Part 4 (1/2)

”Lewis, what-”

He leaned down, his lips on the sh.e.l.l of my ear. A s.h.i.+ver raised the fine hairs on my body.

”I understand, Cameron. I understand,” he whispered. ”And I'm not going anywhere.”

I'm not going anywhere.

The words whispered over and over through my mind. They gave me strength when I wanted to run. When I wanted to reach over and punch George in his smiling face. When I wanted to vomit.

I leaned back against the cracked vinyl seat and sucked in a steadying breath. Lewis could read minds. I wasn't alone. I clung to that realization like a lifeline.

”So, how'd you two meet?” Lewis asked. His thigh was pressed to mine, his side to mine. He was warm, strong and comforting in a way only I could possibly understand. Finally, I had someone to trust.

”Oh, umm, George was hungry,” Annabeth explained with a shrug. Her face was flushed. She was wondering if Lewis realized how old George really was. It bothered her, although she wouldn't admit it. She, too, wondered why George would date someone so much younger. I realized, with that thought, I might have an in.

”You in college?” Lewis pinned his hard gaze to George.

George gave us a half smile and rubbed his short crew cut. ”Oh, no, had to take a break. My mother was in the hospital and I needed to take care of my little sister.”

Annabeth sighed and rested her hand a top of his. She was wearing a silver ring with a blue topaz. Had George given it to her? ”He's going back as soon as his mom gets better.”

It would have been a nice story if George hadn't been a liar...oh right, and a murderer. I slid Lewis a glance. He looked at me, understanding in his gaze. He knew George was lying. It was the first time I could share that experience with someone. My heart expanded and for a brief moment I finally felt warm on the inside and out. I was sitting across from a murderer, yet I was practically in tears because I wasn't alone anymore. I looked away, feeling off balance and at the same time, oddly alive.

”He's so sweet,” Annabeth said.

I almost snorted, but caught myself just in time. As sweet as a serial killer could be. I'm sure his mother would be really proud if she knew what he did in his spare time. I forced the bile to remain firmly in my stomach. Anytime his gaze met mine, I wanted to puke. For thirty minutes we'd sat here, drinking pop like nothing out of the ordinary was happening. I kept waiting for Lewis to do something about George. Surely he had a plan. I sure as h.e.l.l didn't, as this was all new to me. Yet as the clock ticked the moments by, I realized perhaps he was waiting for me to do something.

”Annabeth, go with me to the bathroom?” I blurted out, unable to stay silent any longer.

”Sure!” She kissed George on the check and moved from the booth. With a giggle, she slid her arm through mine. ”Isn't he freaking cute?”

I smiled. Although it probably looked more like a snarl, she didn't seem to notice. Inside the small, one stall bathroom, she opened her purse and pulled out a lipstick. I'd never seen her wear makeup. ”Since when are you dating Lewis?”

”What?” I washed my hands, looking at her in the silver framed mirror, trying to decide what to tell her and how.

”You're dating, right?” She looked confused. ”I mean I saw you guys all cuddly and he drove you here.” She put her lipstick away and leaned against the counter, smacking her now pink lips together.

”I don't know. I...I like him.” It was more than like. We were connected in a way no one else could possibly understand. Vaguely I wondered how far away he could read minds. Could he hear my thoughts even now?

She grinned. ”Emily's going to be p.i.s.sed.”

”I know.”

She rested her hand on my arm. ”Hey, you can't not date him because of her. Please, she can't get every guy. It's not fair.” Annabeth felt like she could give dating advice since she now had a boyfriend. I wanted to roll my eyes at the thought. There were so many more important things to worry about than school crushes.

”I know,” I repeated more forcefully, hoping she'd drop the subject.

”So don't let her stop you.”

I nodded as I dried my hands on a paper towel. ”That's a pretty shade of lipstick.”

She grinned. ”George likes it when I wear lipstick.”

Gag, what else did George like? Besides killing innocent people? I so didn't want to know. ”So you and George...”

She grinned, her excitement nauseating. ”He's so cute, isn't he?”

I nodded numbly, inside my blood boiled. How could she not see that something was wrong? How did she not see the chill evilness in his eyes? Feel the anger in his touch? ”He's older than you, does your mom know?” The words slipped from my mouth. It wasn't exactly the route I'd wanted to take, but couldn't help myself.

She frowned. ”Not that much older.”

”Nine years!”

She paled, silent for one long moment. ”How'd you know?”

I blushed and looked away. c.r.a.p. We'd been in here less than five minutes and I'd already screwed up. ”I could tell you were lying.”

She sighed. ”I'm sorry for lying, but you don't understand-”

I turned on her in a fury. ”I do, I understand that it's weird.”

”Excuse me?” Her face flushed, her body trembling. Okay, this was getting way out of hand. She knew it was weird, why couldn't she admit it? We were friends, weren't we?

I tried to calm down, taking in a deep breath, realizing I was going off track. Someone had to be in control. ”Listen, I don't mean to be rude, but seriously, Annabeth, have you wondered why someone so old would be interested in a high school girl?”

”No,” she snapped, lying. ”Are you saying I'm not good enough?” Her lower lip quivered.

Oh G.o.d, this was so not going the way I wanted it to go and she was getting ready to bolt. I grasped her arm, begging her to understand. ”Please, Annabeth, you're my friend. I'm worried, that's all.”

The words seemed to have some effect and she sighed, her face softening. ”You don't need to worry. He's great, he's-”

”Was he here? That night we found Savannah?” Had I actually said that? No! No, this was not going right. Somehow the words had just spewed from my mouth.

She frowned, her face growing hard again. ”I don't...yeah, he was.” She shook her head. ”Why?”

Why couldn't she just get it? Why couldn't she sense the evilness in him? Why did I have to explain? ”He said he just came back from college, right?”

She nodded and crossed her arms over her chest, a defensive action, one I did often enough to know.

”He comes back. No one has ever heard of him before. He was here the night Savannah was found.” Two and two together...

”What are you saying?” her voice was high-pitched.

She was upset, she couldn't believe I was actually implying Savannah's death had something to do with her boyfriend. ”Please, Annabeth, please, I think...I know...” I paused, realizing I couldn't come out and accuse him of murder without telling her about my ability. ”I want you to break up with him.”

She laughed, a harsh sound, her normally soft brown eyes had gone hard as obsidian. ”You're jealous. Or...or Emily put you up to this.”