To kiss a stranger

Chapter 7: Secrets

It's been only a week since school started but so much has happened already: Paris, Jayce and all these mysterious things around him and then the twins and their claim that they know Jayce. Where do they know him from and most importantly why do they think he's dangerous? I'm lying in my bed trying to find an adequate answer for these question and failing. At least these questions successfully distract me from my other problems, the ones I can't talk to anyone about. However, I could ask my friends about the twins and Jayce.

Does any of you have any idea how my brothers might know Jayce from before?- Chloe

 I sent the text in the group chat.

No - Chris

You told them about Jayce? - Jessica

I though he was knew in town, how could they possibly know him? - Ana

Their replies are not helpfull so I decide to go to the source itself. I open Clayton's door, he's on his laptop.

"I didn't hear you knocking."

"Oh I was beginning to think you didn't know the meaning of that word." He just humphs and closes his laptop.

"What do you want?" I jump on his bed which annoys him even more.

"Where do you know Jayce from?"

"I don't know him."

"That's not what you said earlier." I point out. His jaw thightens. Why is suddenly everyone hidding something?

"Since when do you keep things from me?" This makes his eyes soften. He gets up and sits on the edge of the bed.

"Look, sis, it's not that we're keeping anything from you, it's just..Carl and I have always tried to protect you and this guy seems like bad news."

"But that's the thing, I don't need your protection! It's too much sometimes." I note that he avoided the question and I give up. He's not telling me anything else. 

"We're your brothers, it's our duty to do that! There are many bad things in this world beside school and.."he waves his hand in the air."..boy problems. Stuff we're gonna do everything in our power to keep you away from." Too late. At this moment I want to tell him that he doesn't need to worry about something that has already happened. But I don't. I can't. I don't know how they would react and I don't want to imagine. It's what I am trying to protect them from. I realise that all three of us are trying to do the same thing for each other.

"I know that." I throw my arms around him and squeeze him tight. "I love you."

"Ah, don't get all mushy now." He is teasing me but he squeezes me just as tight. I let go and stand up.

"I'm going to my room but if you decide to tell me the whole story you're welcome to not knock on my door." I smile at him but his expression tells me he doesn't have any intentions of doing so. Back in my room I find my phone buzzing with incoming messages. I pick it up, scrolling to the top of the group chat and start reading.

A buddy of mine said he had seen Jayce before in town - Jason

What? He told me he wasn't from around here - Ana

He may not be born here - Chris

Why would he lie? - Jessica

He doesn't remember exactly where he had seen him, but he was sure it was somewhere on the other side of town - Jason

Chloe was right, something doesn't add up, that boy is hidding something - Ana

Hey, Mistery Inc, we barely know the guy and you're already placing him as part of the mob. Give the man a break - Chris

Exactly! We DON'T know him - Jessica

I got it, I'm gonna text Oliva! She must know something about him, she's such a gossip - Ana

Reading through the texts I suddenly feel the need to defend Jayce even though I was the one who planted the seeds of suspicion to begin with. I still want to find out what he's hiding but I also know what is like having secrets of my own that I don't want anyone to know about so I should tell my friends to back off a little.

Don't text her, the twins admitted they don't know him, they just don't want him near me - Chloe

Tell me something I don't know - Jessica

You're gonna die alone you know, right Chloe? - Jason

But that's not everything, what hell of a coincidence is truly that Jayce met Chloe in Paris and boom the next day he's at our school? - Ana

Things like that happen, Ana, he doesn't even remember her - Chris

He actually doesn't remember me? I'm both surprised and a little bit hurt. I though he may just pretend he doesn't, for I don't know what reason, but I definitely can't forget him and New Year's Eve and thought it wasn't something you easily forget. Guess I was wrong, but I'm still a 100% sure it was him that night.

Did he tell you something, Chris? - Chloe

I may have asked him if he's seen you before...totally casually btw - Chris

Chris!!!! - Chloe

It's just that he acts different around you like he knows you from before and you kicked his puppy or something but he claims he doesn't know you, that's all - Chris

Yeah, I caught up that too - Jessica

Me too - Jason

Me three - Ana

When you're not around he's way more chilled.. - Jason

Laid back.. - Jessica

Funny - Chris

He even...wait for it - Ana

... - Ana

Smiles! - Ana

Ha, ha, very funny - Chloe

So they noticed it too, I tought it could be because of Paris but he denies knowing me so why does he acts this way? I switch off the lights and get under the covers.

Chris is right, we shouldn't be so hard on him. Maybe it's just new kid problems, we'll see in time - Chloe

Even I don't believe what I write but I send it anyway.

Hallelujah, finally someone reasonable! I feel like you guys were ready to go after the poor guy with pitchforks and torches - Chris

Don't worry little brother, your little friend is safe from us - Jason

For now - Jason

I laugh at that. But I get the impression Jason really doesn't like Jayce. I wonder why is that.

Ok, after we've established that everyone is safe I would like to go to bed. Night guys - Chloe

Good night, love - Ana

Night - Jason

I leave my phone on the nightstand thinking about that. My friends and my brothers are safe, I have made sure of that, but I am not so sure about Jayce. What happened after I left him that night? Who were those guys? What did they want from him? Is he somehow involved in the things I do my best to keep everyone out of? How could he be, if he's new here? Does that run deeper than I tought? All these questions are circling my head as I try to fall asleep and I have only one answer for sure - everyone I care about is safe. Except me, I am not. But I can live with that.

Author's note

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy the story.