The Searching Secret

Chapter 3

I quickly raced after him. "I'll just leave, Jay!" I said, stopping him again. I had felt his frustration rise and knew he wasn't bluffing. However I couldn't let my parents find me. I was eighteen now and they couldn't make me come home, but dealing with them would still be difficult.

"Ri, why won't you just let me help you?" He said, with his back still to me.

I quickly moved, so I was now in front of him. "And you think calling my parents would help?!"

"They could help knock some sense in you. Keep you from doing something crazy."

"I'm in my right mind, Jay."

"You're trying to find the guy that tried to kill you!"

"It wasn't him!"

"Then tell me, who was it Riley?" he asked. When I didn't answer he yelled. "Come on, Riley, if you know it wasn't him, then who was it? Who was it?!"

"I don't know!!" I screamed back. "But it has something to do with why Sam left."

"Of course." Jay sighed and his shoulders dropped. Then he tuned and headed back to his bedroom.

"What do you mean of course?!" I yelled, storming after him, but I knew. I knew the fact I was still holding on to Sam was hurting Jay.

"Of course this is about Sam!?" he yelled. "He left you Riley! He left you! Why can't you get that through your head!!"

Before I had time to think I smacked him across the face. "He left because he had to! He left to keep me safe!" I cried.

"You don't know that's true," he replied softly, not bringing himself to look at me.

"You don't know it's not," I replied.

Jay sighed and returned to his seat. "So how can I help? That's why you are here, right? You need something."

I took a seat at the end of his bed and tried my best to ignore his jab. "I think Evan was working for whoever attacked me, but I think he wanted out." I informed him

"What does this have to do with Sam?"

"I think it's connected to Sam's past and I think that's why he left, to protect me from it."

"Then maybe you should let him do that, Riley, if it's for you own safety." Jay said making his last attempt to change my mind.

"I can't do that. I can't force him back into his past just to protect me. I just can't Jay."

"So what can I do?" Jay asked with a sigh.

"Do you have any idea where Evan might be? I know it's a stretch but if I can find him I might be able to get some answers. Unless of course you might know where Sam is."

"But Riley," he tried again.

"Jay," I said cutting him off. "My memory from that night is hazy at best, but I know it wasn't Evan. You have to trust me."

Jay sighed "I don't know where Sam is."

"And Evan?"

Jay got up and walked to his closet. "As you heard by now this isn't the first time Evan has disappeared."

"Yeah?" I said as I watched him pulling things out of his closet.

"Well what many people don't know is I actually ran into him during the last time"

"Okay," I replied, as he started stuffing belongings into a bag.

"If I am right he might have some sort of hide out there."

"Where, Jay?" I asked, as my hopes started to increase. However he didn't answer. He just kept stuffing thing in his bag, and that's when it clicked. "What are you doing, Jay?"

"I'm going with you," he said a last, without looking at me.

"Oh no you're not!" I said, ripping a shirt from his grip.

"The way I see it," he said, finally turning to face me. "If I tell you and you leave here without me, the minute you are out the door I call your parents and tell them where you are going. Then they will be there waiting for you, ready to take you back kicking and screaming."

"You wouldn't" I replied softly, as I dropped his shirt.

"At least if I am there with you I can make sure you are safe." He explained.

"I can't drag you into this."

"I'll just stick around until I am sure Evan won't try and kill you again."

"It wasn't him, Jay!" I insisted.

"Right, right. Well this way I know for sure."

"I can't let you, Jay. You have a life here, you have a girlfriend! What will she think if you just take off with me?"

"I'm either coming with you or not telling you." He replied. "Besides, it doesn't matter what she thinks. We broke up."

I felt my heart twist knowing I was the cause of his pain and hers. "Jay, I'm sorry, I-"

"Forget about it, Riley." He said, cutting me off. Then he went right back to packing, knowing I would be unable to stop him now.

I sighed in defeat and picked his shirt off the ground to give to him. I felt terrible about the way Jay was feeling. Hurt because of the break up yet so deeply in love with me that he would do anything for me. Coming here only reminded him of that love that he was trying to let go. Part of me wished I hadn't come here, but mostly and selfishly, I was excited to finally have a lead to follow, even if I had no idea where that was.

Once the bags were packed and we grabbed a few snacks from the kitchen we headed out to the car. "Keys," Jay said, as we reached the driver side door. When he saw me hesitate he added, "You don't know where we are going, remember?" I sighed, and tossed the keys to him as I walked to the passenger side. "Ever drive with the top down?" he asked, when we were settled in the red convertible.

"No, and we're not." I snapped, feeling slightly annoyed with what little control I had.

"Gees just asking," he said, as he pulled out of the driveway.

For the first few minutes Jay tried to hold a conversation with me. However he quickly found that I wasn't in the mood to share words with him so he stopped and we drove in silence. With the steady speed of the car and watching things fly by I let my mind wonder. However it wasn't longer before my eyes became too heavy to keep open.

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