class. He thought unusual dissections and lab experiments were growth and learning opportunities. Generally that meant extra work and gross body parts to view. Nobody lingered. Ever.
As soon as I walked in the door, Emily was beside me in an instant. “Are you ok?” She asked.
“I’m fine,” I told her. She looked satisfied.
Jarrod grabbed her hand and we walked out together toward the cafeteria. I was aware that Kellen was following next to me quietly.
“Kellen, dude, what’s up? You coming to the game Friday?”
Another one of those football and basketball jocks. They littered the school like flies. Too bad I couldn’t just swish them away with a flick of my hand. He ran up to Kellen, smacking him on the back in greeting. I had enough of them today.
“See you later Kellen,” I told him. He looked down at me and nodded.
“Bye Rhiannon.” His voice sounded soft when he said my name.
Emily was pulling on me so I left with her and Jarrod to get something to eat. I glanced back just once and noticed with satisfaction that he was still watching me walk away. The small lunch room was crowded like usual when we came in. Mariah was holding our table with Brittany, Brian, and some of the other kids who hung out around us. Kellen joined us later as was becoming his habit.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful until study hall. As usual, we were in the back of the library lounging on the chairs. I closed my eyes and tilted my head against the back of the chair. I was feeling a little sleepy. My nightmare had gotten me up earlier than usual and I was starting to feel the fatigue. Today had also been a really long day for several reasons. I sighed softly.
“Ready for a nap?” Kellen asked.
My eyes snapped open. His face was only inches from mine. He smiled at me charmingly, completely unaware of his close proximity to my mouth. Or was he? “I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night,” I explained.
“Why not?” He asked.
“Well, I stayed up late reading and then I woke up too early,” I told him.
He seemed to be thinking that over. He opened his mouth to say something but Emily piped up first.
“So, Rhia, do you think Gran is cooking up something big for tomorrow?”
“Emily, I never put anything past Gran. Words like small and birthday do not go together in her vocabulary.”
Mariah snorted. “You know she asked us to keep you away from the house tomorrow until after six. I’m only telling you because you won’t listen to me unless we gang up on you.” She said it confidently. Mariah knew me well.
I snorted. “Ha, I knew it. Gran was acting funny this morning.”
“You know she loves to spoil you. You’re just going to have to let her. Don’t try to get out of it either. We promised her.” Mariah informed me. She was worse than Gran.
“Fine,” I pouted.
“How old are you going to be?” Kellen asked.
“She’s going to turn eighteen tomorrow,” Mariah replied.
I glared at her and stuck out my tongue. Folding my arms across my chest, I pretended to be annoyed. She laughed gleefully. “Is it time to go yet?” I grumbled.
Everyone laughed. Great, now I was the plucky comic relief.
Study hall ended just a few minutes later. I was glad to be on my way home. But home was not very relaxing…until my thoughts wandered. I kept thinking about both times with Kellen today. His arms around me had been strong and comforting, like they belonged there, and his breath at my neck had sent shivers down my spine.
He had rescued me twice today. My mind drifted into a day dream when I started thinking about him. It did succeed in making me feel less edgy and tense but my heartbeat was accelerating and my stomach had butterflies. I managed to forget about the whole ‘somebody is watching me’ thing. I went to bed that night feeling normal and happy and slept without any nightmares.
I was being kidnapped. There really wasn’t any other way to describe it. Emily and Mariah sat next to me