Jamie drove to Joseph's house with me in the backseat. Her windows were tinted dark enough so that I couldn't be seen. She glanced at me nervously. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"
I nodded. "Just go, Landon's house is right down the street. Go home and don't worry." I got out of the car and she drove away. I quietly walked around the house and found the breaker box. I opened it and flipped all the switches off. Every light in the house went off and I wiped the box down to remove all my finger prints. Just to be safe, I found a rock and picked it up and threw it at the box. Sparks flew and I picked up the rock and threw it as hard as I could over the fence and into the neighbors yard.
I continued around the house and found a window. It was unlocked, so I climbed into it stealthily.
Joseph was cursing to himself as he bumped around in the next room. I was still and let my eyes adjust to the dark before I continued forward.
I was in what looked to be like a guest bedroom. Jamie said there would be a gun in his nightstand in his room. His room is near the kitchen. I quietly pressed my ear against the door and listened.
Joseph sighed and walked down the hall. I heard the front door slam and I quickly ran down the hall and found myself in the living room. A door was on the far side and I ran toward it. As soon as the door swung closed behind me I heard the front door open and close.
Immediately, Joseph came running in the kicthen with a large black flashlight in his hands. His eyes were frantic when they landed on me.
My breath quickened and I sprinted into a different door.. It looked like Joseph's bedroom. He was behind me in an instant. I jumped on the bed and tried to run across but he grabbed my leg and yanked me back. I let out a small scream and used my free leg to kick him in the stomach.
He groaned but didn't let go of me. I reached back but couldn't reach anything that I could use to hit him with. I kicked again and my foot connected with his face.
He let go of my leg and cradled his, now gushing blood, nose. I scrambled to my feet and leaped off the bed. I ripped the drawer out of the nightstand and found the gun. When I grabbed it something hit me in my back and I collapsed on the ground, dropping the gun in the process.
Joseph stood over my holding the flashlight and he flipped me over over onto my back.
It felt like a huge pressure was put on my chest and I couldn't really breath. He really knocked the breath out of me with that damn flashlight.
The blood from his nose dripped rapidly on the front of my shirt. I was trying to suck in air like a fish out of water.. He stood over me and just stared at me with crazy eyes.
He raised the flashlight and got ready to hit me with hit but I mustered enough energy to raise my foot up and kick him in the groin. He fell over clutching himself and graoning.
I sat up on my knees and searched around the floor for the gun. It was nowhere to be found.
My breathing was beginning to get under control but it still hurt to breathe. Joseph grabbed at my shirt but I stumbled to my feet before he could actually get a hold on me. I searched around the room for anything that might be able to hurt him because I couldn't find the gun.
I found a ball piont pen on the ground and picked it up. Joseph got off the ground and caught me in a headlock. He squeezed and I could feel the color draining from my face. My air was being cut off and he just squeezed harder.
I gripped the pen and rammed it into his stomach. I felt the flow of blood on my hands and down my lower back and legs. I yanked the pen out and he just tightened his grip on me. He started to stumble but held onto me.
The air was beginning to get cut off completely so I kicked off one of my shoes and felt around for the gun. My foot went under the bed and I felt the cold metal.
I pulled it with my foot but then started to see black dots. Joseph was like a boa constrictor, continually squeezing the air out of me until I would die.
His blood was all over me and he finally fell to the ground. He landed on top of me and that didn't help my breathing problem. His face was buried in my neck but he was still breathing.
The gun was closer to my hand but I still had to reach to grab it. I put the barrel to his side and fired twice.
He sucked in a sharp breath and his breathing became erratic but finally slowed, until it stopped.
I could feel the warm liquid pooling around me and I closed my eyes. My breathing became under control but I didn't have the energy to move. Joseph was laying on top of me, dead and bleeding.
The gun was still in my hand and it was hot. A cell phone rang from somewhere in the room and the noise brought the energy back into my body.
I shoved him off of me and I almost vomited. I was covered in Josephs' blood. The smell was unbearable.
I picked up my shoe and jumped out the window. I was in his backyard. I jumped the fence and ran.
Dogs were barking from inside a house somewhere but I continued running. I hopped another fence with ease but when I hit the ground I stepped on something that cut through my foot.
I stumbled and yelped. Tears filled my eyes and the shock of what I just did caught up with me. I sobbed quietly as I limped to Landon's house.
I only had to jump over one more fence before I was in Landon's backyard. I saw him in the living room window. He looked handesome, he was dressed in a white dress shirt and black dress pants.
I limped over to the Frenchdoors in the kitchen. I was still sobbing when I opened the doors and walked in. Landon walked into the kitchen and stopped short when he saw me.
He took in my clothes and my face. I buried my face in my hands and sobbed harder. "Amanda?" he said quietly. I heard his footsteps come closer and I put a hand out to stop him from moving any closer.
I limped past him out of the kitchen. I could hear Landon following me.
"Come here." he said softly and pulled me into his arms. He gently rubbed my back and kissed the top of my head. I cried into his chest and got blood all over the front of his shirt and pants. He picked me up and carried me all the way to his room. We entered the bathroom and he turned the shower on. Landon had one of those big glass showers. I stepped in with all my clothes on, even my shoe, and the hot water ran over me and burned my skin but I didn pay attention, I just kept crying. Landon took off his shirt and stepped in with me. He adjusted the water so it wasn't burning but still hot. I put my forehaed on Landon's bare chest and took in a ragged breath.
I watched the bloody water swirl around our feet. Landon lifted my face and smoothed my cheeks. More tears spilled over and sobs took over.
Landon didn't know what to do. "Amanda." he whispered soothingly. "What happened?"
I responded with another sob. He didn't push the question any further. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to get my emotions under control.
Landon rubbed my back and continued to try and comfort me. I cried into his chest as the steam from the water rose around us. A phone rang from somewhere in his room. He dipped his head to kiss my cheek. "I'll be right back okay?" he whispered on my cheek.
I nodded shakily and he disappered from the shower. I turned toward the water and rubbed my clothes to try and get the blood out. I finally just took off my shirt and tossed it in the corner of the shower.
My shoe was beginning to annoy me so I kicked it off and lifted my hurt foot so I could see the damage. I had a slice from my heel to the middle of my foot not even an inch deep. It wasn't very impressive but it hurt.
I could hear Landon's voice in the other room and I caught a glimpse of him as he paced around the room talking into the phone. I tried to take my pants off but my foot got stuck and I tripped and fell on my butt.
"Ow." I mumbled. Landon came in the bathroom and looked down at me. I pathetically tried to smile but ended up grimacing. I stopped crying and just laid on the shower floor with the water pounding on my stomach and legs.
"I'll call you back later." Landon said into the phone and hung it up. He sat on the floor of the shower beside me and I closed my eyes. "Jamie called to check on you."
I was quiet for a while. He ran his fingertips along my stomach. I shivered and moved closer to him.
"She said that she will see you soon so she can talk to you." he mumbled and leaned down closer to me. "I don't know what happened but I want you to know that I am right here if you want to talk." He kissed me slowly and I kissed him back gently.
"I know." I said when I broke away from him. I opened my eyes and stared into his dark ones. "But right now I just want to go to bed." I whispered and pulled him down over me. "And I want to forget what happened."
I felt him nod. He kissed my neck and then stood up with me. I rinsed the remaing blood off of me and when I turned my back to him, I felt him carefully touch te middle of my back.
I flinched. That must be where Joseph hit me with the flashlight. He wrapped his arms around my stomach and put his head on my shoulder. I kissed the top of his head and inhaled deeply. Even though he was soaking wet I could still smell the faint scent of cologne.
Another perfect moment for 'I love you.'
I sighed and leaned my head on his. I turned off the water and he let go of me.
~~~~~~
When we were in his bed he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to him.
I curled into the shape of his body and kissed him goodnight.
"Goodnight." he mumbled against my lips and I smiled softly at him.
I put my head in his neck and yawned. "Goodnight." I couldn't sleep for a long time but when sleep did take over me, it was welcomed.