Her Love Ran Crimson (Crimson Series) Read Free

tell by the direction his head is that he is watching me. I run as fast and hard as I can across the street trying to get into the doors of the school where I can feel safe. Suddenly, I am face to face with Jase. He grabs me, trying to still me. I swear he can see the fear in my eyes and I can’t help but let a tear fall down my face. My body is shaking uncontrollably.
    “Where are you running to? What happened?”
    I try to wiggle my way out of his grasp not wanting to explain. “I am late for class. I have to go.”
    He calls after me, “Class is not starting for another twenty minutes.”
    I just can’t let myself stay. I dart inside the doors and find the nearest bathroom as tears are free falling down my face. I run into an empty stall and grab some tissue and wipe my face harshly. I suck in huge breaths trying to calm the vulnerable state I am in. Once I am certain no more tears will fall, I make my way to the sink and splash some cool water on my face. Grabbing a paper towel, I dab the beads of water from my face and take a good look at myself in the mirror. What has Frank done to me again? For Dixon to come back here? And why is it always me that has to pay the consequences of his failed actions?
    I make my way out into the hall. The coast is clear, so go to my locker, switch my books and head to class. I find my seat just as Jase is walking into the class. I don’t look at him at all this time, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know he is staring at me. I feel his eyes burning a hole in the back of my head and I know I am going to have to try and apologize. Class wraps up, so I pack my stuff up and head out the door. Jase stops me.
    “What the hell happened this morning? You looked so terrified and I wanted to help you, but you didn’t give me a chance.”
    “It was nothing. It’s not your problem. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out,” I say hoping this is enough to get him off the subject. He just stands there staring at me as if he can sense that I am close to a breakdown again. He stays by my side and follows me down the hall to our next class. This is the most uncomfortable class yet. All he does is stare at me. I see it in his eyes that he is trying to figure things out, trying to see what he could possibly do to get me to talk to him. I make no attempt to put him at ease and I know this is definitely going to be hard to stay away from him. I don’t know why he cares. He doesn’t even know me, yet he is trying to get inside, which is only going to make things more dangerous and put him at risk. I will not drag anybody else into this mess my stepfather has made. No other life will be lost due to Frank’s problems. All I can do to try and calm my nerves that have taken over my body is to take deep breaths and try to dismiss this conversation. I am scared and nervous, but at the same time I also feel butterflies flittering in my stomach every time he looks at me with those gentle eyes.
     
    ****
     
    The rest of my day is uneventful. As always, I eat in the library. Nobody likes to come in there to socialize. The only people who do are students who want to finish up assignments or get ahead and have no want to talk or engage with others. This is the most calming, quiet place for me to hang out during lunch. It gives me time to reflect on the current situation at hand. I shoot my stepfather a quick text.
    Me: Why didn’t you tell me Dixon was back and why did you send me there?
    Frank: He asked me to send you. We are back in biz together. Things are fine.
    Me: He followed me to school today. You are blatantly putting me in the mix again.
    Frank: You’re fine. He isn’t here for trouble. He just needs to make some money.
    Seeing how this conversation is going nowhere, I throw my phone back in my purse and look up to the clock and see the bell is about to ring. I clean up my spot and head to my next class. I have two classes left for the day and then I can try and put this day out of my head