Free Summer's Desire by Olivia Lynde Page A

through lunch
like a total psycho and then made a scene running out of the cafeteria like
you'd been shot straight out of freak hell."
    Well, she certainly seems to have observed
the interaction between me and Seth very closely. I'd wonder why but I already
know from Dana that she's obsessed with him, so she's obviously jealous. And most
likely paranoid. I also note that, even though she's taken pains to exaggerate
my flight from the cafeteria at lunch, she hasn't mentioned that Seth followed
me when I left. She can't have missed it if she was watching us so closely.
    Yes, I can see it in her hate-filled
eyes that she does know that Seth went after me, and it burns her badly. Good.
    "I didn't make a scene," I state
quietly. "I just left in a bit of a hurry and I'm sure that hardly anyone
noticed me. Why would they? In fact, why were you watching me?" That
part has me genuinely baffled.
    "Oh, I have a great radar for psychos
trying to move in on my territory." she says venomously. "And make no
mistake: Seth is my territory. You stay away from him if you know what's
good for you!"
    I'm about to give her some much-deserved
home truths when Louise exclaims in a shrill voice, "I simply cannot
believe you, Summer! Are you trying to steal Jessica's boyfriend?"
    I'm incredulous. "Seth Lewis is not Jessica's boyfriend." At this moment, I'm actually thankful for him being
such a player and never committing to a girlfriend; I hate knowing that he's ever
even touched Jessica.
    "Well, it doesn't really matter if
this boy and Jessica are in a relationship already or are still figuring things
out," Louise drawls condescendingly. "Jessica obviously likes him, so
you need to stay away. Not that you could actually compete with my daughter."
Looking at me, she wrinkles her nose in distaste. "Still, it's the least
you can do after we've taken you in."
    I don't reply. What can be said
in response to such colossal pomposity? But good heavens, this mother-daughter
duo is like out of a bad movie! Meanwhile, Greg acts as if the last few volleys
of nastiness that were thrown at me across his dinner table never happened.
    Luckily, everyone's finished eating, so
I offer to gather the dishes as Louise obviously expects me to. I put them in
the dishwasher, clean the table, and go up to my room.
     
    * * *
     
    I'm in my parents' bedroom.
    My Daddy lies unmoving on the carpet—dead
from massive bleeding after being stabbed two dozen times in non-vital areas.
His blood, pooling in a wide crimson splotch beneath his body, has spread so
far that it's reached the spot where I lie on the floor a few feet away,
immobilized by the thick tape with which the killer has bound me.
    And it's Mummy's turn now, and she's bleeding
from a dozen deep cuts right in front of my eyes. She's whimpering in pain
through the tape over her mouth, and I can't get to her because my hands and
feet are bound, and I can't scream for help because I have no voice left after
all the screaming and begging that I've already done.
    Mummy will bleed out soon, and then
it'll be my turn.
    I wake up in a cold sweat, my under lip
bitten raw because of my attempts to choke back my cries.
    I'm terrified to fall asleep again after
that vicious night terror, so I reach for my dog-eared copy of House of
Mirth and start reading. HHHH But
I'm bone-tired and eventually I lose the fight to stay awake.
    And the night turns into a ceaseless
nightmare.

 
    Chapter 7
     
    The next morning as I alight from the school
bus, I see Jessica standing with a guy close to the bus stop. Well, that's weird.
What is she doing here? She glances at me, then leans into the guy and tells
him something. Immediately, he turns to look at me too, and I give him a quick
once-over.
    He's undeniably attractive. Tall, built,
black hair, strong features. He's too far away for me to see the color of his
eyes but near enough that I notice his sensual lips. Good heavens! I internally
fan myself. Is there something in the water around