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.472Please respect copyright.PENANAXNfVuJFocK
472Please respect copyright.PENANAM8i3t3YuOV
"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?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAej7Q4sY0KH
472Please respect copyright.PENANAkv9AwWwfcZ
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAtabVO7mrTV
472Please respect copyright.PENANACnGP5lEcJs
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAtpnXyi8qji
472Please respect copyright.PENANArGCV6q3Sww
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAV8RM6yMdhv
472Please respect copyright.PENANAYJH2JMCDIQ
Christian blinked, untangled himself from me, and said, "What happened with Jude?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAqIsPJUfhBx
472Please respect copyright.PENANAKyxASCk8RQ
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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAYgzTspSA0f
472Please respect copyright.PENANAr62Ek3vEkW
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.472Please respect copyright.PENANA1Fxz4pX0AZ
472Please respect copyright.PENANAIUZjijmH0C
"What a fucking prick," he mumbled. "Did you punch him in the face?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAGfaNjCE9Yc
472Please respect copyright.PENANA4NJtttf4w7
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAZUNKa1hnEC
472Please respect copyright.PENANAX5hKoVJnyu
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?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAW1BpeTVetv
472Please respect copyright.PENANAZtWBQjCQfv
"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?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAgwEWXUwI6Z
472Please respect copyright.PENANAX63XUdYn8z
"Letters?" Christian muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Jesus, Scott, you're holding out on me."472Please respect copyright.PENANA1JUueesKKZ
472Please respect copyright.PENANA7H1Tn1GeyA
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.472Please respect copyright.PENANAktXsnTIuTC
472Please respect copyright.PENANAh2awXfq4sg
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.472Please respect copyright.PENANAotFueXT3hs
472Please respect copyright.PENANAkEh6Lquexq
"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.472Please respect copyright.PENANAu6jbaRYaRg
472Please respect copyright.PENANAmLWgEacaol
"I'm okay," I said. "I just tripped."472Please respect copyright.PENANAdMTfGJyBeG
472Please respect copyright.PENANAwC0ggScaeA
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?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAz8BwB90iTO
472Please respect copyright.PENANAXCemspFthT
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.472Please respect copyright.PENANAEiYGig2up0
472Please respect copyright.PENANAOlQpKEqIbo
One New Message From: Unknown Number472Please respect copyright.PENANAMkZXXuicaA
472Please respect copyright.PENANAprMrMZg1WF
Turn on the news.472Please respect copyright.PENANAhF7kRccVfG
472Please respect copyright.PENANAUDVOM1Ga4C
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.472Please respect copyright.PENANAvlmugytmPv
472Please respect copyright.PENANA97aA3mU0GO
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAbdIei7bO20
472Please respect copyright.PENANAjC91XSZBg8
I dared a glance beside me, where he sat.472Please respect copyright.PENANAdFpHnEzN8g
472Please respect copyright.PENANAj6CV6B7oWq
Christian was gone.
ns3.140.195.167da2 472Please respect copyright.PENANAM8i3t3YuOV
"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?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAej7Q4sY0KH
472Please respect copyright.PENANAkv9AwWwfcZ
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAtabVO7mrTV
472Please respect copyright.PENANACnGP5lEcJs
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAtpnXyi8qji
472Please respect copyright.PENANArGCV6q3Sww
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAV8RM6yMdhv
472Please respect copyright.PENANAYJH2JMCDIQ
Christian blinked, untangled himself from me, and said, "What happened with Jude?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAqIsPJUfhBx
472Please respect copyright.PENANAKyxASCk8RQ
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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAYgzTspSA0f
472Please respect copyright.PENANAr62Ek3vEkW
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.472Please respect copyright.PENANA1Fxz4pX0AZ
472Please respect copyright.PENANAIUZjijmH0C
"What a fucking prick," he mumbled. "Did you punch him in the face?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAGfaNjCE9Yc
472Please respect copyright.PENANA4NJtttf4w7
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAZUNKa1hnEC
472Please respect copyright.PENANAX5hKoVJnyu
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?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAW1BpeTVetv
472Please respect copyright.PENANAZtWBQjCQfv
"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?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAgwEWXUwI6Z
472Please respect copyright.PENANAX63XUdYn8z
"Letters?" Christian muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Jesus, Scott, you're holding out on me."472Please respect copyright.PENANA1JUueesKKZ
472Please respect copyright.PENANA7H1Tn1GeyA
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.472Please respect copyright.PENANAktXsnTIuTC
472Please respect copyright.PENANAh2awXfq4sg
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.472Please respect copyright.PENANAotFueXT3hs
472Please respect copyright.PENANAkEh6Lquexq
"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.472Please respect copyright.PENANAu6jbaRYaRg
472Please respect copyright.PENANAmLWgEacaol
"I'm okay," I said. "I just tripped."472Please respect copyright.PENANAdMTfGJyBeG
472Please respect copyright.PENANAwC0ggScaeA
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?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAz8BwB90iTO
472Please respect copyright.PENANAXCemspFthT
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.472Please respect copyright.PENANAEiYGig2up0
472Please respect copyright.PENANAOlQpKEqIbo
One New Message From: Unknown Number472Please respect copyright.PENANAMkZXXuicaA
472Please respect copyright.PENANAprMrMZg1WF
Turn on the news.472Please respect copyright.PENANAhF7kRccVfG
472Please respect copyright.PENANAUDVOM1Ga4C
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.472Please respect copyright.PENANAvlmugytmPv
472Please respect copyright.PENANA97aA3mU0GO
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAbdIei7bO20
472Please respect copyright.PENANAjC91XSZBg8
I dared a glance beside me, where he sat.472Please respect copyright.PENANAdFpHnEzN8g
472Please respect copyright.PENANAj6CV6B7oWq
Christian was gone.
472Please respect copyright.PENANAkG3SyEplj2