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Agitation was stronger than my filter causing me to ask a little too harshly, “What did he want?”
“He said that Logan was upset after school about an altercation he had with you and some of your friends,” she stated, closing the door and locking it.
“It was only one friend,” I muttered, putting my head down, ashamed, as the tone of my voice conveyed typical teenage attitude. “And his son started it.”
Oh yeah, that was less typical, Claire.
Should I explain further? I didn’t want to upset Maggie.
After she spoke, I understood there was no need to continue my defense. “He said he could assure you that Logan was not going to bother you again. He just wanted to make sure that your friends would not bother Logan either. I explained to him that they wouldn’t. Simple as that, dear.”
“No, of course not, Aunt Maggie,” I assured her.
She continued smiling like she never doubted I had anything to do with Logan’s poor manners and I loved her even more for it. “Good, then it’s settled. You really should get some sleep, Claire.”
Climbing up the stairs to my room, I was irritated. Logan was obviously not truthful with his Dad. It seemed he was afraid of Brent’s reaction however, and that pleased me. Clutching the bruise on my chest, I was grateful Brent was there to protect me. I would never tell him that, but it felt good to admit, if only to myself.
Climbing back into bed, I forgot about Logan and made another attempt at reading. I ignored the urge to analyze the words and examine Brent’s perception about Lucy’s design. It wasn’t long before I was deep asleep.
My body was heavy, and it felt like the bed was suckin
g me in. I fought against it but I was being weighed down and I awoke startled, choking, and unable to catch my breath. Feeling fingers curled around my neck, I clawed at something, skin, but the attacker didn’t move. Summoning what little strength I had, I twisted and turned trying to free myself. It was hopeless. I attempted to scream but swallowed my voice. Pulling my knees up, I dug my feet into the bed and thrust my body upwards. My effort was worthless as my body remained pinned. Forcing my eyes open, I narrowed them when I saw Logan. He was laughing and his eyes were filled with familiar hate.
“You little freak,” he spat angrily, drops of his saliva landed on my cheek.
Unable to fight him any longer, my body went limp. Crying, I pleaded with him to stop but he only squeezed harder. I fought to get small breaths through my constricted airways, but it wasn’t enough. Starting to sob uncontrollably, I was teetering on unconsciousness and I finally gave up.
“What’s the matter, freak, no one to save you this time?” he snickered, pressing harder and I knew that he was going to kill me.
“Claire, Claire, wake up!” I heard Maggie’s voice shouting through my fear and felt her hands on both sides of my arms. “You were dreaming, dear. Are you all right?”
Groggily, I woke and grabbed her, hugging her tight. I was coughing and gulping in air. “I’m okay. Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Releasing me, she ran a hand down the side of my hair lovingly, the way my parents used to do. She lay with me until I drifted off to sleep again.
When I awoke, Maggie was gone. It was 5:30am and my alarm would not go off for another half hour but I was not able to go back to sleep. Deciding to get out of bed, I went over and curled up in the window seat. It was foggy outside which was how I felt. My mind wandered to Brent. Without success, I tried to pin point what it was about him that kept drawing me in. My feelings were more than a first crush. I was certain about that. Could I really be falling for him after one day?
Falling for him? You’re in love with him.
Remembering my awful nightmare, I curled my fingers around my neck trying to forget how it felt with Logan’s fingers pressing into my Adams apple, spitting hatred at me. Logan didn’t actually attack me but the pain in my neck felt real and I cringed at the thought of seeing him today, having to look in those cold black eyes, so full of hate. How could he hate me so much when we’ve never even met? I felt a twinge of sadness for Logan remembering that Layken said Logan was always angry. He must be very unhappy to get so much pleasure from others’ pain.
Resting against the window, gazing into the woods, I dozed off. When I finally woke, I was late for school. I rushed to the closet, throwing on the first thing I found to wear – jeans and a blue t-shirt. Original, Claire. I quickly ran a comb through my hair and hastily bushed my teeth.
When I went downstairs I called for Maggie. She didn’t answer and I guessed that she was still sleeping. I scoured the kitchen for something to eat, deciding to go with a Pop Tart again, given anything else took time that I didn’t have. I found a note from Maggie on the counter.
Claire,
I had a few things to do this morning and I will be home late. Have a good day.
Love, Mags.
Thankfully, the drive to school was uneventful. No more hallucinations about running over strange men. I arrived to chemistry just before the bell. The haste of my morning was a perfect distraction from my thoughts.
The morning went by quickly and I had yet to see Logan. Sadly, I had yet to see Brent either.
Eating lunch with Layken, she introduced me to some of her friends. Riley was a friendly red-haired girl with a round face and dimples. She was warm and funny, reminding me in a way of Maggie. I liked her immediately.
“So, how do you like it here so far?” Riley asked me, twirling a lock of fiery hair in her fingers.
