“Hi,” he greeted in a grim tone. He watched me with hard eyes from his place by the door.

“Hi,” I whispered. We continued to gaze at each other silently.

“I sent everyone home. Willow and her mom are still waiting. I want to take you home. Will you let me?”

“I don’t think –”

“Please,” he cut me off. His plea was nothing less than surprising. Keiran was a “take all and fuck all” type of person. He did what he wanted without permission or worry. It may have been guilty eating away at him that changed his attitude…at least for the moment, so I decided to give him something he never gave me. Mercy.

I nodded my assent and we entered the waiting room together. Willow was there as Keiran said. A flurry of emotions crossed over her face when she saw me and I knew she was on the verge of breaking down. She ran up to me and embraced me with tears streaming down her face.

“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have left you.” Her small body shook with tears and I hated that she blamed herself. She was in the midst of her own emotional turmoil. She didn’t need the burden of mine as well.

“Don’t do that. No one is to blame but Trevor and his own fuckedupness. Not you and not me.”  I kissed her forehead before releasing her to face her mom. “Mrs. Waters I appreciate you coming but I’m going to ride home with him if it’s okay with you.”

“Oh, um...are you sure? It’s really no problem.”

“I’m sure.” She looked like she wanted to protest further but Willow grabbed her hand to lead her out but not before glaring at Keiran in warning.

“Call me when you’re home and your aunt will be flying in tomorrow morning.” She finally departed, leaving me along with Keiran in the waiting room. He was standing directly behind me and I could feel the heat of his body radiating into me.

Not the time, Lake. I looked over my shoulder at him to find him studying me intensely. “I’m ready,” I stated.

* * *

Monday morning finally came and I was happy for the distraction of school. Aunt Carissa arrived Sunday morning and I’ve been under her watchful eye ever since. As far as she knows I was randomly attacked in a locker room at school. She wanted to home-school me for the rest of the year and I almost let her but I didn’t want to hide anymore.

After many arguments she finally agreed to continue her tour and was set to fly back out tomorrow but she made me promise to let Mrs. Waters keep an eye on me. That meant regular check-ins.

I left for school early that morning, not wanting to run into Keiran. After we left the hospital, Keiran drove me home but once we pulled into the driveway, he received a phone call. He argued on the phone with someone before hanging up, with a furious expression. He had turned to me with regret in his eyes and told me he had to leave. I haven’t heard or seen him since.

I picked up Willow on the way to school this morning. Willow and I were able to hash everything out last night, though I still didn’t tell her about Dash using her to set me up. I just didn’t think now was the time to add to her plate considering she just found out that he has a fiancée’.

We disappeared in the library once we arrived to wait for first period to begin. I had the feeling Willow wanted to hide just as much as I did.

“Oh Willow, I almost forgot,” I said, reaching into my bag. “You left this in the locker room.”

I pulled out the lavender and platinum bracelet I found Saturday and handed it over. She just stared at longingly before a look of disgust passed over her face. She shook her head before saying, “I don’t want it. It’s meaningless.”

“Don’t ever let me hear you say that shit again, angel.”

We both looked up in surprise to see Dash and Keiran standing in front of our table wearing fierce expressions. I didn’t understand how they found us so quickly. I was more surprised that they bothered to look.

“Go away, Dash and you may take that thing with you. I’m sure your fiancée’ would appreciate it. But then her name doesn’t start with a W does it?”

Willow lowered her gaze to her textbook so she didn’t see the look in his eyes before he yanked her out of her seat and quickly disappeared with her in the bookcases. I could hear her reading him his rights with a few of her favorite choice words. She sounded as if she had it under control so I turned back to my textbooks.

I was prepared to ignore Keiran but it seemed he had other plans when he lifted me from my seat and sat me on his lap. I struggled against him, but he wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my hair. “Fuck, I missed this,” he muttered, shocking me completely still before I realized he said “this” and not “me.” All he wanted from me was my body and my pain. I was annoyed with myself for how quickly I could forget.

“Don’t –” The sound of books falling from the shelves and a steady thump, interrupted what I was going to say. I shot out of his lap, intending to make sure Willow was okay when I felt Keiran’s hand clamp around my wrist, stopping me.

“I wouldn’t do that a second time.” Keiran cautioned.

“What are you – Oh.” Understanding dawned on me and I could feel my cheeks blush. “He wouldn’t –” Keiran raised an eyebrow. “She wouldn’t –”

I was interrupted by what sounded like a feminine moan come from their direction. I couldn’t believe they were having sex in the school library! We couldn’t be more than a few feet away from them. I didn’t know who my best friend was anymore and the thought made me sick.