Back For You - Chapter Five.

                               Peyton didn’t sleep that night. Not even when her mother returned home and slid into the room just next to hers.

All she did was stare at the window that was now sealed and bolted shut. Even so, she was tempted to perhaps grab a roll of duct tape and secure the edges, just to make her feel at ease. Then again, she didn’t think a flimsy piece of tape would keep Tyler out of her bedroom.

Peyton rolled onto her side, a groan leaving her lips. She shouldn’t be so quick to assume. For all she knew, her mother could have opened her window, or maybe Peyton herself had opened it without realizing it. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts lately and she wouldn’t doubt it if she forget she opened her own window.

Besides, Tyler Moore was locked up in some loony bin. How would he escape, anyway?

Well, Tyler had got into Peyton’s house before. Even when the doors and windows were all locked. And more times than once, she was sure. So what if Tyler had managed to get out? What if he had come back for her?

Her heart leaped into a familiar erratic pattern at the mere thought.

She didn’t want to go back to that horrid basement. She didn’t want to be locked up and wondering if she’d ever get to see her mother again. She didn’t want her mother to fall into that deep state of depression like she had before. All she wanted was to be normal again. She wanted school to be her biggest worry. She wanted to be friends with Mel, even if it meant dealing with the rest of her obnoxious and loud mouthed friends. But she knew that was never going to happen.

She wasn’t the same. She had changed. She was no longer the girl that found the good in everyone. She was untrustworthy, unforgiving, and broken. Just a shell of the girl she use to be.

And that’s why she cried.

She buried her face in her pillow and wept as she thrashed in her bed. She muffled the hoarse cries that came for her as she wallowed in her self-pity. Just like she did every night.

                                                      Peyton felt like a zombie the next day as she walked the halls of her school. She probably looked like one too with her blood shot eyes and dishelmed hair. She didn’t have enough energy to actually put effort into her appearance this morning. It didn’t matter, anyway, no boy was willing to get involved with a tainted girl.

She was numb. Incredibly numb and seeming to look over her shoulder every moment, wondering if Tyler would pop out of nowhere and grab her.

She dismissed that thought when she realized how dumb that sounded. She doubted that Tyler would magically appear out of thin air and snatch her when there were people surrounding her. She didn’t think he was that stupid.

However, no matter how much she told herself this, it never did put her to ease.

Nonetheless, she put on her usual fake façade and got through the day. Talking vaguely with Mel at lunch, another session with Ms. Aguilera, and another awkward confrontation with Jason. Another, somewhat, regular day.

She was glad when the bell rang, signaling dismissal.

She made her way out the back of the school, to soccer and football field.

She watched as a few freshmen girls jogged around the field, pausing only to catch their breath before Coach Matthews screamed at them to keep going.

She felt sorry for the girls. She knew what it was like playing for Coach Matthews, seeing as she had been on the team her freshmen, sophomore, and junior year. She had only stopped playing when the traumatic experience that ruined her life occurred. Coach figured it’d be best if she took time off to cope rather than to throw herself back into the game. Peyton wasn’t exactly pleased at hearing this, but he was right.

She still missed it, though.

Back at the time of junior year, she was determined that playing soccer was definitely the thing she wanted to do with the rest of her life. And other people agreed it was a good fit for her. Of course, she was passionate about school and such, and maybe before she contemplated being a lawyer, but nothing made her happier than being out on the field.

Scouts had even come around and watched her play. They offered her a scholarship to the school of her dreams, and she excitedly agreed. That night, her and her mother went out for dinner to celebrate. Things were looking bright for Peyton Adams at that moment. Too bad Tyler ruined it.

“Adams!”

Peyton whipped around to find Coach Matthews waving at her with a broad smile on his face. Sheepishly, she returned the smile and sent him a small wave. He gestured her over.

Reluctantly, she dragged her feet over to where he stood and greeted him with a soft, “Good afternoon.”

“Hey Adams, how are you holding up?” Coach Matthews asked and swiped away at the sweat on his forehead.

Peyton examined his exhausted state with a frown. “You look like you’re about to faint,” Peyton commented, evidently avoiding his last question. Coach Matthews realized that quickly, but didn’t say a thing about it. All he did was dryly laugh and nod.

“Yeah, the heat has been crazy lately.” Coach Matthews’ eyes flickered over to the girls who now sat on the ground, panting like dogs. “What are you doing?” Matthews shouted, “Get up and keep running!”

The girl’s sluggishly pushed themselves back onto their feet and began running. Peyton shook her head at Coach Matthews.

“They look like they’re gonna faint too.” Peyton said. Coach Matthews snorted.

“Nah, they’re fine.” He waved her off, “Besides, I hear the new coach they’re getting for the school is much tougher than me. I’m preparing them for the worst.”

Peyton’s eyebrows shot up, “New coach?”

“Yeah, it’s about time I retired, don’t you think?” Coach Matthews patted his round tummy with a half-hearted laugh. “I can’t keep up with you kids anymore.”

“What about the football team, though? Is the new guy going to be coaching them too?”

Coach Matthews nodded. “Yeah. I’m lucky I don’t have to deal with those meat heads next year,” He said jokingly.

And for the first time in a long time, it brought a genuine smile to Peyton’s lips. “We’ll miss you like crazy, coach.”

Coach Matthews beamed. “Thanks, Adams. But you’ll be leaving the school next year too.”

Immediately, the smile slipped from her lips. It was another dauntless reminder that Peyton didn’t exactly know what she was going to do with her life. Coach Matthews noticed the sudden change of mood and he parted his lips to apologize, but Peyton shook her head.

“Don’t be sorry, it’s true.”

“Well,” Coach Matthews drawled, “If you ever wanna join the team again, we’ve got a spot open for you.”

Peyton opened her mouth to politely decline when something just behind coach Matthews caught her eye.

It was a black mustang. The same one that Tyler Moore use to drive.

She blinked. Then again. And again.

She questioned if it was only her own imagination, but no. The car was actually there. And it had stopped in the middle of the parking lot, directly in front of Coach Matthews and herself.

It can’t be him, she thought with a shake of her head. Tyler can’t be here. He’s locked in a psych ward. He’s gone. I’m safe.

But clearly not.

Because there was his familiar mustang. Even with the familiar scratch on the driver’s side that confirmed it was indeed Tyler’s car.

He was here. He was at Peyton’s school, only twenty away from where she stood. But she still couldn’t make out the face. The windows were too tinted to be able to see inside.

She remained stiff. Not moving even when Coach Matthews reached out and placed a hand on Peyton’s shoulder. Her eyes remained glued to the dark outline of the figure in the car that shifted in their seat and faced the direction of Peyton.

She caught a glint of golden blonde hair when the sun beamed down on the window of the car. Without even thinking, she turned and ran off, her hair whipping behind hair as coach Matthews called after her.

He’s back! Peyton’s mind screeched in sheer panic, he’s back. He’s back for you.