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Chapter 1
I opened my eyes and closed them again instantly. A bright light was coming from somewhere and fuelling my already killer headache. Wait .Where was I??
I sat up fast. Hitting my head on the top bunk.
Looking around I realised I was in my room. Which was weird since I didn't remember coming home.
A lot of the night before was a blur. But what I did remember of it was scary asf.
******
"Becca! Are you coming down sometime this decade or should I leave without you??"
My best friend Linda was hollering from the downstairs bathroom. The problem was my shoes. I couldn't find my favourite blue Dickie's canvas sneakers. And I wasn't going to that party without them.
"I can't find my favourite shoes!"
I tossed all the shoes out of my closet, peeped under my bed, checked the bottom of my hamper and I found nothing! Zilch! Nada!!
"Did you check Jake's room?"
I hadn't. Why would my fave sneaks be in my stepbrother's room?? But I was desperate so...
I ducked into the room across the hall from mine.
And shocker of all shockers I spotted them right next to his bed.
"That douche! Why'd he take my shoes?"
I whispered to myself but I couldn't come up with a convincing reason.
"Becca I swear to the sweet Virgin I will walk out this door and leave you!"
I stuck my feet in and laced up as fast as I could then I ran downstairs to Linda.
Our outfits couldn't have been more different if we had tried.
Linda wore a sequined hot pink mini dress with baby pink platform peep toes.
I wore a navy blue and grey football jacket , a printed slouchy tee, bleached high waisted skinnies and my blue Dickie's sneaks.
"Babe! You look hot!"
She twirled around and flipped her shoulder length hair.
"I do don't I?"
She gave me an appraising look and raised an eyebrow.
"That's what you're going with??With ten hours notice that's the best you could do?"
I rolled my eyes. She didn't like my casual sense of style. But I didn't mind as long as she didn't try to change me.
I turned to the coffee table and grabbed my phone. We walked out onto the porch and I locked the door behind me.
"Let's get this party started bae!"
She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the mini cooper her mom got her on her 18th birthday the previous week.
This was gonna be one hell of a night.
Chapter 2
I'd give it to you all around the world//
"That's my tune!"
I screamed as we pulled up across the street from Timmy's party. DJ FreaK was playing my song and I wanted to be on that dance floor putting it down.
We hopped out and ran giggling up to the driveway. Timmy's house...no to call that a house is disrespectful. Timmy's mansion looked like some hollywood celeb or other's holiday home. But it was actually the home of the power couple that ran the biggest supermarket chain in the country. Mr and Mrs Murphy. They were the most influential people in the country. Second only to the President.
Linda rang the doorbell and a second later the door was thrown open by Timmy Murphy himself.
"Hey hey! Pretty ladies."
He grabbed Linda by the waist and smashed his face into hers in a loud kiss.
Oh wait. Did I mention he's Linda's boyfriend? Well yeah. He's Linda's boyfriend.
It's not surprising if you think about it. The hottest girl in school plus the richest ,hottest and did I mention RICHEST boy in school together made sense.
They sank into the throng of dancing people and disappeared. I moved in and closed the door behind me.
From my slightly elevated point I spotted Freddy at the back of the room tearing it up with his moves.
I made my way towards him dodging gyrating bodies and swishing drinks in disposable glasses.
When I made it there I fell into step with him and we bumped and wove together with perfect rhythm. A small circle opened around us as people cheered us on.
Everything seemed to melt away except me, Freddy and the music. His body moving in unison with mine at such a close range sent shivers of excitement up my spine. The electricity between us was tangible in the air.
At least until the song changed and drifted into a slow song.
I moved into his arms and we slow danced.
"Babe, every time you dance like that I just want to rip your clothes off and make love to you right on the dance floor."
I laughed at him. We were the dancing power couple in our school and we had also been the only couple to last past junior high.
"You always say that but all I'm hearing is talk. No action. "
I looked into his eyes and bit my lower lip.
He swallowed hard. I had gotten to him. I always knew which buttons to push to get him all hot and bothered.
He brought his lips to my ear and lightly nipped my ear lobe with his teeth. He tightened his hold on my waist and pulled tightly into him so I could feel every inch of him pressing against my thigh.
"You know I'll take you anywhere, anytime. But only if you're ready. "
His hoarse whisper made me tingle all over with excitement. My breath hitched and my heart raced.
He let go of my waist and took my hand instead. He led me through the crowd to the sliding door that led out into the garden. We walked to the gazebo where it was quiet and peaceful. There was a slight and cool breeze that tickled my skin. He sat on the bench and pulled me onto his lap.
"Rebecca Kyle. I love you okay. And I'll wait as long as it takes until you're ready."
He placed his hand on the back of my neck and pulled me in for a kiss. His soft, moist lips met mine in a shower of fireworks and moulded themselves perfectly to fit mine.
We kissed until I had to resurface for air. I gasped and he laughed at me.
"You're weak."
I raised my eyebrows.
"You wanna talk about weak?"
I slid higher up his lap placing my butt directly on his hard on.
"And you wanna talk to me about weakness."
He laughed and kissed me roughly to shut me up.
"So what if I said I'm ready tonight?"
He suddenly got serious. He cupped my face and looked into my eyes.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded. I had wanted to make a sarcastic but cute reply but the words failed me.
He lifted me off his lap and silently led me back into the loud house where the Maroon Five song Sugar was playing. Ignoring the masses of people calling for an encore we headed up the stairs to the guest rooms.
Freddy knew his way around the house because as Timmy's best friend he spent a lot of time here.
Here the noise was less prominent. After passing a great many doors he opened one on the right and led me in. He stood back and closed the door behind me.
I looked around me at the queen sized bed with Aztec printed covers and the dark mahogany bedside tables. The room was magnificent but I wasn't really seeing it.
My mind was on the guy standing behind me. The guy I had been with for close to four years and the guy I was about to give my maidenhood.
Freddy wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and pulled me close.
He breathed on my neck and planted lit
tle butterfly kisses on my neck. I gasped at the sensation this caused.
"You can still change your mind you know."
I shook my head.
"Mmm-mm."
He sucked on my neck sending chills up and down my spine before he spun me around suddenly and crushed his lips against mine. He walked me backwards towards the bed and lay me gently down without breaking his hold on my lips. He eased himself on top of me and his weight pressing down on me sent me past the point of mo return and I began running my hands up and down his back pulling him closer. He slid his hand up my top and started kneading my boobs through my bra. I followed his lead and slipped my hands into his tee and rubbed all over his back muscles.
He broke the kiss for a moment to pull my top off as well as his tee shirt. He looked at me like he was savouring the moment but I didn't have time for that. I pulled him in and kissed him hard.
Just as he was sitting up to undo my jeans he stopped.
"Did you hear that?"
I listened. Apart from the muffled music I couldn't hear a thing.
"What? The music?"
He climbed off the bed and slowly walked to the door.
"No. It was coming from Timmy's room. It sounded almost like a scream."
I rolled my eyes. So Timmy and Linda were having sex. What else was new?
I followed him still in my bra and jeans. He walked out into the hall towards the door opposite ours. It was slightly ajar and I could hear muffled sobs.
Strange.
Freddy nudged the door slightly wider.
What we saw would be the beginning of an unimaginable nightmare.
Chapter 3
I couldn't believe my eyes. Timmy sat on top of Linda with his hands around her throat.
He was strangling her and it didn't look like some kinky foreplay. She clawed at his hands weakly and let go slowly as she passed out. Her head tilted towards the door and her blank ,wide open eyes stared straight into mine as if begging for help. But I was frozen.
I was so petrified I didn't even hear Freddy whisper for me to go back to our room. He pushed me gently but I could feel the urgency behind it. He closed the door behind us and told me to get dressed. I found my top and he pulled on his tee.
I stood still with tears in my eyes. What the hell had I just seen?! What was Timmy doing to my best friend??
Freddy grabbed my shoulders and shook me.
"Becca! Listen to me. We have to get you out of here. You have to go home."
He whispered with such urgency I was scared out of my stupor. I followed him quietly as he led me to the door and just as we were walking out Timmy appeared out of the other room.
"Hey Freddy you little devil you. Did you just pop that cherry. "
Freddy laughed. But I could tell it was forced. That's how well I knew him. I just followed his lead and smiled nervously.
"No you Neanderthal. Mind your own business." They slapped each other on the backs and Freddy tensely led me away. We were halfway down the stairs when I tripped .I remember falling forward.
After that everything is a blank.
*******
My head spun as I sat in the bottom bunk of my bunk bed. It can't be possible. How could such a great night go awry so fast. Linda. Was she dead? What about Freddy? Was he okay?
"No! She's not dead. She can't be."
I ran out of my room and downstairs to the land line. I dialled Linda's number.
"The number you have dialled is not available at the moment. Please try again later. "
I hung up.
Maybe her phone is off. I'll call her house .
I dialled her place . After three rings Linda's little brother Ben picked up.
"Hey Ben. It's Becca. Did Linda come home last night?"
"Hey Becca. No she didn't. I thought she was supposed to sleep over at your place?"
Dammit. I'd forgotten about that.
"Yeah . But I guess she must have stayed over at Timmy's after the party. Don't tell mom."
"Okay. I won't"
I hung up. Now my head ached even harder. What the hell!? But I wasn't giving up . Maybe I should try Freddy.
"Becca??"
I exhaled heavily with relief.
"Freddy! I'm scared. I have no idea where Linda is. I've been calling her and she's not picking up . She never went home. I have no idea what's going on."
I was crying now. The words rushed out one after the other. I had no control of my own tongue.
"Becca calm down. I'm coming over right now. Don't go anywhere and lock everything until I get there."
I hung up and quickly went around locking every window and door. I was terrified. And Freddy's reaction only fuelled that.
Ten minutes later while I sat knees pulled up against my chest I heard a gentle tap at the front door. I ran to peep out the peep hole. It was Freddy.
I undid the lock and tore the door open.
Freddy grabbed me and squashed me into his chest in a bear hug.
He pushed the door shut with his foot and held me for a long moment. I wrapped my arms around him and inhaled his musky scent. He smelled of safety and love.
I trailed my hands up and down his back. As he breathed in and out the muscles on his back rippled against my hand.
He let go and held me at arms length. He stared at me like I was a new Porsche sitting on his driveway. I took his hand and led him to the couch. We sat down and he looked into my eyes like he does when he's about to drop a bombshell on me.
Like the time he told me he had almost slept with some girl at a party after taking too many shots. Yeah we had been through a lot and survived it all.
I steadied myself this would be huge.
"Becca. Linda is dead."
I had been ready for that. I had tried to ignore it but it was too obvious. I exhaled deeply and nodded.
"And she's not the first."
Now that floored me.
Chapter 4
"What do you mean?"
He sighed.
"He's done this before. Three years ago there was a girl named Shirley..."
"Oh yeah! She was in my home ec class."
"Yeah. Her. Didn't you ever wonder where she went so suddenly ? He killed her. He strangled her just like he strangled Linda that night at the party. He got away with it because of who he is and who his family is. The family never opened a missing person's case because they were paid off. And she had no friends so no one missed her. They were poor Becca. They were bribed and threatened into covering up their daughter's murder."
I was dumbstruck. Everything was spinning. Timmy had not only killed my best friend but she had been victim number two. Freddy seeing me speechless continued.
"But Linda is different. Her family won't be easy to keep quiet and she was the most popular girl in school. If she suddenly went missing people would notice. Becca I'm scared they'll come after you"
I froze. No. He can't have said that.
"What if they think you'll start asking questions? Becca you have to promise me. Promise not to tell a soul."
I was too shocked to speak. I just gaped and stared at him. He grabbed hold of both my shoulders and shook me.
"Becca I can't lose you. Promise me you won't say anything to anyone."
I leapt up and wrapped my arms around his neck. I sobbed and cried on his favourite checked shirt. He held me and rubbed my back gently.
"You still haven't promised me."
I sniffed one last time and wiped away my tears.
"I promise. I won't tell anyone.
He looked relieved that I'd listened to him. Something I never did. He kissed my wet face all over before he planted a sloppy kiss on my lips.
Just as he pulled away, his phone began ringing. He checked the caller ID and looked back up at me.
"Timmy. Wassup bruh?"
"Okay I'll be there in 10."
He hung up.
"I have to go boo. Make sure you don't let anybody in except your parents."
r /> He gave me kiss that felt so much like goodbye that my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach.
"I love you Becca."
He was gazing into my eyes again. This time with a fierce protective fire in his eyes.
"I love you too my lord of the dance."
He smiled slightly then turned and left as if he was scared he might change his mind.