Fear Me (25 page)

He narrowed his eyes at Sheldon and Keenan stepped up to him threateningly. “Watch where you point those motherfuckers like that before I rip them out of your head.”

Trevor looked down at the floor immediately. I didn't get it because he was bigger than all of them. I guess bigger didn't always mean tougher.

“Come on bro, you know how it is. There are perks to being the son of a cop. I know a lot of shit.”

“Like when our random drug searches are scheduled?” Dash asked.

Trevor’s face paled as his mouth opened and closed. He reminded me of a fish. “Are you trying to say I set Keiran up?”

The trio remained silent, his words resonating in the air. It felt like the truth. I looked over at Keiran who was eerily quiet and still. Trevor still didn't look at him.

“That's bogus, man! Why would I do that?”

“Yeah, why would you?” Keenan asked just as the chime from the entrance door sounded diverting my attention to it. The quietness of the restaurant made the simple chime seem like a bullhorn was blown.

Anya was sliding out the door. I frowned, wondering why she was leaving so quickly. All the gossiping she does and she volunteers to miss this?

“Alright, folks break it up.” Officers appeared along with Officer Reynolds who I know knew to be Trevor’s dad. People were scattering to leave but I was rooted to the spot.

“Son, what's going on here?” his dad questioned Trevor, while glaring at Keiran. I wanted to take a page out of Keenan’s book and rip the officer eyes out.
Gosh Lake, could you be more of a dumb ass? The guy is your enemy.

“Nothing dad. We were just horse playing. It got out of hand.”

“Good boy.” Keenan mocked, earning Officer Reynolds glare now.

“You three, leave now. Son, I want you home. Don't talk to these boys anymore.”

“Excuse me?” Dash asked.

Officer Reynolds frowned at Dash, “Look boy, I don't care how much so-called power your
daddy
has,” he sneered. “I am not afraid of some little boy barely off his momma’s tit.”

A slow grin spread across Dash’s face. “We'll see about that – Dad or no.”

Officer Reynolds opened his mouth to speak when Keiran finally spoke. “We'll go. We wouldn't want anyone getting hurt, would we Officer?”

I had the feeling that Keiran wasn't speaking about himself or his cousin and Dash. I saw fear flash within Officer Reynolds eyes before he narrowed them and said, “That's right.”

Keiran and the guys left without another word spoken. He barely acknowledged me throughout the entire exchange.
Sheldon and I left the restaurant soon after and since Sheldon was parked closer than I was so she took off immediately with a promise to call. I walked around the building toward the extra spaces where my car was parked and stopped short.

Keiran was sitting on the trunk of my car, head bent with his hands clutching his hair. I'd never seen him look anything less than cool and confident but now he looked stressed. I didn't make it too close to him before he lifted his head as if sensing me. He had a tortured look on his face while mine remained neutral.

“What are you doing?” I asked instead trying to appear indifferent.

“Waiting for you.”

He jumped down gracefully considering his legs were freakishly long and was now standing in front of me. He brushed my hair, which was now loose, back behind my ear and gazed at me softly.

“Take me home with you.” I flinched at his words, feeling confused.

“Why?” He dropped his hand the same time he dropped his mask, appearing cold and unobtainable again.

“Because I said so.”

* * *

“Start talking.”

We'd barely made it through the threshold when Keiran issued the command. He seated me across from him and stared me down. I felt like I was in an interrogation room instead of my living room. I didn't dare take him to my bedroom.

“That depends.” I fidgeted under his scrutiny staring at the floor.

“On?”

“What you want to hear.” I looked up at him and he growled but said nothing. “Right.” I looked down at the floor again, trying to count the stitches in the carpet. “Well why should I? You wouldn't listen before. Even that day in the cafeteria,” I stated and peeked up at him.

I knew I was acting like a three-year old and didn’t care. I wouldn’t let him intimidate me in my own home. My safe haven.

He frowned and I sighed. “The day before you were arrested.” It pissed me off that he didn’t remember because I remembered it all too well.

* * *

I felt a chill run down my back and I wanted to run. This situation was making me uneasy and I didn't know how to respond. I took a deep breath and let out a single word, sealing my fate.

“No.”

His eyes narrowed as he grabbed my arm, squeezing hard. I cried out in pain as he brought his face down to mine. I turned my face away, unwilling to be so close to him. “You want to rethink that?” he asked threatening.

I shook my head vigorously.

“Listen you bitch –” he was cut off as my knee connected with his balls and he quickly released me, allowing me to run off before he could recover.

I ran out into the hallway quickly making my way to the cafeteria never stopping to think about the decision I’d made.

I had to warn him.

I burst through the cafeteria drawing the attention of everyone present as I headed to table Keiran always sat at across the cafeteria, facing my usual table. When I reached his table I was breathing hard. My hair was in disarray as I felt tendrils on my face and heavy strands around my shoulder escaping my ponytail. He watched me with a blank look as if he was bored.

“I need to speak with you.” I directed to him.

A few kids sitting at the table laughed at my request as I stared at him pleadingly. His cousin was there with his girlfriend, Sheldon, on his lap. Next to them was Keiran’s best friend and right-hand, Dash Chambers, the school’s richest playboy.

“Are you alri –” Keenan started to say before Keiran flashed him a quick look, silencing him. He turned back to me with a distant look appearing unaffected by my disheveled state.

“Go…away,” he simply said.

He was sprawled low in his chair, legs spread out, with both arms stretched across the empty chairs on each side of him. He looked as if he didn't have a care in the world as he gazed at me under his lashes.

“Please Keiran, this is important.”

“I told you before. You don't get to say my name. Last chance – leave.” I tried again, my heart beating fast. This wasn’t going to end well.

“I need you –” He leapt out of his chair so fast it flew back. A split second later he regained himself and casually sauntered over to me with a predatory swagger that made me feel hunted.

“You need me?” he chuckled darkly as he circled around me.
Don’t do this...please
. I hung my head low, knowing what was coming.

“I thought I told you last time I didn't want your services. I can get fresh pussy for free.” He sniffed the air as if he could smell something foul. He then leaned into my ear but stated loud enough for everyone to hear, “You stink.”

The cafeteria had grown eerily quiet by now watching what was happening. The bell had already rung, signaling the end of the lunch period and the start of another, but no one moved.

He nodded toward my left arm where Trevor had grabbed me leaving a bruise. “Like it rough do you? Your last customer must have given it to you good.”

I’m not a whore. I’m not.

“I guess not good enough since you had to come running to me immediately after.” He stopped circling me, coming to a stop in front of me. “You must be insane Monroe; I wouldn't touch you with a 10-foot fake dick, but maybe Peter could help you out. It looked like he really enjoyed your skills last time.”

I could hear laughter and a shocked gasp in the distance as once again, I felt tears fall. Crying was a daily occurrence for me; sometimes I didn't even notice them. At that moment, I wanted to die thinking it would be the only way to escape.

“Lake!” I heard my name but didn't have the mental strength to lift my head. Light, footsteps approached me and I felt a gentle arm come around me guiding me to the exit.

“Lake, I’m so sorry, why did you come here?” I finally recognized Willow’s voice and lifted my head to find tears in her eyes.

“I had to try,” I whispered.

* * *

Recognition shown on his face and I sat back, curling my legs underneath me, waiting for him to say something. “You said you needed to talk to me,” he said.

“Yes.”

He rolled his eyes. “What did you need to say?”

“I knew you were going to be set up.” His jaw clenched and his breathing quickened and I wondered if he knew he was doing it. Being close to him those few days allowed me to see a lot. More than he was even aware.

“Is this a confession?”

“No.” More jaw clenching. “It’s chance.”

“Enough with the games!” he roared suddenly and sprung to his feet pacing back and forth. “A chance for what?”

“A chance to tell my side! I’ve tried to talk to you – God – I tried to
warn
you! This never would have happened if you weren’t…such…a…prick.”

His eyes flickered before he slipped his mask back into place. “So it’s my fault? I didn’t ask to be framed.”

“It’s not your fault but you owe some responsibility to what happened.”

“I won’t apologize for what I’ve done to you. Any of it.”

I felt as if my heart were ripped out of me and made a laughing stock. Knowing he wasn’t sorry for the pain he caused me hurt more than all the pain combined over the years but I refused to cry. I looked up at him and hardened my gaze.

I hated him.

“Then we have nothing to say to each other.”

“Oh?” he asked dangerously low.

“You want an explanation, I want an apology.”

“Not. Happening,” he growled.

“I agree…bye.” I flicked my hand to door dismissively but I guess that was a mistake because I found myself pinned against the cushions, his body keeping me prisoner, and his hand clutching my throat threateningly before I could blink.

“You’re going to fucking talk and I’m not leaving here until you do.”

* * *

He was serious. I mean I guess I should have known that considering who he was but it didn’t take until Keenan and Dash furnished him with a duffel bag with what I assumed were clothes. They began to play a game that looked like military ops and ignored me.

There were boys at my house.

Three to be exact.

My aunt was going to kill me.

Then again considering her concern over my lack of a love life, of the adolescent persuasion, she might be ecstatic but I’m sure she would think three was pushing it.

“Leave. Now,” I demanded for the hundredth time. Frustration had set in twenty minutes ago when Keenan asked me what was for dinner. I had gone for the butcher knife but Keiran notified me that he’d already hidden the knives.

Dash and Keenan looked at me as If I was crazed when I sat down. I never pulled a knife out on anybody before but the situation called for desperate measures. I was sure they would see things my way if I threatened to dismember or separate certain appendages from their bodies.

After an hour of being ignored, I temporarily gave up on kicking them out, and headed up stairs to do homework. It’s not like I could call for help. After his threat to seize my house he took my cell phone again.
Such a prick.
After finishing my homework, I creeped downstairs, hoping that they were gone.

“You still think she did it?” I hear Dash ask. I knew they were talking about me so I stopped around the corner to eavesdrop.

“Hard to tell. She doesn’t seem interested in clearing herself anymore.”

“Why?” Keenan asked.

“She wants me to apologize,” he stated. Dash and Keenan snorted.

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” Keenan said.

“Well, we at least know she had help, if she did do it.” Dash said

“Or was the help. That motherfucker Trevor is a done deal, the fuck.” Keenan gritted.

“She said she knew I was going to be set up and tried to warn me the day before I got arrested.”

“When you told the whole cafeteria she stunk?” Keenan asked.

“Man, how do you remember but I didn’t?”

“Cause that’s the first time Sheldon ever denied me my pussy. Not even when she caught me cheating the first time.”

“One day my sister is going to leave you.” Dash laughed.

“She doesn’t have a say. It’s us. It always will be us.”

“I don’t get her. Why is she siding with Lake, anyway?” Dash asked.

“She believes she’s innocent and you know she wants new friends. Rosalyn and Anya are a piece of work.”
Who is Rosalyn?

“Yeah. Anya seems to think I belong to her. She’s an alright fuck but really she is just something to do when screwing with Monroe gets boring.”

“Does it ever?” Dash asked. It was silent for a long moment and I thought he wasn’t going to answer.

“When she ignores me.” His answer shocked me.
Why would he care?

“
Speaking of ignoring, what’s up with you and the red head?” Keenan asked.

“What about it?”

“You chasing pretty harder than needed.”

He chuckled before answering, “She’s fun. I’m having fun.”

I pictured the shrug his broad shoulders most likely made and I saw red. I wanted to go down and confront them but knew it would do no good. Willow still wouldn’t talk to me.

“I bet. Her ass looks amazing.” I heard the sound of flesh hit flesh followed by Keenan’s cry of pain. Shit, if they started fighting and broke anything in the house, my aunt would kill me.

“She’s mine.”

“Damn bro! You sure hit hard over
fun
. In fact you usually share the
fun
.” He kept emphasizing the word ‘fun’ while my blood continued to boil.

“Not this time. That goes for you too, Keiran.”

“I don’t want her.” Keiran said nonchalantly. The way they were talking about her as if she was a piece of meat pissed me off.