Disclaimer:  In first chapter.

Chapter 38

“Well, well, well, look who I get to work with today,” came an all too cheerful voice from behind her.

Cringing inwardly, Sarah stopped what she was doing and slowly turned around.  Eyeing the person with distaste she grumbled, “Great, just what I need, you of all people to work with.”  Turning back around to finish her task of slicing up pumpkin pies, she warned, “Just stay out of my way Eli and maybe you’ll live to see another day.”

She didn’t need to look at his face to know he was smiling from ear to ear as he stood beside her and started helping with cutting pies.  “Oh Sarah,” Eli began, “I love it when you verbally abuse me out in public.  I get all tingly inside when you threaten my life.  Nothing says loving like a little bodily harm,” he teased, grabbing a stack of paper plates nearby.

A begrudging smile appeared on her lips as she turned away from Eli, trying to hide her reaction.  No matter how mad she got at the world or Eli for that matter, he always found a way to make her smile, which she hated because he knew her all to well.  “You’re such an idiot, Eli,” Sarah commented, doing her best to hide the smile from her voice.

Walking around her, he began handing her paper plates. “Well, what can I say, I guess I’m just gifted,” he joked.  “By the way, you should smile more often.”

“I wasn’t smiling,” Sarah denied, but her mouth betrayed her as her grin only got broader.

“Well then, if that wasn’t a smile then I must be the president of the United States,” he teased back.

Smiling never wavering, she looked up at him and shook her head.  “Eli, if you were the president my ass would be fleeing to Canada by now.”

“Now that hurt,” Eli feigned dramatically, placing a hand over his heart.  Pretending to wipe a tear from his eye he added, “Sarah, you really know how to destroy a man’s dream.”  Smiling, he playfully nudged his shoulder against hers.  “So, how did last night go with your folks?  Are you grounded until doomsday?” he asked, spraying whip cream on the pieces of pie before him.

“Well, they haven’t punished me yet, but I’m definitely not looking forward to it.  I’m sure it’ll have something to do with me not seeing Brad,” she answered, throwing a pie box away.  “Of course, my Mom will make extra sure to persuade my Dad to her side, but try as she might, she won’t keep me away from Brad.  I’ll see him no matter what she says,” she said with fierce determination.  “I won’t let her run my life.”

“Sarah,” Eli chided lightly, “don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh when it comes to your Mom.”

“Me…harsh?  Are you kidding me?” she questioned incredulously.  “She’s been nothing but a pain in my ass for the past six months.”

“Sarah,” he sighed, “All I’m saying is that sometimes a parent knows what’s best for their children even if the child doesn’t agree with that parent’s decision.” 

Slamming her can of whip cream down on the table, Sarah glared at Eli.  “I don’t believe this!” she shouted furiously.  Seeing she caught the attention of a few people walking by she lowered her voice and said, “It figures you would side with her.”

“Sarah, would you just chill out,” Eli whispered.  “This isn’t the time or the place for this.”

“No Eli, I won’t chill out.  Since you think you know everything about what’s going on, why don’t you enlighten me with your thoughts on the subject,” Sarah shot back angrily.

Sighing, Eli looked over at Sarah.  “What I don’t understand is why you’re risking everything for some guy you’ve only known for two to three months?  Is he really worth the risk?  How can you stand there and defend him after what he did last night?  Sarah, the guy is bad news.  He isn’t good for you, why can’t you see that.”

“He isn’t bad news.  He’s the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.  He understands me.”  She paused an added, “He loves me.”

Face softening, Eli closed the distance between them, standing toe to toe with her.  Pushing a few strands of dark, brown hair away from her face he said, “Sarah, he doesn’t love you.  Look how he treats your parents.  He’s disrespectful and arrogant.  As for your friends, just go visit Debbie and see the damage he’s inflicted upon her.”

Sarah backed away from him not wanting to believe his words.  Why was everyone lying to her?  Why couldn’t they see that Brad was an overall good guy?  Sure, he had his problems, but who didn’t?  She had to get out of here.  Quickly untying her apron, she threw it down on the table.

“Sarah, what…what are you doing?” Eli asked curiously.

“I need to take a break.”

“But it’s not time yet.”

“I don’t care,” she snapped, “I need a break.”

Turning away from her, he shook his head from side to side, clearly angry with her.  “Fine, do what you always do, run away when things hit to close to home,” he bit out caustically.

Stopping abruptly, she turned around and walked towards Eli.  “Well, if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black,” she shot back angrily.

“What?”

“You heard me.  It’s so easy for you to point out everyone else’s problems, but when someone turns the tables on you, you either turn a deaf ear or a blind eye because you don’t want to face the ugly truth,” Sarah replied back.

Chuckling sarcastically, Eli folded his arms across his chest.  “Okay, now this I’ve got to hear O’Great Swami, please tell me what I’m so scared to face.”

“The easy, fake smiles, the little wise cracks here and there, they’re all part of this little defense mechanism that you’ve created to protect yourself against what you truly feel on the inside.”

“And what’s that?” he growled out.

“That you feel like the spare son to your parents, and because of this, you resent your older brother more than anything else in the world.”  Seeing she struck a nerve within Eli, she leaned closer to his face an added, “I bet anything that deep down you’re glad that your brother is missing in action over in Afghanistan right now.”  Pulling back, she looked into Eli’s glistening eyes, seeing the hurt she inflicted upon him with her accusations. 

Eli absently backed away, almost falling on the floor a few times as he continued to move away from her.  Seeing him broken up all inside filled her with remorse.  “Eli, I’m sorry…”

“Don’t,” he interrupted harshly, cutting her off.  “You went to far this time Sarah, too far.”  Grabbing his windbreaker off a nearby table he added coldly, “Congratulations Sarah, you’ve just lost another friend.”

Sarah quickly rushed across the small area, and grabbed Eli’s arm, stopping him from leaving.  “Eli, I’m sorry.  Please, would you look at me?”

“Go to hell, Sarah!” he replied with a coldness that chilled Sarah to the bone.  Roughly pulling away his arm he added, “I hope Brad really does love you because the way you’re going he’ll be the only person in your life that will ever give a damn about you.”  Pushing aside the blue, plastic tarp, Eli exited the booth.

XXXXXX

“I think we should get this pumpkin too, Dad,” commented a cheerful Brandon as he patted the orange squash beside his feet.  “This one will make a great jack o’lattern for Halloween.”  Glancing over at his mother he added, “Right Mom?”

Smiling at the excited boy, Miss Parker took a step towards him, ruffling his red hair.  Wrapping an arm around his small shoulders she answered, “Of course it will.”  Looking over at Jarod she asked, “So, that’s how many now?”

“Five pumpkins ready to be carved for Halloween,” he replied as he knelt down and grabbed the pumpkin.

As Jarod paid for the pumpkins, Miss Parker looked across the way to find Sydney and Josh eating funnel cakes and drinking hot chocolate over in the picnic area.  Leaning down beside Brandon she said, “Brandon, why don’t you go sit with Syd and Josh over there while me and your father load up these pumpkins in the car, okay?”

“Okay, Mom.”

Watching Brandon run away, she turned her attention back to Jarod.  “I can’t believe you’ve got five pumpkins,” she smiled, shaking her head as she picked one up.  “These are going to be a pain in the ass to carve out.”

“Ah, but Parker, Halloween only comes but once a year.  Besides it’ll be fun,” Jarod chuckled as they walked out towards the parking lot.

After taking two trips back and forth to Jarod’s car, all the pumpkins were now loaded into Jarod’s trunk.  Walking side by side to the picnic tables, Jarod wrapped an arm around Miss Parker pulling her closer to him.  Kissing her on the forehead he said, “Have I told you how much I love you today?”

Wrapping an arm around his waist she looked up at him and smiled.  “Yes, but I never get tired of hearing it.”

Leaning closer to her ear he whispered huskily, “I love you.”

An involuntary shiver ran through Miss Parker at the tone of his voice.  Oh, if only they were in a room alone together, then she could have her way with him; unfortunately they weren’t, so she settled for kissing him on the cheek.  “I love you too, Jarod.” 

Reaching the table that Josh, Sydney, and Brandon were at, they sat down beside them.

“Dad, can I go get another funnel cake?” asked Brandon.

Looking around, Jarod saw the funnel cake booth was right in his line of vision.  Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out some money and handed it to Brandon.  “I’ll be right back,” commented Brandon as he hopped up from the picnic table and ran towards the booth.

“Jarod, shouldn’t you go with him,” whispered Parker as she watched Brandon once again run off.

Patting her hand he said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, we can keep an eye on from right here.”

Minutes passed by as the four people at the table continued to talk to one another.  Every few seconds Jarod glanced up to make sure Brandon was okay, satisfied that he was, he continued his conversation with the others.

“Well, if it isn’t Jarod and Parker,” came Alex’s voice from behind Jarod.

Turning around, Jarod waved Alex over to sit with them.  However, when Jarod looked back towards the funnel cake booth all the air within his lungs escaped him.  No, not again, he thought fearfully, abruptly standing up, looking around wild eyed.

“Jarod, what’s wrong?” asked Parker worriedly.

“Brandon’s missing.”

XXXXXX

Brandon didn’t have any friends, so when some boys about his age and a few years older, asked him if he wanted to play a game of football with them, he felt thrilled at being asked, but now as he was led into the nearby woods, away from his parents he felt a sense of apprehension building with each step he took.  Something just wasn’t right.

Stopping he said, “I…I think I need to go back and tell my parents where I’m at before they get worried about me.”  Quickly turning around, he was about to run away, but instead ran into another group of boys, ones he knew all to well.

The leader of the group was named Randy and he always made sure to make Brandon’s life a living hell.  “Well boys, look what we’ve got here,” taunted Randy as he circled around Brandon.  “If it isn’t the mailman’s child.”  Everyone laughed except Brandon.

“I’m not the mailman’s child,” he shot back nervously.

Stopping in front of Brandon, Randy took a step closer.  “Are you sure, because you look nothing like the rest of your family, Freak,” Randy teased, pushing Brandon.  “It amazes me that you’re even related to Josh Hunter, probably one of the best quarterbacks that ever played for Blue Cove High.”  He paused momentarily an added, “I’ll bet anything that you were adopted and the Hunter family took pity on you because you were such a Freak.”

“I…I’m not a Freak,” Brandon stuttered.

Randy raised his eyebrows at him.  “Oh really, then why do you talk to yourself whenever we’re at lunch or recess?  Face it, you have a few screws lose in your head, weirdo.” 

“What do you want from me?” Brandon asked timidly, backing away from the bully.

“I want revenge.”  Snapping his fingers in the air, Brandon watched as one of Randy’s lackeys ran over with large, lightweight jacket.  Stalking towards the smaller boy, Randy continued his rant, “See, I know you’re the one that squealed on me about taking the other kids’ lunch money, so now I think it’s only right to pay you back for what you did.”

With each step Randy took forward, Brandon backpedaled until there was nowhere else to go.  “What…what are you going to do?” Brandon whimpered out, feeling his eyes burning with unshed tears.

Smiling wickedly, Randy answered back, “Well, you’re obviously crazy because you hear voices in your head, so we need to take you back to the insane asylum where you belong.” 

“I’m not crazy,” he vehemently denied.  Seeing his last chance, he lunged forward, knocking Randy down to the ground; however he didn’t get far as he felt himself being forcefully pulled back. 

The bullies were to fast for him to try to defend himself.  They quickly put the jacket on backwards as if it was a straight jacket.  They tied the sleeves behind him, leaving him helpless.  He tried to scream, but someone quickly covered his mouth with a piece of tape.  Tears streamed down his face because he was alone with no one to save him from this awful situation.

Brandon grunted in pain as they threw him down on the ground.  Just when he thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did.  Terror coursed through his veins as he felt a black hood being pulled over his head, leaving his world in total darkness.  Feeling an utter helplessness wash over him he began to cry uncontrollably as his tormentors continued to laugh at the vulnerable state he was in.

I just want my Mom and Dad, he kept repeating to himself, hoping his wish wouldn’t go unanswered.

XXXXXX

To Be Continued…