Seventeen
Kallie
It was hard to focus all day—not that I really focus to begin with, but less than normal. Kate gave me so much shit this morning. Going on and on about how my subconscious must remember hanging out with that Stephan guy. And I let her trail off, not wanting to tell her who it had actually been about.
The dream was so vivid. So real I can still feel his phantom touch. Walking to my next class, I’m in a daze when I hear my name being shouted across the courtyard.
“Kallie!” Turning around, I notice a girl from my last class sprinting toward me. “I’m so glad I caught up to you,” she says out of breath. Giving her a moment, I rack my brain, trying to remember her name, but come up blank.
“You good?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah. Just haven’t had to run like that in a bit,” she assures. Uncomfortable, I look for an escape route. “Did you need me for something?”
“Yes! Sorry, you forgot this.” She hands me my notebook I must’ve left on the desk.
“Oh, right. Thanks…” My sentence trails off because I don’t know her name.
“Alex,” she offers.
“Right, yes, Alex. I’m really bad with names.” Not really, I’ve just never talked to her a day in my life.
“No problem. Hey! I was thinking we should grab coffee sometime.” When she asks, I immediately start having a weird sense of déjà vu—an itch deep inside my brain I can’t reach.
“I’m a bit busy.”
“Well, I didn’t mean right now, silly. Just whenever.” She seems nice, and I know I should probably be making friends at some point, but fuck, I don’t want to. I’m happy with just Kate. Kate is a safe space. Comfortable.
“Yeah, I’ll let you know when I’m free,” I tell her, but deep down, I know I probably won’t. “I gotta get to class, but I’ll see you around.” Shoving my notebook into my bag, there’s a serious debate I’m having with myself if I want to go to class.
Let’s be real. When do I ever want to go? But I need to. The last thing I need is to flunk out and add another level of stress and disappointment onto my father.
Finally, after school is over for the day, I go back to the dorm where Kate is nowhere to be seen. A note sits on the island.
Went shopping, also thought you could use some alone time ;)
Be back when I’m back.
Xo, Kate
I’m never going to live this down. My phone vibrates, and a wave of guilt hits me like a freight train.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hi, kiddo, how ya been?” Gods, I’ve missed him. Hearing his voice makes me feel a bit homesick.
“Oh, ya know. Same ol’, same ol’. Nothing too exciting.” I wish there was more to tell, but he also always knows when I’m lying, so unfortunately, I can’t even do that to make him feel better.
“I haven’t heard from you in a while, so I thought I would call and check in.” He means my nightmares, but he would never say it. It’s like a curse word. So if he doesn’t bring it up, neither do I.
“Thanks, Dad. I know, I need to get better at calling. How’s everything going at home?”
“Fine. Just working is all. Not much else to do since you two left. But school is going good? Have you made any new friends?” Kate and I became somewhat co-dependent over the years, never straying from what’s comfortable and whatnot, and I think it worries him.
“I wouldn’t say friends, but some acquaintances. You know me, slow moving.” We go back and forth until I eventually tell him I have to go. “Alright, Dad, I’ll make sure to check in more. Love you.”
“Love you too, kiddo. Be safe.” And the line goes dead. Safe? I mean, I get it, being by myself and all. One can’t be too careful. But it just seemed strange.
With all this newly found free time—Kate so graciously allowed me— I decide a run is exactly what I need. Quickly changing into leggings and a loose cropped tee, I secure my hair in an elastic after lacing up my shoes and head out.
There’s always been something about nature that clears my mind. Whatever bullshit I’m going through seemingly melts away. One run through the magical trees, and all the noise slowly fades. Being surrounded by the ferns, the rich soil, and scurrying creatures lets me believe I’m somewhere else—at least for a little while.
Pretty ironic that all my nightmares tend to stem from the one place that offers me sanctuary.
Up ahead, there’s a break in the trees. I must’ve gone farther than I thought. A lot farther.
One I pass through, I’m met with a clearing. A meadow on a cliff’s edge. The view is breathtaking. Clouds cascade down, the setting sun creating a kaleidoscope of pinks and oranges.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Startled, I scream, jumping so high it could be classified as flying.
“Holy hell.” I don’t have to turn around to know who’s standing behind me. I’d know that voice anywhere.
“Oh, did I frighten you?”
“ Oh, did I frighten you?” I mimic. “No shit.”
“Be careful. That mouth is going to get you into trouble one day.”
“Bold of you to assume it hasn’t already,” I quip. Seeing him, here of all places, has the memories from last night rushing to the forefront, and I take a few healthy steps back.
Just in case.
He laughs, and I take another back for good measure. “You seem a bit jumpy.”
“Just wasn’t expecting anyone else to be out here is all.” Which is true, but I’m all out of whack, and seeing him is making me want to do some very questionable things.
“I should probably get going.”
“So soon?” Callum ponders. He mimics my side-step, and we circle each other until my back is to the trees.
Nervously, I state, “It’s going to get dark soon.”
“That’s the best time to play. Amongst the stars.” He’s like gravity, and being around him makes me want to be thrown into his orbit. At the same time, I want to run like hell and never look back.
Curious, I ask, “Uh, play what exactly?”
He stands there, hand on his chin, thinking. “You hide, and I’ll find you.”
I laugh. “You want to play hide and seek. In the forest. At night?”
“Unless you have another suggestion?”
“Just seems a bit nefarious. What if you can’t find me?” I can’t believe I’m even considering this. This has got to be one of the dumbest things I could do, and yet, I’m intrigued.
“I’ll always find you.” Goosebumps scatter at his words. “Unless you’re scared, of course.”
“I’m not scared.” What’s there to be scared of? Just me, alone in the middle of the woods, at night, with basically a complete stranger who very well could kill me.
Like I said, I’m the dumb bitch in the movies.
Callum takes my momentary pause as an opening and stalks toward me. “Run.” Turning around, I bolt into the darkened forest, and he begins counting down. “Ten…nine…”
And I run like hell.
Despite the mere stupidity of it all, the adrenaline rush is euphoric. A smile breaks out across my face as I weave in and out of the trees. My eyes squint against the fast-fading light, and I hear Callum getting closer.
All at once, something shifts, and all traces of my smile are long forgotten. Panic seeps into my stomach. Flashes of my surroundings mix with ones similar, going back and forth, and I can’t make sense of it.
His feet fall louder, and my heart rate picks up. Darting to my left, I crouch behind a bush as a dense fog settles in. Seconds pass. Then minutes. And I’m fairly certain this was all a trick. Some ploy, a joke I’m sure he’s off telling his friends about right now. Come to think of it, I’ve never actually seen him with anyone.
Peering over the top of the bush, I try to see if he’s close. But nothing comes into focus.
“Hiding won’t save you, Princess.” I let out a shriek as I jump up and lose my balance. Before I fall into the bush, Callum’s hands lash out and grab me, yanking me into his chest.
Irritated, I shove him away. “Stop doing that!”
“But I love to hear you scream.” Okay, I need to get the hell outta dodge.
“Right, cause that’s a perfectly acceptable thing to say in a situation like this.” But I fear my sarcasm falls short.
“When would you prefer me to say it?”
“Never?”
He starts walking away. “I’ll take that under consideration.” That’s it? He’s just going to leave? What was all of this for?
“What were you doing out here anyway?”
Callum doesn’t answer my question, but frankly, he never does.
Turning to face me, he says, “You should be careful out here. Never know what kind of monsters are watching you.”
“Something tells me you’re the worst of them all.”
“Maybe I am.” Then he backs into the night and vanishes in the shadows.