I called Astor three hours ago and yet he's still not here. Granted, he was at tryouts, but that wouldn't last till 7 o'clock would it?

"Rebecca?" Claire whispers beside me as we huddle in a corner booth for Sweet Frog.

"Hm?" I hum, half asleep.

"I feel like there's someone stalking us..." Her voice is on edge.

"What?" I open my eyes, suddenly alert and very very on edge.

"There's a guy over there who keeps looking at us. He raised his phone earlier and it looked like he was taking pictures.... I've seen him all over town... And he does the same thing." She grabs my arm. "Rebecca, I'm scared.." she whimpers.

"Claire, it'll be ok. Astor is on his way. Don't worry about that guy. It might not even be anything." I lay my head on her shoulder.

"But Rebecca... It only when I'm around you..." She lays her head atop of mine.

I suddenly think of being at the park with Astor. When there was something in the woods that moved when we got into his car.

Is there someone stalking me?

I'm quick to pick up my phone and text Astor.

Me:
Ast... I think someone is stalking me...

He texts back in less that a second.

Astor:
What's he look like?!

I look up at the dude to describe him. Claire looking over my shoulder, reading the texts, the whole time.

Me:
Black, greasy lookin hair. Thick and big framed glasses. He looks like he might be around 5'7. He kinda looks like he's about 21... Astor... Please.. what's going on?

Astor:
Stay where you are. I'm coming.

Me:
You were supposed to be here two hours ago...

I don't get a response back.

"Rebecca...." Claire's warning voice snaps me out of my head. I look up to see Dude, as I'm now calling him, start to walk over to us. I start to freak out. I slowly slip my hand behind my back, into my pocket, to fish out my car key. I wrap my fingers around it like I've been taught since I was able to walk.

If he hurts you, or tries to, scream fire. More people will come if you do.

I slowly slip my hand back on my leg. He watches me as he walks toward us. When I think he's about to stop in front of me, he keeps walking and he turns into the men's bathroom.

I let out a sigh of relief but stay alert.

A second later Astor comes through the door. He sees me within a second.

I pull my pointer finger and middle finger across my lips then point to the mens restroom.

Shh. He just went into the bathroom.

He nods then beconds me and Clair to hurry and come to him.

We jump out our seats and, quietly but quickly, make out way to Astor. He grabs out arms and pulls us outside and into his truck. I'm shotgun while Claire slides into the back. Pulling out at a fast rate, he's already miles away before I break the silence.

"Where were you? You say you'd be there hours ago..." I try really hard not to cry.

"I'm sorry, baby girl." He frowns. "I got stuck up at school.

I look up at him and gasp. He has bruises all on his face. How did I not notice before?

"What the hell happened, Astor!" I shreak. I reach my hand over to touch his cheek but he flinches.

"I was in a fight." He murmers.

"Why? With whom? Oh please tell me the other guy looks worse." I grab his hand and intertwine our fingers.

"Oh I promise he looks way worse." He smirks, avoiding my questions.

"Astor.." I warn.

"Fine." He sighs in defeat. "It was with Chris and Scott."

"What?! Why?!" I freak out.

"Because Scott was talking crap about you. I heard him. He was calling you crap and Chris was going along with some of it. And so I confronted them. And they ganged up on me. When you called, I was on the floor. They were beating the shit outta me. They saw it was you who was calling and told me to answer. After I talked to you, I got up and punched the shit outta them. Then I ran to come get you." He explains.

I take out my phone and go to Chris's name.

Me:
We needa talk.

Chris:
I have nuthin to say to u.

Me:
Good, jackass. U can leave all the talkin to me. Come by mine at 12. If ur a no show... Well let's just say u'll find out.

"Please don't tell me you're going to confront him..." Astor pleads.

"I am, I will, and you're not gonna stop me." I say, stubbornly.

"Rebecca..." He warns.

"Astor...." I do the same thing.

"I don't want you getting involved."

"I swear to fu-" I'm cut off by a loud scream. In turn around and see Claire scream at the top of her lungs. Her phone in her lap.

"Claire!" I try to get her out of whatever trances she's in but it's not working.

"Astor pull the hell over!" I yell at him. A second later the car stops and I jump out to get into the back with Claire.

"Claire!" Her screams turn into sobs.

"H-he d-did i-it!" She says, sobbing into my shoulder.

"Who did what?" I ask her, confused. Astor looks worried when I glance at him.

She picks up her hands with shaking fingers and I see that there's a picture open.

"Oh my God!" I gasp and put a hand to my mouth.

Claire's younger brother is staring up at the screen. His hands are tied behind his back and his legs are tied to the chair legs of the chair he's sitting on. His face is all bloody and bruised. His left eye is closed and swollen, turning a nasty shade of yellow. His lip is busted and there's blood coming from the side of his head.

"What?" Astor grabs the phone. His face turns to shock for a few seconds before he gets furious.

"I need to get y'all home." He hops back in the front while I sit in the back, silent tears rolling down my face as I hold a sobbing Claire.

He pulls into my driveway fifteen minutes later. I look down and see that Claire had fallen asleep on my lap.

Astor comes around and offers to bring her up to my room. Following behind, I text her mom and tell her that she's staying with me for tonight. A second later she tells me that it's fine, for us to have a good time.

"I'm sorry to ruin our date night." I look up and see I had stopped walking when I got into the hallway. Astor had already put Claire into my bed.

"Don't worry about it." I shrug, acting as if it doesn't bother me. In reality, I'm crying on the inside. I was looking forward to this.

"I will. Because no matter how many times you tell me it's ok, it's not." He wraps me into a hug and kiss my forehead.

"You're right. I was just really looking forward to it. But it will be ok. I know you'll make up for it." I fine at him and he chuckles.

"I'll see you later, cupcake." He presses a kiss to my lips and goes to pull away but I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him towards me.

"Rebecca, you're killing me here." He moans and I let out a giggle.

He wraps his arms around my waist and lifts me up. I wrap my legs around his waist.

"Cupcake." He presses our foreheads together.

"Hm?" I murmer.

"I have to go."

"I know."

"I don't want to."

"But you gotta."

"Why are you so good to me. What did I do to deserve you?" He presses a kiss to my Temple and sets me back on my feet.

"You didn't need to do anything, Ast. Cuz you deserve the world." I look up into his eyes, transfixed.

He'll be ok..

Right?

Good morning? Night?... Well I'mma just say good day! How are you? What do you think of my book so far? Good? Terrible? Amazing? Trashy? Tell me the truth!

Sorry for the typos in this whole book. It will all be fixed once I'm done and go back to do some editing.

Have a happy day guys and girls!

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It's just the little star at the bottom of the screen. It'll make my day! So please help me out. Not to rant, but I've been having a crappy week. I've been have some boyfriend issues, which thank God are resolved and we are back together, but I'm having family drama and stress from school. These test are killing me guys. So please just make my day and put a smile on my face by clicking the little star. It means more to me than you know.

•Marissa