Clear Lake Academy holds the worst of the worst delinquents from around the country. Each and every student there holds a notorious background that led them there and almost everyone avoids them.
After setting the tenth building on fire, which just...
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I hesitantly knocked on the door, awaiting for the verdict. It was silent in the sunlight infested corridor as everyone hid away in their room, silently and warily getting ready for the unexpected funeral.
I never would have thought I'd be attending a funeral while I would be here.
I ignored the hissing voice in the back of my mind. The one that told me I had caused this- I hadn't even tried to find out who was behind these texts, forgotten in the midst of Laken's ordeal. I was so stupid for letting my mind get ravelled up in everything that I didn't give a thought to who was doing this.
The door opening jolted me out of my spiraling thoughts. I stepped back instinctively, my pulse tripping over itself. Steel eyes locked onto mine like I had seen them for the first time. Only this time, they looked drained of anything that resembled happiness. His hair was a mess, as if he'd run his hands through it too many times, and behind him on the bed lay an unmade tie, abandoned like he couldn't even bring himself to finish the task.
He gave me a small, weak smile. "Hey, dora."
"Hey, Lake." He stepped aside, allowing me to step in. Bentley looked up from his position on the bed, surprise flickering over his features. He gave a quick, polite smile, his gaze switching between me and Laken before he was up and leaving with a understanding nod.
"Need help?" I asked, pointing at the tie.
He glanced at it with a pause before his eyes flickered back up. "Sure."
He moved to sit down on the bed as I picked up the black tie and shifted closer. I positioned myself between his legs, wordlessly wrapping the tie around his neck. His eyes were downcast, avoiding eye contact. There was only the sound of our breathing shared between us as we refrained from talking.
I broke it shortly. "How have you been, Laken?"
There was a pause. "I'm-I'm okay."
"No, really." I interjected, moving one length of the tie under the other. There was an even longer pause. I let go of one end of the tie, bringing my hand to his chin and lifting his head until his eyes met mine. Dark. Heavy. Fragile.
"I don't know." It was barely a whisper.
I let my hand drop back to the tie, movements slow as I used it as a small distraction from the voice in my head. The tie blended seamlessly with his all-black suit as he sat there, still and waiting. I didn't push. I let him find his own pace.
"No one has come up to me surprisingly." He laughed humorously. "I've got you and the guys to thank for that." I didn't speak, focusing on the tie. "I know what they all think though, it's written all over their faces."
"And what's that?"
He copied me back, whispering as if we were sharing a secret. "That I killed someone. That I might do the same to them if they take a wrong step."
