Chapter Nine
Ronnie got lost in Rick’s book. From the first time Janet saw things in the shadows of her bedroom, Ronnie noticed an eerie similarity to her own life. Even Janet meeting Kid, the Starfighter who finally convinces her to join him in the fight to save the galaxy, felt reminiscent of meeting Gavin that morning. She didn’t put down the book until she finished it. She had always been a fast reader and it wasn’t a particularly long book. She felt like she just read a story about her life. Looking up at Rick, she blushed when she found him watching her instead of reading the book that lay open on his lap.
“Not a good book?” she asked nodding towards it.
“You’re much more interesting,” he replied and Ronnie looked away. “What did you think of it?”
“It was very… interesting. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of what my day was like today, except for all the Starfighter stuff. It’s like you followed me around all day, wrote down everything that happened and then published it.”
He chuckled. “I assure you, you would have known if I followed you around. The annoying boy wouldn’t have bothered you. I wish you would tell me who he is. Even if I don’t know him, I can find out who he is and make sure he leaves you alone.”
Ronnie shook her head, feeling slightly guilty for bringing it up in the first place. Even Kid, as annoying as he was to Janet, had turned out to be a good guy. “No, it’s okay. I appreciate the offer, but I think I can handle him.” She smiled to show she would be okay and then jumped when her purse vibrated next to her leg. She vaguely wondered what time it was as she fished her phone out of her purse and answered.
“Are you coming home tonight?” her mom demanded. Ronnie cringed, her mom’s tone cutting through her good mood.
“Mom, hi; what time is it?”
“It’s almost six. I was going to put dinner on the table but there’s no one here to eat it. Where are you? Andrea said she hasn’t seen you since you left school.”
“I’m sorry, Mom; I needed to get away so I came to The Reading Corner. I guess I lost track of time.”
“Well, put down whatever book you’re reading and get home. You know, Brian would have called if he wasn’t coming home straight from school. I can’t believe you didn’t call.”
“Yeah, Mom, I know; I said I’m sorry. I’ll be home soon.”
Ronnie ended the call before her mom could yell at her some more, anger simmering in her veins at yet again being compared to her too-perfect brother. Just once she wished her parents would let her make mistakes without telling her she needed to be like Brian. Her name was Veronica, not Brian; apparently her mom forgot that. She grimaced as she dropped her phone back into her purse and shoved her book back into her bag. She glanced up at Rick and wasn’t surprised to see him still watching her, concern etched on his handsome face.
“Everything okay?” he asked. She shook her head and stood up. He stood with her.
“I need to go home,” she told him as she slung her bag and purse over her shoulder.
“Can I walk you?” he offered. Her spirits soared before they plummeted. She wanted him to walk her home, but she knew her mom would freak out if she came home with some unknown guy. Even meeting him at the bookstore didn’t mean he was harmless, at least according to her mom. She sadly shook her head.
“No, I’m sorry, but I have to go alone. My mom’s already upset that I didn’t call when I came here and she will completely freak out if I show up with some guy she doesn’t know.”
“Why, do I look dangerous?” His teal eyes twinkled with amusement, making her smile.
“It would almost be easier if you did,” Ronnie admitted.
He chuckled. “Okay, then, can I at least walk you out of the store?”
“I guess that would be okay.”
She smiled as Rick placed a hand on the small of her back and walked her up to the front of the store. The distance seemed too short and she wished she could let him walk her home. She sighed and turned towards him to say goodbye. Her breath caught in her throat as he reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Her ear tingled where his fingers brushed it.
“We must keep meeting like this,” he insisted with a grin. Ronnie giggled and nodded.
“That would be nice. I don’t think I can come every day, though.”
“Whatever day you can, I will be here. Now go, before your mother comes here and skins me alive for spending time with her beautiful daughter.”
Ronnie laughed at the thought and turned towards the door. “See you later,” she said over her shoulder.
“Until next time,” Rick agreed and Ronnie walked out into the night.
Purple and pink hues already painted the sky when she walked outside and she wondered what was going on. It looked like eight o’clock when it was barely six. She shivered as a breeze blew, lifting her hair and making it dance around her head. Adjusting the straps of her bag and purse on her shoulder, she crossed her arms and started down the street. She only had to walk five blocks to get home. It was going to be a long walk.
The first block was well lit and easy to navigate. Ronnie walked past the brightly lit shops without a problem. The second block was more residential, meaning there were more shadows. At first, she thought the sounds around her were just her imagination.
“Save the princess,” someone whispered on the wind. Ronnie spun around, the back of her neck tingling like someone was watching her. She tried to look deeper into the shadows between the houses but couldn’t see anything.
Or could she?
She squinted and thought she saw something shimmering next to the house across the street. A low hiss reached her ears. She turned around again, her heart pounding as she remembered her dream from the other night. Were those things out here now? Were they going to protect her or hurt her? She didn’t know. Her eyes darted to the shadows across the street again and this time she was sure something slithered through the darkness towards her. White eyes glowed in the dark and she yelped as she backed away and started running down the street. The hiss turned into some kind of growl and a scream lodged in her throat as her heels click-clacked on the pavement. Blood pounded in her ears as she tried to look over her shoulder, but she couldn’t see anything. She turned halfway around and the shadows were suddenly in front of her face. She screamed as she skidded to a halt, blinded by a sudden bright light just before she slammed into a hard body. She fell to the ground, her limbs tangled with the person she ran into, and she struggled to get away.
“Hold still before you kill someone with those heels,” Gavin grumbled as strong arms embraced her. Ronnie immediately stopped fighting, lying on the ground and breathing hard as she tried to get her bearings. She had run into Gavin. What was he doing out here? Was he following her?
“Were you following me?” she spat at him, some of her adrenaline swapped for anger now that her heart rate slowed towards normal. He gave her a wry look she could barely see in the increasing darkness.
“Yes, I was following you; I have nothing better to do than stalk you,” he replied. She glared at him as she struggled to sit up.
“Were you making the noises, too? Did you think it was funny to scare the crap out of me?”
He sat up and became more alert, all pretense of fun gone. “What noises?”
“The slithering and the whispers.”
His eyes darted around in the darkness, making Ronnie think he believed her, but then he looked at her again, his signature smirk in place. “No, that wasn’t me. I don’t slither and if I was going to talk to you, I wouldn’t whisper. Are you sure you heard all that?”
“So you didn’t say anything about saving the princess?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Do you really think I would? Just because it looks like I saved your ass doesn’t mean I meant to do it.”
“What the hell does that mean?” She shook her head and slowly got to her feet. Her knees shook and she wobbled in her heels. In an instant, Gavin was on his feet with his h
and at her elbow to help steady her.
“You’re the only one I know who calls me Princess,” she added weakly. A wry smile replaced his smirk.
“That’s because you act like one,” he replied. She frowned at him. She didn’t have the energy for anything else. Now that she was calming down, embarrassment crept over her as she realized how she was acting. He must think I’m crazy. She grimaced and shuffled her feet, which he must have taken for unsteadiness because he slipped his arm around her waist, holding her close as he kept her on her feet. Ronnie should have been mortified but found she could only feel grateful when she attempted one wobbly step and he caught her.
“Thanks,” she whispered, her cheeks burning. She couldn’t believe this was happening. So much for being a strong female; the first sign of shadowy figures and she ran away screaming and needed to be rescued. She hung her head and blinked away tears. The last thing she wanted to do was cry in front of him. She would probably never hear the end of it.
“I’ll walk you home,” Gavin offered, ignoring Ronnie’s tears. She nodded but kept her head down. Gavin leaned down and scooped up her bag and purse. Her book had fallen out and he frowned as he read the cover. His eyebrows rose and a frown creased his brow as he looked up at her, holding up the book.
“Where did you get this?” he asked.
“The Reading Corner,” she told him. “Why?”
“Have you read it?”
“Yes.” Why was he acting weird about a book? Just because her life mirrored that of the main character didn’t mean any of it was real.
“And?” he continued. Ronnie frowned at him.
“And what? It was a good book.”
“You read this book and then run down a darkened street and think something is after you. Now really, where did you get this book?”
“I bought it. What’s the big deal? It’s just a story.”
“You don’t think any of it is real?”
“Of course not.”
Ronnie was puzzled as relief washed over Gavin’s face. Had he read the book and thought the things inside it were real? She hoped not; that would make him crazier than her. Shaking her head, she snatched the book out of his hand. Her strength returned now that he basically called her crazy and she stepped out of his semi-embrace. She grabbed her bag and purse out of his other hand, slung them over her shoulder and started down the street in the direction of home. Her mom was already mad that she hadn’t come home after school and this little incident had made her even later. Her mom was going to kill her now.
“What are you doing?” she asked when Gavin fell into step next to her.
“Walking you home. I wouldn’t want any other shadows or disembodied voices to freak you out.”
Ronnie rolled her eyes and kept walking. “What were you doing out here anyway? It can’t just be coincidence that you found me like that. And what was that bright light?”
“A flashlight; I didn’t mean to shine it in your eyes. I’m staying a couple blocks over and I was out for a walk when I heard you scream so I came running.” He shrugged like it was no big deal, his hands shoved into his pockets.
“Do you always rescue damsels in distress?”
“Only when it’s you; any other damsels have to find their own Prince Charming.”
Ronnie laughed out loud. This was the nicest he had been to her since they met that morning. A genuine smile stretched across his face and for a moment Ronnie saw how cute he really could be. If only he would drop the sarcasm, he would be one hell of a catch. She might even want to date him. Ronnie shook her head to shoo away that last thought. What was she thinking? Gavin annoyed her to no end. Just because he did one nice thing for her didn’t mean he wouldn’t be irritating tomorrow. Besides, she had a date with Shawn. Shawn was perfect compared to Gavin.
“What; you don’t find me charming?” he asked, pretending to pout. The expression was adorable with his dark good looks. She smiled at him.
“Right now you are, but you were a jerk for most of the day,” she replied. “The jury’s still out on what I really think of you.”
“Good, that means I have time to change your mind about me. I’m really not as bad as you think I am.”
Ronnie gave him a disbelieving look. “Yeah right,” she said doubtfully. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”
“Hey now, I didn’t have to rescue you tonight.”
“You said yourself you did. You heard me scream and you came running.”
“It could’ve been anyone screaming. I heard someone in trouble and came to help.”
Ronnie fought to keep the smile off her face as she shook her head. “I know what really happened tonight and if you keep it up, I might actually like you.”
“Who’s to say you don’t already?” His eyes twinkled as a mischievous grin spread across his face. Her mouth fell open. He couldn’t be serious!
“You—You annoy the hell out of me!” she sputtered. “You do one nice thing for me and now you think I have to worship the ground you walk on. You’re impossible!” She threw her hands up in exasperation and was grateful to see her house at the end of the block.
“Well, you don’t really have to worship me, but I won’t argue if you think you should.”
“See; impossible!”
He chuckled as she shoved him away. She huffed and crossed her arms, intent on ignoring him the last two hundred feet to her house. He didn’t stop laughing, though now he must be laughing because she was pouting. She glared at him.
“You’re just so adorable when you’re mad,” he teased. She took a swing at him. He caught her fist before it connected with his shoulder and swatted it away. She stared at him in awe; she had never seen anyone move so fast.
“Who are you?” she whispered. Her arm dropped back to her side.
“You already know; I’m the annoying new guy.”
“Yeah, the annoying new guy who appears out of thin air and moves with lightning fast reflexes.”
He shrugged but didn’t say anything. Ronnie frowned at him and opened her mouth to say something more when her mom called out to her.
“Veronica Sue Lambert, get your ass in this house now!” her mom yelled from the open front door. Ronnie’s cheeks reddened as she turned away from Gavin.
“Guess that’s my cue to go,” she told him and suddenly felt nervous as she looked back at him. “Thanks.”
He smiled and her heart flip-flopped in her chest. “Any time, Princess.”
Ronnie turned and walked away before she said or did anything she would regret, like try to kiss him. The way he looked at her just now, how sincere and inviting he had been, it did funny things to her head. She needed to get away from him. She liked Shawn. She had liked Shawn for two years. Shawn was perfect for her. She frowned. Even to her own ears, it sounded like she was trying to convince herself it was true. She just couldn’t like Gavin; she would kill him for being so annoying before anything could happen. She stepped around her mom, cowering before the woman’s glare as she entered the house.
“Is he the reason you didn’t come home today?” her mom snapped as her dad came into the kitchen.
“No, Mom, he just walked me home. I told you why I didn’t come home.” Ronnie sighed, all the fight gone out of her due to her confusion over Gavin. She knew it was no use worrying about it. Gavin would annoy her again tomorrow and everything would go back to normal.
“Who walked you home?” her dad spoke up, instantly on alert because of the pronoun he. Ronnie rolled her eyes.
“Some guy from school. Don’t worry, Daddy, I’m sure he won’t be around much. He just walked me home; I don’t even like him,” Ronnie assured her dad and sat down at the table. Her parents exchanged a look that told Ronnie they didn’t believe her and sat down with her.