A World Unknown

Chapter 9 Stay the night

I didn't sense anything unusual when I got out of my car, so I allowed myself to let my guard down slightly. Unlocking the door and stepping inside, I noticed the answering machine blinking with two new messages. The first one, predictably, was from Grandma, wondering why we never call her anymore. Judging by her slightly slurred words, it seemed like she had indulged in a bit too much red wine. The second message was from work earlier that morning, asking if I could cover a shift. Knowing it was only a few hours ago, I decided to call them back to make sure everything was okay. Perhaps I should have waited a little longer, but being the person I am i agreed, I went ahead and called my parents to let them know I'd been called in, especially since they still had Anna and were expected to return tonight.

I quickly freshened up and put on my work shirt along with my favorite black yoga pants, as usual. My long brown hair cascaded down, held back by a headband to keep it behind my ears. One of the perks of the job was the comfortable uniform and the freedom to style my hair however I liked. I didnt consider my self as the prettiest but i also believed my hair and my smile were my strong suite. I also believed yoga pants made my butt look nice.

As I was walking out the door, that dreadful feeling of being watched crept back in. I tried to shake it off, but the farther I walked from the house, the more intense it became. It was so overwhelming that I struggled to breathe. I kept moving toward my car, but each step felt heavier than the last. My hands trembled uncontrollably as I fumbled to find my keys in my purse. The last thing I wanted was to stop and look down, but every instinct screamed that I needed to get out of there. Goosebumps prickled my skin, and a chilling breeze seemed to brush against my back.

Just as the panic started to take hold of me, I heard the loud roar of a vehicle engine coming down the holler at high speed. The sudden noise made the oppressive feeling lift slightly, allowing me to open the car door, scan the backseat, and sit down. That's when a big black truck rolled into the driveway. It was SJ. He jumped out of the truck, giving me a puzzled look, probably wondering why I looked like I'd just seen a ghost.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, approaching my driver's door.

I began to explain, "I got called into work, and when I came out the door, I had this crazy feeling that someone was here, right here. I started to have a panic attack. It felt like I was going to have a heart attack. I didn't think I was going to make it to my car." Tears welled up in my eyes as I spoke, still unsure of what had come over me.

Sensing the seriousness of my distress, SJ offered to look around for a minute to make sure there wasn't anyone lurking nearby. He checked all the spots facing the front door but didn't find anything suspicious. He then suggested I stay with him again tonight so I wouldn't have to feel scared when getting off work late at night. After some consideration, I agreed, letting him know I had to work at 7 AM again the next morning.

He waited while I grabbed a few things so I could go to work from his house. Realizing I had been gone longer than expected, I hurried to gather my stuff. SJ noticed the worry on my face and rushed over to my car, stopping my door before it shut, looking at me with a cute little pout that reminded me of puppy dog eyes. Before I could apologize for rushing off, he stole a kiss right off my lips.

As he shut my door, he smiled at my surprised expression and told me to have a good day at work, promising to see me tonight. Walking back to his truck, he hollered, "Drive safe! I'd like to see you later!"

With my cheeks burning a shade of red I couldn't imagine and a smile spread across my lips, I cautiously drove out of the holler with SJ following behind. After driving past his turn-off, I heard his horn beep a goodbye. Normally, I would drive like a bat out of hell, but this time, I wanted to savor the thought of him wanting to see me later. Memories of the night before fluttered through my mind, making me yearn for more time in his arms.

He was much taller than I was. At 5'4", I had to literally look up to see him, towering over me at 6'7". His big hands could clasp mine completely, and his fingers went well past mine. While his size might intimidate most, it brought me comfort. Making me feel as if we were a perfect match to each other. I couldn't help but wonder why someone as handsome as he didn't already have a girl in his life.

I pulled myself back to reality as I parked in the store parking lot. Rushing inside, I was ready to apologize for taking so long and explain my delay. To my surprise, my manager was so relieved that I showed up, she didn't press for an explanation. She just thanked me for coming. Despite hiring three new people since I started, we still had someone calling out every day. It was as if they were rotating who would call off each day. The flow of customers was steady, and with all the unfinished chores, the rest of the day seemed to fly by.

When it was time to clock out, I had managed to finish all the undone tasks without needing to call anyone for assistance. Exhausted but knowing I would catch my second wind once I got to SJ's, I skipped to my car, eager to get there. The rest of the drive, I couldn't stop thinking about the previous night's lustful evening, wondering if he would try to take things further.

Pulling into his driveway, I took a few minutes to calm my nerves and gather my things before heading to his door. He opened the door just as I stepped onto the porch, greeting me with his smile and asking if I was hungry. The day's events had been so consuming that I hadn't even thought about eating. Noticing my fatigue, he kindly offered to let me put my things in his room and even shower while he got dinner ready for me. I thanked him for the offer but declined the shower, still feeling a bit awkward. I walked to his room to set my things down, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me as I sat on his bed. Not realizing how relaxing it was, I drifted into darkness.