• The first thing I did was get bottle water and drank all of it. I wiped off my mouth and looked around. What should I do first? I checked my digital watch and realized it wasn’t working either. I guess when I’m tired I’ll go to bed, simple as that. But where am I going to sleep? I am not and I repeat NOT sleeping in that nice, comfortably looking bed with that Wal-Mart boy! I’ll make my own bed. I nodded. I went to the pillows and blankets and grabbed two nice new fluffy pillows and a nice big green comforter. I took my stuff and went to the paint supplies. I looked at all the nice ones and made a small bed in front of them. I smiled as I looked down at my little space.

    Then I realized something that almost made me cry. Mr. Stuffy wasn’t with me. He was my small white kitten. I frowned. I hardly ever sleep a good night without him. I sighed. This is a challenge. Yes. To see since I’m 17 to be able to sleep without my kitty. I mean if I took him to Harvard everyone would laugh at me. I pressed my lips together then walked to find something to eat. It wasn’t a Super Wal-Mart so it didn’t have the cold food. Just the canned and other stuff of course. I looked around as I walked, still afraid someone was watching me or Ryder was sneaking around. I went across the store to the food and found my favorite kind of chips! I smirked and grabbed them. Dad would never have approved. He had me on diets all the time. He thought I was to fat. I liked my size. I had a nice body. Not Holester model type but Me type. I opened the bag of chips wildly and grabbed one and stuffed it in my mouth. I laughed and sat on the cold ground savoring every bite because I knew I wouldn’t have these forever. I heard feet moving across the floor then Ryder came in from the right side of the aisle. He stared at me a moment then started laughing.

    I frowned. “What?” I asked my mouth full. I swallowed quickly. He came and stopped in front of me.

    “You really have no life do you?”

    I gasped. “Of course I do! Who are you to judge?” I stood up and faced him. He just grinned.

    “Denying isn’t good for your health. Gives ya wrinkles,” he pointed to my forehead and my hand automatically went there. He laughed and came a little closer. My breath was lost by his smell. It smelled like the ocean breeze with a hint of musk. Manly musk. He leaned so close I thought he was going to kiss me! He grabbed a bag of the same chips I was eating and stepped back.

    “Aren’t they just addicting?” he said and turned to walk away. My mouth opened and closed like a dying fish.

    “a*****e!” I yelled but it was too delayed. He was already gone. I sighed and walked out and into the girl’s clothes. I found a nice pair of track pants, a work out shirt and took it back with me to the art supplies. I felt empty as I reached there and quickly slipped out of my outfit and into the new one. I shivered feeling empty for some reason. I sat down and stared at the pretty paint brushes and smiled. Here, alone, (well not technically) with paint and paint brushes, I’m in heaven. I grabbed a nice new drawing note book and flipped it open. I grabbed my paints and sat them neatly in front of me. I smiled. Here we go.

    ****************************************************************************


    My eyes were falling to slits and I shook my head and sat down with my paint brushes. I rubbed my forehead and felt a smear of paint go onto it. I rolled my eyes and gathered my brushes. I didn’t finish my portrait but I was to tired too. I walked out of the aisle and went to the tooth brushes and grabbed one of those and a new tub of tooth past. I then went to find the bathroom. I found it at the front of the store. I walked in and washed out my brushes and laid them neatly on the counter below the mirror. I glanced up at myself and grimaced. I looked terrible. My hair was everywhere like always and my make up was running a little and there was a big red paint line on my forehead. I washed it off quickly and pulled my hair up into a pony tail. I brushed my teeth quickly and as I walked out of the bathroom I ran into something. A pair of hands steadied me as mine did the same. I looked up at Ryder and was amazed to see an actual smile on his face.

    “Trinity,” he said.

    I nodded. “Just brushing my teeth.” He let go of my shoulders and they tingled. “Um, er, do you have any idea how to set up a shower?” I asked trying to fill in the silence. He laughed.

    “No, but there’s one in the break room.”

    I nodded and pursed my lips together. “Well, I’m going to bed,” I said lamely and walked around him. My heart finally started to slow.

    “I’m turning off the light in 3 minutes!” he yelled. I turned and glared at him. But my bed was on the other side of the building! I started to walk faster but then I saw the lights start to go out. I cursed and walked faster. I turned the corner and was right by the entertainment section when everything went dark. I balled my hands up in fist.

    “Ryder!” I screamed. I put my hands out in front of me and started to walk. I was so freaked out when my elbow hit something and everything mashed to the floor. I jumped and ran into something else, the back of my head hitting a shelf. I got dizzy and fell to the ground a second before I regained my balance and stood up. “********!” I yelled again. It echoed through Wal-Mart and I smiled hoping he would hear it. I started to move again hoping I wouldn’t hit anything else.

    I finally made it back to my small bed and tripped as I got to it. I groaned. I knew for a fact my knee was going to be bruised and my head was already starting to grow a lump on it. I looked around and saw nothing but an orange light from an exit sign and grew cold. This isn’t my room. This isn’t my home. I pulled the covers up around me and curled into a ball. I then let myself loose and cried. I’m not a baby, if that’s what you’re thinking. I just wasn’t used to not being home. With my Mr. Stuffy and my parents and my dog JoJo. She would always sleep with me every night. She might have been my 200 pound St. Bernard but she fit perfect in my bed with me. I loved her and I missed her. I finally sniffed back my tears. Come on, you’re a grown up. Act like it. I finally started to fall asleep but was awakened by a scary sounding noise. It sounded like a growling but it stopped every couple minutes. I looked up but saw nothing but darkness. It started again and I pulled the comforter around my head. I jumped when I heard the thunder rumble loudly. “Nooo,” I whispered.