Keiran also changed…sort of. He ignored me completely in school now but every night he came for me. As backwards as it was, his nightly visits were the only time I didn’t feel alone. I also felt like the dumbest girl in the world because no matter how much he turned my world upside down, by body always welcomed him. Every time he touched me he took without giving anything in return. Sometimes I cried after we had sex but it wasn’t from physical pain. It was the suffocating feeling of hopelessness. Keiran had succeeded in making me his prisoner.

Chapter Fifteen

When Sheldon wasn’t busy with cheerleading and Keenan she made it a mission to break me out of my depression. My aunt was due back in three weeks and I welcomed the chance to feel safe at home again and not just because of the recent burglary. I’d decided to wait until my aunt got back to tell her about it. I didn't want her to worry or cut her tour short.

There wasn’t any way to explain the birthday card and photo to her since it was connected to Keiran somehow. Lucky for me I haven’t been dragged back to his house again since I found the gun and locket in his closet but that also meant I had no way of figuring out his connection to the girl.

I decided to leave that part out when I told her. I knew that keeping it all from her was dangerous and irresponsible but I needed her away from Six Forks as long as possible. I was sure Keiran would get tired of me soon. I’d never known him to be seen with one girl for long.

I was on my way to meet Sheldon at the local burger joint. I wanted to invite Willow but she still wasn’t talking to me. I felt a pain in my heart every time I saw or thought about her. When this was over, somehow I would make it all up to her.

The restaurant was jam-packed and I expected no less but Sheldon just had to pick here of all places to go. I walked in and scoured the place for her. The restaurant expanded a couple of years ago to accommodate the amount of occupancy the place experienced on Friday nights. It usually only lasted until someone decided to take the party to their house.

"Lake!" I looked behind me to see Sheldon pushing through the crowd looking extremely boho in a long, colorful maxi skirt with two splits in the front that made her legs peek out when she walked. She wore a dark green tank top and a long feather pendant. Her hair was in two braids with a thin headband to accessorize.

“You look like Willow,” I said, surprised.

“Thanks! We were talking about fashion the other day and Willow suggested this look when I told her I wanted to try something different.”

“How is she?” I asked and tamped down the jealous feeling.

“She misses you.”

“How do you know that?”

“She’s your best friend. Why wouldn’t she miss you?”

“I haven’t been a very good friend.”

“The thing about true friendships is that they are resilient as hell.”

I was about to respond when someone passing through the crowd bumped me. “Seriously of all the places, why here?”

"Come on, Lake. Don't be such a Debbie Downer. Where else would we go anyway?" I knew she was right. I just didn't like the possibilities of who I could run into.

"Are there any tables left?" I nearly had to scream to be heard over the music and people.

"Do you even have to ask? I was thinking, when they turn this into a house party, we should go."

I remembered the first and last time I went to a house party. Of course Keiran was there so it ended badly. Brian Lassiter, a senior in high school and the quarterback had struck up a conversation with me because his little brother was a fan of my aunt’s books. He wanted to know if he could get a signed copy for his birthday when Becky Daniels came out of nowhere screeching and hollering about me flirting with her boyfriend. When she slapped, I swung and hit her back and that’s when Keiran hollered that I was starting fights. The kids who house it was kicked me out and I was never invited back to a house party.

"Not a good idea.”

“Why not? Keiran hasn't been after you these past couple weeks so it should be safe right?”

Except when he sneaks into my bedroom in the dead of the night. “I don't know. Last time I barely escaped with my life.”

She rolled her eyes and said, “Now who’s being dramatic?”

“I don't want that kind of trouble or any trouble. Have you noticed lately that I am the target of so much hostility? The last thing I need is my aunt receiving a phone call saying that I got into a fight or worse ending up in jail.”

“But how better to show the big bad wolf that he can't blow your house down no matter how much he huffs and puffs?”

I laughed at her comparison to Keiran. She was such a cornball sometimes.

“And I know you're calling me names in your head,” she said. She looked truly offended which only made me laugh harder until she was laughing too.

“What's so funny?” Trevor asked as he walked up and hooked his arm around my neck. “Please share.”

My mood just committed suicide. “I'm sorry. It was a private joke in a private conversation shared between friends...privately.”

“You've picked yourself up a smart mouth but from what I hear Keiran is done with you so I would be careful about who you piss off,” Trevor threatened.

“You see you got the right idea about pissing people off. You should try it. Like now,” Sheldon retorted.

I laughed which only made Trevor angrier though it didn’t faze me. An angry Keiran made me want to run and hide, but an angry Trevor just annoyed me.

"No one is talking to you. Why don’t you worry about who your boyfriend is fucking besides you?” Sheldon’s nostrils flared and I knew his statement pissed her off.

“Sheldon…” I sniffed the air. “Do you smell that? It smells like...asshole.” Sheldon and I sniffed the air until we both turned eyes on Trevor. “Trevor I think it's coming from your direction. You should take care of that before it gets out of hand.”

We began to walk away when I felt a sharp pain rip from my skull. Trevor had grabbed me by my ponytail and flung me to the floor in a fit of rage. I hit the floor and the force of the impact dazed me.

“What did you say to me, bitch?" He charged towards me, his foot rising to kick me. I balled up to avoid the blow but it never came.

"Oh my gosh!” I heard Sheldon scream. When I looked up, Keiran was there and strangling Trevor, who was clawing at his hands to escape. He was turning blue and looked close to passing out.

He's going to kill him.

Keiran was finally torn away but it took Dash, Keenan and Quentin to stop him and hold him back. Trevor was fighting to regain his breath as Sheldon helped me up. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at Keiran as if he'd grown another head.

“What's your problem, man? You attacking me over her?” He spewed the words out with disgust as if I were the one with the problem. Keiran was still fighting to get loose and Keenan’s hold on him was slipping.

“He'd beat your ass for hitting any girl. I'd beat your ass. Half the guys in here would beat your ass,” Dash growled.

“But there is only one girl he would kill you for hitting,” Keenan added in a sinister tone.

“Why would you care? She set you up!”

Keiran went still instantly, his body tight with tension. I could see his jaw clenching and that infamous vein near his temple pounding a steady rhythm.

Keenan and Dash turned to Sheldon with questioning her silently. She shook her head no and I wondered what their silent communication was about. I figured now that Keiran was reminded he hated me this situation would dissolve immediately and they would all laugh at my expense. Instead they turned back to Trevor, who Keiran never took his eyes off of.