Christian was still fuming by the time we got back to his house. His dad was gone for the week, which was good for us, because we needed some time alone to talk about things.308Please respect copyright.PENANApqUMjgek2t
308Please respect copyright.PENANAydTYTC3Nv0
"I cannot believe her, your own mother," he snapped as he put me down on the couch. "How could she say all those nasty things to you, and then go and hit you like it was nothing? I mean, fuck, Kendall! Aren't you even mad at her?"308Please respect copyright.PENANA2Evtn972iM
308Please respect copyright.PENANA8wbqbmEFXn
"Of course I'm mad at her," I said, glancing at him. "I'm just choosing to not express it as volatile as you are."308Please respect copyright.PENANAZcfy2iIOrv
308Please respect copyright.PENANAE4kfoVlvGI
"It's frustrating to see you go through all of this and not react," he said as he sat next to me. Then he hugged me close, his lips pressed into my hair. "I think your session with Dr. Alder tomorrow is going to take longer than usual."308Please respect copyright.PENANAD27bpXb0KO
308Please respect copyright.PENANAYXDNBociNk
"I don't think I'm going," I murmured. "I don't want to have to see her, take up her time, with every little bad thing that happens. She can't help with my mom, or the dreams, or even what happened with Jude."308Please respect copyright.PENANA0dfRygincj
308Please respect copyright.PENANAkrARIZ0i6K
Christian blinked, untangled himself from me, and said, "What happened with Jude?"308Please respect copyright.PENANAu3U3fWFRmg
308Please respect copyright.PENANAUK1NfLdZ3l
I bit my lip, mentally cursing myself, and took a breath. "He's been watching me." No use telling him about the kiss. "He said he was paid a lot of money to get information on me. I didn't meet him on accident."308Please respect copyright.PENANAlQSxdycQsl
308Please respect copyright.PENANAfgXpjAeZYi
For a few minutes, Christian didn't speak. His silence was sometimes worse than his words, and this time I didn't blame him for being quiet. I wouldn't have known what to say if I were him. I closed my eyes and waited. Waited for him to start cursing and screaming. Waited for his horrible temper. Waited for him to break something.308Please respect copyright.PENANA2N5UgFxxX7
308Please respect copyright.PENANAiulxlFSdIl
"What a fucking prick," he mumbled. "Did you punch him in the face?"308Please respect copyright.PENANAbeTZFKLT99
308Please respect copyright.PENANARs2JA9fO4q
"I really wanted to." I shrugged, glancing at him. I reached out and gripped his hand, squeezing his fingers. I was grateful when he returned the gesture. "But I was too stunned to do anything, especially after I found the pictures."308Please respect copyright.PENANAE6KcxSIkMW
308Please respect copyright.PENANADg5QsYKF2C
This time he looked at me, his eyes narrowing, darkening. His grip on my hand tightened before he growled, "What pictures, Kendall? What the fuck is going on?"308Please respect copyright.PENANAqAQT7ZwfIO
308Please respect copyright.PENANAfWiliSIpVx
"They're just of me. Nothing too creepy. But whoever wanted information on me probably wanted to know what I looked like, too. Ugh." I placed my head in my hands and shook it. "This is all so weird. First the letters, then this. What's next?"308Please respect copyright.PENANAiR6pJDMVF3
308Please respect copyright.PENANADxn3lfeGQK
"Letters?" Christian muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Jesus, Scott, you're holding out on me."308Please respect copyright.PENANAd8q2B5lovq
308Please respect copyright.PENANA6asUn4jatN
I looked away from his face, unable to tell him the biggest secret. The wounds I'd suffered through all of this had been too much, and I just needed to calm down before I told him anything else. I laid my head against his chest and closed my eyes, said I needed a minute, and tried my best to relax.308Please respect copyright.PENANAvucawiPur8
308Please respect copyright.PENANAcqIvkThDbq
The next time I opened my eyes, it was dark out. I lifted my head and looked around the quiet room. When I didn't feel him beside me or hear him breathing, I started to get up. Since it was pitch black, I didn't see the ottoman in front of me, so I tripped over it, landing on the floor. I let out a shriek and watched one of the lights in another part of the house turn on.308Please respect copyright.PENANAXglnZ6p1c6
308Please respect copyright.PENANAQhyaf6bOXj
"Are you okay?" Christian's shadow loomed in front of the light from the kitchen, and as he bent down, his body swallowed the glow. He touched my head, my hair, my cheeks and lips. Then he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.308Please respect copyright.PENANAjtFvWlZeKa
308Please respect copyright.PENANAl8wrdi7F8F
"I'm okay," I said. "I just tripped."308Please respect copyright.PENANAg69HWsyS8c
308Please respect copyright.PENANAyZI6EEGgmx
Even in the darkness, I could feel him smiling when he said, "That's typical of you. Are you ready to tell me your other secret now?"308Please respect copyright.PENANAhw2nuydrj7
308Please respect copyright.PENANAYpluWwertW
Before I replied, I heard a soft vibration. My phone. I could see it trembling, the light from the screen illuminating the other side of the couch. I reached for it, flipped it open, and read the message.308Please respect copyright.PENANAFuFKE4hlNi
308Please respect copyright.PENANA6bMrmCq6aB
One New Message From: Unknown Number308Please respect copyright.PENANAXK6JTmxJwR
308Please respect copyright.PENANAgVDhmk9vhn
Turn on the news.308Please respect copyright.PENANAIo6jvDGpfy
308Please respect copyright.PENANARdbR4eo3Dg
When I found the remote and hit the power button, the TV flooded with white light at first, then a voice spoke. It sent chills down my spine.308Please respect copyright.PENANAqxwAgiquES
308Please respect copyright.PENANAYr3ZFPBGQJ
"The body of a local teen was found in this clearing behind me. Authorities believe the body to be that of missing boy, Jared Davis. No further details can be provided at this time."308Please respect copyright.PENANAQWt8Gc1eeT
308Please respect copyright.PENANAd3aetRWXPx
I dared a glance beside me, where he sat.308Please respect copyright.PENANAOhdVtYjt4q
308Please respect copyright.PENANAVY0avR1Yto
Christian was gone.
ns 172.70.39.106da2 308Please respect copyright.PENANAydTYTC3Nv0
"I cannot believe her, your own mother," he snapped as he put me down on the couch. "How could she say all those nasty things to you, and then go and hit you like it was nothing? I mean, fuck, Kendall! Aren't you even mad at her?"308Please respect copyright.PENANA2Evtn972iM
308Please respect copyright.PENANA8wbqbmEFXn
"Of course I'm mad at her," I said, glancing at him. "I'm just choosing to not express it as volatile as you are."308Please respect copyright.PENANAZcfy2iIOrv
308Please respect copyright.PENANAE4kfoVlvGI
"It's frustrating to see you go through all of this and not react," he said as he sat next to me. Then he hugged me close, his lips pressed into my hair. "I think your session with Dr. Alder tomorrow is going to take longer than usual."308Please respect copyright.PENANAD27bpXb0KO
308Please respect copyright.PENANAYXDNBociNk
"I don't think I'm going," I murmured. "I don't want to have to see her, take up her time, with every little bad thing that happens. She can't help with my mom, or the dreams, or even what happened with Jude."308Please respect copyright.PENANA0dfRygincj
308Please respect copyright.PENANAkrARIZ0i6K
Christian blinked, untangled himself from me, and said, "What happened with Jude?"308Please respect copyright.PENANAu3U3fWFRmg
308Please respect copyright.PENANAUK1NfLdZ3l
I bit my lip, mentally cursing myself, and took a breath. "He's been watching me." No use telling him about the kiss. "He said he was paid a lot of money to get information on me. I didn't meet him on accident."308Please respect copyright.PENANAlQSxdycQsl
308Please respect copyright.PENANAfgXpjAeZYi
For a few minutes, Christian didn't speak. His silence was sometimes worse than his words, and this time I didn't blame him for being quiet. I wouldn't have known what to say if I were him. I closed my eyes and waited. Waited for him to start cursing and screaming. Waited for his horrible temper. Waited for him to break something.308Please respect copyright.PENANA2N5UgFxxX7
308Please respect copyright.PENANAiulxlFSdIl
"What a fucking prick," he mumbled. "Did you punch him in the face?"308Please respect copyright.PENANAbeTZFKLT99
308Please respect copyright.PENANARs2JA9fO4q
"I really wanted to." I shrugged, glancing at him. I reached out and gripped his hand, squeezing his fingers. I was grateful when he returned the gesture. "But I was too stunned to do anything, especially after I found the pictures."308Please respect copyright.PENANAE6KcxSIkMW
308Please respect copyright.PENANADg5QsYKF2C
This time he looked at me, his eyes narrowing, darkening. His grip on my hand tightened before he growled, "What pictures, Kendall? What the fuck is going on?"308Please respect copyright.PENANAqAQT7ZwfIO
308Please respect copyright.PENANAfWiliSIpVx
"They're just of me. Nothing too creepy. But whoever wanted information on me probably wanted to know what I looked like, too. Ugh." I placed my head in my hands and shook it. "This is all so weird. First the letters, then this. What's next?"308Please respect copyright.PENANAiR6pJDMVF3
308Please respect copyright.PENANADxn3lfeGQK
"Letters?" Christian muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Jesus, Scott, you're holding out on me."308Please respect copyright.PENANAd8q2B5lovq
308Please respect copyright.PENANA6asUn4jatN
I looked away from his face, unable to tell him the biggest secret. The wounds I'd suffered through all of this had been too much, and I just needed to calm down before I told him anything else. I laid my head against his chest and closed my eyes, said I needed a minute, and tried my best to relax.308Please respect copyright.PENANAvucawiPur8
308Please respect copyright.PENANAcqIvkThDbq
The next time I opened my eyes, it was dark out. I lifted my head and looked around the quiet room. When I didn't feel him beside me or hear him breathing, I started to get up. Since it was pitch black, I didn't see the ottoman in front of me, so I tripped over it, landing on the floor. I let out a shriek and watched one of the lights in another part of the house turn on.308Please respect copyright.PENANAXglnZ6p1c6
308Please respect copyright.PENANAQhyaf6bOXj
"Are you okay?" Christian's shadow loomed in front of the light from the kitchen, and as he bent down, his body swallowed the glow. He touched my head, my hair, my cheeks and lips. Then he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.308Please respect copyright.PENANAjtFvWlZeKa
308Please respect copyright.PENANAl8wrdi7F8F
"I'm okay," I said. "I just tripped."308Please respect copyright.PENANAg69HWsyS8c
308Please respect copyright.PENANAyZI6EEGgmx
Even in the darkness, I could feel him smiling when he said, "That's typical of you. Are you ready to tell me your other secret now?"308Please respect copyright.PENANAhw2nuydrj7
308Please respect copyright.PENANAYpluWwertW
Before I replied, I heard a soft vibration. My phone. I could see it trembling, the light from the screen illuminating the other side of the couch. I reached for it, flipped it open, and read the message.308Please respect copyright.PENANAFuFKE4hlNi
308Please respect copyright.PENANA6bMrmCq6aB
One New Message From: Unknown Number308Please respect copyright.PENANAXK6JTmxJwR
308Please respect copyright.PENANAgVDhmk9vhn
Turn on the news.308Please respect copyright.PENANAIo6jvDGpfy
308Please respect copyright.PENANARdbR4eo3Dg
When I found the remote and hit the power button, the TV flooded with white light at first, then a voice spoke. It sent chills down my spine.308Please respect copyright.PENANAqxwAgiquES
308Please respect copyright.PENANAYr3ZFPBGQJ
"The body of a local teen was found in this clearing behind me. Authorities believe the body to be that of missing boy, Jared Davis. No further details can be provided at this time."308Please respect copyright.PENANAQWt8Gc1eeT
308Please respect copyright.PENANAd3aetRWXPx
I dared a glance beside me, where he sat.308Please respect copyright.PENANAOhdVtYjt4q
308Please respect copyright.PENANAVY0avR1Yto
Christian was gone.
308Please respect copyright.PENANAmcBNmmtXJR