“Tate!”I twirled around, stunned ou

“Tate!”

I twirled around, stunned out of my celebration, and met my grandma’s expectant stare.

Whoops. I wondered how long she’d been standing there.

I ran over to the CD player and switched off AFI’s Miss Murder. “Sorry. Just getting my groove on.” I smiled sheepishly. After a practice where I could’ve run at least another hour, I returned home with energy to spare. A weight had lifted off of me, and I felt like celebrating.

I’d decided to shelve my homework—since nothing was due this week, anyway—and forge a whole in my carpet with some horrendous dance moves.

“Well, you left your phone downstairs. K.C. called.” She tossed me my cell, which I caught. “And it’s almost seven. Are you ready to go eat?” Grandma waved her hand towards the door.

“Absolutely.” I grabbed my black cardigan and black Chucks. I’d changed into jeans and a t-shirt after I’d come home to clean up following practice. Since Jared’s locker room intrusion, I’d opted to shower at home.

“I’ll be down in a minute. I want to call K.C. back.”

Grandma nodded and walked out.

The idea of apologizing to K.C. caused my stomach to roll. She was dating a guy that treated me badly, and it hurt that she could turn a blind eye to that. But, I also realized the she and Jared were using each other. In time, probably sooner rather than later, this fling of theirs would be over. As long as she wasn’t teaming up with him to treat me like shit, then I’d decided not to give him what he wanted.

“Hey,” I greeted K.C. timidly when she picked up.

“Hey.” Her voice sounded curt.

I took a deep breath and let out a sigh. “So, I hope I can cash in a Get Out of Jail Free card. I’m sorry I said what I said today.”

She was silent for few moments as I nervously drifted around my room.

“You acted like a dick,” she mumbled.

I almost laughed. Well, she was talking to me at least.

“I know. He has nothing to do with me anymore. If he’s what you want, then I can grow up and get over it.”

“Apology accepted.” I could hear the smile in her voice.

“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m off to dinner with Grandma.” I could hear her mother calling her in the background anyway.

“Have fun. And I love you, Tate,” she said sweetly.

“Love ya, too. Later.”

We hung up, and I already felt better. Thank goodness that was done. Now, if I was lucky, I’d only have to endure minimal meetings with Jared. If I was really unlucky, though, he’d make all of K.C.’s and my outings into threesomes.

I also still felt like slapping my friend a little. But, at least, I’d let go of my bitterness about Jared. If she wanted to rebound with him, then that was on her. I was tired of making a problem where there wasn’t one, and to save myself some stress, I decided to mind my own business. She knew how I felt, and I knew she wouldn’t betray my trust. That’s all I needed.

I practically danced down the stairs, feeling like the hippo that’d been sitting on my chest decided to finally move on.

“Well, you seem like you’re in a good mood.” Grandma’s eyes followed my movements. “School was good today?”

“Yeah, actually. It was great.” Leting Jared know how much I’d been hurt by him let the frustration out. I no longer felt buried under his actions and my struggle to maintain a façade.

“Good. What are you in the mood for? Judging from your jeans, I guess O’Shea’s is out.” Her flat tone showed disappointment. O’Shea’s was her favorite restaurant in our less than diverse town.

“How about Mario’s?” I asked as I sat down to tie my shoes. I loved their pasta with basil and olive oil. The old couple that ran the restaurant was sweet and inviting, and my parents went on their first date there.

“Sure. Sounds good.” She grabbed her purse, and I snatched her keys. I always had to drive unless the situation didn’t allow it. Everywhere felt like forever to get to unless I was in control of the vehicle. Luckily, the adults in my life were indulgent.

As she stopped to fluff her hair and button her blazer in front of the mirror by the door, I slipped my arms through my cardigan and hooked my purse strap over my head.

“Gram? While we’re out, do you mind if we circle some lots, so I can check out some cars after dinner?” Finding a car hadn’t been on my mind in weeks, but the idea spilled out of my mouth like it had been on the tip of my tongue all day.

I couldn’t pretend that I needed the car to get around. After all, I had my dad’s Bronco. The control I’d asserted today was like slipping into new skin. Everything felt warm, delicious, and possible. Getting a car of my own was another dose of control, straight to the vein.

Grandma narrowed her blue eyes at me through the mirror. “Does your dad know you want to get a car?”

“Yeah, but I’m just looking right now, anyway.”

“You won’t want a car in New York City, honey,” she asserted, turning around to open the door.

“Is it okay if we just look? After all, I might still like a car when I come home for vacations.” I followed her out.

Turning to lock up the house, she nodded. “Sure, I don’t see any harm in looking.”

***

After a much-needed night out and light-hearted conversation with my grandma, I’d come home feeling calmer than I had in weeks.

I sat back on my bed, reading one of Chelsea Cain’s thrillers, when I heard yelping coming from outside.

My French doors had been open a crack, so I could hear the rain. The light drizzle that started when Grandma and I got home was coming down in buckets now. Swinging one of the doors open, I leaned outside and listened.

The barking was consistent, distressed…and close.

Madman.

As I peered down into Jared’s yards, I didn’t see any lights or sign of the little dog. The whole house looked quiet and dark. It was after eleven, so he and his mom must be asleep or still gone for the night.

Slipping on my Chucks, I walked down the stairs, taking a moment to check that my grandma’s bedroom light was off. Once at the front door, I switched on my porch light and walked outside.

Shit! It was raining.

How had I forgotten that in the three seconds it took me to get downstairs? Thank goodness for the covered porch. Hugging myself, I walked to the edge nearest Jared’s house and took another look. I put my hand to my mouth to stifle a small gasp at the sight of Madman whining and clawing at the front door. He was soaking wet, and I could tell from here that he was shivering. Luckily, he had a small awning protecting him from the thunderous downpour.

Without a second thought, I dived out into the storm and ran across our yards to Jared’s small front stoop. I only wore my sleep shorts and a tank top, so, like Madman, I was now shaking with the cold rain splattered on my bare legs and arms.

“Hey, buddy. How’d you get out here?” I bent down to pet his head, and he licked my hand excitedly. “Where’s Jared, huh?”

A shiver shot down my body, making my shoulders twitch.

The last thing I wanted to do was knock on the dickhead’s door, but there’s no telling what bullshit I’d wake up to if I took Madman home with me. Jared would probably accuse me of trying to steal his pet.

Madman had been collateral damage in Jared’s and my fallout. As much as I loved the dog, it just seemed like he should be with Jared. A few things had been like that after he came back from that summer away. One of our favorite hangouts was a fish pond at Eagle Point Park. When Jared and I stopped being friends, he stopped going there.

I got the pond. He got the dog.

“Jared? Ms. Trent?” I called while ringing the doorbell. The rain pounded to the ground, giving a flood-feel to our street. The howling wind forced the rain sideways, which soaked my shoes and calves, even under the awning.

I doubted anyone could hear someone scream in this ruckus, so I pounded on the door and rang the bell two more times. The house remained dark and silent. “Well, Madman. You may be coming home with me.” The little guy yelped again, clearly unhappy being outside.

Before I walked away, I gripped the door handle and turned. To my surprise, the door opened.

Not locked? Weird.

Madman darted inside, pushing the door completely open like he was running from a fire. His claws against the hard wood floors echoed down the hall. He’d gone to the kitchen, probably to his food dish.

I took a hesitant step into the foyer. “Hello?” The house was nearly pitch black except for the streetlights that cast a dull glow through the windows. “Ms. Trent? Jared?” I looked around and felt a chill shoot down my arms.

Something’s not right.

The house seemed almost dead. No ticking clocks, no hum of a fish tank. I wasn’t even sure if they had fish, but an occupied house makes some kind of noise, even in the middle of the night.

Madman barked, and I took a step towards the kitchen, but I stopped when I heard a crackle under my shoe. Taking a closer look, my eyes having adjusted to the dark, I noticed broken glass or…maybe it was pottery, on the floor. I surveyed the area and took in more disarray that I hadn’t noticed when I’d entered.

Chairs were overturned, a lamp was broken, and couch cushions lay about the living room. Even the framed pictures of Jared on the wall by the stairs were shattered and hanging by a corner.

Jared?! My heart pounded in my ears. What had happened here?

Madman continued to bark, more persistently this time. I ran down the hall and into the kitchen. The dog sat looking out of the open backdoor, whining and wagging his tail.

As I looked through the door, I could see Jared sitting on the top step leading down to the backyard. I let out a breath.

His back was to me, and he was drenched. Water poured down his bare back, and the hair on his head stuck to his scalp.

“Jared?” I called out, stepping up to the doorframe.

He turned his head enough to see me out of the corner of his eye, which was almost completely covered by his soaked hair.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

"Tate!"Saya dililit di sekitar, tertegun dari perayaan saya, dan bertemu nenek saya hamil menatap.Whoops. Aku bertanya-tanya berapa lama ia telah berdiri di sana.Aku berlari ke CD player dan dimatikan AFI's Miss Murder. "Maaf. Hanya mendapatkan alur." Aku tersenyum malu-malu. Setelah latihan yang mana saya bisa telah berjalan setidaknya satu jam, aku pulang dengan energi untuk cadangan. Berat telah diangkat dari saya, dan saya merasa seperti merayakan.Saya telah memutuskan untuk mengesampingkan PR saya-karena tidak ada karena minggu ini, tetap — dan forge bergerak secara keseluruhan di karpet dengan beberapa tarian yang menghebohkan."Yah, Anda meninggalkan telepon Anda turun. K.C. disebut." Dia melemparkan saya sel saya, yang saya menangkap. "Dan itu adalah hampir tujuh. Apakah Anda siap untuk pergi makan?" Nenek melambaikan tangannya kearah pintu."Tentu saja." Aku menyambar saya hitam cardigan dan Chucks hitam. Aku telah berubah menjadi jeans dan t-shirt setelah aku akan datang rumah untuk membersihkan praktek berikut. Sejak Jared's ruang ganti intrusi, aku telah memilih untuk mandi di rumah."Aku akan turun dalam satu menit. Saya ingin menelepon K.C. kembali."Nenek mengangguk dan berjalan keluar.Ide untuk meminta maaf kepada K.C. menyebabkan perut saya roll. Dia adalah berpacaran dengan seorang pria yang memperlakukan saya buruk, dan sakit bahwa dia bisa mengubah menutup mata untuk itu. Tapi, saya juga menyadari dia dan Jared menggunakan satu sama lain. Dalam waktu, mungkin lebih cepat daripada nanti, ini melemparkan mereka akan lebih dari. Selama dia tidak bekerja sama dengan dia untuk memperlakukan aku seperti sampah, kemudian saya telah memutuskan untuk tidak memberikan kepadanya apa yang ia inginkan."Hei," saya disambut K.C. takut-takut ketika ia mengambil."Hey." Suaranya terdengar singkat.Aku mengambil napas dalam-dalam dan mendesah. "Jadi, saya berharap saya dapat uang tunai dalam mendapatkan keluar dari penjara gratis kartu. Aku minta maaf aku berkata apa yang saya katakan hari."Dia adalah diam untuk beberapa saat karena saya gugup melayang di sekitar kamarku."Anda bertindak seperti dick," Dia berkata.Aku hampir tertawa. Yah, dia sedang berbicara kepada saya setidaknya."Aku tahu. Dia tidak ada hubungannya dengan saya lagi. Jika ia adalah apa yang Anda inginkan, maka saya bisa tumbuh dan mendapatkan lebih dari itu.""Permintaan maaf diterima." Aku bisa mendengar senyum dalam suaranya."Baik-baik saja. Aku akan melihat besok. Aku pergi untuk makan malam dengan nenek." Aku bisa mendengar ibunya memanggil tetap di latar belakang."Bersenang-senang. Dan aku mencintaimu, Tate,"katanya manis."Love ya, juga. Kemudian."Kami menutup telepon, dan aku sudah merasa lebih baik. Syukurlah itu dilakukan. Sekarang, jika aku beruntung, saya hanya harus bertahan minimal pertemuan dengan Jared. Jika aku benar-benar beruntung, meskipun, dia akan membuat semua K.C.'s dan saya tamasya ke threesomes.Aku masih merasa seperti menampar teman saya sedikit. Tapi, setidaknya, aku akan melepaskan saya pahit tentang Jared. Jika ia ingin rebound dengannya, maka itu pada dirinya. Saya sudah lelah membuat masalah mana tidak ada satu, dan untuk menyelamatkan diri beberapa stres, saya memutuskan untuk pikiran bisnis saya sendiri. Dia tahu betapa aku merasa, dan aku tahu dia tidak akan mengkhianati kepercayaan saya. Itulah yang saya butuhkan.Aku hampir berdansa menuruni tangga, merasa seperti hippo yang telah duduk di dada saya memutuskan untuk akhirnya pindah."Yah, kau Sepertinya Anda berada dalam mood yang baik." Nenek mata mengikuti gerakan saya. "Sekolah adalah baik?""Ya, benar-benar. It was great." Leting Jared tahu berapa banyak aku telah menyakiti olehnya mengeluarkan frustrasi. Saya tidak lagi merasa dikubur di bawah tindakannya dan saya berjuang untuk mempertahankan fasad."Baik. Apa yang Anda dalam mood untuk? Menilai dari jeans Anda, saya kira O'Shea keluar." Nada datar menunjukkan kekecewaan. O'Shea's adalah restoran favorit nya di kami kurang dari berbagai kota."Bagaimana tentang Mario di?" Aku bertanya karena aku duduk untuk mengikat Sepatu saya. Aku mencintai mereka pasta dengan kemangi dan minyak zaitun. Pasangan tua yang berlari Restoran manis dan mengundang, dan orang tua saya pergi di kencan pertama mereka di sana."Pasti. Kedengarannya baik." Dia menyambar tas wanita, dan aku menyambar kunci nya. Aku selalu harus drive kecuali jika situasi tidak mengizinkannya. Di mana-mana merasa seperti selamanya untuk mendapatkan kecuali saya mengendalikan kendaraan. Untungnya, orang-orang dewasa dalam hidupku yang memanjakan.Ketika dia berhenti untuk bulu rambut dan tombol blazer nya di depan cermin melalui pintu, aku menyelinap lengan saya melalui cardigan saya dan ketagihan tali tas saya atas kepalaku."Gram? Sementara kita keluar, Apakah Anda keberatan jika kita lingkaran beberapa banyak, sehingga aku dapat memeriksa beberapa mobil setelah makan malam?" Mencari mobil tidak berada di pikiran saya di minggu, tetapi ide tumpah keluar dari mulut saya seperti itu berada di ujung lidah saya sepanjang hari.Saya tidak berpura-pura bahwa saya membutuhkan mobil untuk berkeliling. Setelah semua, aku punya Bronco ayah saya. Pengendalian saya mengatakan hari ini adalah seperti tergelincir ke kulit baru. Semuanya merasa hangat, lezat, dan mungkin. Mendapatkan mobil saya sendiri adalah dosis lain kontrol, langsung ke vena.Nenek menyempitkan matanya biru saya melalui cermin. "Apakah ayah Anda tahu Anda ingin mendapatkan mobil?""Ya, tapi aku hanya melihat sekarang, anyway.""Anda tidak akan ingin mobil di New York City, madu," dia menegaskan, berbalik untuk membuka pintu."Itu baik jika kita hanya melihat? Setelah semua, aku masih mungkin seperti mobil ketika saya datang rumah untuk liburan. " Saya mengikuti dia keluar.Beralih ke mengunci rumah, Dia mengangguk. "Tentu, saya tidak melihat ada salahnya dalam melihat."***Setelah banyak dibutuhkan malam keluar dan cahaya-hati percakapan dengan nenek saya, saya akan pulang dengan perasaan lebih tenang daripada yang saya miliki dalam minggu.Aku duduk kembali di tempat tidur, membaca salah satu thriller Chelsea kain, ketika saya mendengar mendengking datang dari luar.Pintu Prancis saya telah membuka celah, jadi aku bisa mendengar hujan. Mendung yang dimulai ketika nenek dan saya tiba di rumah adalah turun dalam ember sekarang. Berayun dari pintu terbuka, aku bersandar di luar dan mendengarkan.Menggonggong adalah konsisten, tertekan... dan dekat.Orang gila.Seperti yang saya mengintip turun menjadi Jared's, saya tidak melihat lampu atau tanda anjing kecil. Seluruh rumah tampak tenang dan gelap. Itu adalah setelah sebelas tahun, jadi dia dan ibunya harus tidur atau masih pergi untuk malam.Slip pada saya Chucks, aku berjalan menuruni tangga, meluangkan waktu untuk memeriksa bahwa nenek saya kamar tidur terang adalah off. Sekali di depan pintu, aku beralih pada cahaya Beranda saya dan berjalan di luar.Omong kosong! Hujan.Bagaimana saya lupa bahwa dalam tiga detik butuh saya untuk mendapatkan bawah? Syukurlah untuk Beranda tertutup. Memeluk diriku, aku berjalan ke tepi terdekat Jared's rumah dan mengambil melihat lagi. Aku meletakkan tanganku bagi mulutku untuk membungkam terengah kecil dengan pemandangan Madman merengek dan mencakar di pintu depan. Ia adalah basah kuyup, dan aku tahu dari sini bahwa dia gemetar. Untungnya, ia memiliki tenda kecil yang melindunginya dari hujan menggelegar.Tanpa dipikir-pikir, aku menyelam keluar ke dalam badai dan berlari melintasi yards kami untuk Jared's stoop tamu kecil. Aku hanya mengenakan celana pendek tidur saya dan tank top, jadi, seperti orang gila, aku sekarang gemetar dengan hujan yang dingin dipercikkan pada kaki telanjang dan lengan saya."Hei, buddy. Bagaimana Apakah Anda get di sini?" Membungkuk kepada hewan peliharaan kepalanya, dan dia menjilat tanganku penuh semangat. "Mana adalah Jared, ya?"Gemetar ditembak jatuh tubuh saya, membuat bahu saya kedutan.Hal terakhir yang ingin saya lakukan adalah mengetuk pintu tetap bandel, tapi ada mengatakan apa omong kosong yang aku akan bangun untuk jika aku mengambil gila rumah dengan saya. Jared mungkin akan menuduh saya mencoba untuk mencuri hewan peliharaan.Gila telah jaminan kerusakan di Jared's dan kejatuhan saya. Sama seperti aku mencintai anjing, itu hanya tampak seperti dia harus dengan Jared. Beberapa hal yang telah seperti itu setelah ia kembali dari musim panas kaki. Salah satu hangouts favorit kami adalah sebuah kolam ikan di Eagle Point Park. Ketika Jared dan saya berhenti menjadi teman, dia berhenti pergi ke sana.Aku punya kolam. Ia mendapat anjing."Jared? Nn. Trent?" Aku menelepon sementara dering Bel. Hujan ditumbuk ke tanah, memberikan banjir-merasakan jalan kami. Angin melolong dipaksa hujan menyamping, yang direndam saya sepatu dan betis, bahkan di bawah tenda.Saya meragukan siapa pun bisa mendengar seseorang berteriak di keributan ini, jadi aku menggedor pintu dan membunyikan bel dua kali lagi. Rumah tetap gelap dan sunyi. "Yah, orang gila. Anda mungkin akan datang rumah saya. " Kecil cowok yelped lagi, jelas tidak bahagia berada di luar.Sebelum saya berjalan pergi, aku mencengkeram pegangan pintu dan berubah. Saya terkejut, pintu dibuka.Tidak terkunci? Aneh.Gila kecilpun di dalam, mendorong pintu benar-benar terbuka seperti ia berlari dari api. Cakarnya terhadap lantai kayu keras bergema menyusuri lorong. Dia telah pergi ke dapur, mungkin ke hidangan makanan nya.Aku mengambil langkah yang ragu-ragu ke serambi. "Halo?" Rumah itu hampir pitch hitam kecuali untuk lampu jalan yang melemparkan cahaya yang kusam melalui jendela. "Ms. Trent? Jared?" Aku memandang sekeliling dan merasa dingin menembak ke bawah lengan saya.Something’s not right.The house seemed almost dead. No ticking clocks, no hum of a fish tank. I wasn’t even sure if they had fish, but an occupied house makes some kind of noise, even in the middle of the night.Madman barked, and I took a step towards the kitchen, but I stopped when I heard a crackle under my shoe. Taking a closer look, my eyes having adjusted to the dark, I noticed broken glass or…maybe it was pottery, on the floor. I surveyed the area and took in more disarray that I hadn’t noticed when I’d entered.Chairs were overturned, a lamp was broken, and couch cushions lay about the living room. Even the framed pictures of Jared on the wall by the stairs were shattered and hanging by a corner.Jared?! My heart pounded in my ears. What had happened here?Madman continued to bark, more persistently this time. I ran down the hall and into the kitchen. The dog sat looking out of the open backdoor, whining and wagging his tail.As I looked through the door, I could see Jared sitting on the top step leading down to the backyard. I let out a breath.His back was to me, and he was drenched. Water poured down his bare back, and the hair on his head stuck to his scalp.“Jared?” I called out, stepping up to the doorframe.He turned his head enough to see me out of the corner of his eye, which was almost completely covered by his soaked hair.