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I sit on a bench overlooking the families out for a walk as I eat my bagel. The cream cheese is delicious, and I find myself munching on the bread while smiling at the children playing with their boats on the water.
New York always held a certain appeal, the rush of commuters, the flock of tourists, but it was in these moments that I loved it most.
Until he left.
“Hi.” A voice startles me, and I almost drop my coffee when I look up. The face looking back at me is familiar. It’s the guy from school. He’s got the biggest blue eyes as they peer down at me.
“Hi.” My voice comes out croaky as I speak.
“Do you mind if I sit down?” he asks with a smile, lifting the coffee and bagel he’s carrying.
“Sure.” He grins wider before settling down beside me, and I listen to the crinkle of the wrapper of his food. Silence settles around me once more, but every now and then I become aware of the stranger’s presence beside me.
“I’m Keenan,” he tells me. His gaze flicking over me before he sips his coffee. I don’t know why he’s talking to me. Boys rarely paid me any attention, and right now, I’m not in the mood to get hit on.
“Autumn.”
“You come here often?” he asks, then chuckles at the cheesy pick-up line. “Sorry, I get nervous around pretty girls.” As handsome as he is, I can’t find it in my heart to give him the time of day. Tears brim on my lashes, threatening to give away just how broken I am. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
The alarm in his voice makes me sit back and breathe deeply. “It’s not you.” I turn away, not wanting to see his face anymore, to see the pity clearly creased on his expression.
“Whatever it is, I think you should smile. You’re far prettier when you smile.” His voice lowers, and a cold awareness trickles through me. Something feels off. “I’d like to take you out. Perhaps just to a club where you can sing,” he whispers, causing my body to lock with anxiety and shock.
“What?” My head turns to his, my stare locked on his blue eyes. How would he even know about me singing at a club? Granted, we’re in school together, and I’m sure he’s heard me sing there, but I’ve never once talked about my life outside of the school buildings with anyone.
“Think about it. You never know what could happen.” The stranger, Keenan, rises and heads away, but I can’t run after him. I’m frozen to the bench in fear as he makes his way through a busload of tourists, and soon enough, he’s gone.
I don’t know what he meant, but the fear that’s coursing through me has me pushing from the bench as I race through the park. It’s difficult because of all the people who seem to overtake the greenery, but I make it by them.
My feet carry me quickly out onto a sidewalk. There aren’t any people following because I keep turning around to check. My gaze darts left and right, my heart thrumming in my chest, attacking my ribs at an alarming rate.
The traffic is nonstop. There are people in suits going about their day, and holidaymakers snapping photos around me. Nobody seems to notice that I’m close to having a panic attack.
I dart left, making it to the crossing and over to the other side of the road. I don’t know why I’m still nervous, even though Keenan is no longer around, but I have a feeling he wasn’t alone. And that’s what scares me.
If he found me, others could too.
I’m too far from home to run.
Tears brim my lashes, making everything in front of me blurry. I move quickly as I make it to the subway, but the moment I step foot on the stairs going down, I feel it. Heaviness surrounding me. I can’t scream because drowsiness overtakes me, and I know I’ve messed up.
Breathing becomes difficult as arms wrap around my middle. I can’t hear over the noise in my ears. It’s the lunch rush, and nobody is taking notice of me.
I feel as if I’m drunk, lazily grabbing at something, but I can’t focus. The arms tighten, my body goes lax, and then darkness takes over.
Chapter Eleven
JD
My body aches all over. Training has been hard on me. I’ve never worked so hard, so brutally, and I don’t know if I’ll even be able to finish everything I set out to do here.
I would like to be proud of what I’ve achieved, even though I don’t give a shit what my father thinks. It’s been so long since I’ve seen her, but it hasn’t stopped my fear from manifesting with each passing day. A fear that’s taken hold of me and left me sleepless most nights.
