Chapter Four

What? I heard wrong. I must have. Did Tayler just say he's in love with me? I heard my mom on her way back in so I quickly pretended to still be asleep. The last thing I remember before I really did fall back asleep was her kissing my forehead and leaving the living room.

6:30 am, Friday

I brushed my teeth and threw my hair up in a quick ponytail. My second day back at school, five days into the semester. Great.

I looked over the gash on my head from what happened on Monday, it was mostly healed, just a fresh red scar now. After getting dressed I grabbed an apple and got into my car ready to set off. Just as I got out of the driveway my car stopped.

"Just fucking perfect." I muttered to myself before checking my watch. "6:45." Jog to school? I wasn't entirely sure if I had the energy for it but I did anyway. By the time I got to the front doors, I was a sweaty mess but so happy. Happier than I've been in a long time. I used to work out everyday, going for morning jogs and going to the gym in the evenings. I hadn't done any of that for over a month. Since Tay left.

"Damn, Robin. You don't go to school for 3 days and come back a gym hoe again. How you feeling?" Toni, my close friend, appeared from behind me. I hugged her and smiled.

"Great, actually. Weirdly." We giggled.

"That's awesome. We have gym together by the way so don't whoop my ass please."

"You know I will." We smiled and walked into school together. She's always been a great friend. We don't hang out all the time but I know she's always there if I need her.

"Out of curiosity. What other classes do we have together?" After missing three days and only attending two classes on my first day, I was a little rusty on the timetable.

"Everything but science and math. So basically, you're stuck with me." She laughed but I actually thought that was great. I could do with a friend around me as much as possible at the minute.

I smiled as we arrived at our lockers. Hers was only a few ahead of mine so we carried on our random conversation. We said our goodbyes until next period and I set off to math class.

The day went by incredibly fast and I somehow felt happy the whole time. I didn't see Tayler once and that helped, a lot. Especially after what he said Monday night. I'm still not sure if that was a dream but it probably was so I've chosen to ignore it. Tayler and I have always been just friends, nothing else, there's no reason for him to say that so I know it was just a dream. A weird one, at that.

I glanced across the parking lot as I stepped out of the doors and there he was. Looking terrible. He clearly hadn't shaved in days and his hair was a mess. We made eye contact and I felt really nervous all of a sudden. I gulped and put my headphones in my ears, pressing play on my music and setting off on my jog home.

About half way home, I decided to take a detour to the gym just to see if it was busy. After seeing that it wasn't, I checked my bag for my membership card but it wasn't there. It wasn't. I called my mom.

"Hi, sweetie. How was your day?"

"It was good, mom! Is my gym card still in your car? Should be in the glove compartment."

I heard her rustling around for a moment before she answered.

"Yep! I've got it."

"Brilliant. Can you drop it off at the gym on your way home?"

Her office was only five minutes from here and she drove this way home anyway so I didn't feel like it was much trouble.

"Of course, sweetie. Decided to start going again?"

"Yep. I'm ready!" I heard a happy sigh from the other end of the phone and smiled. We said bye and hung up and I stood outside the gym and waited.

A couple minutes later, the manager walked out.

"Robbo! You're back!" He hugged me and I smiled and hugged him back. He's Toni's dad so I've known him pretty much my whole life.

"Yeah, Kev. Couldn't stay away for too long!" We laughed and just as I turned to look the other way, my mom's car came around the corner.

She got to the parking lot next to me and climbed out of the car.

"Hi, Kev. How are you?" She handed me my gym card and a bottle of water and kissed my cheek.

"I'm great thank you, Elaina. You?"

"I'm good. Is Laura in, can I steal some leggings from her?"

Kev's smile left his face and he looked down at the floor for a moment.

"Uh. Laura and I actually got a divorce over the summer. She was cheating."

My mom gasped and pulled Kevin in for a hug. They started talking about normal adult stuff and I left and went into the gym.

I went straight to the treadmills and worked my way around, as usual. A few hours later, I was a mess and ready for bed. I grabbed my water from next to me and went home.

I woke up to a knock at the door. I figured my mom would get it so turned over ready to go back to sleep. The knocking persisted and I heard someone shout my name.

"Tayler!?" I wrapped my dressing gown over me and ran to the door.

"What are you doing he-"

Suddenly, he grabbed me by my waist and pulled me close to him.

"I love you, Robin. So damn much."

There was a loud bang and my ears started to ring. I gasped and looked down to see blood spilling from Tayler's chest. I screamed and heard a horrible voice shout.

"Stay away from my daughter, you."