I felt safe with my dad here, I didn't want him to leave for work but if he didn't show or came in late he would be fired. I decided to call Kelsey and ask if she wanted to come over with a few friends, I just couldn't stand being alone right now. I called her and she said she'd love to invite some people over, she said she was gonna call Tyler, Amelia, Dylan, and Justin and call me back to let me know which ones could make it. I told her ok and goodbye as we hung up and went to tell my dad about it, "that sounds fun, sweetheart. You need your friends. I'll leave you guys some money incase you want to order food or go out or whatever you kids find fun these days" I hugged him "thanks, dad. I love you" he hugged me back tighter "I love you too, Avery" I put on a white with navy blue words across it pull over sweatshirt with a tank top under it, and blue and red plaid pajama bottoms. I was sitting in my computer chair when Kelsey called back saying everyone could make it, I asked if any needed a ride but she said to just give her my address and they could find it. I went downstairs to tell my dad goodbye as he left for work and to wait on my friends. I locked the door knob and the bolt both behind him and went into the kitchen and decided if I should make food for them or not, the doorbell and I walked over to open the door, Kelsey and Tyler were both here at the same time. Kelsey greeted me with a hug before walking in and Tyler did the same, Tyler's hug felt more secure, like my dads did earlier when I came home. I asked if they wanted anything to eat, and we thought it was best to wait for the others before we put any ideas concrete.
It wasn't long before the others, Amelia, Dylan and Justin arrived. I didn't get chance to meet Justin at school, in fact I never noticed him in Kelsey's group. Justin was really nice and funny, I needed that around me, plus with Kelsey by my side, she made me happy and took away the forlorn emotions I had. We decided on pizza, wings and a movie. I called in our order and we passed the thirty minute wait by chatting, telling stories, we felt like adults when they reunite at reunions or a child's birthday when they sit in their own little group, sharing memories of high school. Justin and I seemed to hit it off pretty well, we had a lot in common and we kept discovering more with each minute pass. Our food arrived and Justin offered to go pay and bring it in, I handed him a twenty dollar bill. He sat the food in the kitchen and brought me the change back, we got our food and decided to watch Ice Age, the first and second ones. Justin had his arm around me, mainly because I had asked him to just to feel safe, Tyler was on the other side of me, keeping me company. Kelsey was being pretty calm and Tyler and I poked small fun at her, nothing serious and Kelsey found it funny, we started joking about other things when a knock on the door interrupted our fun, I went to look in the eye-glass at who it was and ran upstairs, my heart racing and tears streaming down my face.
I dashed upstairs to my bedroom, sitting on my bed, hugging my knees and just crying. I let it all out, Justin came in acting calm, he quietly sat on the bed and I lunged into his arms, his arms wrapped around me nice and snug " it'll be okay, Avery. Tyler and Dylan are handling this, Connor isn't gonna get you" he said soothing, rocking me back and forth. Him comforting me made me just cry even more, he kept telling me it was okay and rubbing my back. I eventually stopped crying, my breathing un-even made it hard to talk. He carried my tiny and small body to the bathroom like a mother would carry her baby on her hip, he sat me on the sink while he dampened at towel to wipe my face, " there we go, all better?" He smiled at me and I giggled at him " I'm fine " he chuckled back with me before pulling me into a hug to set me down. We returned to the living room and Kelsey ran over to check on me, she said that the boys had Connor pinned down but he managed to escape. My nerves and my heart rate picked back up, " lock all the doors, and windows, close all the blinds and turn off the lights, me and Justin will look for candles and flashlights upstairs" Kelsey and Amelia dashed for the doors, windows and blinds, Dylan took for the lights and Tyler searched downstairs for candles. Justin and I found candles, flashlights and matches, we gathered back up in the living room and seen everything went well, I sat up a candle on the counter separating the kitchen and living room, one in the kitchen, bathroom and living room. We finished watching the first Ice Age but I sat in the floor with my back to the couch. Justin joined with me on the other side, I sat in his lap and he wrapped his arms snugly around me. I felt safe now, "how you feeling?" I turned to face him with a smile, wide on my face "better" I grinned and he smiled back at me. I turned back around and I felt Justin's face at my ear " we're all going to stay over tonight, we all want you safe" he whispered and I nodded my head in agreement.
The movie ended and I announced I was going to take a shower, Dylan offered to keep a watch by standing outside the door and the others would be on look out for any noises. I thought it was a bit extreme but Justin insisted I let them, just to keep me safe, I gave in and agreed, I walked upstairs to my room to gather my pajamas and a towel and walked into the bathroom. Dylan was already at the door, I flicked on the light, the candle alone didn't admit enough light. I turned the shower on letting the water warm up, I stared at myself in the mirror on the sink before it started becoming foggy. I stepped in and started washing my hair, my nerves starting to become calm and felt like I could breathe without fear of Connor. I sat down in the shower just letting the stream soothe me, I almost fell asleep, I shook myself awake and stood up to finish my shower. I turned off the water and wrapped the towel around me, I pulled back the shower curtain and seen Connor standing right in front of me, "hello, pretty" he said smirking, I screamed in horror and Dylan rushed in " GET OUT OF HERE! LET HER GO!!" Connor grasped me around my neck and kissed me " I love you" he devilishly grinned. I leaned against the wall of the shower and just slid down, covering my eyes with my prune shaped fingers, and just balled. I was no longer safe in my own house, and knowing that scared me to pieces. Justin and Kelsey rushed up after hearing Dylan screaming. I seen Justin backing away and jokingly saying " I don't wanna be a perv, Kelsey. You check on her for me" it brought a giggle out of me but with it came a sob filled with tears. Dylan left to stand with Justin, " we need to get you out of here, it seems like he knows every room of the house. Go get ready, I have a plan" she left, closing the door.