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.514Please respect copyright.PENANAvSOV5d0eMk
514Please respect copyright.PENANAlU93e7CMMu
"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?"514Please respect copyright.PENANA1zJBudJG0J
514Please respect copyright.PENANAtNe2cUKCIN
"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."514Please respect copyright.PENANAGTrYJ2AuJk
514Please respect copyright.PENANAGGaS4aaF6T
"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."514Please respect copyright.PENANA0YOmByp8Iz
514Please respect copyright.PENANAErnW4BUptr
"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."514Please respect copyright.PENANAcSCMNi1cRe
514Please respect copyright.PENANABKYKDv51P4
Christian blinked, untangled himself from me, and said, "What happened with Jude?"514Please respect copyright.PENANAcbHLdYJaTf
514Please respect copyright.PENANA1hZXj0UPIH
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."514Please respect copyright.PENANAGLfgOeR034
514Please respect copyright.PENANAGMLh9aDfKH
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.514Please respect copyright.PENANALcVyT7eeEk
514Please respect copyright.PENANAYSxJ0EkAzd
"What a fucking prick," he mumbled. "Did you punch him in the face?"514Please respect copyright.PENANARp8nCHsVfR
514Please respect copyright.PENANAjoMneTLVwo
"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."514Please respect copyright.PENANAuVlpiWzlyu
514Please respect copyright.PENANAzwB7h4mWbG
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?"514Please respect copyright.PENANARl1tSMMSgY
514Please respect copyright.PENANAyK6YPGqNJo
"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?"514Please respect copyright.PENANAm4B1N8gilj
514Please respect copyright.PENANAC8nHG3bLJe
"Letters?" Christian muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Jesus, Scott, you're holding out on me."514Please respect copyright.PENANAQqy6t2CP0D
514Please respect copyright.PENANACND3u8MmAW
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.514Please respect copyright.PENANAf8HQ0YWa6b
514Please respect copyright.PENANAEI3qmcwKSE
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.514Please respect copyright.PENANAx9lEXd1dzB
514Please respect copyright.PENANAzWw3IcwtHR
"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.514Please respect copyright.PENANA6qU4J9vW0K
514Please respect copyright.PENANAp3oukHxXsD
"I'm okay," I said. "I just tripped."514Please respect copyright.PENANATQnKsp55yD
514Please respect copyright.PENANAbsh6QUCGq2
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?"514Please respect copyright.PENANAFKO36aswLN
514Please respect copyright.PENANA94qHhEITuF
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.514Please respect copyright.PENANAPKiauEbTtd
514Please respect copyright.PENANAxYEowDjMHb
One New Message From: Unknown Number514Please respect copyright.PENANAtdvrEkQbBO
514Please respect copyright.PENANALC9IHbnsVO
Turn on the news.514Please respect copyright.PENANAoZSuQUgXjy
514Please respect copyright.PENANAcMdUpFLUMl
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.514Please respect copyright.PENANAvuK0A2DyhP
514Please respect copyright.PENANA6IfWt3QbJX
"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."514Please respect copyright.PENANA6pOMRKmfG9
514Please respect copyright.PENANAwfqvooywXb
I dared a glance beside me, where he sat.514Please respect copyright.PENANAhBxKnFJ67D
514Please respect copyright.PENANAsZyOHYJ74Q
Christian was gone.
ns216.73.216.45da2 514Please respect copyright.PENANAlU93e7CMMu
"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?"514Please respect copyright.PENANA1zJBudJG0J
514Please respect copyright.PENANAtNe2cUKCIN
"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."514Please respect copyright.PENANAGTrYJ2AuJk
514Please respect copyright.PENANAGGaS4aaF6T
"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."514Please respect copyright.PENANA0YOmByp8Iz
514Please respect copyright.PENANAErnW4BUptr
"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."514Please respect copyright.PENANAcSCMNi1cRe
514Please respect copyright.PENANABKYKDv51P4
Christian blinked, untangled himself from me, and said, "What happened with Jude?"514Please respect copyright.PENANAcbHLdYJaTf
514Please respect copyright.PENANA1hZXj0UPIH
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."514Please respect copyright.PENANAGLfgOeR034
514Please respect copyright.PENANAGMLh9aDfKH
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.514Please respect copyright.PENANALcVyT7eeEk
514Please respect copyright.PENANAYSxJ0EkAzd
"What a fucking prick," he mumbled. "Did you punch him in the face?"514Please respect copyright.PENANARp8nCHsVfR
514Please respect copyright.PENANAjoMneTLVwo
"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."514Please respect copyright.PENANAuVlpiWzlyu
514Please respect copyright.PENANAzwB7h4mWbG
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?"514Please respect copyright.PENANARl1tSMMSgY
514Please respect copyright.PENANAyK6YPGqNJo
"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?"514Please respect copyright.PENANAm4B1N8gilj
514Please respect copyright.PENANAC8nHG3bLJe
"Letters?" Christian muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Jesus, Scott, you're holding out on me."514Please respect copyright.PENANAQqy6t2CP0D
514Please respect copyright.PENANACND3u8MmAW
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.514Please respect copyright.PENANAf8HQ0YWa6b
514Please respect copyright.PENANAEI3qmcwKSE
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.514Please respect copyright.PENANAx9lEXd1dzB
514Please respect copyright.PENANAzWw3IcwtHR
"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.514Please respect copyright.PENANA6qU4J9vW0K
514Please respect copyright.PENANAp3oukHxXsD
"I'm okay," I said. "I just tripped."514Please respect copyright.PENANATQnKsp55yD
514Please respect copyright.PENANAbsh6QUCGq2
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?"514Please respect copyright.PENANAFKO36aswLN
514Please respect copyright.PENANA94qHhEITuF
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.514Please respect copyright.PENANAPKiauEbTtd
514Please respect copyright.PENANAxYEowDjMHb
One New Message From: Unknown Number514Please respect copyright.PENANAtdvrEkQbBO
514Please respect copyright.PENANALC9IHbnsVO
Turn on the news.514Please respect copyright.PENANAoZSuQUgXjy
514Please respect copyright.PENANAcMdUpFLUMl
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.514Please respect copyright.PENANAvuK0A2DyhP
514Please respect copyright.PENANA6IfWt3QbJX
"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."514Please respect copyright.PENANA6pOMRKmfG9
514Please respect copyright.PENANAwfqvooywXb
I dared a glance beside me, where he sat.514Please respect copyright.PENANAhBxKnFJ67D
514Please respect copyright.PENANAsZyOHYJ74Q
Christian was gone.
514Please respect copyright.PENANAXVg5qkREwH