Page 5

I considered dropping out and running away.

I wished I could live in the forest like a nymph.

Life would be so much simpler. No more avoiding my home holed up in the library.

No more parents yelling at each other early in the morning.

No more hearing the cries of my mother as she vents to me about my father.

No more sitting on the couch while my father tells me that my mother is delusional.

I could just live amongst the animals and trees for the rest of my life. I wished my fantasies could be reality.

Instead of dropping out, I spent my lunch period in the film classroom researching colleges.

I looked for ones as far away from Tennessee as possible.

A fresh start would be amazing. I could build a new life somewhere else.

I could make new friends, find a job, and maybe find a husband.

Suddenly a picture of Dominic flashed in my head and I shivered.

"Arizona, really?" Amelia remarked, looking over my shoulder.

"It would be cool to see the Grand Canyon." I shrugged.

Amelia gave me a confused look and took a bite of her apple.

"Last year you kept saying that you never wanted to leave Tennessee." She mentioned with her mouth full.

"Over the summer I developed some wanderlust. I thought it would be cool to go to college somewhere I've never been."

Amelia just rolled her eyes in disbelief and was quiet as she finished her lunch.

I felt as if she felt some animosity toward me.

We were planning to go to the same college together last year.

I guess I should have said something to her before I started to plan to ditch her.

I felt bad, but I needed to flee this place.

Suddenly, I heard the door slam shut with a loud bang. All eyes turned to the front of the classroom. Dominic. He found me. He was stalking me. Turns out he was every bit of the psychopath he was as a child. Maybe I really should drop out.

"Elaine." Dominic commanded me. He looked frustrated, and I had no idea why.

I seriously need to get out of here. I thought of any possible escape routes, but the only door was blocked by Dominic. Crap.

"What the hell is going on?" Amelia whispered to me.

"I have no clue." I mumbled back, not taking my eyes off of Dominic.

I am not very good with confrontation, and the thought of being alone with him terrified me. But it seemed as if I had no choice in the situation. I stood up and grabbed my backpack and started heading his way.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Amelia yelled before I got to the door.

"No." Dominic and I said at the same time.

I followed him out into the hallway. Dominic walked with pure confidence. His head was held high, and he did not once look back to see if I was actually following him. I could have turned around and bolted at that moment, but my curiosity won over my anxiety.

Even from the back he was handsome. Today Dominic wore a green cargo jacket over a black shirt and dark blue jeans.

I never looked at him enough to notice what he looked like or what he was wearing.

Warmth once again flooded my body, and I quickly darted my eyes to the ground. What is wrong with me?

We eventually headed outside, and Dominic kept walking further away from the school towards the woods. There was no way I was going into the woods alone with him.

"What do you want to talk about?" I snapped in frustration, stopping in my tracks.

Dominic finally turned around and sighed when he looked at me. Then he rubbed a hand through his hair.

"I don't want to talk where everyone else can hear us." He said in a low voice.

"I'm not going to follow you alone into the woods." I stated, crossing my arms to try to look confident.

"Elaine." He said my name gently, taking a step closer. "I am not going to hurt you."

"You really expect me to believe that after you stalked me to get my phone number and to figure out my schedule. Not to mention that you bit me in 7th grade." I huffed.

"I only did those things because you were clearly trying to avoid me."

"Well maybe you should have just taken the hint and left me alone." I protested.

Dominic suddenly stepped forward and grabbed my hand. It was like time stopped. I felt electricity shoot from my hand into the rest of my body, and I stood frozen in shock.

"Please." He pleaded, his icy blue eyes digging into my soul.

I followed him into the forest.