Part 4 (2/2)

”No! I would never do that to you!” The thought of being grouped with Emily repulsed me. I reached for her but she turned, spinning away from my touch.

”Don't! I can't believe you.” She pushed the swinging door open and fled into the hall.

”That went well,” I muttered. With a sigh, I pushed open the door and walked straight into a hard chest.

”Woa, you okay?” Firm fingers bit into my upper arms, holding me tight.

I jerked my gaze upward, staring into George's cold eyes. I couldn't respond, couldn't breathe. My heart slammed erratically against my chest. I told myself he couldn't do anything here, in a public place, but my body refused to believe what my mind said.

”Annabeth seemed upset. Is everything alright?”

”Yeah,” I managed to get out.

He didn't reply, merely stared down at me. G.o.d, I want her. His evil thoughts whispered to me, unwanted thoughts that sent bile to my throat. Lucky me.

A cold sweat broke out between my shoulder blades. I couldn't look him in the eyes and dropped my gaze to the b.u.t.tons on his s.h.i.+rt.

”Ananbeth is lucky to have a friend like you.” His fingers moved up my arms to my shoulders. Spiders crawling over my skin would have been more welcome. I bit my lower lip to keep from crying out.

Lewis!

George's hands moved up my shoulders toward my neck. ”She really is luck-”

”Everything okay?” Lewis suddenly appeared at the end of the hall.

My terror fled and rationality rushed in on a heated wave. ”Yeah.” I nudged George aside, shoving my elbow into his gut and racing toward Lewis.

”Annabeth is asking for you,” Lewis explained, slipping his arm around my waist and drawing me near. And I let him, because I was pathetic and scared and he knew it. Both of them knew it.

George's face flushed and he rubbed that short crew cut. ”Oh, sure.” Without a backward glance he hurried away.

For one moment we merely stood there, while I was wrapped in my shame and embarra.s.sment. George had practically mauled me and I'd let him, too stunned and afraid to react. ”Go ahead,” I whispered, moving away from him. ”Tell me I told you so.”

Lewis watched me with a sympathetic, but knowing look upon his face. He'd either read our minds, or he knew from experience that telling Annabeth wouldn't work. ”She's leaving.”

Annabeth. I pushed past Lewis and stepped into the main room.

”Come on, George, we're leaving.” Annabeth gripped her murdering boyfriend's hand and pulled him toward the front door.

He looked confused, worried. He should be worried. ”Oh, okay. Is everything all right?”

She sniffed, as if offended. Annabeth was finally showing some backbone. Unfortunately, it was for the wrong reason. ”Yeah, let's go.”

”See ya,” George said, turning and waving. ”It was nice meeting you.”

I didn't wave back. Trembles raked my skin. I couldn't stop shaking as I watched them leave together. Why wouldn't she listen to me? We'd been friends forever. I rested my hand on the back of the booth, resisting the urge to go after her. I couldn't very well force her to stay. ”Tell me he won't hurt her, at least tonight.”

Lewis stood next to me, staring out the window. ”He won't. She's his cover. His attempt at looking normal.”

”She's not even seventeen, he's twenty-five. How normal can they look?”

”I didn't say it was a good plan.”

We were silent, watching them as they drove away while Elvis sang about hound dogs in the background. ”I tried to warn her. I said I didn't trust him. I said pretty much everything I could without admitting the truth.”

”She didn't believe you.”

I nodded, tears burning my eyes. ”You said we could help.”

”We can.” He took my hand, his fingers warm and strong. ”And we will.”

I was shocked by his sudden touch, even more surprised when he leaned forward and pressed his lips to my forehead. Was it a brotherly kiss or something more? My heart slammed wildly in my chest as I prayed it was something more.

”I'll take care of it,” he promised.

Maybe I was too afraid to deal with the situation fully, or perhaps I actually trusted him, but I knew Lewis would do as he said.

Chapter 6.

Lewis said he'd take care of George. And I'd believed him. But with a forty-eight hour time period to gain perspective, my trust in a guy I barely knew was starting to waver. How would he take care of psycho George? What could he possibly do without admitting his own ability?

”Did you hear?” Emily paused next to my locker, a smirk on her perfect face. She wore a dress so short she'd make a hooker blush. Always comfort before fas.h.i.+on, I was dressed in my typical jeans and zip-up hoody, my dark hair in a ponytail.

I was surprised Emily was talking to me again and instantly suspicious. She had to be after something. It was way too early and I'd had too little sleep to play her guessing games. But I didn't have a choice. Her excitement rolled off her in waves, and with her excitement came her thoughts. Annabeth.

I heard her name whisper through Emily's mind. She wasn't the only one. I glanced down the crowded hall. Annabeth's name was bouncing against the walls, back and forth in the minds of everyone present. Thoughts so fast I could barely catch full sentences.

Crying...

Can't believe she didn't know...

Her own boyfriend...

Arrested...

I slammed my locker shut and spun around. ”What happened?”

”What a freak,” Emily said loudly enough to be overheard. Of course she loved the attention. ”How could you not know your boyfriend was a murderer?” She s.h.i.+vered dramatically.

Oh G.o.d, Lewis had taken care of George! I wasn't sure if I should be thrilled or horrified.

”I knew he was a sicko the moment I met him. I can't believe she brought him to my house.” Emily pressed her manicured hand to her heart. ”He knows where I live! I could've been his next victim.”

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