Save Me

Four

“So is this okay for you, Falen?” Angel, Robbie’s wife, asked me.

I nodded, “More than okay. But it would be much better if,”

“If?” Robbie asked confused.

I bit my lip, “You allow me to pay rent. Wait, before you say no, think about it. I’m twenty-eight years old, I can find a job, I can afford to pay for this. And you guys, well, you might need the money.”

“Because we’re old?” Angel said and then laughed loudly with Robbie, “Fine, fine. If that’s what you want.”

I grinned, “Thank you.”

“Alright, can we eat now?” Robbie said patting his stomach, “I’m hungry.”

Angel laughed and linked their arms, “You’re always hungry, dear.”

Robbie just chuckled and I followed them to their house, which was just beside mine so that was cool. At least I was close friends with my neighbor already. Upon entering their household, a bunch of Labrador retriever puppies greeted us and I grinned.

I’ve always loved dogs but Dad never liked them. And when I went to live with Mom, it was hard to actually feed one and care for one because I was busy and Mom was too. So I never had one. I crouched down and the puppies immediately attacked me. They must know I’m a dog-lover. But there was one who hid behind his mother.

I crawled over to him, “Hey boy.”

He moved closer to me and I patted him, seconds later, he became as playful as the others, “He likes you.”

“He’s never a people person,” Angel commented, “You want to keep him?”

My eyes widened, “What?”

Robbie shrugged, “We’re actually selling them. But since you are part of the family starting now, he’s yours.”

“I can pay for him.”

“With what?” Angel asked, “You still haven’t got a job. Which reminds me, the Rivers need a hand at their farm since Edwin found a new job now, he can’t really help much. And Scott is also looking for a mechanic at the car shop during weekends.”

“Really?” I asked.

“But that’s only if you’re up for the job and you know how to fix cars.”

I thought for a moment. Well, I am a fast learner so pertaining to the barn, I know I could get it after a week. And fixing cars? I’m good at that; I did fix my first car when I was sixteen, “Yes.”

We were having lunch and Angel and Robbie were interviewing me about my life. I only told them my life at Australia because my life in Boston wasn’t exactly a story worth telling, “And your parents are?”

“Clarice and Joseph Rose,” I said. There was no way I could tell them that John Andrews was my father because first, I’m sure I’ll be back to Boston first thing tomorrow and second, I wasn’t exactly proud that he was my father.

“Siblings?” Angel asked, “Or an only child?”

I took a bite of my lasagna, thinking of just telling the truth with just the information of my siblings, “Five. I’m the second eldest.”

They nodded and we finished our lunch. I retreated back to my new home, with the puppy that I named Meekah in tow. I headed to my new room, Angel had been so kind to change the bed sheets and curtains. I placed Meekah down and he trotted off to explore the house. I took off my jacket and jeans, leaving me in just my boxers and plain white shirt. I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes briefly but then the images of Louise and the rest of my family flooded my mind. So I decided to go watch some TV. The first channel was the news and it instantly took my attention because of the headline.

Breaking news: Heir to the Andrews company, Seth Andrews, missing.

There were pictures of me. And then what bothered me most was my family being interviewed. Yes, my family. John, Clarice, Louise and Collin were all at some headquarters. Momma was trying her best to remain calm, for my two younger siblings. Dad was all red in the face, shouting at a policeman. Collin was looking out in a distant, looking so lost but the worry was evident in his face. And Louise, my little sister, looked so helpless.

“I just woke up and he was gone. He left me a letter but he didn’t say where he was going,” Louise said, her eyes welling up with tears and her voice cracking, “Seth, if you’re watching, wherever you are please come back.”

I turned the TV off. Seeing my little sister with tears in her eyes set me on edge. I didn’t really want to hurt them but with what I did, going away with no goodbyes or explanation, for sure they’ll get hurt. But what am I supposed to do? Marry a girl I barely know who had this sick crush on me.

I changed back to my jeans and put on my shoes. I wanted to get out and have some fresh air. I stopped by Robbie and Angel first, to tell them that I wanted to stroll around town for awhile. They said I should see the beach and watch the boats because they were beautiful. I just nodded and decided to visit an ATM machine first, to get some cash.

I withdrew $2,000 dollars from my account. I just needed to buy some groceries and clothes at the mall. After that, I headed back home and changed my jeans into some board shorts that I purchased before heading to the beach that Robbie had suggested.

Once arriving at the beach, I decided to sit down on the dune near the seaport. Well, they were right. The boats were an amazing sight, varying from sizes to colors. A lot of people passed me by and they stopped to stare at me or slowed their walk sometimes. I feared that they knew who I was but, then I could overhear them asking each other who I was. I guess this is a small town, where everybody already knew each other.

“Hey!”

I turned my attention to who called me and spotted a guy wearing a plain white shirt. His hair was short and he was holding a little boy. They both walked towards me and sat down beside me, “You’re new here.”

I nodded, “I am. I just moved here today. I’m Falen Rose.”

He smiled, “I’m Patrick Rivers and this is my son, Landon.”

I furrowed my eyebrows, “Patrick Rivers? Do you by any chance know Robbie Jacoby?”

He laughed, “Of course I do. Besides the fact that this is a small place, and that he’s my father’s close friend, he’s also my godfather and my wife’s uncle.”

I grinned, “Oh you’re the Patrick Rivers that my father talked to me about!”

“Oh dear Robbie, always talking about me. I must be that awesome,” he said, ruffling his son’s black hair.

I chuckled, “Don’t worry, you just came in topic because I told him I moved here because of a girl.”

He looked at me, his gaze turning serious, “Got your heart broken?”

I shrugged, “I guess so.”

He patted my back, “You’ll get over it. I did. And you’ll find someone better. And you’ll have one of these.”

He pointed at his son and I laughed, “Nah. I’m not ready for kids yet.”

“I wasn’t when my wife told me she was pregnant too,” he said nonchalantly, “But then again, once you see them, you’re whole world just changes.”

I smiled, “How old are you?”

He raised his hands and his fingers showed me six, “Six.”

I ruffled his black hair, “And what’s your name?”

“Landon Rivers,” he answered, smiling at me cheekily. His father wiggled his eyebrows and smiled at me.

“He’s got your charms, dude,” I said laughing.

Patrick and I got engaged into a conversation and surprisingly, we never ran out of topics. It felt like talking to my best friend, Don. We didn’t keep track of time and were surprised when the sun began to set and Landon was telling his father that he wanted to go home and play with his sister, Paige, and his cousin.

“It’s nice meeting you, Falen,” Patrick said as we shook hands.

“Likewise,” I said and then ruffled Landon’s hair again, “And you too, Landon.”

It was already a bit dark as I headed back home. I had good memory so even with the darkness, I could still remember where I am now living. The street to home was so dark because the posts were so dim. And when I was almost near home, there was no light at all.

Before I could even react, I saw the headlights of a speeding car and even as I tried my best to moved out of its way, it already hit me. And I was thrown on the floor, and then everything went black.