My Guardian Angel

Chapter 3

I drove around for an hour and then I started to get hungry. I decided that I was going to the mall to blow off some steam. Ten minutes later I was in the parking lot of Northwest shopping mall.

I couldn’t think about food so I got myself a smoothie at the food court and took a seat at the table near the fountain. I stared at the water flowing over and over again and thought of them as my emotions streaming out of me. I don’t cry often, but if I do it was not pretty. I kept my emotions locked away.

I shut my phone off after I drove away from Aaron. I felt horrible about what happened with Aaron now that I was starting to calm down. My parents must be worried. I didn’t want to think about that now. I need to figure out what I am going to do about my situation. Mom and dad are so overprotective and any sign of illness (whether it is mentally or physically) and they loose it. They act as if I am still a little girl that needs protection all the time. I know that they have almost lost me few times, but I was still here and things had gotten better haven't they?  When I came back to my senses I saw that someone was sitting across from me. Immediately I straightened up and saw that it was the last person I wanted to see. Mister Santana, my History teacher.

‘Hello, I am sorry if I am intruding. I saw you sitting here looking distressed so I decided to come and see if everything was alright.’

My teacher is worried about me? I don’t think that is appropriate, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

‘I’m fine, Mister Santana. I just have a lot on my mind.’

He kept staring into my eyes as if he could tell that I was lying. I looked back into his eyes. I leaned forward to look deeper into his blue eyes when I realized he was a teacher at my school and I broke eye contact.

He started to laugh and I looked at him horrified. ‘Don’t be offended. I just find your reactions towards me very amusing.’ He reached across the table for my hand and I pulled away. I blushed and tried to hide my face. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. It’s just that it feels like I know you.’ He looked up and smiled at me as if he was pleased that I felt the same way though I didn’t say it out loud.

‘It’s funny that you should mention that. Do I know you from somewhere? Have we ever met?’ he looked startled by my question and gave me a sympathetic smile.

Sympathy? Why was he feeling sorry for me? It didn’t make any sense at all.

‘No we have never met Ava. I can assure you.’

Great! I was losing my mind. Maybe my parents and Aaron are right about my behavior. I started to get up when he reached for my hand again.

‘Don’t leave. I am sorry if I am being rude or if I said something you did not approve of.’

I sat back down and let him hold onto my hand. I was beginning to relax and felt all my worries melt away.

‘Do you want to talk about it?’ he asked me with a lot of concern in his voice.

‘Not really. I just needed to get away for a while. Speaking of which, how did you know where to find me?’

‘I didn’t. I was getting some dinner and saw you sitting here on your own.’

‘You are the first teacher that I have seen getting food at the mall.’ I said truly and took my hand out of his before anyone got the wrong idea about us. Not that it would bother me.

‘I am sorry, but I have to get home. My parents are probably getting worried.’

‘You don’t have to say you’re sorry Ava. I am just glad that you are alright. I will see you tomorrow in class.’ He stood up and walked away.

I stared after him, which felt like forever wondering where I knew him from. I got out of my seat and walked back to my car. 

The drive home went by too quickly. Mom was waiting outside the house with her phone in her hand. Before I could open my car door she opened my door and pulled me into her arms.

‘Don’t you ever scare me like that again! I was worried sick.’ My mom yelled at me.

When I pulled away I saw that my mom was crying. I didn’t know if she was angry or relieved to see me.

‘I’m sorry. I just needed time to think.’

‘Next time call or answer your phone sweetie. Your dad has been driving around for hours looking for you! Your brother was so upset when he got home. What is going on with you lately? Do we need to have a checkup at the doctor's office?’

Then I just snapped. All that anger flowed back into me. ‘He was upset? Now he is playing the victim? Great, just great! No, I do not need a checkup, I am perfectly fine!’ I pulled away from her and ran into the house. I ran into my room. I slammed the door shut and went to my bed to lie down trying to calm myself down.

I didn't know how long I laid on my bed before I fell asleep. It felt like seconds. I only know that I woke up in a dream.

All my dreams are alike. The circumstances are just different. One thing stays the same though. They want something from me and if I don’t give it to them, they kill me.