The Secrets We Keep

Prologue

Levi's POV.

Six Hours. At this point six hours of my life has been completely wasted. When officers showed up at my house, I had no idea what they could possibly want. Six hours later and I'm still in the exact same predicament. I literally can not even begin to comprehend how a ride down to the station to answer "a few questions" has turned into six hours.

In retrospect it probably would have been a good idea to ask questions first, but I wasn't even thinking properly.

I am seriously starting to freak out in my own mind, with every passing minute my sanity is slipping further away. The major question running through my head is why am I here?

Unbeknownst to me, after taking his slow sweet time a tall muscular man with a low haircut and a clean shaven face has entered the room. I let my eyes wander over to the name on the badge he was wearing, engraved on the shiny surface were the words Deputy Jonathan Thomas. I find myself getting lost in thought thinking about how this guy looks a little to young to be a deputy. I am so caught up in my thoughts that I do not even notice that he as extended his hand for me to shake. That is until he grunts, and knocks me out of my thoughts. I timidly reach out to shake his hand as he begins to introduce himself.

"My name is Jonathan Thomas and I am the acting deputy here in White Oak, PA. He continues, asking me the question I can not wait to have the answer to, "Do you know why you are hear Mr. Taylor?" I politely responded saying,

"No, I do not but at this point I would really like to know".

His next few words shake me to the core. "We called you in because we wanted to ask you a few questions about Westley James".

I stuttered out my response, "What do you want to know?" I couldn't quite place my feelings in that moment, but something just didn't feel right. It was as if something was beginning or maybe something was ending. Either way the feeling was unsettling and I just couldn't shake it.

"When was the last time you had any contact with Mr. James?", he questioned.

"Exactly three days ago", I told him. His response left me baffled and confused with the words replaying over and over in my head. "WESTLEY JAMES IS DEAD."

Westley James POV

*Flashback*

Beginning of freshman year. Everyone sees the movies and everyone imagines exactly what their high school experience will be like. Except for me, I have been waiting all my life for high school; from the popularity, to the parties, and you can't forget the friends.

One friend in particular, my best friend actually Levi Taylor. We have been best buds since before we could talk and our relationship has never wavered.

First day, I remember walking through the front doors. This feeling of incredible empowerment washed over me and I knew that from this moment life would be perfect. In this moment I decided no matter what it took I was going to be Mr. Popular. The name Westley James will go down in history.

Levi POV

"What do you mean Wes is dead"? I blurted out, to shocked to even control myself. "He can't be dead, that's just not possible".

I am no longer even able to contain myself, there are so many things racing through my head in this moment. No matter how hard I try I can no longer stop the tears from falling. It is like the world has just began to crumble around me. Wes was more than just a friend to me he was actually like a brother being that we were so close in age. We did everything together, he knew every secret about me and now I just cannot believe he is dead.

"How did he die"?

Deputy Thomas finally speaks up, "At this moment we are unable to release that information, but any information you give us will help us out greatly in determining what happened to Mr. James. What I can say at this time is that we found his body floating in Battle Creek.

I understand that this is a lot for you to take in, so we can pick this up later, if you can't do this right now. However we are not done here Mr. Taylor. I'll have one of the officers drop you off at home. Have a good night and stay safe."

I nod at him, unable to even form a complete sentence, my head is all over the place and in this moment I can feel the bile rising in my throat. My head is pounding, and my heart is racing. How can Wes be dead, I mean I just talked to him three days ago. It was right after our back to school party and he mentioned something about going out of town.

This is unreal. When the officer drops me off at home I head straight to my room in desperately trying to clear my head. I don't bother to look and see if mom is home because I know she isn't. With her busy career she has very little time to actually be a mother so it doesn't surprise me when she stays at her office all night.

That's just the price you have to pay to be a Taylor. With a lawyer for a mother and a congressman for a father life is not ever exactly normal. Me and my sister Dove have been pretty much been raising ourselves for as long as I can remember. Sure I have a lot of money, a house with a six rooms, and a BMW in the garage but none of that matters because I don't even have my parents in the way that other kids do.

On the way to my room I quietly peek into my sisters room to make sure she is ok. Me being 16 and her being 13 makes me the oldest and in charge of protecting her. After I see that she is ok I continue on to my room in hopes of getting some sleep tonight. I just cannot believe Wes is dead.