Protected

Secrets

I sat in my bedroom, my head pounding.

I had walked home. I pressed the car keys into Farkle's hand as he passed me in the hallway, and then I left. 

What just happened?

I tried to assemble the facts in my head, maybe then they would make more sense.

Fact #1: Mason attacked me in the hallway (the jerk!)

Fact #2: Lucas knocked out three guys in the span of five seconds.

Fact #3: Lucas lifted a guy up by his throat.

Fact #4: Lucas hurled a guy eight feet across a hallway.

Fact #5: Lucas saved me.

But this just made my head hurt more.

How was he that strong? Why was he so conveniently at that exact spot in the hallway the exact moment I was attacked? And, why did Lucas save me? Help me?

I paced back and forth, frustrated.

I walked over and pulled the blinds up. 

Lucas sat at the window, staring anxiously at my window. But this time he didn't look angry, he looked terrified. He looked at me pleadingly.

Downstairs, I heard the front door slam. 

"Maya!" I heard Riley call.

I glanced at Lucas, then snapped the blinds shut again.

"Up here!" I called back.

Riley ran up the stairs and swung around the door frame into my room.

"What's wrong, Maya? Farkle said you gave him the car keys. He thought you left, but we waited for you in the parking lot, and you never came. Then we came home. Why did you leave?"

I glanced over Riley's shoulder.

"Where's Farkle?" I asked.

"He dropped me off, and then went down the street into town. He went to the grocery store, because he knew you wouldn't want to and I would buy too much stuff we didn't need," she said, smiling, "Wasn't that sweet of him?"

"Mmmmhhmmm," I said absentmindedly, closing the door and pulling Riley over to sit on the bed.

"Look," I said, "The reason I left was this kid named Lucas. He was just... strange. There was something about him. He has a secret, Riley, and I'm going to find out what it is," I said.

Riley looked deep in thought.

"What is it, Riles?" I asked.

"It's just... there was this girl. Crystal, I think her name was. Her great-great-grandfather is still alive. He knows all of the families in the town and what their secrets are. You can go talk to him. She said he lives above the library," Riley explained.

I felt excited.

I pulled the blinds open again and looked out. Lucas was gone.

But I was going to talk to her grandfather.

Whatever Lucas's secret was, I would find out soon enough.