The Secret (Book 2 in The Deception Series)

Chapter 20: games and journals

Jules

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"Girls Just Wanna Have Some"- Chromatics

I stare at Taylor's journal that is currently sitting on my lap, taunting me. I wanted to read it. But I was fighting myself. I was scared out of my mind. I knew I shouldn't But I was so intrigued by it. I wanted to know what Taylor had that I didn't. How could Brennen love her? I know she was perfect. But he loved me at one point, before Taylor. I wanted to know how he could just let go of every memory we had together.

She changed Garrett, it made me wonder if I could change Brennen. But I knew I couldn't. Brennen had different demons he was fighting. The demons that had been haunting him since we were kids.

I stare at him as he sits in the driver seat of his car while I sit in the passenger seat. He was zoned out, staring at the empty parking lot we were in. I look at his untouched food in his lap and sigh, "Are you not hungry?" I ask.

He shakes his head before putting the food we bought in the plastic bag. He places it in the backseat before looking back out the windshield. I put my food away too before I turn to him.

"Talk to me, Brennen." I plead.

He asked to skip school and spend the day together. I was hoping it was because he missed me and wanted to show me he loved me. But instead he was just quiet, he was here with me psychically but not mentally.

"Why'd you make me come here?" I ask.

He sighs and looks at me, "I needed you."

I feel my heart ache, I knew what he meant by that. I hold my breath before I grab his arm and roll up the sleeve of his sweater. I feel my heart ache as I look at the fresh cuts on his beautiful skin.

"Oh, Brennen." I sigh.

He pulls his arm away and pulls the fabric back down to cover his pain. I stare at him, tears forming in my eyes. He doesn't look at me, he just looks out the window away from me. I place my hand on his chin and turn his face to look at him. My heart breaks as his eyes fill with tears.

"I don't know what's wrong with me, Julianna. I...I just don't know." His voice breaking.

"Nothing is wrong with you. You're perfect." I tell him.

"No, I'm not."

I nod, "You're perfect to me, Brennen. Nothing can change that."

I lean in and kiss him passionately, hoping it would help him believe the words I was saying.

I snap back to reality when I hear a knock on my bedroom door, I quickly stuff the journal under my pillow before saying, "Come in."

The door opens to reveal Taylor and Norah, I smile at them as they walk in.

"Hi, do you wanna come to the hockey game with us?" Norah asks.

"You're going?" I ask her.

"Yeah, Lily was supposed to come but she had a last minute assignment to finish so Taylor invited me because she doesn't wanna go alone." She explains.

"Yeah, and if I don't go, Garrett will kill me because I'm his lucky underwear." Taylor says.

I frown.

"Long story." She smiles.

"Okay, sure, let me change." I say.

They nod before walking out.

I quickly changed into some jeans and a shirt before walking downstairs where Brennen was doing some weird leg lift in the living room.

"What the hell are you doing?" I ask.