Free Killer Within by S.E. Green

slowly, normally, takes me back to Tysons. I don’t say a word as I hand him his helmet and charge off.
    As I’m unlocking my Jeep, a car cranks, and then revs. The rev is what has me glancing up to see a dark BMW all the way on the other side of the almost empty aboveground garage.
    I don’t think twice before I take off in a full sprint straight toward it. I want to know who the hell’s following me! The car peels out and I keep running. Its tires squeal as it races down the ramp, and I increase my pace, staring at the license plate. I get a partial. A1B. It speeds through the exit, gets honked at, takes a left, and is gone.
    I come to a stop, panting, watching it until it disappears from sight.
    A1B. At least I have that much. I know now that I didn’t imagine the threat of the BMW and the woman driver who is highly probably j_d_l.

Chapter Sixteen
    I DON’T NORMALLY SIT IN the cafeteria and look around. I typically read while eating and then head to the library. But today I linger over my taco salad and take the time to watch, to observe. How many of them have been on “my” site?
    Over to the right sits Kyle with his other buddies, laughing, talking, seemingly having a grand time.
    Straight ahead is Daisy, hanging with a few of her cheerleading friends and a new guy I don’t recognize. She’s flirting with him, and by the way he’s grinning, he loves the attention.
    To the left is Zach, with some of his soccer pals and a girl I recognize from the sophomore class. The girl giggles and tosses a fry at him, and he laughs and dodges it.
    Maybe that’s one of the reasons Zach decided he can’t be my friend anymore. Because I don’t giggle and toss fries.
    Way over near the soft-serve machine is a girl crying. Her friends console her, looking at each other, lost as to what to truly do. A few people in the cafeteria glance their way, then dismiss it. Drama.
    I watch her for a minute, puzzling over her freedom of emotion. This is why I’m happy I am who I am. I don’t ever want to be that way. That open. That out there. That exposed.
    Daisy walks straight toward me, and I snap out of my staring. “Lane, I want you to meet Hammond.”
    I nod. “Hello, Hammond.”
    Daisy smiles at him and it’s a true smile, not the fake flattery she used to give. “Hammond just moved here from Kentucky. He’s a junior.”
    Hammond shakes my hand. “Daisy’s told me a lot about you.”
    This surprises me.
    “All good!” Daisy clarifies as if reading my mind.
    “Your sister says everyone calls you Slim?”
    “Yes. You can call me Lane if you want.”
    “Well, anyway”—Daisy nods over her shoulder—“I’ll show you where your next class is.”
    They head off, and I’m not sure why, but my gaze tracks back over to Zach to see him looking at me. He gives me a very tiny acknowledging smile, and I return the gesture. How do Ilook to him, sitting here alone eating a taco salad and staring at everybody else?
    I hope not pathetic.
    The bell rings, we all clear out, and I go through the rest of my day. Dark blue BMW. A1B. Reggie could narrow that down for me. But then I’d have to come up with a reason why. I’m being followed would freak her out, and the perfect lie is just not coming to me right now.
    I’ll have to think on it.
    When we get home, Gramps has arrived sometime during the day and is already settled in. Daisy and Justin launch themselves at him while Victor watches, laughing. After they all disengage, Gramps turns to me for the obligatory welcome hug. I step up, give it to him, and let go of him just as quickly as he does me.
    Just once I’d like him to be as excited to see me as he is my siblings. But that never has happened nor will it probably ever.
    We sit through an early dinner of the Daisy and Justin Show while Gramps laughs and talks. I don’t say anything. If I do, it’ll just earn a grunt from him. I volunteer to clean, mainly because I need something to do.
    Victor comes up beside me in the