55.
How do you greet a pissed-off Grandpa who is also a cop and you are about to tell the fattest lie ever? Yeah, I was doomed. Jared had eased his gray Volvo into the driveway, cut the engines, and killed the headlights. It took us a minute to gather our strength to get our story straight.
By some heavenly luck, we didn't cross paths with any patrol cars on the way back to Forks. Under the cover of the night, that beat-up Volvo was the best of disguise. I've suggested Jared take a detour to the theater to grab an alibi. We were just three friends coming from one of those cheap horror flicks. My heart skipped a beat when I saw what was airing. Jacob adored those impossibly terrible movies. "The date snatcher is coming to get you." The title alone made me wanna throw up. The guy at the booth gave us the weirdest look when we paid for our tickets. Guess he wasn't terribly interested in pushing his curiosity further when he handed us the precious piece of paper and waved us away. We went inside, the movie was minutes away from the end. We sat at the last row tensed like bows about to snap.
From what I could gather, the movie was about some psycho (how unoriginal, I rolled my eyes) who kills teenagers on their first dates. Guess the guy must have a shitty love life. I could relate. As screams rose to a crescendo, I couldn't help going back to that fated night everything went south. That night I let Jacob sneak in from the back door to watch one of those terrible pieces of cinematography. My heart squeezed inside my chest. Tonight, with his proximity and his scent clinging to me from how Seth had grabbed me to shield me from harm. Over the past years, I've gone back to that moment more times than I could remember. Dwelling in past memories was my only comfort. His smiles, his jokes, the way his lips felt when we kissed. But let's not get sidetracked here. Back to that driveway at Grandpa's house. My heart still flutters at the memory. The dread.
The house was dark, the curtains open. Maybe, Grandpa Charlie wasn't back from his murder scene. I sighed and reached for the door when a slow cruising car stopped right behind us. Its headlights blinded us. I shaded my eyes and saw the logo of the local police glaring at me. I swallowed my thumping heart about to leap out.
"Shit," Genni murmured. Jared opened the driver's door before I could muster the courage to do so. Grandpa Charlie was going to chew him up and spit his remains in the gutter. I heard the distinct sound of a door slamming shut.
"Sir," said Jared. I fought to get out of the backseat. That icy look he gave Jared shut him up.
"Ok, I'm sorry I sneaked out without telling you." I hurried up before he could add anything. I heard Genni get out behind me. I didn't turn to see but I could sense her terror. She was shaking. Her fear pressed against my back like an ice cube. "We just went to watch a movie," I said in a breath.
"A movie?" he placed his hands on his hips and leaned forward as if he didn't hear that right.
"Yes, Sir," Jared added. Grandpa Charlie raised one hand to quiet him.
"You'll get your turn later." He glared. He faced me and I braced for his furry and held his dark brown eyes. "Do you know where I was, just now?" Genni cowered behind my back and grabbed my shirt.
"If you are wearing your uniform, it must be work, right?" I played the smart ass.
"That's right," he let out a sigh. "Some poor lad was attacked at a rich brat's party that turned bad." He narrowed his eyes at Jared. "You seem familiar, aren't you related to that Mason's kid living in the manor uphill?" Jared shifted his feet and cleared his throat.
"Mason is my cousin from my mother's side. We don't get along that much. The usual family issues. We are poor, they are rich...thing." He waved his hand. Grandpa Charlie nodded after a while.
"You know, your Mom is going to kill me if she knows I let you slip outside while I was snoozing my booze." He came closer and lowered his voice for my ears only.
"I'm sorry, Charlie." I really was. I fished the precious ticket from my pocket and placed it in his palm. "That movie was a waste of money." And that wasn't a lie. Charlie chuckled, wrinkles around his eyes made his eyes smile.
"Get back inside before I pull out my shiny cuffs." He smiled.
"Aye, Aye Captain." I gave him a salute and turned to nod at Jared and give Genni a quick hug.
"Be safe," I whispered to her. She gave a weak smile that quickly disappeared. As I walked to the porch I heard Grandpa Charlie lecture my friends.
"You two, go straight home, there's some dangerous creature lurking tonight. And next time you want to watch a crappy movie come watch it here. I'll buy popcorn, you hear me?" Both mumbled a faint yes. I turned around on the porch hugging myself. A chilly wind had suddenly risen. I watched as they backed out of the driveway. Grandpa Charlie had moved his patrol car to give them enough space then he took his usual spot in the driveway.
We were left off the hook just like that...
No one found the creature who killed that kid. I heard the case is still open. The family grieving.
Jared and Genni eventually went out. Who would have thought? They were disgustingly loved and it was hard to hang around them. Their story went on for a while then it stopped. Genni came crying to me with puffy eyes. Something to do with Marisa. Yeah, Genni was a huge fan of hers. I have no idea why. But that story is for another time.
Today, I turn eighteen. Today I'll finally see Jacob, again.