Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 5

I was stuck; frozen in place. I watched the man in the bank window watching me. A slow smile spread across his lips and I wanted to disappear. The way his eyes burned into mine, like a snake about to catch its prey. He lifted an arm and waved in my direction. To anyone, it could be a warm greeting from a neighbor, or relative, to me, it was a warning. I forced my lungs to breathe. Take in air, any air. People passed me on the sidewalk, staring, but not saying a word.

My body caught up with my brain and I turned away from the man. My racing heart thumped in and out of my chest. Move. I have to move! I started jogging, trying to get to Cara’s house faster. Just two blocks away; I’m two blocks away. A car's engine roars behind me. Was it him? Was he following me?

When I made it to Cara's Road, I went into full on sprinting. I almost dropped the books I was carrying, but somehow managed to tuck them under my arm. Once I reached Cara's house, rather than running up to and banging on the door, I ran straight to the back yard. I slammed the wooden door behind me and threw my back against it. The acceleration of a car zoomed past the house.

My breathing was heavy and quick from both running and what I had just encountered. It was him! Seeing both him and Katrina in one day? How is this possible? Have I seen them before? My mind raced as I tried to think of moments I could have seen them before. Sierra Hills is a small town, but it’s not like they’re people that are super familiar to me. At least they weren’t before last night. It took me a moment to gather my composure. When I felt calm enough, and enough time had passed, I walked back out through the wooden door, and around the house, to the front door.

I knocked on the door and a second later Cara pulled open the door.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked, pulling me inside and to the couch.

"Yeah. I just...never mind. Not important. Um. The routine. You told me to stop by so you can show me what happened at practice," I said forcing a smile. Like forcing a smile would force the dream that now constantly played in my mind. Katrina’s scream rang in my ears. Cara eyed me for a moment, but I didn’t say anything. I wanted to tell her, explain why my heart is still racing, but even I would say it has to be some coincidence. Why am I getting myself so worked up about it?

"Yeah, okay,” Cara says after a moment. “Let's go to the backyard."

She was quiet as we walked. She must know something is off, but how could I even attempt to explain it to her without sounding like I’m being dramatic or delusional? When we got to the middle of the yard, she showed me the routine. We practiced what we could without the rest of the squad. I also got to do some flips as she incorporated some into the routine. The trickiest would be ending it with a triple backhand spring back tuck.

"Think you can give me a ride home?" I asked, stretching out on the grass. I took a drink from my water bottle and sweat ran down my neck and chest. I was definitely going to need a shower when I got home. Cara took big gulps from her water bottle, equally as sweaty. The sun was setting, so by the time I walked home it would be dark.

“Yeah, sure,” she said, dabbing her forehead with the bottom of her shirt. We went inside and I tucked my books into the book bag I carried. Cara grabbed her car keys and called to her mom she was driving me home.

I walked out and stood on the porch. She had a lot of scenery around her house. It was not like the neighborhoods you saw on TV. In my neighborhood, every house sat on one acre of land, but here in Sierra Hills, almost every house was on three acres of land. My mom liked the neighborhood we lived in. Mainly because it was the first and only house her and daddy bought.

"Ready?" Cara asked, walking out the door, closing it behind her.

"Bye Anna!" Cara's mom called from the kitchen window that was facing the whole front yard.

"Goodbye Mrs. Hamilton!" I called, waving back at the house. I climbed in the passenger seat of the red Mazda Six when Cara unlocked the doors. She started the car then drove me home with Christina singing about how she’s a fighter.

"See you tomorrow! No more detention! Let me know if you need a ride," Cara called as I climbed out of the car.

"Alright! See you later!"

I walked in the house and started taking my shoes off when my mother walked into the living room. "Where have you been?" My mother asked with her hands on her hips.

Uh oh. She doesn’t look happy. Her blue eyes danced as she watched me. She still wore her work suit and had her hair pinned in an up-do. I wondered how long she'd been home. I slowly got up from the bench as she continued to watch me.

"Hey mom. I've been at Cara's. She had a few cheer routines she had to show me," I said, walking towards the stairs.

"The vice principal called me today. You got detention, earning you a third demerit in school today? Why didn't I know about the first and second?" she asked, bringing her voice down. That was scarier than her yelling at me. I officially hate Mrs. Lawrence. I stopped walking just before I hit the stairs and turned towards her.

"Yes. I had detention today because I was tardy. Noah didn’t give me a ride to school.”

"And the first and second? I'm still waiting for those excuses," she said, walking towards me. I stood quietly, looking at my feet. There were no excuses to give her. "Arguing with a teacher? Making out with a boy when you're supposed to be in class?" She slowly shook her head before continuing, "I thought you knew better than that, but I was wrong. So, as punishment, you're grounded."

"But mom!"

"No 'but mom' anything. You know better than that, Annabel! For two weeks I want you to take the bus to school and get the bus straight home, and I don't want your friends coming over. Do you understand me?"

Without a word, and like a beaten dog, I started walking up the stairs.

"I said, 'do you understand me'?!" She shouted once I got to half of the staircase.

"Yes, mom, I understand."

Once I got to my room, I threw myself on the bed. This is so unfair! I got to school late because of Noah! I got detention and a demerit because I got to school late because of Noah! Now I got grounded? I hate you Noah! I got up from the bed and grabbed some clothes to take a quick shower. I was so angry, maybe the shower will help me to calm down too. Very unlikely.

After the shower, I walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Noah was sitting at the small square kitchen table eating a bowl of fruit loops. As soon as he saw me, he gave a milky, toothy, smile. I rolled my eyes and went to the microwave. "Somebody's in trouble," he sang, taunting me. I ignored him and focused on warming up the plate of food my mom saved for me. Fried chicken, potatoes and corn. After a minute of him laughing and trying to get my attention, he spat out, "What's up your butt?"

"Just leave me alone, Noah. I don't want to talk to you," I said, grabbing a soda out of the fridge.

"Somebody's grouchy. Gee. I wonder why? Could it be because she doesn't get to see her boy toy or superficial friend?"

"Shut up Noah! It's you! It's because of you that I'm angry. Because you left me behind, for DITCHING, I got in trouble and now I'm grounded. Thank you for that!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. My throat burned and tears sprang to my eyes. His smile faded as his head jerked back like I had punched him. All comical relief was gone. He stared at me without saying anything. The microwave beeped and I pulled the plate out before walking back upstairs.

Once I was in my room, I fumed as I ate. When I finished, I took my plate downstairs, put it in the sink and threw my soda can in the recycle bin. The house was dark because everyone was in their room. Mom was probably asleep already. When I got back in my room, I turned on the radio, plugged my mp3 player in and Creed came through the speakers. I laid back with my eyes closed, resting my head against my headboard, and enjoyed the music. I cried, releasing all the tension of the day. This has probably been one of the worst days of my life. Even if it was just a nightmare, I never want to see that guy ever again. Just the thought made my skin crawl.

The sun was warm on my back. I walked down a sidewalk along a chain-linked fence. I recognized the playground. The entrance to Sierra Hills Elementary School stood just a few feet away. Crowds of children played in the playground. Some yelled as they ran. Groups of girls either played on swing sets or sat on the grass picking flowers. I stopped as my stomach dropped. I saw him before he saw me.

He stared at the children, holding on to the fence. All his attention is on one area. I wanted to run, scream, get help, but I couldn’t. I waited, frozen as I was unable to move. I followed his gaze and found her. Katrina sat surrounded by three little girls. She laughed as they put a floral crown on her head.

As my eyes found her, I twirled my keys around my finger. A heavyset teacher glanced my way as I stared at the children out in the school yard. Quickly, I took off my thin framed glasses and cleaned them on my tie. I know they're clean. I just needed a distraction came a voice to my mind. A voice that didn’t belong to me, but a man’s deeper, raspier voice flowed through my mind. I wore a navy suit with a white button-up shirt. My heart beat fast, but not because I was afraid. I could almost jump for joy. Butterflies flew around in my stomach as I brought my eyes back to Katrina. Oh no! I'm the man! The bad man!