Catch Me If You Can (boyxboy)

Chapter 8

Owen’s pov.

Pain. That’s all I feel. Just pain, but instead of the normal emotional pain, its physical pain. I don’t know how to deal with physical pain.

I sigh and stand up, going over to my closet to pick out some clothes. After all the begging it took for Tate to keep quiet, I wouldn’t want Danni finding what happened because I am too careless.

I shudder as I walk into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. The memories are almost too much, and I can feel tears prickling behind my eyes as my eyes glue themselves to the bathtub, my brain too busy reminiscing to avert them.

The bathroom door open and I have to stop myself from letting out a shriek. I look in the mirror and sigh in relief. It’s only Tate. He silently takes in my disheveled state before sighing and running a hand through his hair.

“I can’t believe I let this happen to you,” he murmurs as he strokes my face, causing me slight pain. 

“It isn’t your fault,” I say as loudly as I can, which isn’t very loud. Tate pulls me close to his chest, stopping right before I collide with his body.

“It’s okay,” I say reassuringly. “I’m fine.” He nods and pulls me the rest of the way into his chest. I want to cry out in pain, but I repress the urge. He needs this right now.

“It’s not okay, Owen,” he groans, his grip on me tightening. “I should’ve warned you that something was off about that guy! He’s been bothering me about you for the past week.”

I pause, terrified. “What guy?” I ask hesitantly. Tate looks down at me confused.

“Cyren, obviously,” he replies. I start to shake a little, scared of what might happen.

“H-how do y-you know h-he did it?” I ask shakily.

“Well, Danni texted me saying that she left him alone with you, and he’s been talking about taking you away for the past week, so…” he trails off, but the accusation is still in the air. What do I do?

“C-Cyren d-d-d-didn’t do it,” I lie. Tate rolls his eyes.

“Really, now? Who did, then?” Crap, I need to choose my words carefully.

“I-I don’t know. I didn’t see their face.” Tate looks at me suspiciously, but I can’t bring myself to meet his eyes.

“You’re lying,” he declares. “You won’t look me in the eye. Now the question is why you’re lying. Let’s see… from what I can tell, he’s a pretty cunning guy and a master of disguises. He knew had to know I wasn’t here, or he wouldn’t have risked coming over, meaning that he has to have an inside source. You keep looking behind you, as if someone is watching you, and nobody but Danni knows our schedule, so that means he has cameras and mics around here somewhere. You’re scared to tell me that he’s the one who burned you, so that either means that he didn’t do it, which he obviously did, or he’s blackmailing you.” I stare at Tate, shocked. I forgot that he was a total nerd when it came to mysteries and detective stuff.

“Looks like I’ve hit the nail on the head,” he chuckles humorlessly. “Now, let’s see. He’s blackmailing you with something big, or else you wouldn’t have been this scared, so what is it?” I shake my head and bury myself into his chest.

“Hmmm,” he hums, “I’m guessing he made sure that you knew what would happen if you told anyone. So, this means it has to be related to something you want to protect.” He leans down to whisper in my ear.

“Is it Danni?” he asks so quietly so that I can barely hear him. I know what he’s doing. He’s being discrete so that Cyren won’t notice what’s going on.