Love Me (The Love Between Us Book 1)

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

“Are you going to be okay Bree?” Julia finally ask, while I check in my luggage.

“I think I really lost him this time Julia.”

“No, no, he said you two just needed a break. I bet you everything I have when you get back ya’ll will work this whole mess out. I bet he even calls you before you get back.” I know she means well and is trying to reassure me, but she wasn’t in the classroom has I practically begged him to love me again. I don’t have time to explain my reasoning why I think it’s over with Chase to her as my flight is announce and I have to part ways with her.

Has I gather my purse and carry on I notice my phone is missing, “Damn it, I left my phone in your truck.”

“Do you want me to go get it for you?”

“There’s no time, will you dropped it off at my house for me?”

“Yeah I can, have a safe trip and try to find away to call me if you can.” she says, we give each other a quick hug and part ways.

As I look out the window on the plane, I think back to the last time I spent wrapped up in his arms after we made love. I say a little prayer hoping it wasn’t my last time with him.

I have been in Williamsport, Tennessee the past three days. I arrived with Kendra to her hometown after the award ceremony. With the daily updates to my family and one call to Julia I haven’t had much contact with anyone else back home. I’m on my last night here and with a late flight home tomorrow I return back to school to face the future outcome of my relationship with Chase.

Kendra has promised me a night I will never forget, she made plans with another one of her friend for them to take me into Nashville for my last night here. With a promise to be safe to Kendra’s parents the three of us load up in her SUV and start the hour drive to Nashville.

“I need to make a stop before we get to Nashville, I invited someone else to come with us.” Kendra tell us and goes on to explain further , “I didn’t want to say anything in front of my parents, seeing has they don’t like her very much.”

“Is it that girl you met at the shelter you volunteered at a while back?” Is asked by Tessa, a friend of Kendra who’s joining us for the night. I’ve met her once before when I came with Kendra when we had a short break from training.

“The same one.”

“No wonder why you didn’t tell your parents. I thought they told you couldn’t hang out with her anymore after the little incident at the store?”

“Well what my parents won’t know, won’t hurt them.”

I’m curious about the incident Tessa mention so I ask Kendra to tell me what happen that her parents forbid her to hangout with this girl she’s about to pick up.

“She shoplifted and since I was with her the lady accused me of it too. But I told the lady I would pay for everything and had to use daddy’s credit card to pay. Let’s just say my parents weren’t happy when they got the bill.”

Twenty minutes later we stopped in front of run down house outside of town. A girl around our age with the same color hair has mine comes around the side of the house.

“Hello” she says, has she takes a seat beside me in back.

“Bree, meet Jaycee, Jaycee meet Bree.” Kendra says, has away to introduce us.

“Hi, I’ve never heard the name “Jaycee” before it’s a pretty name.” I tell her.

She shrugs her shoulder,“Thanks a nurse gave me the name.”

“Your mom let a nurse name you?” I ask curiously.

“Momma was assumed a dope head who dropped me of at a hospital, one of the nurse thought I needed a name before I was put in the system and became a lost baby.” She says, like it doesn’t bother her what she just told me.

“Lost baby?” I ask.

“Lost in the system, pulled and place without any real check-ins, never trying to find me a real home. I just became lost not really knowing who I am, when I turned fifteen I went out on my own. I’m what you call a drifter now, finding shelters or people with the policy “don’t ask, don’t tell” to stay with.”

I’m taken back by her honesty and no care that she had to live this type of life, all I can offer her is, “I’m sorry”.

“It is what it is, I met some kind people out there willing to help me with no questions added. I might not have have much of a life, but I have made some friends along the way and have my very own personal library card that says I get to call myself ,“Jaycee Smith”. But I chose to follow this path when I ran away, I make sure I never stay in one spot for long so there’s no chance of being caught. Just like I told the old lady I stay with now that it was time for me to move on.”

She goes on to tell me how she met Kendra and how she helped her out when she put herself in jeopardy of being caught. By the time she finishes we arrive at our first stop for the night, a restaurant that Tessa has recommended we try.

“Oh my god, I love your purse!” Jaycee says, has she holds up an identical purse has mine. “A Christmas present from Kendra.” she goes on to tell me.

I let out a laugh and tell her the same, earning us a shrug from Kendra, “What? They were on sale.”

We take our time with dinner enjoying each others company and stories of how we all met. For the past couple of days I have lost my appetite and not been able to eat much. I’m not sure if its due to the stress of worrying of not knowing what I face when I get home, but has I sit here I try to push all worrying aside to enjoy what time I have left here.

After we spend an hour and half at the restaurant we make our way to a club that Jaycee tells us will be great and no trouble getting into. I don’t know how long we’ve been here, but has I try to fight off the nausea and dizziness that has hit me I go in search for Kendra to ask if we can leave. It takes no time for us all to agree that it’s time to head back.

“I can’t believe we lost track of time. My parents are going to be furious when we get home.” Kendra says, has I take a look at the dashboard and see that it’s already one in the morning. “And my cell phone dead.” Kendra murmurs.

“I lost mine and couldn’t find it before we left.” Comes from Tessa.

Kendra already know that I left mine back in Texas so there’s no reason to give my input on the matter that none of us have away to let her parents know we are okay.

“What the hell are they looking at?” Jaycee comments has a pickup pulls up right beside us at a red light. I see that all three of the guys are looking towards our SUV and a feeling of uneasiness runs through me.

“I don’t know, just look forward an pretend we don’t notice them.” I recognize a nervous tone in Kendra’s voice.

With in a few miles I feel myself relax has we make our way out of Nashville. The nausea and dizziness settled for now, but the thoughts of my future with Chase lingers heavy on my mind with my upcoming departure to head home.

“That’s a beautiful necklace.” Jaycee says beside me, has she points to necklace that I didn’t realize I was playing with, has I was lost in my own thoughts.

I look down at the pendant and trace the hearts with my finger has I tell her, “Thank you”.

“Your in love aren’t you? Whoever gave you that, you love him.” I blink in surprise by what she says,”It’s the way you looked at the necklace, I saw the dreamy look you gave.” she adds with a small laugh.

But before I can reply back that I do love him a bright light beams through the back of the SUV.

“Damn, why won’t they pass. Their blinding me with their brights.” Kendra growls.

For miles the vehicle stays close without passing and the uneasiness feeling I felt earlier returns in full force. When Kendra spots an exit up ahead she lets us

know she taking it to let them pass by us. But has Kendra takes the exit so does the vehicle behind us.

“s**t their following us.” Kendra says has us others look back to watch has the vehicle continue to follow ours.

“Do you think it’s that pick-up from the red light.” Tessa voice shakes has she ask nobody in particular.

“I don’t know Tess, but their coming closer and it’s getting harder for me to see with their brights on.”

“Just try to stay calm Kendra, and find away back to the main road.” I tell her while trying remain calm myself.

We drive further down the dark road with what looks like to be a truck staying close behind us with their bright lights shining through causing Kendra to have trouble seeing what’s in front of her. Every time the truck inches closer Kendra pushes down on the gas. There’s been no other cars insight and the panic inside our car grows. Tessa begs for Kendra to slow down, has Jaycee tells her whatever she does don’t stop until she sees a*****e or house to pull over at. For me I hold on to my necklace and pray we get home safe or find help.

Just as I finish my prayer I hear Tessa yell,“WATCH OUT” Kendra swerves to miss whatever is in front us, but has she tries to correct the car I can feel her losing control of the car.

It feels like it happens in a flash the car begins to roll and what feels like the fourth roll my heads slams against the window and everything seizes into blackness.

“Smoke” I say to myself has I try to open my eyes. I smell smoke, I hear crackling has I battle with my eyes to remain open. I try to move but throbbing pain shoots down my whole body. I move my head slowly trying to locate the others but unable to see with the car feeling with smoke and the heat inside is becoming unbearable. I try to find my voice so I can yell for help but the smoke over takes my lungs and I feel the blackness taking over again.

At the last moment before I go back under into the blackness I see Chase’s face, I force a “I love you” out, I think hear a slam in the background. “Oh god, please let that be someone to help” is the last thought before I fall under into darkness.