Chapter 9 - Nightmares

After what happened last night, I was convinced my life was far from normal. Kind of eventful I would say.

How many people can boldly say, “Hey, I have an illness that no one knows of, I have my mom locked in a cellar in my basement, and I have random blackouts. Oh and also, I have a strange phone number and I don’t know what to do with it”?

All I can think about is that bloody number. As I sit in the library brainstorming the solution to my problems my mind keeps drifting off to the number.

I have so many questions. Like, whose is it? why my house? At this point, all I can hope for is that it doesn’t become a recurring thing.

I am so lost in thought that I don’t realize Chance approaching.

“I thought I might find you here”, he says as gets closer, “I guess I was right”.

“Oh, Chance. How’s it going?”

“Pretty good Rue. Yourself?”

Wait. Did he just call me Rue? Since when were we on a nickname basis? Did I miss something? Is he here alone?

“I’m fine, just studying”, I say as I smile at him. “Are you here alone?”

“Yeah, it’s just me today”, he chuckles awkwardly, “Avery and Maya are doing god knows what”.

So he’s here alone. Looking for me? What did I do that night?

“Oh, I see.”. That is all I say before the awkward silence begins to set between us.

It looks like Chance wants to say something but he isn’t saying anything.

“Nice weather”, I say because I can’t stand this silence.

“Yeah, it is. We should go get some coffee. If that’s fine with you. Would you like to get some coffee? With me?”

“Chill. Relax big guy. It’s just coffee”, I had to save him from embarrassing himself and me, “and yes I would love to get some coffee...You would be saving me. I need all the distraction I can get.”

“Distraction? I thought you were studying”.

“Trust me, I was hardly studying”, I say as I begin to pack my stuff.

“Ahh”, chance laughs. “I’m ready whenever you are”.

I finish packing up and returning the books I took to the receptionist before we leave. We walk in awkward silence with either one of us occasionally bringing up random topics to talk about.

We eventually make it to a coffee shop called ‘Milly’s coffee’. It was just about five minutes from the library but that walk felt like an eternity. I’m glad we made it here eventually. It will do me a lot of good if I can get a caramel frappe at this moment and that is exactly what I order while Chance gets an ‘Original frozen coffee’.

We sit in the far corner of the shop as we sip from our straws.

“So you came to the library to ask me to get coffee with you”, I ask randomly which catches him off-guard.

“I- I- ”, he sighs in surrender. “Yes, I did. Not for coffee though. I wanted to ask you out.”

“Well I guess we’re out aren’t we?”, I try to be funny.

Chance laughs. “Not like that. Like out...out.”.

“Like on a date?”, I asked my eyes wide in shock. I thought he was joking around.

“Yes, but you don’t need to accept if you don’t want to”, he quickly says when he sees my reaction.

“You sure talk a lot. It’s not like that. It’s just...just no one ever asked me out on a date before”, I explain.

“You’re messing with me right?”, he laughs but after taking another look at my face realization set in. “You are serious. Oh my gosh, I’m sorry for laughing.”

“It’s fine.”

“So no one? Like ever?”

I nod.

“Wow, I find it hard to believe. You’re pretty, very pretty. You’re fun to hang out with. Why wouldn’t anyone want to go out with you?”

“Beats me”, I say sarcastically. “I never had any friends except Avery. I’ve always been a loner, a nerd, a loser. I’m a freak”.

“No, you aren’t. You are you. At least I believe so.”, Chance smiles and he puts his hand over mine on the table.

I look at it and then at him and smile. “Thank you”

He smiles back and we continue to talk about random stuff. This time the conversation seemed to flow effortlessly. Nothing was forced or awkward. At least not until Chance went ahead to ruin the mood.

“So, Avery. What happened between you two”, he asks casually.

“I don’t want to talk about it”, I slowly slide my hand out of his.

Way to go Buddy.

“I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds. I respect that you wouldn’t like to share”, he quickly apologizes.

Believe me Chance is a good guy but he doesn’t how to read the room. I fake a smile and stand up.

“I should be heading home now, it’s getting late. My mom is going to be worried.”

“Oh...okay”, Chance says disappointed but I just want to get out of here.

“See you around”, I say as I take my leave, not waiting for a response.

I don’t hear what he says but I make one word out. “Rue”.

Gosh, I hate that name. Where did he get that idea from?

*************************************

As soon as I get home I head into the basement to check up on my mom.

“Finally! I’m starving.”, she yells as she sees me.

“Good thing I’m here then”.

“Watch your tone with me, young lady. Now when are you going to let me out?”

I smile and look at her, “When I’m done with my formula since you always like to interfere.”

She remains silent and I take it as my cue to leave before she begins to complain again. I head to the kitchen to make her some Mac n Cheese. It’s the fastest food I can make.

I take the food down to my mom as she complains about it. I don’t blame her though, she has been eating that for three days straight. Tough.

I go upstairs ignoring her rant and shut my door behind me. I have a lot on my plate to be worrying about her food, no pun intended.

I open my bedside drawer and take out the note with the number on it. I stare long and hard at it contemplating if I should call or not till I eventually fall asleep.

My thoughts slowly fade into a dream or so I thought.

*******************************

I lay wide-eyed on my bed drenched in sweat as I recover from this nightmare. It felt very real. Like a trance.

I saw myself and Mrs. Walker working in her lab when someone, a man, walked in. I couldn’t see his face but he started to walk towards me.

Mrs. Walker shoved me behind her to protect me as she confronted the man. The next thing I know, there was a slashing sound and a gush of blood splashed unto the cylinders and beakers.

Mrs. Walker fells lifeless on the ground with her eyes wide open. I looked at her and looked up to find that the man was gone.

This dream felt so real that I still have goosebumps. I want to tell Avery because that’s his mom but what if it’s just a silly dream and I make a fool out of myself. Who do I think I am? A psychic? No way in hell can ever happen besides I don’t have his contact.

I would talk to my mom but you know the situation. I want to avoid her as much as possible.

Mrs. Walker.

It would break me if anything ever happened to her. That would destroy Avery. I can’t even begin to imagine.

The fact that we don’t talk anymore doesn’t mean I want to see him hurt or in pain. I still care.

I need to let him know just so he can check up on her. I impulsively take out my phone and text Chance for Avery’s number. It doesn’t take long before I have Avery’s number. Such a darling he is, Chance.

I hesitate for about a minute. This is a huge risk I’m taking but I have to do it.

So I text him.

Me: Hi

It doesn’t take long for Avery to respond.

Avery: Hi, who is this?

This is a terrible idea, I can feel it.

Me: Ruby. We need to talk

I wait for about five minutes but he doesn’t reply. Oh, he read it alright but just ignored me. Jerk! If it wasn’t about his mom I wouldn’t have bothered to text.

Me: It’s about your Mom.

The last message I sent didn’t go through. I get an error message saying,

‘You can no longer send messages to this number’

Bloody hell. He blocked me. To be honest I don’t blame him but to think that he hates me that much even after I texted him first is on a whole new level.

Oh well, I tried. All I can do is hope Mrs. Walker is alright.

“Jerk!!!”, I yell into my pillow.

The fact that he blocked me stung me.