Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Lori woke up the next morning feeling as if a truck had hit her. Her muscles still aches even after the Epsom salts that she'd taken last night. She pulled herself out of bed and switched off the blaring alarm clock. Nothing was going to stop her from going to school today. The incident last night had faded a little from her mind. She laughs at herself, rationalizing then it must have been a stray dog following her. Lori carefully braided her long golden hair. She chose a low V-neck sweater and a pair of tight black jeans from her closet and out that she'd bought last winter. They hadn't had the nerve to wear. She looked at herself approvingly in the mirror as she applied a little deep red lipstick. Lori normally wore preppy conservative clothes, but not today. She pictured herself on the back of his motorcycle, hugging him tightly. Matt and Sally spotted Lori in the corridor after lunch. Matt let a long whistle. Whoa, Lori, look at you. Lori Space became almost red, is her lipstick. Hi, Matt. Hi, Sally. What do you think? She twirled around. Matt gave her the once over as only a guy could do if I wasn't dating your best friend. Sally elbowed him in the ribs. What he's saying is law. You look absolutely gorgeous. Totally cool threads. What's the occasion? She asked. Lori rolled her eyes. What do you think? Remember my physical science class? Next period somebody sits in front of me. Matt laughs What are you going to be the exhibits? Get it? Physical science. Sally sighed, glancing at Matt. Just ignore the beast, Rory. She whispered. Somebody is going to fall over backwards off his chair when he sees you. Hey, where were you at lunch? We miss you. Lori sighed. I was in the library doing our history assignments. I thought I'd get it out of the way. You finished it already? Sally asked. How did you find out about the first settlers and hadn't built the school library? Lori smiled. I changed my mind and wrote about the signing of the Declaration of Independence and said it was a lot easier. She handed the report to Sally here. You owe me one. Hang onto it until Friday. Sally. Hunter, you're the greatest. Thanks. More Matt jokes. Oh, Lori slacking off in school. Radical change in appearance. This is serious warning sign. You've got to get help before it's too late. Matt, would you please shut up? Sally demanded. She smiled at Lori. You look hot, girl. Go get him. That's an order. The bell rang and Lori gave Sally a little salute as she walked down the hall. Lori felt all eyes upon her and she took her seat in class. She glanced around the room. Where was Jake? She wondered. The bell rang. The seat in front of her was empty. Lori opened her book and began reading the assignments. Jake, open the door quietly and slipped his Walkman off his head. His heart jumps when he saw Laurie sitting there reading. He felt more self-conscious than ever. She was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. In fact, she looked like a model. Her slim legs stretched out from under the desk. Suddenly, she looked up her crystal blue eyes staring at him. She tossed her long, shiny braid over her shoulder as he awkwardly took a seat. He feared the turn around. What if she was just being nice? Yesterday, he felt her eyes on the back of his head. He'd wait and see how she acted.

Laurie touched his shoulder lightly, sending chills down his spine. She whispered. Hi, Jake. He turned around to face her. Hi, Laurie. He said, back her red lips curled at the edges. How come you're late? Did you just get to school? Laurie noticed that his hand was wrapped in a white, sterile bandage. Jake shifted nervously in his seat. I was up late last night. What happened to your hand? She asked the concern. Her angelic voice sounded real. Maybe everything was OK. Can you meet me after class? He asked her. I need to tell you something. The smell of his leather jacket was driving her. While she couldn't tell by the hushed tone of his voice if he planned to give her good news or bad news. Okay, she agreed. She stared at his blond hair through the rest of class, unable to concentrate on the assignment. She wondered if he'd even noticed her drastic efforts to look good today. He seemed distant and distracted by something. What was he thinking? I'm really crushing hard on him, she thought. Jake pretended to read from his textbook the nervous tension built between them with every tick of the large wall clock, nor his heart jumped as the bell rang, anxious for her private meeting with Jake. Laurie followed Jake through the corridor hustling with students. No doubt they were all staring at the couple. Jake met her outside to the grassy courtyard where they sat down on an Orange Park bench. Laurie smiled nervously, trying to ease the tension. So what's going on, Jake? Nothing. I mean, his eyes darting around the line. I just didn't think we should talk in class. Well, here we are all alone. She offered. He scared into her porcelain skin, still not believing that he was actually sitting here with her. I have something for you, Laurie. He finally said Laurie was surprised, really? What is it? Jake reached into his jacket and pulled out his Walkman. Here, there's a tape in here that I want you to listen to. Laurie started the place, the headphones over her ears that he stopped her. No, listen to it. Later, he said Laurie wondered what was on the tape. So are we still on for later? She asked. Jake felt relieved. You mean the haunted house? Yeah. If you're okay. She looked at his hand again. Are you still going to help me decorate? She asked. Wild horses couldn't keep me away, Laurie. He said before thinking. He laughed. That sounded really corny, didn't that? Laurie slid a little closer to him and whispered. They couldn't keep me away either. Thanks for the surprise. Meet us at City Hall after school. Lori clutched the Walkman in her hands. I've got to get to class. I'll see you later, Jake, she said. Lori rounded the corner and made her way through the crowd. That hallway toward her history class.

She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Jake wasn't watching and place the headphones on the Walkman on. She had three minutes before class started leaning against the wall. She pressed the play button. Sally waited anxiously for Lori to arrive in class so she could get the latest details about Jake that she could feel.

Marsha Miller staring at her from across the room, her eyes seething with hatred. Sally could not wait until Marsha found out about their party. They'd start inviting people tomorrow. Lori rushed in at the last moment just before the bell rang. Her hand shaking. Sally whispered, What's wrong with you? Lori pulled the Walkman off her head and handed it to Sally. Listen to this. Jake gave it to me. Mrs. Grub's turned off the lights in the classroom and started the film about United States history. Sally slipped the Walkman on sounds of change. Rattling and howling, wolves filled her ears. Drums thump faster and faster while guitar and bass chords melted into an eerie melody. Jake's voice, his hauntingly beautiful voice came in. The words of the song were, he's going to get you. He'll follow you home. He's been waiting and watching. You're never alone. He's out in the woods. He's been waiting for you. When he gets you alone, your young life is through. I'm the boogie man, baby, and I'll never die. I'm the boogie man, baby. And that's no lie on the boogie man baby. So don't even try to get away from me.

Sally giggled, handing the Walkman back to Laurie. It's good. It's weird, but good. This would be perfect for the Halloween party. Lori remembered that she hadn't told anyone about what happened in the woods last night. Jake had been the one who was following her. Could he have had enough time to cross town to follow her home? Lori thought about the bandage on Jake's hand. What had happened to him? Could he have fallen in the woods? We're seeing that in the woods, she wondered. Lori shivered. So he gave me the tape. What else happened? Sally probed Murray relax the middle, thinking of Jake's kind, eyes and gorgeous face. He wouldn't scare her like that. She realized that her imagination was working overtime and she began looking forward to seeing him again. Nothing. She said he's gonna meet us later at City Hall to get started on one hundred house decorations.

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