Chapter 14
Washe getting closer? Hesoundedlike he was getting closer. When I started to look back, I tripped. On what, I didn't know. Probably my own feet.
My hands and knees slammed the pavement. Before I could push myself up, the guy grabbed me from behind, and lifted me up into the air. I screamed and kicked, but he didn't put me down. Laughing like a maniac, he tucked me under his arm and started running toward the car.
I was crying now and screaming all kinds of things at him, words I knew I shouldn't be saying. But nothing made him stop. When we reached that one shopping cart, he tossed me into it. I tried to get up, but he shoved me back down. Pressing down on my shoulder, he pushed the cart tight against the car like he'd done with all the other carts.
He turned and gave the driver a thumbs-up. Then, he took a step backwards, out of the way. The engine roared.
I screamed.
And then, something happened.
Something dark and fast slammed into the guy with long hair.
It was another guy, a teenager from the looks of him. He had dark hair, dark clothes, and a dark look on his face, like he was ready to kill someone. He slammed the guy against the hood of the car and punched him hard in the face.
The long-haired guy tried to fight back, but all he did was look stupid, swatting at punches like he was fighting a giant bug or something. He started yelling for help. His voice was different now, all high and whiny. He sounded scared. I was glad.
The car-engine shut off, and the driver got out. He had red hair and lots of freckles, but he still looked at least eighteen, or maybe older. He dove for the guy in black, trying to pull him off his friend.
The guy in black elbowed the redhead in his face and did some crazy kick thing that sent the redhead flying backwards. The redhead landed on in a funny heap and then rolled over on his hands and knees.
"Fuck!" the redhead said. "What's your problem, man?"
The guy in black didn't answer. Instead, he turned to me. "You okay?" he asked.
I tried to answer, but I couldn’t. He was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. And he'd rescued me. Just like in the movies. I wiped at my eyes, hoping they weren't too wet. And then I nodded.
The long-haired guy was still lying in the hood of the car. His mouth was all bloody, and so was his nose. He pushed himself up and said, "Jeez Jake! What'd you freak out for? She's okay. It's not like wedidanything to her."
Oh wow. So theykneweach other?
Slowly, Jake turned to face the long-haired guy. "What?" Jake said.
With a big, dramatic groan, the long-haired guy pushed himself up from the car. He shook his head, and a big chunk of hair stuck to the blood on his face. He looked stupider than before, and I wanted to laugh. But I was afraid to laugh, because then I might start crying again. And I didn't want to cry in front ofhim, that Jake guy.
"Aw c'mon," the long-haired guy said. He shoved the clump of soggy hair aside and tucked it behind his ear. "We were just teasing her." He gave me a big, fake smile. "No big deal.Youthought it was fun. Right?"
"No," I said. "I thought it sucked."
Jake made a small laughing sound.
The redhead pushed himself up from the pavement. He was cussing, mostly under his breath. But he yelled out, "What the fuck is she?" His voice got all snotty. "Your girlfriend or something?"
Still sitting in the shopping cart, I felt myself smile. It would be nice to be Jake's girlfriend. He was really cute. Like a movie star, all dark and handsome, and really strong.
"No," Jake told him. "She's a girl, you asshole."
So he noticed? That was good. My smile got a teeny bit bigger.
"And a kid," Jake continued.
I stopped smiling. Hey, I wasn't alittlekid or anything. Next year, I'd be a teenager. Then, we'd be practically the same age.
Jake turned toward the long-haired guy and said, "So you're picking on kids now? What the fuck's wrong with you?" He glanced toward me. "Sorry."
Sitting in the cart, I straightened up at tall as possible. "You don't have to be sorry," I told him. "I've heard that word lots of times. And you know what? I said it too." I nodded. "Just a few minutes ago."
