"OOOuch!" I raised up, only to be pulled back down. "Oh, come one, it's not that big of a deal." Abe said while bringing me closer for an embrace. I pulled away and rubbed my shoulder where he had hit me . "I can't believe you, you're such a wimp." "I told you I hurt my shoulder playing Tennis yesterday." He sighed and pulled a pillow close to him. "Yeah, well, you shouldn't have been playing in the first place. You know that that Tennis court is full of freaks." I looked at him crossly. "Freaks? Ha! You should talk." Abe stood up. "What do you mean? I'm not a freak, I wear the best clothes, drive the best cars, I'm loaded!" "No, you just have a name and some money to back it up with." I grabbed my purse and walked to the door. "Case, where you going, we can talk this out, where are you going?" "I'm going to go play with the 'freaks'."
"Why do you always quiz me, let me live a little!" "Casey, we're just worried about you, thats all. Abe called and he said you were upset, now, lets talk." I looked at her parents. "There's nothing to talk about, Abe is a jerk, and I'm not going to take any of his stuff anymore." "Sweetie, Abe is a nice young man, he has a bright future, we just want the best for you." I threw up my arms and grabbed my gym bag. "Geesh, nobody understands." I ran up stairs and flopped down onto my bed, partly crowded with stuff animals from my childhood. I moved a peice of my brown hair behind my ear as I picked up my phone and dialed Sada's number.I could barley hear her voice over Sada's Smashing Pumpkin's music in the backgroud. "Caser! Whats up girllie?" I smiled at her greeting. We had been friends since the 5th grade. Social status we were completely different. I was raised in a good neighborhood, went to a private school most of my life, family was pretty well off, all together the perfect life. Sada on the other hand never knew her father. Her family had always struggled to get by, and she had always had to fend for herself. But personality wise, we were the same. "So, it's over with you and Abe Da Jerk?" I rolled my eyes. "God, don't even get me started." She laughed. "Well, now you're single, so lets party tonight!" "Nah, there's nothing to do on Monday night." "Well you could always come over here and we could watch wrestling with Tressa." "Wrestling? Ugh!" She laughed again. "Ok, lets meet up for a game tommorro, say, 3:00ish?" I agreed and hung up the phone.
I walked into my bathroom and grabbed some make-up from behind my mirror. I brushed out my hair and let it fall lose behind me. I looked throuh my closet at everything thing. "dang, not a thing to wear." There were things, but Iwouldn't dream of wearing them to were I was going. Deciding on a low cut red dress with black fur lining the collar, I grabbed my keys and put them in my purses. I unlached the window and carefully crawled down the ladder. The music was too loud for my taste, but just being there was good enough. I was known well around there. After all, I had been to the club for a few years, sneaking out every Monday and Wensday night. Josh came up and sat down across from me. "Hey, glad you could make it." I reached for his hand. "I did it." His eyes lit up. "Wow, congrads girlfriend, I'm siked for ya." I smiled and nodded. I had talked about it for months, about breaking up with Abe. But I was lonely and afraid no one else would take me and love me, not that Abe ever did. He squeezed my hand and motioned for a group of friends to come over. "Well, now that you're free, I guess you'll be shopping around eh?" My attention was distracted as a group of blondes walked in. "I might be checking out sooner than you think."
"Miss Grafit?" I open my eyes and looked at the Professor standing infront of me. "Do you mind answering the question?" "Uh, Hamlet?" Everyone around me laughed. "Oh I see. Hamlet was the protaganist in The Death Of a Salesman eh?" Heat flushed to my face as I said sorry. During lunch, Sada came up to me. "Wow, did you choke or what?" I blushed again. "I...I got in late last night." "Oh......sneaker, and you didn't even take me!" She laughed and sat down in the Wendy's cafeteria. I handen't listen to Sada much, I was busy thining of the group of guys that had walked into the club last night. I thought untill I couldn't take it any longer. "Wanna sneak out tonight?" Sada looked surprised. "Uh, yeah, but I thought you were just Monday and Wensday?" "I know, but there's something bugging me. I'll meet you around ten ok?"
Sada grabbed a chair close to the corner of the room. "So, what has been on that little mind of your's today anyway?" I shrugged my shoulders. "I've just been thinking of stuff, thats all." It wasn't totally true, but I couldn't quite explain what I had saw last night. Three guys I had never seen before had caught my eye, and I didn't know why, I just hope they'd come back tonight. "Case...Casey!" I came out of my daze. "Oh, uh, I'm sorry." "Nevermind that, look who just came in." I looked over, hoping to see them standing there, but my hopes dropped as Abe and a group of his friends walked through the door. "Casey, what the Hell are you doing here with all these losers?" "Since when has it been your job to look after me, last time I check, we had broken up." Sada piped in. "Yeah, whats your right to tell her what to do?" "Sada, you stay out of this you little bitch, you probably put her up to this." I stood up infront of my friend. "Hey, don't call her a bitch, and besides, if I want to go to a club, then I will." "Oh no you wont." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the door. "Abe.....Abe let go!""Hey, get your hands off the girl." I turned and looked at the guys I had seen the other night. "This, isn't any of your concern, so stay out of it!" Abe yelled back. I squirmed out of his grip and stepped back.
"Whoa Case, looks like there's going to be some heavy shoot going on." Sada said while coming up behind me. We sat back and watch the sparks fly. "Look, just leave the girl alone." the taller of the three said. "You wanna make something of it, then lets take it outside." He nodded and followed, winkning at me before leaving sight. My heart fluttered and I felt heat flush to her my "Oh, oh no, you're in lust again." Sada hit her forhead. "Come on, lets go watch." It was already going on when we walked outside. The other two blondes had Abe's friends on the ground while the other had Abe. "Jesus Sada." Abe swung at him and hit him directly in the face. He stood over him and laughed. "I don't think so." I thought to myself as I joined in on the brawl. He caught me by my arms and laughed in my face. "What cha going to do now Casey, huh?" I struggled for a second, then brought my knee up. He fell back, holding his manhood. "Come on Abe, lets go!" His friends helped him up and ran off.
I rubbed my wrists as I watch them run away. Sada came up to me. "Kick ass Caser, you taught him a thing or two." I smiled and walked over to the guys. "Thanks, for, uh, helping me." I held out my hand and helped him up. "No prob, but I think you could have took them on by yourself." I blushed and looked down. "Uh, thanks." He laughed and lifted my chin with his finger. "Well, I guess we should introduce ourselves." Sada walked towards them. "Hey, I know who you guys are, you're were in that Brood thing!" He grinned. "Well The Brood really." I was lost. "Sada, what are you talking about?" "I told you you should have watched wrestling with me and Tressa t, these guys were wrestles." "Wrestles?" He laughed again. "Well, yeah, but you can call me Adam, this is Christian and David." I smiled and shook their hands. "Casey? Case, you ok?" Josh called to me from the doorway. I turned to see him walking out with his friends. "Well, I guess we can go........" I looked back and they were gone. "Whoa, that was weired." Sada commented. "Yeah, weired." I said still thinking of Adam.

The next few weeks were just a blur for me. "Come one Casey, concentrate!" Josh yelled to me from across the court. I shook my head and held my tennis racket tighter as he served again. I swung but missed. "Gees Casey, are you ok?" "Yeah, I was just thinking, about the other night." He walked closer to me. "Hey, it's ok, just forget about Abe, he's an ass." It wasn't what I was thinking about. I couldn't get Adam out of my mind. "I'm going to go shower, I'll see you later ok?" I nodded and sat down on the bench. I pulled the scrunchey out of my hair and took a drink of my water. "Guess I should practice a little." I went next to the basket of balls and started to serve the air. "dang, whats wrong with me?" I asked myself, when I hit another ball into the net. I suddenly felt really uncomfortable, like I was being watch. I look around, but I was the only one on the court.
"Ohhhh k." I decided it was time to pack everything up, the sun must have been getting to me. I went to the showers and turned on the water. "Shhoot!" I screamed as the cold water hit my face. I washed off and got out. After drying off, I went to the dressing room to change clothes, only to find a surprise waiting for me. A dozen red roses and a note laid on my clothes. "What the Hell?" I picked up the note and read it to myself:
Dear Casey,

I'm sorry for leaving you the other night, things came up. I would like to see you again if that's possible. Try to meet me at this address.

Adam

My heart felt warm inside as I picked up the roses and inhailed their sent deeply. I changed quickly and race to the car.
"I don't have a good feeling about this Case." Sada read the card and looked at me cross. "What do you mean? He just wants to meet me." "Case, were the roses in their before you got in the shower?" "No, I told you I went ot change and they were laying on my clothes, so?" "So, the guy must have came in while you were showering, he's proabaly a perv!" "A perv? He's, well..." "You don't even know him and yuou're going to run after him?" "Look, lay off ok?" She sighed. "Ok, just be careful all right?" I smiled. "You know I will." The address was an empty lot on the North side of town. I pulled my jacket's collar up to my face and waited for any signs of life. I didn't have to wait long.
A car pulled up a few minutes after ten. "Ok Caser, lets try not to mess this one up." I said to myslef swallowing a lump in my throat. The wind picked up as he walked towards me. It whipped his long black duster violetly around his body. With each step, the butterflies in my stomach grew strong. He smiled and pulled his glasses from his face. "Hey, glad you could be here." I blushed. "Well, it's nice to see you too." We stood there for a moment, silent, the only thing between us was a few inches of open night air. "I have something to show you." I looked at him confused. "What is it?" He slid his hand across my cheek and pulled me closer. "This." We came together in a kiss. My stomach turned and my mind fogged. "What am I doing?" I tried slighty to pull away, but then just collasp in the moment. He pulled me away, looking confused as I was. "I, uh, I'm sorry, I went to fast." "No, no, it's ok, really." "I really should be going, um, David and Christian are waiting for me in the car." "They're in the car? you mean they saw us?" He smiled wickedly and nodded. I couldn't help but laugh at it, though I felt a little betrayed. "Can I see you again, tomorrow?" I looked up at him. "Yeah, sure, where?" He smiled. "I'll find you."
With that, he kissed my cheek gently and walked away. I watched the car drive away and stepped back a little, thinking of what had happen. A chill ran up me, but I smiled and went back to my car. My parents looked at me sternly as I sat on the couch. "Why? Why have you been sneaking out at night?" "Hey, I'm old enough to make my decsions, just back off." My father walked closer. "Back off? You've been going out to God know's where, what if something happen huh? What would we do?" I shrugged my shoulders. "Well you wont have to worry about it anymore." "What do you mean?" "You're not leaving this house unless you ask us and take a friend, and I'm not talking about that Sada, a nice friend." "That's not fair!" "Go to your room Casey." I felt the tears forming in my eyes as I raced up stairs and slammed the door behind me. "God, why can't they leave me alone?" I brought a pillow closer to my face and buried myself in it. I didn't know how long I cried, but soon, it would be interuppted. I heard a knock on my window and turned to see Adam there smiling. I felt a lot better, as I went over to it and raised the sash. "Whats wrong Love?" I told him all that had happen. His face became cold as he frowned. He wiped a tear that was falling from my cheek and reached for me. I climbed into his arms and cried harder. We layed ontop of the house that night, staring up into the stars making wishes. "What's the one thing you wantso bad, that you can almost taste it?" I sighed. "I want to be free, free like you."
He smiled and laughed softly. "Believe me, my freedom is limted." I sat up on my elbows, "What do you mean by that?" "I can rarley go anywhere without telling David and Christina first, plus I have my work." I snuggled up to his chest. "That's more than I'll ever have. I'll probably never leave this house again, and winded up marring Abe." He stuck out his tongue and made me laugh. "You'll be fine Casey, I know you're a fighter, you'll make it." "Thank you." He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer into a embrace.
I woke up the next morning laying in bed. I held my head and tried to think if it was a dream or was it real, it didn't take me long to know the truth. Ontop of my nightstand laid a note and a long black dress."Wow, he goes all out." I said to myself and smiled slightly.

Casey,

Last night was wonderful, getting to know you and falling in love with you more. I wasn't lying when I told you you would be free someday, maybe sooner than you think. Try not to figure it out, just be happy.

I didn't understand the last, but it didn't matter as I read the last four words over again in my mind. I jumped out of bed and stretched like a kitten. I ran downstairs and into the kitchen to the smell of pancakes. My parents looked at me. "Casey?" my father spoke up. I looked at him and remembered last night. "Yes?" He looked down. "Your mother and I, well, we may have been to hard on you. You just have to understand that we love you very much and we don't wont anything bad to happen." He grinned slightly. "Just, talk to us before you go out, and take your cell ok?" I was in total shock. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Uh, yeah, sure Dad." He smiled and pulled out a chair. "come on, lets eat some pancakes."
I sat down next to Sada in the Pizza Hut. "Whoa, are we happy or what?" I smiled and nodded cheerfully. "So, where you been, I haven't seen you since a couple days ago." I breathed in deep. "Oh, I've been around." "Uh huh, you've been with that Adam guy haven't you?" I giggled and shooked my head. "Gees Case, don have a spaz." "I can't help it, he's so sweet." I told her about the past two nights. "Wow, talk about a helpless romantic." Our conversation was cut short, as a man came up to us, carrying a dozen white roses and a card. "Gees, this guy never gives up, does he?" I shrugged my shoulders and took them from him. I read the name of the card. "Uh, Sada, this is for you." "For me? Kewl, I got a guy after me now." She laughed and took them from me.

Dear Sada,

I can't get you off my mind since the first time I saw you. Can I see you again tonight? Please, try to meet me at the restaraunt on 2nd and Memorial.

With all my love and hopes,

I watched the heat rush to Sada'a face as she finished reading. "Wow Sada, looks like you landed one." She laughed and threw and straw at me. "Knock it off, I don't even know if I'll go." "What do you mean?" "I don't even know the guy, he doesn't even know me." A thought rushed into my mind, "You know what, the night we met them, we never got to introduce ourselves." "So?" "So.....how did they know are names?" We went quiet at the thought, thinking of solutions that could make the answer. But none would fit right. "This is weired Caser, really weired." Another chill went up my spine. "I know Sada, I know."

I slid into the dress that Adam had left to me ad stared at myself in the mirror. I brushed my hair out and grabbed my keys. "Mom, Dad, I'm going out ok!" They looked up from their activites. "Allright, be back by one." I smiled and ran out the door. I buckeled my seat belt and pulled out of the drive. It took about an hour, but I finally reached Josh's house. He came out, opened arms, and embraced me tightly. "Hey girl, what are you doing here?" "Do I have to have an excuss to come and see you?" He grinned and and shook his head. "Got me there, come on in." "No, I need to go, but I just wanted to see if you wanna pratice Sunday?" "Sure, I'll meet you around noon ok?" I smiled. "No problem." I walked back to my car and gasp at the sight of Adam sitting on the hood. "Hello Casey." I felt love and fear all at the same time. "Adam, can I ask you somthing?" "Sure." "How, why....." He stood up and walked towards me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me deeply. I feel into him and became lost in the scent of his hair and colongen mix together. I felt sick and dizzy as I felt myself falling. He picked me up and placed me in the passengers seat.
"Sshhh, Casey, everything is all right." He moved into the driver's side and started the car. "Adam, what's going on?" He didn't say anything. "Adam!" "I'm taking you away Casey." "What?" "you said you wanted to be free, I'm giving you the wings to fly." "What are you talking about?" He reached over and touched my face. "Everything is all right Casey." I felt myself relax as he talked. "Please, don't hate me for this, but its the only way." "But why Adam, why?" He sighed. "That first night, not the night we met, but the first night we came to the club, I knew you were thinking of me." I felt fear race through me. "What? How...how did you know?" "I could feel it, right here." He pointed to his heart. "I knew right then that we were ment for each other." "But why are you doing this? If you knew that I loved you, why are you kidnapping me?" "Don't think about it like that." "what do you want me to think?" He sighed. "I don't know, please, just don't be angery with me." We drove for about an hour in total silence, untill we reached a hotel. He picked me up and carried me through the door, placing me on the bed.
"Adam, I feel really uncomfortable." He locked the door and took off his jacket. "There's nothing to worry about Casey." He sat down next to me. "Adam......" He brought me closer into an embrace, then a kiss. It was long and deep like that last, making me dizzy with passion. I moaned and pulled back away from him. "No. No, I can't" He grinned. I stared at him long and hard, thinking of what he was going to do to me. A knock at the door broke my train of thought. David walked in followed by Christian and Sada. She looked at me with fear in her eyes. "Casey, what the Hell is going on?" I only cried and told her I didn't know. Christian sat her next to me and walked into the other room. David walked over and lefted her chin with his hand, then slid his knuckles across me face. "They're perfect, well done Adam, Christian." Christian poured himself a drink and when David's back was turned, flipped him to do to me.
A knock at the door broke my train of thought. David walked in followed by Christian and Sada. She looked at me with fear in her eyes. "Casey, what the Hell is going on?" I only cried and told her I didn't know. Christian sat her next to me and walked into the other room. David walked over and lefted her chin with his hand, then slid his knuckles across me face. "They're perfect, well done Adam, Christian." Christian poured himself a drink and when David's back was turned, flipped him to do to me. A knock at the door broke my train of thought. David walked in followed by Christ, we didn't want too, but we have too." Christian said softly. "Have to do what Christian?" Sada asked with a shiver in her voice. "We have to do David's bidding, he owns us." He sat down next her. "I'm so sorry, really." I guess Sada couldn't take much more, she collasped and cried in his arms. "Adam, how could you!?" "Please Casey, don't...." Hestopped as David came through the door-way, knife in hand. "It's time."
He walked over to Sada, gently scrapping the blade against her cheek. "No, leave her alone!" He frowned and slapped me across the face. He faced Sada again and smiled. "Your time will come, soon." He threw her down onto the floor and walked over to where I had landed. I crawled back from him a few inches until my back was against the wall. "Adam...." "Adam can't help you, no one can help you." He grabbed my collar and pulled me closer to where the knife was against my heart. "It wont hurt for long, just relax." He pushed the blade against me towhere the skin started to slowly break. "Adam...please." "I...I can't." "Adam......please!" "I'm... I'm sorry, I can't." I closed my eyes and waited for the end. "Adam, I love you."
The pressure agianst my chest was gone as Adam threw David onto the floor. "Christian, get them out of here!" Christian grabbed Sada'a arm and pulled her outside. "You ingrate, how dare you betray me?" He swung at him and missed by a hair. Adam came back and kicked him in the stomach. David fell to the floor and cringed. Adam walked over to me and held out his hand. He brought me up into his arms and whispered curses while stroking my hair. "I'm so sorry, please, forgive me, please." I cried and hugged him tighly. "It's ok, it's ok." I looked over his shoulders to see David charging at us with the knife. "ADAM!"

He pushed me away and caught David by his wrists. David laughed in his face. "You can't defeat me Adam, stop trying." Adam's face became tight as he squeezed his wrists tighter. David stop smiling as the knife dropped from his hand. He frowned and pushed him away. He charged at Adam and punched his face and chest. "You see, you can't stop me from taking them, and now, you will die for turning your back on me." He picked up a piece of glass that had been broken off from a falling picture, and rose it high in the air. I reached for the knife and ran to him. I stabbed him in the back and watch as he screamed out in pain.

"You dumb bitch!" He slapped me again, sending me across the room. He held my face tightly in his hands and grinned. "Oh, I'm going to enjoy this." He pushed the glass up to my face and began cutting me slightly. "That's right, bleed." I moaned as he gently ran it across my neck and laughed at his actions. I waited for the end, but it would never come. He screamed and fell limp onto my body. Sada stood over me with the knife, covered in blood. She smiled. "Hey, didn't I tell you that I didn't trust them?" I cried and laughed as we came together in a friendly embrace, happy to be alive. Christian helped Adam up, then they both walked over to us. Sada and Christian came into an embrace and cried. "Oh Christian, it's over, it's over." He smiled and cried at the same time. "I know, I'm...I'm free!" He laughed and picked her up, carrying her outside. Adam looked at me and breathed in deeply. "Free." I grinned. "Free."
He held my hand as we walked outside, watching Christain chase Sada around the cars. "Well, since you're a free man now, think you'll be free this Friday?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows." We came together in a kiss, but this time, I felt warm inside instead of sickness. He pulled away and grinned. Sada came up to me and laughed. "That was wild, man, I can't believe it!" "Me neither, hey Adam..." I looked back to see empty air. "Christain?" Sada called out. The wind picked up again as a piece of paper flew against me leg. I picked it up, read it, and smiled. "Well, what its say?" I handed it to her and she laughed softly. "Hehe, weired?" I laughed. "Yeah, weired." She handed it back and walked to her car. I read it one more time and let it slip out of my hands.
He watched the two cars pull away, leaving a trail of dust behind them. He laguhed softly and picked up the paper that was flying next to him. "Someday." He read the words out loud and laughed again. He crumbled it up in one hand and let it fall. He threw down his cigarette and snuffed it out with the tip of his shoe. Someday would come sooner than they thought.
TBC...