The Secrets We Keep (On Hold...)

Chapter Five

Seth's P.O.V.

I heard the front door shut and I practically flew out of my bed and dashed to my window. I saw Quinn's figure turning down the sidewalk. Crap! I thought as I hurdled over the dirty clothes and random objects scattered across my bedroom floor. Quickly, I switched out of my marroon sweatshirt and threw on a light grey tee and a black zip-up sweatshirt over it. Hopping into my jeans out of my bedroom, nearly eating it on the side of the coffee table in the process. I grabbed my wallet and keys and pulled up my pants all the way before shutting the front door behind me. I began jogging down the sidewalk after Quinn, being in track and football, this was nothing for me. In no time at all I was a few yards behind her. Being the amazing friend that I am, I decided I wanted to scare the living crap out of her. So, I increased my pace for the last few yards, and my arms went for her neck in a surprise choke-hold. Right when my arms were inches from her neck she dropped incredibly fast and positioned herself on her left foot and hand and stuck out her right leg directly in my way. It was too late to avoid it, as I my foot collided with her leg, I felt myself quickly reaching cement. My body slammed into the pavement, and I not going to lie, it didn't feel to pleasant. I quickly recovered though and hopped back onto my feet, not wanting to show Quinn how much that fall really hurt, or how much the fact that a girl took me down in a single move bugged me.

"What was that?" I asked, honestly surprised at her ninja-like reflexes. "How did you know I was going to attack you?" She just gave me a wry smile.

"Well, first of all, you're you. Second, I could here you coming the second you walked out of your house. You're not exactly light on your feet, bud." She tapped my shoulder and made her way past me.

"Wait!" I shouted after her, even though she was only like four feet away. She turned around and put a hand on her hip. The rising sun complemented her soft auburn hair and made her gorgeous blue eyes shine. Those incredible blue sunburts. I tried to hide the fact that I was staring at her, admiring her really, but looking at her, I could see in her eyes something new. I couldn't put a name on it, but her eyes seemed to scream it at me. Pleading me, almost. "What did you mean when you said 'you're you'?" I smirked, trying to look away from her eyes. Thankfully, her gaze broke because she was laughing at my comment, and I was sucked out of the dreamstate I was pulled into by those eyes. If it wasn't for her looking away, I don't think I could ever turn away from those blue sunbursts. I walked up beside her and we began to walk again. "So, where are you going anyway?" I asked casually throwing my arm around her shoulders.

"Well," She began, "I figured I'd at least try to do good in school, for a little while at least. You know, 'for my mother.'" She said, mocking Mr. Molten's words and rolling her eyes.

"It's Wednesday, there's only like, what, five more months of school? I think you deserve a break. Today, you're going to take a personal day off and hang out with your favorite person in the whole world." I spoke in a fun tone.

"But, Danny Parker moved to Ohio last year. How am I supposed to hang out with him if he's in Ohio, Seth?" She joked and started shaking she was laughing so hard. Danny Parker moved because his parents thought he would make more friends at a different school, because he had none here. Well, let's face it, the kid was wierd. He looked like a frog and was caught more than once, following girls around and taking pictures of them in their houses. It still haunts me why a cool, down to Earth kid like him didn't have any friends.

"Look, I know you have a super-mega crush on him and all, but you're going to have to live and let go." I teased and nudged her with my elbow.

"I guess our love was just never meant to be." She barely got that out in between her gasps of laughter. Her laughs were contagious, and sure enough I started laughing along with her. We both had to stop walking to catch our breath. Once we finally regained our composure we continued walking again.

"So," I said, a huge grin still on my face, "Where to?" I asked. She thought a little bit.

"My Mom's probably freaking out wondering where I am." She stated and pulled her phone out of her bag and started dialing. I was so zoned out staring at her beautiful face before that I had yet to even notice her hand, which was poorly wrapped up in gauze.

"What did you do to your hand Quinny?" I was the only one who called her that, and I knew she hated it, so I made sure I used it as often as I could. She held phone against her ear and looked down at her gauzed up hand like she had just noticed it for the first time.

"Oh, this?" She paused. "Punched a stop sign." She said nonchalantly. I couldn't help but laugh, That's so Quinn.  I thought.

"That poor stop sign." I said, gently lifting her injured hand and unwrapping the gauze. Almost her entire right hand was bruised. Every knuckle, except for her thumb knuckle, was blue. There was more bruises than there were skin! I moved my thumb over her bruises very lightly, she winced anyway. I rewrapped her hand up in the gauze. "You need to put ice on this, now." I said, the joking out of my voice completely. All I was now was concerned. She was frantically dialing the number again. She waited, worry washed her face. Nothing. She tried another number. Again, no answer. She looked at me with a scared face, no, make that petrified. I've known her long enough to know that face. Something happened. I don't know what, but something isn't right.

"Something's wrong." Was all she said before she bolted down the street, in the direction of her house. I was right there behind her the whole time. I didn't ask any questions, I just ran. As fast and as hard as I could. I quickly pasted her and continued on my way to her house. Whatever was wrong, it was bad, and I don't want her to be the first one to face it. Before I knew it, her house was getting closer and closer. When I was at the door, I looked back to see how much time I had, Quinn was about two and a half blocks away and closing. I twisted the handle of the door, to my surprise, it was unlocked. I stood in the living room now, and was taken aback by the sight. Chairs were thrown across the room, one kitchen chair was completely shattered. The coffee table was knocked over. Shaddered glass covered the floor. Knifes were scattered over the countertop. And what took my breath away the most though, were the splatters of dark red throughout the room. Blood. Lorena, Quinn's Mom, and Rosamond, her little sister, were nowhere to be found. No, this can't be happening. I thought quickly. She can't lose everyone she loves. Then I remebered her distance from the house before. She must almost be here by now. I can't let her see this. I shot out the door and nearly tackled Quinn in the process. We managed to keep our balance, and panicking, I did not loosen my grip on her shoulders. She faught to get through the door, clawing at the air. Then, throught the open door, she saw it. She saw the mess the room was left in. She saw the broken chair and glass and knives. She saw the blood. I could feel her body freeze under the pressure of my hands. I wrapped my arms around her and crushed her head into my chest. She cried. She cried and cried and cried, and there was nothing I could do to confort her except keep my arms around her tight and whisper softly into her ear.

"I don't know who or what would do this, but I will stop at nothing until I find them." After saying it, I knew it sounded like something out of a cheesy action romance movie, but I was driven by a wave of anger that was brought on from seeing Quinn cry, and I meant what I said. Whoever did this deserves to die.

Despite the circumstances, there was nothing  I would want any more than to stay here like this, in this moment forever. Quinn tight in my arms, safe. I think this is why I'm here. To be with Quinn. To protect her and keep her safe from any of life's dangers. To comfort her when she needs it most. To listen to what she has to say. To just be with her. She is my other half. There is no one else in the world that I would want. All I want is her. She is my best friend. And I'm in love with her. I looked down at Quinn's sobbing body, then looked up at the sky. She would never feel the same way.