Page 12 of Shadows Within (Millhaven #1)

Scarlett

I sit at the kitchen table, my feet barely touching the ground.

The smell of bacon cooking fills the main floor.

Dad sits across from me and reads the paper, sipping on his coffee.

Mom flips pancakes. I can hear her humming.

When I look to her, I notice her smudged mascara—a norm for her in the mornings lately.

I must’ve asked her a question, but I can’t hear myself. I watch her turn to answer me.

“Mom!” I yell.

The scene changes. I’m upstairs. Through the crack of my bedroom door, I hear screaming.

I want to hear the words, but they’re muffled.

They always wait until I go to bed to fight.

Ever since Mom got a new job at the steakhouse, she stays out late, and Dad hates it.

When she gets home, Dad always questions her.

I slowly creep down the stairs, on my tiptoes to stop the floor from creaking. She comes around the corner as I’m almost at the bottom. Dad follows her. She parts her lips like she is going to say something to me but never does. Instead, she walks past me, up the stairs and into their room.

I wake up to silence.

Another dream. Another flashback. I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling. The room sharpens. I grab my comforter and wrap it around me. I could spend all day here, but I have things to do and I’m not going to let my emotions control me again today.

I pull my phone off my nightstand and check my notifications. Sophia wants to grab coffee before class and Dad said to have a good day in case I miss him this morning. It’s enough to make me smile. I have people who love me, and today that’s a good enough reason to get out of bed.

I press my palms into the bed and sit up.

“Today is going to be a good day.” Maybe hearing it will help me believe it.

I try to relax in the shower. As I throw on some freshly washed jeans, I put on some Arctic Monkeys. Their music changes my mood, and I can’t fight the flow that controls my body as I groove in the bathroom. I wipe the steam off the mirror—there I am. Smile.

Outside, the crisp fall air helps today feel like a clean slate. The drive to campus is quiet— besides the hum of the car and a playlist that Sophia sent me that’s on in the background. The music matches my mood today: soft and hopeful.

I pull into the school lot, tapping the steering wheel to the beat of the song ‘Talk’ by Hozier. I roll into a spot, turn off the car, and put on some clear lip gloss. As I get out, my phone buzzes in my bag.

Sophia: You better hurry up before I have both of our drinks. ;)

I roll my eyes and smile.

Scarlett: Keep your hands off mine. Be there in 2!

The little coffee cart on the other side of the quad is swarming with half-awake students.

I spot Sophia near the back. She has her circular black sunglasses on, looking like a glamorous movie star.

Although she isn’t a morning person, I know she’s perfectly put together underneath them.

I watch her laugh and talk with the barista as I approach.

That girl makes friends wherever she goes.

“Scar!” She waves and motions for me to come over. I’m just over five feet away from her, when I see her scanning me, up and down.

“Wow, don’t you look nice today.”

I snort. If anyone can get away with being blunt, it’s her.

“Gee, thanks.” I roll my eyes. “I’m still groggy from a crappy night’s sleep. This coffee better bring me back to life.”

Sophia hands me a coffee. I smell it before I take a sip.

“I love the fresh smell of napalm in the morning,” I say trying to impersonate Robert Duvall from Apocalypse Now.

“You’re a friggin’ weirdo.” Sophia side eyes me. We each take a few steaming sips and begin our walk down the halls to class. She glares at me.

“Another one of the Mommy Voss dreams?”

“Yeah, but I’m good.” I reassure her with a smile. “I promise.”

“Okay, well I’m headed the other way. Text me after class and we can study if you want?”

“Sure!” I yell as she disappears down the hall.

I push through two heavy doors and head down a staircase, straight to a seat near the front of the lecture hall.

The classroom is filled with quiet chatter as I sit and sip my coffee.

Professor Elliot walks into class, his leather satchel swings in his hand and his hair flows in tune with the speed he’s going at.

He looks spry with his old blazer and acts like he’s perfectly on time, even though he’s five minutes late.

“Morning, everyone.” He sets his satchel on his desk and opens it.

“Let’s see how many of you actually did the readings.” He looks up at me. “Scarlett, should I call on you first, you look suspiciously alert today.”

I laugh. “I’m always suspicious, Professor.”

He raises an eyebrow and glances around the class before answering.

“Fair, but you are also the only one who handed their paper in two days early.”

A brief flicker of pride burns in my chest. While I don’t always have it together, I hate being disorganized with my schoolwork. When I can, I try to hand things in early, but it’s a nonnegotiable for me to meet deadlines. It’s a standard I hold myself to.

As the class discussion picks up, I’m fully engaged. Elliot occasionally paces the room, throwing questions like darts. I answer and sometimes assist in a friendly debate. Today is a good day.

After class, I walk across campus. The breeze is warmer than this morning. As I pass through the courtyard, I hear someone yell my name in the distance. They catch up to me as I approach the football field.

“Scarlett!” I know that tone. I dread it. It’s hard to forget the voice that has humiliated me countless times. I don’t turn around.

“Scar!” Chase is right behind me now. I freeze but still don’t turn to face him.

He huffs, out of breath.

“Hey, I was yelling at you. Ignoring me?” He steps in front of me with a smug look.

“I thought you’d get the hint, Chase.” I fold my arms over my chest. “What do you want?”

He smiles, that stupid smile that means he wants something. It used to charm me, and I can’t help but wonder if that smile works on others.

“You look good, Scar.”

He’s trying to regain control of the conversation. I know him too well.

“Where’s Naomi?” I force a smile as I mention his new girlfriend. I think about all the rumors about how he would talk to other girls, and likely more, while we were still together. I feel stupid for ignoring them.

“She’s in class.” He steps closer and a shiver runs down my spine.

“Goodbye Chase, this conversation is over.”

I try to move around him, but he doesn’t budge. He grabs my arm and pulls me back.

“Let go of me. Now.” His hand grips my wrist. My heart rate increases as my breaths pick up speed. He pulls me closer. I can feel his breath against my forehead. It’s hot and unwanted. I slowly gaze up and quickly jerk away from him.

“Is he bothering you?” I hear a deep voice behind me. My head is locked into place, staring up at Chase.

“All good here Cal,” Chase smiles, as he holds a vice grip on my wrist. I’m unable to move.

Callum’s voice gets closer.

“She said no. Let her go. Now.” His voice is steady but harsh, it’s not a warning.

Chase lets go of my wrist. I turn around, now inches from Callum’s face. I hold my breath. He’s just as close as Chase was but for some reason I start to relax.

Callum doesn’t move and Chase is clearly intimidated by him, like there is an unspoken threat in the air. Chase puts his hands up and concedes.

“Alright,” he says and backs away. Chase looks over at Callum, then back at me.

“Bye Scarlett.” He smiles. God, I hate that smile.

Callum steps in front of me, like it’s second nature. He doesn’t say anything to Chase, who turns around and walks away, his light hair shines in the sun as he gets further out of view.

When Chase is about twenty feet away, Callum turns back to me.

“You alright?”

I want to say yes but the words don’t come out. Instead, I just look up at him.

“You don’t need to say anything, just nod so I know you’re okay.”

I drop my face to the ground and move my head up and down slowly. My heart pounds in his presence.

“He’s gone—you don’t have to hold your breath anymore.”

I smile up at him.

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

“Don’t mention it.” He shrugs and pulls a cigarette out of his jacket. I watch him bring it to his lips and light it. Who knew smoking could be so sexy. His eyes meet mine one last time before he walks away, leaving me speechless.