Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 62015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
In the car he didn’t say anything and I didn’t quite know how to broach the subject. Finally I could take it no longer so I took the plunge.
“So how was your Thanksgiving?”
“Oh it was okay I guess, except......”
“Except what?” My heart started beating really fast waiting for him to say something about Joshua that would help me understand why I haven’t heard from him or why Vanessa seemed to be avoiding my calls.
“We’ve had a spate of attacks in the last few days out of nowhere. The profiler thinks the perpetrator has escalated his attacks, it’s not the first time he’s done this but he seems to have gone off the rails, maybe because of the holidays or something happened to trigger it, either way I need you to be careful. Some of the attacks were local; some in Port Angeles, there was even one out at Dormer’s Beach so please be careful, try not to go anywhere alone after dark. I know I don’t have to worry since you’re always with Joshua anyway, but still be on the lookout, and tell your little girlfriends at school as well.”
“So I guess you didn’t have much of a Thanksgiving dinner then huh.”
“Nope, had to work late, I missed you though kiddo.”
“Thanks dad missed you too.”
I felt really sad and alone all of a sudden.
When we got home I sent Vanessa one last text but again there was no reply. I was almost tempted to go to their house; I had a really bad feeling about this, like the kind of feeling when you’ve made a life altering decision that wasn’t necessarily the best one for you.
That night I tossed and turned miserably, I must’ve gotten five hours of sleep total. In the morning my stomach hurt from anxiety.
I waited for him to show up at his usual time to take me to school but somehow I knew he wouldn’t be here.
“Carrie is everything okay, where’s Joshua this morning? I missed my morning entertainment.”
“I don’t know dad, maybe he’s sick or something.”
“Well didn’t you talk to him when you got home last night? I’m surprised the boy wasn’t camped out on my couch waiting for you.” He grinned as he came down the stairs.
All of this just made me feel worse, what the hell was going on?
“I need a ride dad; I haven’t driven the truck in so long I’m not sure it’ll even start.”
“Not to worry kiddo, I’ll give you a ride and have someone look at your truck in the meantime. You need me to pick you up or have someone come get you?”
“I’ll call you if I do.”
In the school parking lot, seeing Joshua and Vanessa’s cars were like a death knell. I hoped Michael didn’t notice and start asking embarrassing questions.
In the halls the kids were their usual noisy selves, no one said anything to me, there was no pointing and whispering behind their hand.
I was shocked when Joshua was absent from biology first period though.
That feeling in the pit of my stomach just kept getting worse as the morning wore on.
By lunch period I think I got the message, but not as loudly as when I entered the cafeteria and found the Steeles and Patricia at the usual table but my chair was missing somehow, in fact the chair was there, but it was stacked with their stuff.
People were starting to look and the whispers began as I stood there with my tray in hand.
There were some snickers and giggles and Patti gave me a smirk and the finger. Matthew said something to her and she frowned and turned away.
I swallowed the bile that was beginning to rise in my throat as I made my way to a table in the corner where no one sat.
Chapter 22
Carrie
Okay now I’m pissed, I mean who does he think he is? What the fuck ever, he wants to play that role so be it. I was fine before I met him and I’ll be fine when he’s gone.
He’s the one who took an innocent joke and turned it into something more, why the fuck should I feel guilty.
So what the other hayseed fucks in this town wanted to laugh behind their hands, I didn’t give a fuck what they thought before and I’m not going to start now.
That angry fume got me through the rest of the day and into the evening while alone in my room doing my homework.
Michael had picked me up from school, I didn’t say anything to him but when he saw Joshua getting into his car he’d given me a questioning look which I chose to ignore.
With my eyes focused straight ahead we’d driven out of the school lot to home.
Thank God Michael had to drop me off and go; I couldn’t stand to answer any questions right now especially since I didn’t have all the answers myself.