// Song for this Chapter:
We Are The In Crowd- Kiss Me Again //
I see Connor as just a small dot in the distance as a group of guys sweep past me, following him, raucous laughter from them sounding like an uproar.
"Caitlin?" I hear a familiar voice say sharply from behind me and I turn, only to be face to face with Jordan Shay. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question."
"I heard you were here with Connor. He's not a good guy to be around so I wanted to make sure you were safe. A place like this at this hour, something was bound to happen."
"Why can't you see that Connor isn't who you think?"
"And why can't you see that he's playing you?" he snaps.
"It's not like that."
"You're mine and that's how it will stay."
"Why are you getting so worked up about this?"
"I don't want to see you get hurt!"
"I'm not going to get hurt though," I say, angrily.
"Connor destroys everything he touches, everyone that he grows close to."
"Have you ever stopped and thought about how broken he is though?" I yell.
He shakes his head, looking down at the floor. "That's still no reason to be the way he is."
"You'll never understand," I mumble.
"Oh, because you know everything about him," he remarks.
"I know next to nothing about Connor," I admit. "But, I'll give him chances and I'll listen to him."
"You'll continue to forgive him though, that's your nature. He's no good, Caitlin. I hope you realise that soon before it's too late!"
"I'll help him."
"He needs more help than that," he snorts.
I walk away from him then because I've heard enough of his opinion. I'm too irritated to continue this conversation.
"Caitlin, will you come back?"
"No Jordan, you've said enough. You're entitled to your opinion though but Connor -" I breathe, thinking of the correct words. "You've seen a different side to him."
All I had seen were snippets of an amazing, kind side that warmed my heart, and made me feel safe and protected. Jordan had seen him at his worse.
But, how could I explain this to Jordan when he wasn't even willing to say Connor's name out loud?
"It's just.... he's misunderstood." I say, my voice almost pleading.
"Aren't we all, Caitlin? No one's life is easy."
"I know but -" I give up on this argument, we're never going to be on the same page with this subject. "Look, can I just go home?"
"I'll take you."
"I'd rather walk," I say, agitation showing in my tone.
"I can't let you do that."
"You don't let me do much. I can't even talk to Connor without you showing up to be some sort of knight in shining armour!"
"Sorry for trying to keep my girlfriend out of trouble," he groans.
I stop. My stomach feels clenched. I finally understand. He doesn't want me being around Connor in case I fall into the same situations as him.
