replaced it with a bottle of water.

              “You’re no fun,” I pouted as he took a seat next to me.

              He chuckled then ruffled my hair. “You know me. I’m always looking out for my girlfriend.”

              “By the way, why aren’t you sitting with your obnoxious friends?” I teased, take a bite of my garden salad.

              “You know, I kind of got tired of them talking about
Mountain Dew
and sex all the time,” He said, twirling a lock of my hair out of habit.

              I huffed, “Don’t get cute.”

              Katie dropped her fork on her tray barbarously and stared at Sean and I with bewildering eyes. “There’s a party tonight at Mark Riley’s.”

              “There’s always a party at Mark Riley’s.” Sean said bitterly.

              “We’re going.”

              “No!” I protested, “No, we’re not going to Mark Riley’s party. Have you forgotten I have a stalker and I need to be home at all times I had to practically bribe Lou with pancakes to let me come here.”

              Katie interlocked her fingers and smiled deviously. “You’re coming with me to that party.”

              I think it is our differences that make us so compatible, like two sides of the same coin. We were complete opposites, but I couldn’t ask to have anyone else as a best friend. “Katie, as much I would love to come to Mark Riley’s party with you, I can’t. We can at least wait until all of this blows over.”

              “I think you should go,” Sean countered, “It’ll be a great opportunity to forget about how serious your life is right now.”

              I shot him a glare. “Sean, are you kidding?” I asked him. “If I forget about how serious my life is then that’s when I’ll be in trouble. You’re supposed to be taking my side.”

              “I am,”

              “No, you’re not.” I yelled at him. “I could possibly have a serial killer hunting me down right now and you want me to go to some wild party where he can be there? Have you lost your mind?” Sean opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off before he even got the chance. “I’m not going to that party. End of story.”

              Katie shrugged her shoulders as she let out a heavy sigh. “Suit yourself.”

              I rolled my eyes as I sunk down in my seat and snatched my Diet Coke away from Sean. “I can drink whatever I want,” I said bitterly, wasting no time in chugging down the can.

             
I didn’t know why they were being so difficult. Did they not think that this was serious? I’m being stalked! Why would I want to go a public place where I was available to anyone?

              Finally having had reached my breaking point, I let out a frustrated groan. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts and stood from my seat. “I’ll see you guys later,” I stared down at them, “Or not.” Turning on my heel, I sauntered out of the cafeteria.

              Unable to help but feel incompetent, I stalked moodily though the hallway. I was not used to this feeling. I wasn’t used to being the only one who understood myself. There was always Jeremy who understood, but unfortunately, Jeremy wasn’t here. I would have to grow up and face the world on my own now.

              I arrived at my locker with minutes to spare and time to think about the events that were happening in my now unfortunate life. I knew that something out of the ordinary was happening to me. I knew that if I didn’t act correctly, things would end badly for me. What I didn’t know is why this was happening to me. I had always been a nerd, bullied by the no-brain jocks, and never really had much friends. You could say that my life was pretty unfortunate enough. Things just took a turn for the worse.

              I sighed as I entered in the combination to my locker and clicked it open. My eyes instantly drifted to the mirror that was placed inside of my locker to meet my reflection. But more importantly, the man that was standing behind of my reflection.

              I whipped around quickly and sure enough, the man in the mirror was standing behind me with a smile plastered on his face. “Um,” I shifted uncomfortably, “Hi?”

              “Hello,” the man said in a velvety tone. “You’re all alone in the hallway. Is something wrong?”

              “Oh no,” I looked down at my feet, “I-uh, was just getting my stuff for my next period.” I forced my eyes to meet his and couldn’t help but notice that he looked familiar. “Hey, have I seen you around before?”

              The man shrugged. “It’s possible.”

              My eyes dropped to his attire. He was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt with a black hoodie. He was all blacked out, which was actually somewhat suspicious. “Do you teach here?”

              “No,”

              “Oh,” I trailed off, “Well, I think I’m just going to go to class now.” I flashed him a fake smile before I turned on my heel with full intent on walking away when something held me back.

              It didn’t take me long to figure out it was his hand grasping onto my arm. I turned to face him and forced a laugh, “What are you doing?”

              “You’re coming with me, darling.”
 

             
I titled my head slightly to the left in confusion, “What are you talking--” I brought my eyes back to his to see that they were hard and cold. “You’re--” I couldn’t make out the words that I wanted to say. I couldn’t even scream even though I knew that’s what I should do. “This isn’t happening.”

              “My dear Elizabeth, you need to come with me now.”

              He said it with so much certainty; it sent shivers down my spine. His grasp on my arm grew tighter and tighter until I was almost sure he was cutting off my circulation. “Okay,” I agreed, “I’ll come with you, just please let go of me. You’re hurting me.”

              The sharp lines on his face softened, obviously relieved. “I’m glad you’ve come to your senses,” he whispered softly.

              I forced a smile but I knew I was nowhere near happy. I could hardly stand up straight. My knees were trembling and my hands were shaking. “I’m glad I--” I didn’t bother to finish my sentence. I ducked under his arms and ran past him.

              Just as I thought I was getting away, I was pulled back only this time, by my hair. I cried out in agony as I felt strands of hair being pulled from my scalp.

              He ignored my cries and held onto my hair whilst pulling me towards him. When he got me close enough, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a hug. His words purred at my ears. “Don’t try to run. It’s useless.”

              My breathing stopped when I heard those words and it was in that moment I knew that it was over. There was only one thing left to do. Scream.

              I opened my mouth to let out the loudest scream that I could ever make but to my avail, the man covered my mouth with a damp cloth that instantly brought sleep to my eyes.

CHAPTER
THIRTEEN - JACOB 

              I stood there, hidden in the hedges, watching my love’s house from a far. I didn’t like the distance but it would have to do for now, until we were together. My lovely Elizabeth must have figured it all out. She’s much smarter than I had anticipated. This thought instantly brought a smile to my lips.

              If she thinks that she’s figured it out then I’ll just have to keep her guessing.

              The cops will be an obstacle, though. If they continued to stay around the house, I would have to eliminate them. Anyone who proved to be keeping Liza away from me was a threat.

              I knew eventually, she would have to return to school and it will be then that I claim her as mine. Oddly enough, it took my Liza a week before she got school sick.

              I watched as she exited the detective’s car and walked up the steps leading to the front door. I knew enough about the school to know that it was lunch time. This meant that the hallways were most likely empty.

              With haste and much precision, I cleared the backseat of my mid-sized sedan just incase Liza proved to be uncooperative.

              Wasting no time, I rushed out of the van and into the school. I had taken the liberty of memorizing her schedule and locker number incase my plan was not executed as planned.

Luckily, I found my br
own haired beauty at her locker, which seemed like the perfect opportunity.

              “Um,” she hesitated, “Hi.”

              “Hello,” I said, trying my best not to sound too excited. “You’re all alone in the hallway. Is something wrong?”

              “Oh no,” she shook her head, “I was just getting my stuff for next period.” She brought her enchanting blue eyes to mine. “Hey, have I seen you around before?”

              Yes. I wanted to tell her about the bar but I knew that would result in her getting scared

“It’s possible.”

             
“Do you teach here?”

              “No,”

              “Oh,” she said, “Well, I think I’m just going to go to class now.” She gave me a quick smile before she turned away.

              I rolled my eyes and grabbed onto her wrist.

              “What are you doing?”

              “You’re coming with me, darling.”

              “What are you talking--” She paused, allowing her thoughts to process in her mind. “You’re---this isn’t happening.”

              “My dear Elizabeth, you need to come with me now.”

              “Okay,” she agreed. “I’ll come with you, just please let go of me. You’re hurting me.”

              I released my hold on her hand, not realizing that I was holding onto her so tightly. “I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.” I told her. I knew that she was the one. The other girls thrashed and screamed but not Liza. She loved me.

              She smiled back at me. “I’m glad I--” She stopped mid-sentence and ducked underneath my arm and attempted to run past me.

              Frustrated, I grabbed onto the first thing that I saw. Her hair. Though I hadn’t meant to, I was pretty sure I had ripped out strands of her beautiful hair. As much as I wanted to sympathize, she did try to run away from me and I couldn’t have that happen. “Don’t try to run. It’s useless.”

              I heard her jagged breathing trying so hard to make out other words but in her mind, I believe that she’s finally come to realize that we were supposed to be together.