The Campus Killings {#LGBTQ #HORROR #FRIGHT}

Chapter Twenty Four

It was the night of the dance and Jake couldn't help but be a little distracted as he sat on his bed across from Willa.

His roommate was still clearly troubled, though attempted to keep herself together as she painted his nails azure. Her hand trembled a little as she dragged the brush down, her eyes flickering up to his face.

"Are you not going to the party tonight?" she asked, her voice soft.

Jake replied, "I think it's best I stick with you." he sighed, "There's a lot you missed yesterday."

"Really?" she arched her eyebrow, intrigued, "Like what?"

Jake crossed his legs, explaining, "Eilidh is the one who leaked the murder. She witnessed the whole thing."

"Eilidh..." she gasped, "Why would she—"

Her roommate explained, "To get back at Laura for all that happened to her. And that's not all; she's also been sending the messages blackmailing Brody."

Willa looked shocked, confusion etched across her face, "Why would she do such a thing?"

"To protect him." Jake answered, his gaze falling, "Honestly, I think she was just afraid. She witnessed a murder and even if she hated Laura, that'd still be horrifying. Just finding the body of Mali wrecked me and I didn't like her at all."

Willa frowned, "Poor girl. Laura really did ruin her life."

"Aren't you mad at her?" Jake asked, "I mean, all the lies, the dishonesty. Even her own brother won't talk to her anymore. If we could all just damn talk to each other, maybe we wouldn't be picked off as easily!" he instantly regretted what he said, "I didn't mean that—"

Willa cut him off, "You're right. I wasn't honest with Manuela, wasting my time on Petrović instead of admitting how I truly felt about her."

"I just—"

She gave a watery, broken smile, "I miss her, you know? It's been a week and all I want is to hold her one last time."

"I'm sorry." he lowered his head, avoiding her gaze.

She sighed then reached out to tilt his face up, "Don't do that, I can't resist your sad puppy eyes."

"'Sad, puppy—'" he laughed despite himself, "Thanks."

Willa smiled at him warmly, then asked, "Is Raleigh going to the party?"

"I don't know, maybe." he shirked away from her inquisitive stare.

He didn't want to think about Raleigh, about his handsome face, his beautiful eyes, the way his lips felt on his.   He didn't want to think of that at all.

His denial didn't fool Willa, however, who cocked her head, "Don't be coy with me, Jake. We don't both have to be miserable. You like him." she saw him attempt to pull away from her and disappear within himself once again and so she added, "Please, I'm not wanting to force you, just... tell me I'm not wrong."

Jake looked up at her, scared he'd see the cruel, accusatory faces of that fateful night, hear the words ringing in his ear — instead, Willa's gaze was soft, inviting, completely devoid of judgement.

For the first time in a year, he allowed himself to relax.

"You're not wrong." He confessed, "I told you we kissed the night of the sleepover, and it was nice, at least for a moment. But I couldn't— I can't." he sighed heavily, "About a year ago, something happened to me. Something I can't— but it left me absolutely terrified, scared of trusting anybody. Ever since then, I've been living a half existence, scared to do practically anything because if I trust anybody like that again, I could end up in the same situation."