Only You

Chapter 1

"Cheers! Happy Tuesday!" I said walking over to the couch with a glass of wine and a beer for Jordan.

"Yes, please", he said making room for me on the couch so I could snuggle against him.

"What are we watching?"

"You know it already", I said.

In unison, we both said,"Doctor Who".

"You know, babe. I think I get the general setup of the show there's a guy there's a girl, they travel throughout time and space---"

"But, David Tennant and the feels. Just give it another twenty episodes and you'll be just as addicted as me", I said turning on the smart TV to Netflix.

"Fine. But, it's only because, I love you so much, Claire", I leaned forwarded to kiss him.

"I love you more. Now, watch", we settled in for a night of binge watching. And I couldn't help but think how amazing Jordan was.

"Can I get a sneak peek at the lesson plan?" Jordan asked taking a drink of his beer.

"I haven't started it. Eventually, I'll have it all down before August", I said.

"I don't think I'll be in your class this year", not unless we have another hearing impaired kid. Jordan was our schools translator. He was wonderful with all of the kids, but my heart just melted away he took care of Lindsay. I never expected to end up being a math teacher for the sixth grade. It just kind of happened and I'm glad it did. I wasn't going to become rich from it, but I felt like I was honestly making a difference in someone's life.

"You're moving up. Hanging out with the big kids", I joked.

"You know it. Mountain Dew and staying up late", He laughed. The doorbell rang making me jump like the button was hardwired to my brain,"You expecting someone?"

"No", and it was late. I always believed that if someone doesn't call before showing up to my house your not getting in. "Just ignore it, they'll go away". The doorbell rang again with a strangled sound, as though it's battery was somewhat drained.

"Let me check", Jordan kissed my forehead and then walked down the hallway to the door.

"J, come back, it could be anyone", I lived in Dripping Springs, Texas a small town maybe 23 miles west of Austin. With a population of maybe 4,000 people, people around these parts normally went to bed around nine at the latest.

Bang! Bang!

I jumped up,"J come back this isn't funny; this is how people die".

"Babe, it's probably some kids trying to play a joke on Miss Greene", Jordan said not the least bit concerned.

I ran up behind him barefooted,"And you're willing to risk your life on that?"

"This isn't Houston, it's Dripping Springs besides if some kids did walk all the way up here they're going to need a ride back home", He said opening the door with me peeking over his shoulders.

Nothing.

Jordan whistled using two fingers,"Okay guys very funny. You got us", he yelled out onto the empty property. He started to walk around the wraparound porch and I stayed in the doorway. "Guys!"

The property was nothing special I had bought the house--- well was slowing buying the house from my parents since they wanted to retire in Florida. And I just couldn't not have the house in the family or see someone else messing up my childhood home. So I lived here on ten acres of land. With the river in my backyard I could see it from my balcony. It had its pros and cons, right now the major con was no one was around for miles. And anyone that wanted to come up here had to walk through the woods... at night.

That's it, I'm calling the police.

If it is some kids fine, I won't press charges. But, I had seen enough horror movies to know no good ever comes from investigating a mysterious sound. And it's even worse when you're black. I started to turn around to go back inside the house when I heard a muffled scream.

"J!" I said rushing towards the back of the house adrenaline pumping through my veins,"Jordan!"

Cautiously, I made my way around the corner of the house to see,"O my GOD!" I started to shake and slowly, back away. Someone was fighting with Jordan and had him on his back. I didn't recognize the man on top of him, and everything was happening so fast I just froze. Fear permeated throughout my body. I felt like my brain was dying like there wasn't enough oxygen getting into my body.

Just act!

Do something. Anything!

I looked around my porch for something, anything I could use as a weapon.

A rocking chair?

No.

"NO!" I screamed as I saw the strange man pull out a knife and plunge it deep into Jordan's chest. The man stabbed him over and over and over again. Until Jordans body didn't struggle anymore all that remained of him was a pool of blood it's soaked into his clothes and the ground.

Oh my God! Oh my God!

The stranger stood up with the knife still in hand and turned around to face me. He had thick dark brown hair. His eyes were a hickory as rich as the earth's soil; stained with the color of hot chocolate on a cold, winter night that wraps around you like a blanket; and engulfs you in its warmth and makes you feel at home. Those deep pools of dark-cinnamon swirls seized the depth and heaviness of one thousand untold stories, which imprisoned the sweetness of saccharine chocolate and the bitterness of strong coffee. He was at least six foot tall and athletically built. If I survive this I was going to need to give the police some way to find him.

"Sorry? You weren't supposed to see this. Let me introduce myself, I'm Tristan", the man said with a heart stopping smile.

What?

"Help, help", I could barely scream. I felt the world start to spin off its axle. My vision started to blur as my porch light intensify. I felt myself losing against gravity.

"Whoa, I got you. It's okay..", The man said catching me, as my world faded to black.