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.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE4lL3hIjr
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"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?"271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgY6BGBQt8
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"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."271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNaPPH1lNl
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"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."271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C3oMKSnjl
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"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."271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifE32paFCe
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Christian blinked, untangled himself from me, and said, "What happened with Jude?"271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAY1wZ9ZMV
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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."271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80Ht3iAGQv
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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.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Qq5mOWzpL
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"What a fucking prick," he mumbled. "Did you punch him in the face?"271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqrdcXfqud
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"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."271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZkKABEXKv
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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?"271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezgJ6caMCl
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"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?"271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK8ZVF8pWr
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"Letters?" Christian muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Jesus, Scott, you're holding out on me."271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCzRyTlYLZ
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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.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hMXB1K8I8
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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.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJJ6uM5TmT
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"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.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dmXTFV4uy
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"I'm okay," I said. "I just tripped."271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiyuDdy3KC
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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?"271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7GJGpIw9r
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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.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHIbgx75Tl
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One New Message From: Unknown Number271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hGVoZa50s
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Turn on the news.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJmZA5mpjk
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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.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqE7Li5rBP
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"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."271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7zLLybS4D
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I dared a glance beside me, where he sat.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1aO59NrZj
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Christian was gone.