One Summer Night

Prologue

     Dedicated to those who have ever loved. 

     I crossed the road, flipping the map that was in my hand over as I stared confused. The path clearly led to a dead end. I continued following the map without glancing around.

     Noise began to die down as I walked. Light began to fade as I looked around my surroundings. I gulped, realizing that I had walked myself into an alley way somehow. The temptation to look behind me was too strong as mental images played in my mind.

     I spun around quickly to find someone – or rather no one. My mind was playing tricks on me. It was hard to decipher between threat and sound. I shook my head, back tracking my steps, making sure to walk out of the alley way as fast I could. Goosebumps were aligning itself on my arm as hairs from the back of my neck stood up. Something was off.

     My pace wasn't fast enough. I picked up my speed, my map falling out of my grasp as I gripped my bag tighter. Something grabbed my wrist and pulled me back as I yelped.

     "Let go of me!"

     A hand clamped in front of my mouth as I struggled. My heart raced. What would happen to me?

     "No one will hear you, don't even try" a deep voice chuckled, not a single lace of humor traced in his voice.

     I refused to display vulnerability but I shook involuntarily knowing that he was right.

     I should have never left alone without Amanda.

     With his single hand, he touched my shoulder as I looked at him with disgust. The stranger had a hoodie over his head, his face hard to distinguish from the alleyway. He had broad shoulders, his age looking to be in the mid-thirties.

     I used my teeth, making sure to bite down as hard as I could as he yanked his hand back, an opening for me to escape.

     I ran as fast as I could, my legs only carrying me so far before he grabbed my hair and pulled my hair back.

     I cried in pain but he pushed me towards the wall as I fell, succumbing in defeat.

     "You stupid girl. You really shouldn't have done that."

     He came dangerously close I refused eye contact, tears brimming at the edge of my eyes.

     "I'm going to-"

     I lifted my head to see a boy packing a punch at the stranger. The stranger staggered aiming recklessly as he made to grab the boy. The boy ducked before punching him. The stranger fell to the ground before the boy wiped his mouth, kicking him in the stomach.

     He continued to do so as I stood, shocked. Unable to move, he looked at me expectantly as he grabbed my hand. He tugged on my arm before we both sprinted, the streets appearing again.

     We seemed to be in the middle of a community center. Many booths were set up as many continued to auction off the products they were responsible for.

     I looked at the boy, his shaggy blonde hair filled with sweat as he rolled up his sleeves. It wasn't until I clearly looked at his face that I realized he had also been injured.

     "Jesus Mary. Are you alright?"

     The edge of his lip was bleeding and I reached a hand to touch it as he winced. His green eyes found mine as I retracted my hand, realizing how intimate the situation was for two strangers who had just met.

     Guilt still nevertheless filled me as I tugged on his hand, leading him to a booth that seemed to have sold first aid supplies.

     "Do you maybe sell Band-Aids here?"

     I gestured to the stranger's conditions as the lady looked on, nodding.

     "We're short on them but we do have kiddy ones. They have pictures on them if you don't mind."

     I gave a small smile, taking out some bills for her as she gave them to me.

     "I expect you don't need a bag? It seems quite urgent" she says as I thank her.

     The boy followed me as we walked. I found an area by a fountain as I see him sit down beside me.

     "You know, I never learned your name," I teased, "I'm Jade."

     "Chase."

     He wasn't a talker. That much was evident. I opened the box, taking out a band aid. His hand brushed his dirty blonde hair, distracting me momentarily.

     "Stay still. Don't move."

     I carefully took out a small one before putting one by the edge of his mouth. I ignored the tingling feeling on my finger before getting up, hiding my blush. I tried not to laugh as I looked at the pony designs.

     He must have noticed as a pink tint fills his cheeks.

     "Don't feel bad, it looks kind of cute," I laughed, "you can keep these."

      I handed him the rest before he shook his head.

     "You can keep them. Not like I have much use for them anyways."

     He handed the box back to me before I noticed the bruises on his knuckles.

     "I'm sorry." I told him, guilt filling me.

     He looked at me puzzled, as if he didn't understand what I apologizing for.

     "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been injured."

     His eyes softened as he looked at me.

     "It wasn't anyone's fault. What that sleazebag would've done if I hadn't intervened would have been worse.. by at least a ten fold."

     I shuddered at the thought, I remembered feeling so vulnerable, and scared but I wasn't prepared to go down with my thoughts that had occupied me.  "Just let him get it over with" was my thought and I would  trade almost anything to never feel those emotions ever again. 

     "Thank you Chase."

      I let myself smile again, quite liking the way his name sounded on my tongue.