𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐞

Chapter 20

Rumors were spreading hard and fast. To everyone at school, I was Keiran's girlfriend and we were the topic of everyone's conversation. What really threw me for a loop was the birdie, by the name of Angela, who said that Keiran started the rumor.

Willow had stopped her in the hallway one day to ask about where it came from. Angela's exact words were "How could it be a rumor if it came straight from the horse's mouth?" I knew then that it had to be Keiran because I didn't say that shit.

When I confronted Keiran, he'd only shrugged and say,

"You're mine. Now they know it."

To make matters worse, Anya was doing everything in her power to tarnish my reputation, which was really a pathetic attempt after being bullied by Keiran for years. I was immune to anyone else.

Basketball season was coming, so I haven't seen much of Keiran outside of school. He still used every opportunity to feel me up and violate me in school though. I was becoming pretty familiar with inappropriate places to do inappropriate acts.

Keiran's possessiveness wasn't the only contributor to my growing frustration. Time was ticking. My aunt was due back in a few weeks and I wasn't any closer to finding answers about the girl in the picture. A few times I came close to just asking Keiran about it but knew that would be dangerous and stupid. We may be "friends" now but he could quickly become my enemy again if I wasn't careful.

After many failed attempts to find anything on him, I gave in and called Jesse. He was a criminal mastermind with computers and finding things that weren't meant to be found. I even thought about asking him to find my parents but in the end decided I didn't want to know. It would be too painful to learn they abandoned me. Maybe one day, I would have the courage to find the truth.

The doorbell rang and I rushed to answer it. We didn't have much time before Keiran's practice was over and I couldn't risk Keiran finding Jesse here or worse and find out what we were doing.

I opened the door to find an annoyed Jesse on the other side. "Tell me what this is about and it better be good. I did ninety all the way here."

"Well you said you wanted to help me. This is it. Help me."

"So how and why does it involve my computer?" he asked as he set up his computer in the kitchen.

"I need you to find everything you know about Keiran, especially who and where his parents are."

"Ok...why?"
"I can't explain it to you...not now."
"Here we go. Why not, Lake?"
"Jesse, we don't have a lot of time. Are you going to help me or not?"

"Fine." He mumbled something about bossy girls and harebrained schemes while he booted up his computer. I kissed his cheek in thanks but he batted me away.

"When did you get so grouchy?" I teased.
"Right around the time you started keeping secrets." "Whatever, I'm going to do homework."
"Great, you can do mine too," he said good-naturedly as if he had just offered to do my homework instead. "What?"

"I brought Calc and Chemistry," he said without taking his eyes off the computer.

"You can't be serious..."

"I don't joke about getting out of homework." He took out his books and shoved them across the table.

"This will take me all night!"
"Thanks, babe," he grinned at me cheekily.
"Gosh, you can be such a bitch." I folded my arms and glared at him across the table.

"My, my. When did you grow claws?"
"Sorry, Jesse. I'm just stressed."
"The bags under your eyes tells it all and is that a hickey?" When I got home I changed into a tank top that I was just now realizing was a little revealing. The hickey, Keiran placed at the top of my breasts, this morning, was partially peeking out of my top. The flush I couldn't hide heated my skin and I jumped up from the table.