Through The Dark

by Jae

  ‘I’ll see you soon, Little Miss Daisy.’

  I reread the text over and over again, hoping one of these times the words will change or the text won’t be there all together; like I was just making it up in my head. But every time it’s still there and I can slowly feel my heart dropping into my stomach. How did I get myself caught in this situation? It’s my first party for Christ’s sake! Getting man-handled by some creep was definitely not on the top of my list of things to do tonight. All I wanted to do was have some fun with my friends and get a little buzzed. That’s all.

  “I’m sorry, Daze.” Ella apologizes, her voice sounding sincere, as she spins me around and pulls me into a tight hug. “We should’ve been paying more attention to you.”

  “It’s fine.” I sigh when we pull away from each other. “Can we just get out of here? I’m more than ready to go.”

  All of the girls nod their heads in agreement and we quickly make our way out of the frat house to Ella’s car. I keep myself on high alert, my eyes taking in everything thing around us while I try my best to make sure Liam isn’t just waiting out here for me.

  “Give me the keys.” I tell Ella after she unlocks her Escape. “I’ll drive.”

  “Are you sure?” She asks, sounding slightly skeptical, while she places the keys in my hand and I nod my head.

  The entire drive back to Ella’s house all I can think is that after what I just went through, I’ve never felt more sober in my life.

  Chapter Two

  I’m the first one to wake up the next morning. For a while I just lay here on the soft carpeted floor of Ella’s basement, snuggled up in the blankets, staring at the ceiling. I think back to last night and how happy I was to finally get out of the house, to just let loose and be a reckless teenager for once. And who would’ve thought that I would honestly have so much fun. After one night, I can’t believe all that I’ve been missing out on. A part of me has always wanted to go out to parties with my friends and just act like a dumb teenager. But I always knew in the back of my mind that I couldn’t do that. Not until after I at least got accepted into a good college. So I stayed in, studied hard, and worked my butt off to achieve all the things my parents have always wanted for me.

  After a while the urge to pee finally catches up with me. I quietly untangle myself from all the blankets and make my way into the basement bathroom. My eyes widen when I turn on the light and see the huge hickey on my neck. It takes me a moment to push through my hazy confusion and remember who did this to me. I lean into the mirror to get a better look and flinch a little when I try to touch the still extremely sore spot that’s a darker purple and red than I was expecting. After doing my business and washing my hands, I lean my back against the wall across from the mirror and slide down to sit on the cold tile floor. I close my eyes and start to think about the party again. My mind floods with the images of darkening bright green eyes and perfect bow shaped lips twisted into a sly smirk. As much as Liam scares me, I can’t deny the fact that he’s absolutely gorgeous.

  My eyes shoot open when I hear a knock on the door and Ella softly calling my name. I stand up and unlock the door, pulling it open enough for her to slide in.

  “Hey, dork.” Ella says with a happy smile on her face after she shuts the door behind her.

  “Hey.” I reply, sitting back down where I was and closing my eyes again, letting the coldness of the floor cool down my warm body. “Are Zoie and Taylor still sleeping?”

  “Yeah.” Ella responds after she flushes the toilet and starts washing her hands. “How are you feeling?”

  “Just a small headache.” I answer, making her chuckle a little bit.

  “Yeah, that’s to be expected. Have you puked at all yet?”

  “No.” I respond, opening my eyes and looking up at her. “I don’t feel that sick.”

  I take Ella’s hand when she sticks it out to me and help her pull myself up. We quietly walk out of the bathroom, being sure not to wake Zoie and Taylor up, and make our way up to the kitchen.

  “Have you heard from your parent’s yet?” I ask Ella once we’ve enter the kitchen.

  Ella and I’s parents left early yesterday morning to go on a three week cruise through Australia and New Zealand for their anniversaries that are both this month.

  “No.” She responds, shrugging her shoulders and pulling food out of the fridge and pans out of the cabinets to make breakfast. “My mom told me that she wasn’t sure what the cell reception was going to be like, but she would call as soon as she could. What about you, have either of your parents called?”

  I shake my head no while grabbing dishes and silverware to set the table with.

  “Good morning!” Taylor exclaims happily, her and Zoie walking into the kitchen.

  Why are all of them so chipper? I’m just barely nauseous and I would rather go sit on the cold tile floor of the bathroom again than be walking around right now.

  “Something smells good!” Zoie practically drools while she jokingly pats her stomach after sitting down at the table.

  “Ditto!” Taylor agrees. “What are you making?”

  “I’m making French toast and cheesy scrambled eggs. And Daisy is going to put together a fruit salad.” Ella answers, motioning for me to grab a knife and start chopping up the fruit.

  I glance up to see Taylor getting the orange juice and butter out of the fridge, the syrup out of the cabinet, and setting them on the table. When I’m done making the fruit salad, I put it into a large bowl and set it on the table before taking a seat with the other girls while we wait for the rest of the food to be done.

  “I’m so hungry!” Zoie whines just as all of our stomachs simultaneously grumble, causing us to burst into fits of laughter.

  “All right!” Ella announces a few minutes later. “All done!”

  She walks over with two heaping plates of French toast and cheesy scrambled eggs and sets them down on the table with everything else.

  “This is going to be so good!” Zoie exclaims while we stack up our plates and pour juice into our cups.

  “It’s a damn good thing you guys are such great cooks.” Taylor compliments.

  “Amen, sister!” Zoie shouts.

  Most of our time eating breakfast is spent with comments like this until we start to get full and are just picking at our food while reminiscing about last night.

  “You two were so wasted.” Ella laughs, pointing her finger at Zoie and Taylor.

  “Oh, be quiet!” Zoie chuckles, pointing back at Ella with a playful look on her face. “You weren’t that far behind us!”

  “That’s true.” I laugh.

  “Wait!” Taylor says suddenly, her eyes growing and points to my neck. “Daze, do you even know who that guy was?”

  “No.” I answer, shaking my head. “All I know is his name is Liam.”

  “So what happened exactly?” Zoie questions before she shoves a piece of fruit into her mouth.

  “Honestly, it all started out a little weird and then just got plain freaky.” I answer, watching all of them nod – a silent gesture telling me to continue.

  I tell them everything that happened, starting with the blonde haired boy I originally tried to talk to. They all stare at me intently the entire time, their eyes growing dramatically wide at some parts of the story. By the time I’m done, ending with the creepy text Liam sent me before we left the party, they all look completely shocked.

  “I want to see the text.” Taylor demands as she picks my phone up from the table.

  “I’m going to go call Clair. Maybe she knows who he is.” Zoie tells us before she stands up and walks out of the room.

  “That’s so creepy.” Taylor says, scrunching up her nose while handing my phone over to Ella.

  I nod my head in agreement.

  “What do you think he meant by it?” Taylor asks quietly, obviously already deep in thought.

  “I have no idea.” I sigh while glancing over at Ella, who also looks like she’s trying to solve
the riddle of the text.

  “Oh my God!” Zoie screeches a few minutes later.

  Questioning looks grow on the rest of our faces as she runs back into the kitchen and sits down at the table.

  “What?” We all ask her at the same time.

  “Okay, so Clair gave me the total run down on Liam and when she was done, I couldn’t believe it because I totally know who he is!”

  “You do?” I question, my eyes growing wide in surprise.

  “Yes! Well sort of.” Zoie says quickly, waving a dismissive hand in the air. “Okay, so you know how I go to all the USC men’s basketball games with my dad?”

  “So you can watch a bunch of hot sweaty guys play a sport you know hardly anything about?” Ella winks at Zoie. “Yeah, we know.”

  “Well,” Zoie continues, rolling her eyes at Ella. “Liam plays for them! He’s one of the starters and hands down the best player on the team. At least, that’s what my Dad always says.”

  “Oh yeah, I remember him!” Taylor exclaims as she hits Zoie’s arm. “You pointed him out to me when I went to that one game with you. He’s so hot!”

  “Yeah, I know!” Zoie responds, hitting Taylor back. “Anyway, Clair said he’s a total badass. Apparently he’s like the king of the campus because of his superstar status in basketball and he’s a part of the frat house we were at last night. She said he gets in a lot of fights and that she once saw him beat some guy unconscious. I guess all of the girls love him, but he hardly gives any of them the time of day. He only hooks up with them at parties, but that’s it. As far as she knows, he hasn’t had any serious relationships and it doesn’t seem like he’s looking for one either.”

  “Wow.” Taylor says, practically drooling over Zoie’s words. “That sounds so sexy.”

  “Oh my God, Taylor.” Ella sighs, rolling her eyes. “Get a grip, would you?”

  “Did you tell her about how he acted with me and about the text?” I ask Zoie, ignoring Taylor’s comment.

  “Yeah.” Zoie laughs a little. “She said she’s not that surprised he gave you that hickey and acted so roughly with you. Apparently most of the girls he’s been with like it. But she did say that she was really surprised that he gave you his number. Apparently she’s never heard of him giving his number to a girl he’s messed with. Oh, and he’s totally jealous that he gave it to you and sent you that text.”

  I roll my eyes and just laugh. “Your cousin is so desperate.”

  “Tell me about it.” Zoie and Taylor say at the same time, causing all of us to laugh.

  “I’m sure it meant nothing – just something to freak me out. I doubt I’ll ever see him again anyway.” I conclude before we all stand up and start clearing the table.

  After we’re done cleaning up we all take showers and get ready for the day. Zoie and Taylor remembered to bring bags with extra changes of clothes in them. I on the other hand completely forgot to, so I just dig around Ella’s room until I find a pair of soffe shorts I’d forgot here and a t-shirt she never wears with a picture of a unicorn on the front. I laugh to myself at the memory of her grandma giving it to her for her fourteenth birthday; it’s honestly the ugliest shirt I’ve ever seen.

  “Ready?” I ask Zoie and Taylor after I hug Ella goodbye. “I’ll drive you guys home.”

  They both nod their heads and then hug Ella goodbye before we walk across the street to my house. Out of habit, I spin my key ring around my finger while we walk up my drive way. The summer heat is already in full swing this morning and I take a moment to pull my hair up into a messy bun.

  “I still can’t believe your parents got you a brand new silver Grand Cherokee Lerado Jeep for graduation.” Zoie says after I unlock the doors and we get in. “This car is so awesome.”

  I laugh and tell her thanks.

  The drive to their house seems to go by a lot faster than normal and before I know it, I’m home again. As I pull up my driveway, I scrunch my face up in confusion when I see a black Range Rover parked in my spot. Who’s car is that? I park on the other side of it and let out a deep breath before I turn off my car and get out. I slowly walk up to the front door, stopping dead in my tracks when I see a familiar curly haired boy sitting on the steps.

  “Li-Liam?” I stutter, causing him to lift his head up.

  “Little Miss Daisy.” Liam sighs as he stands up and shoves his phone into the right side front pocket of his black jeans. I take in that he’s also wearing a white t-shirt with a picture of Jimi Hendrix on the front and a pair of black Canvas Madero Vans shoes. “I tried knocking on the door, but no one answered.”

  “What are you doing here?” I question, instantly growing annoyed when his lips slide into what I’ve officially decided is his signature smirk. “How do you even know where I live?”

  “I have my ways.” He confirms while I roll my eyes and shove past him.

  “Go away, Liam.” I sternly tell him after I unlock my front door and step inside.

  “Now is that any way to treat a guest?” He questions while following me inside and closing the door behind him.

  “You’re only a guest if you’re invited in, which I believe I didn’t do. Now leave.”

  Spinning on my heal I walk into the kitchen and toss my keys onto the counter. Letting out an annoyed sigh, I grab a bottle of water out of the fridge and take a long drink from it before putting it back. I jump a little when I turn around and find Liam perched up on the counter where I tossed my keys.

  “Didn’t I ask you to leave?” I question, making sure the full-blown annoyance I feel is clear in my voice.

  “You’re terribly cute when you get mad.” Liam coos and I fix him with a harsh glare.

  My breath catches in my throat as the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen spreads across his face, a deep dimple forming in his left cheek and a less prominent one forming in his right cheek. Why does he have to be so good looking?

  “Why are you here Liam?” I ask him once I’ve quickly regained my composure.

  “I want to take you out for lunch.” He states matter-of-factly.

  I quickly glance at the time on the oven. It reads 12:45.

  “I already ate.” I lie.

  Well technically it isn’t a lie. I did eat; it was just nearly three hours ago.

  “Okay.” He replies skeptically, narrowing his eyes on me. “Then I’ll take you to dinner.”

  “I would rather you didn’t.” I tell him as my hands ball into fists at my sides; my nails digging into my palms.

  “Why not?” Liam questions, his lips dropping into a confused frown as he hops off the counter to lean against it instead.

  “I really don’t like you.” I respond without thinking.

  Liam stands up straight at my words and takes a step towards me. I try to move away from him, but instead I back into the fridge.

  “I like you though.” Liam states, his lips forming into a small, crooked smile as he takes another step closer to me.

  Our bodies are nearly touching now and I can feel Liam’s breath on my neck when he pushes my hair aside to examine his handy-work from last night. I slightly wince when his fingers graze over the sore spot. Even though I’m trying to put on a brave face, I’m without a doubt extremely frightened of Liam. Right now, I want to run away screaming and cry all at the same time. I squeeze my eyes shut as Liam bends his head down lower to me. I hold my breath, afraid to move a single inch, when I feel his tongue gently glide across the spot where he had been so rough last night. Then, to my surprise, he starts to place small, sweet kisses down the exposed skin on my neck. My eyes snap open when he pulls away.

  “I’ll take you to dinner tomorrow night. Be ready by 7:00.” Liam tells me before placing a quick kiss to my forehead and then walking out of the kitchen.

  I let out a shaky breath I didn’t realize I was holding once I hear the front door close.

  Chapter Three

  “Ella, I don’t want to do this.” I whine after I flop down on my bed, my wet hair dampening my
pillow.

  “I know you don’t.” Ella sighs as she walks out of my closet with a few different outfit ideas in her hands. “But maybe if you just humor him a little bit and go on this one date, he’ll realize what a boring person you are and never want to go out with you again.”

  “Oh, thanks, Ella. That really makes me feel better.” I scoff, throwing a pillow at her. “Honestly, I don’t even think that would work. I literally told him, to his face may I add, that I don’t want to go out with him because I don’t like him and yet he still wants to go out with me.”

  Ella shakes her head in disbelief.

  “What am I going to do, Ella? He really freaks me out.”

  “Well you’re going to a restaurant, right?” She questions and I nod my head. “Then you should be fine – there’ll be a load of people there. You never know, Daze, this date could be really nice.”

  “Whose side are you on?”

  “I’m always on your side, Daze, you know that.” She sighs, taking her eyes away from my clothes and focusing on me. “So, I guess, worst case scenario, if anything bad happens, you scream for help and run like the wind, Bullseye.”

  “Oh, you’re such a comedian.” I grumble.

  “Don’t forget your phone though. That way you can call me to come get you.” She adds.

  I roll me eyes and throw another pillow at her.

  “Would you stop goofing around? He’s going to be here in less than two hours.”

  “Whatever.” I mumble, rolling my eyes again.

  After a lot more whining and three outfit changes, I’m finally stand in front of my mirror inspecting my appearance. I’m wearing a collared sleeveless black shirt with a pleated bib and white polka dots on the back, black leggings with white crosses patterned all over them, and a pair of black Jeffrey Campbell tie wedges with studs embellished on the back heel. My hair is tied up in a messy ponytail and my makeup consists of a dark smoky eye.