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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAP6fnmcHGhY
498Please respect copyright.PENANABojJdwJFMS
"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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAURo6fu2SR7
498Please respect copyright.PENANA9XIRfsBC6W
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANArXY570vcKN
498Please respect copyright.PENANAkAhzGepDPc
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANArV0f0U3ozr
498Please respect copyright.PENANAUsOy6FP99w
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANAu20FtbmZlr
498Please respect copyright.PENANAhOoDZ6hvrD
Christian blinked, untangled himself from me, and said, "What happened with Jude?"498Please respect copyright.PENANA5z6KfoK1FA
498Please respect copyright.PENANAjISe9gY6Ll
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."498Please respect copyright.PENANA4v3WEEwOBV
498Please respect copyright.PENANA9pk9VaExwf
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAlpOVqj8cXT
498Please respect copyright.PENANAlQmXUGSzKk
"What a fucking prick," he mumbled. "Did you punch him in the face?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAs0MJkk9qgd
498Please respect copyright.PENANAW5NiGxPxN4
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANAmmuzEmQjfY
498Please respect copyright.PENANAp1aY9FZfgH
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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAKl1ffmY0ze
498Please respect copyright.PENANAwI6OeTXIui
"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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANALQGoEMkCm0
498Please respect copyright.PENANArf7HQchf5t
"Letters?" Christian muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Jesus, Scott, you're holding out on me."498Please respect copyright.PENANAsVovK1lxVE
498Please respect copyright.PENANAlpzC6mvZxZ
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANA6pnVBlWxOs
498Please respect copyright.PENANAXe5d8Y73IB
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANALi3UCfoP0g
498Please respect copyright.PENANAfqplw6XgOk
"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.498Please respect copyright.PENANA6qiRlvH4Fj
498Please respect copyright.PENANARTrU2KJUd3
"I'm okay," I said. "I just tripped."498Please respect copyright.PENANAFdKBfPZeox
498Please respect copyright.PENANAZwI3hcaQFl
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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAGcViQCEqki
498Please respect copyright.PENANAy2UvoYte8k
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANA76y7KH67ia
498Please respect copyright.PENANA4NZWYN808S
One New Message From: Unknown Number498Please respect copyright.PENANAVFMflc2wWE
498Please respect copyright.PENANAZEX3VfdghY
Turn on the news.498Please respect copyright.PENANABbpxCKEbHo
498Please respect copyright.PENANAa5aRWuJrwC
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAq1yarTUatg
498Please respect copyright.PENANAh6AcCjbB5Z
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANAm48S1joDix
498Please respect copyright.PENANASPSORqtjNw
I dared a glance beside me, where he sat.498Please respect copyright.PENANAfs7hWYJDAJ
498Please respect copyright.PENANA7V7am7ZHzU
Christian was gone.
ns216.73.216.144da2 498Please respect copyright.PENANABojJdwJFMS
"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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAURo6fu2SR7
498Please respect copyright.PENANA9XIRfsBC6W
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANArXY570vcKN
498Please respect copyright.PENANAkAhzGepDPc
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANArV0f0U3ozr
498Please respect copyright.PENANAUsOy6FP99w
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANAu20FtbmZlr
498Please respect copyright.PENANAhOoDZ6hvrD
Christian blinked, untangled himself from me, and said, "What happened with Jude?"498Please respect copyright.PENANA5z6KfoK1FA
498Please respect copyright.PENANAjISe9gY6Ll
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."498Please respect copyright.PENANA4v3WEEwOBV
498Please respect copyright.PENANA9pk9VaExwf
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAlpOVqj8cXT
498Please respect copyright.PENANAlQmXUGSzKk
"What a fucking prick," he mumbled. "Did you punch him in the face?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAs0MJkk9qgd
498Please respect copyright.PENANAW5NiGxPxN4
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANAmmuzEmQjfY
498Please respect copyright.PENANAp1aY9FZfgH
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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAKl1ffmY0ze
498Please respect copyright.PENANAwI6OeTXIui
"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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANALQGoEMkCm0
498Please respect copyright.PENANArf7HQchf5t
"Letters?" Christian muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Jesus, Scott, you're holding out on me."498Please respect copyright.PENANAsVovK1lxVE
498Please respect copyright.PENANAlpzC6mvZxZ
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANA6pnVBlWxOs
498Please respect copyright.PENANAXe5d8Y73IB
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANALi3UCfoP0g
498Please respect copyright.PENANAfqplw6XgOk
"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.498Please respect copyright.PENANA6qiRlvH4Fj
498Please respect copyright.PENANARTrU2KJUd3
"I'm okay," I said. "I just tripped."498Please respect copyright.PENANAFdKBfPZeox
498Please respect copyright.PENANAZwI3hcaQFl
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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAGcViQCEqki
498Please respect copyright.PENANAy2UvoYte8k
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANA76y7KH67ia
498Please respect copyright.PENANA4NZWYN808S
One New Message From: Unknown Number498Please respect copyright.PENANAVFMflc2wWE
498Please respect copyright.PENANAZEX3VfdghY
Turn on the news.498Please respect copyright.PENANABbpxCKEbHo
498Please respect copyright.PENANAa5aRWuJrwC
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAq1yarTUatg
498Please respect copyright.PENANAh6AcCjbB5Z
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANAm48S1joDix
498Please respect copyright.PENANASPSORqtjNw
I dared a glance beside me, where he sat.498Please respect copyright.PENANAfs7hWYJDAJ
498Please respect copyright.PENANA7V7am7ZHzU
Christian was gone.
498Please respect copyright.PENANAoTVfu3ocXO