Chapter 7
Leah kicked the same coke can back along the street hill. It was now 1:35 in the morning and Leah had been walking home for the past 10 minutes. She sighed, as she looked down the other side of the hill, looking at where she had to walk, the whole thirteen and a bit miles home. Home. Her bed, nice and warm, the over stuffed pillows. She felt herself grow colder as she thought of the warmth.
“Why did I come this far?” she questioned herself as she rubbed her arms for warmth. “Because your stupid.” She answered herself.
The shadows of the trees moved in the wind, casting shadows that seemed to follow her as she quickened her pace into a slight jog. She watched out of the corner of her eye as she sensed someone following her. Not physically, just in her mind.
“Come on.” Jeff said to himself as he leaned over the steering wheel and searched the darkness of the streets. He had been driving for nearly two hours, it was now 3:08 am and he had seen no sign of Leah. He had spoken to Matt and he and Molly were back at Leah’s house and Molly had fallen asleep and Jeff told Matt he would keep looking. So he had, after stopping for petrol he had gone straight back to searching for her. Empty Street after Empty Street was all he found. He knew Leah might not even get in the car with him and she would probably throw a fit for him coming after her but he didn’t care, he just wanted to find her, for her sack and Molly’s.
“Matt he has to find her, he has to.” Molly sobbed as she paced the living room.
“He will. I know he will. Why don’t you lay down again and get some more sleep?”
“How can I sleep Matt? My best friend is out there by herself at quarter to four in the morning. How the hell can I sleep?” Molly said as she fell into Matt’s open arms. She sobbed against his chest as he held her and whispered reassuring words into her ear.
As Leah reached the edges of Park City she looked at her watch 3:49. She looked at the light begin show the skyline of the city. It was still cold, very cold and she was colder.
She heard a car drive coming up the road from behind her. She quickened her pace as the car slowed behind her. It stopped, she heard the door open and close and footsteps grew closer to her as she began to run.
“Leah” the person called after her. Leah’s instincts just made her run faster as she felt the person grab her arm and pull her back to them.
“GET OF ME!!” she screamed as she struggled against the grip. But it only tightened the person got hold of her other arm and she fought against it as much as she could.
“Leah. Stop it. It’s me Jeff.” Jeff shouted over some of Leah’s cries. Leah stopped dead and looked at Jeff.
“Jeff, what…why…how?” Leah spluttered out as she stood there shivering. He loosened his grip on her when he was confident that she wasn’t going to run from him.
“I’ve been looking for you all night.” He said as he looked at her. The tiredness in her eyes was reflected in his own.
“Why?”
“I was worried sick. We all were.” He said as he noticed her shaking. “You must be freezing.” He said as he took of his bomber jacket and placed it around her shoulders.
“Thanks.” She said in a shaky voice.
“Come on.” He said trying to get her to move back towards the car.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” he asked as he pushed a strand of hair out of her face.
“Because I can’t. After what happened yesterday, you all probably think I’m a head case.”
“No, we don’t. Just come back with me?” he asked but she shook her head. “Please.” He bagged her before her realised she had tears in her eyes. “Hey. Come on Leah.” He said softly as he walking back to her.
“I’m sorry Jeff. I can’t go back, not now. Not until you, Matt and Molly have gone.”
“Why not?” Jeff asked one hundred percent concerned about his rival.
“I told you Jeff.” She looked away from him letting the tears fall down her cheeks.
“Come here.” Jeff said pulling Leah into his arms and holding her tightly. Her body shook in his arms as she cried into his neck. He moved his hands over back, half trying to calm her and half trying to make her warmer.
Leah let herself fall against Jeff as she failed to stop herself from crying. She moved her hands from her sides to around Jeff’s waist. She felt stupid after everything she had said to him but she wasn’t in the mood to feel embarrassed or to show Jeff how much she disliked him. She just wanted to be held. And he was glad to hold her.
“Hadn’t we better go back?” Jeff asked her after about five minutes.
“I guess.” She said as she lifted her head and looked up at him. “Thanks Jeff.”
“What for?” he asked as he continued to hold her.
“For looking for me. You did have to not after everything that has happened between us.”
“Anybody would have done the same.”
“No they wouldn’t have. I’m grateful Jeff, I don’t think I could have walked much more.”
“Lets go then.” He said finally releasing her.
“Ok.” She replied as he took her hand and led her to the car. Leah was to tired to object so she climbe into the car as he opened the door for her.
back to Chapter 6
