Page 44 of Offensive Plays

The lightning and thunder haven't let up.

I toss in my bed, still unable to find rest. And it's not all due to the chaos raging outside. I have to admit, my own internal storm feels much more destructive. In the form of messages left unanswered by Michael...well, strangerDanger23... but it's Michael.

He can't possibly know it's me on the other side of the screen. Unless Kesley's little slip up somehow clued him in.

Pulling the pillow over my face, I try to find sleep, but it continues to elude me. Instead, memories of us as teenagers play out like a movie in my head. One moment in particular from a summer evening when I was eighteen stands out.

"Why are you crying, Libby?"

"I'm not. I'm fine. Just go away, Michael."

"No, you're not. Did Jonah do something to you? Did he hurt you?"

Not me. He didn't hurt me.

"Go away."

"I'm going to go talk to him." I pull him by the arm to face me.

"Michael, listen to me. You and I can't be friends, okay? I'm no good for you. And I can't be with Jonah. So just...just pretend I don't exist, okay?"

"I can't do that, Libby."

"Just promise me you'll stay away."

"No."

"Then, I will."

The thunder outside makes me sit up straight from my bed, and I've already decided I'm not getting any sleep tonight. Even in this house, surrounded by people I care about... I feel so alone.

I throw the covers off me and decide to grab a drink of water. My phone's batteries are dead. Maybe I can find a charger somewhere in the house. Maybe Michael responded to my messages after all, and I just haven't been able to see them.

I find my rain boots and tug them on. I can always grab the charger from my car.

Tiptoeing down the hall past rooms of snoring hockey players, I try my best not to make any noise as I make my way down the stairs, only turning on the kitchen light once I've made sure nobody else was sleeping nearby.

I open and close drawers and inspect wall outlets trying to find a charger somewhere. When I've exhausted all possibilities, I decide to brace myself for a run into the rainy night.

I find an umbrella and hesitate at the open front door for a minute before I make a run for it.

The lights on my corvette blink twice as I unlock it. The wind is so strong that it's making the rain hit sideways, rendering my umbrella totally useless.

Even more so, when a gust snaps it out of my hand and sends it flying into the street.

Well, shit. Guess I owe Landry a new umbrella. I quickly rip my charger from it's place in my center console and slam the door shut, beelining to the open front door.

Once inside again I shut the door and lean against it. I'm soaked from head to toe and shivering.

"Are you insane?" Michael's voice calls from the darkness.

I look around, unable to see where his voice is coming from. But in a moment, he's in front of me with a towel and wrapping me up in it.

"W-what are you doing up?"

"Light sleeper," he says, pulling me up from the ground. "What are you doing running in the rain, Lib?"

I pull my charger up from under the towel. "M-my p-hone died."