YOURS

Chapter 35

Mark has been out of the house a lot recently. He's picking up extra work because Helen has been having a hard time with her pregnancy. As much as I dislike her, I do hope she is okay.

Mark's time away has resulted in Cole and I being home alone a lot.

"We're free to leave, you know?" Cole told me as I sat on my bed.

I sighed. "Yeah. I know. It's just..I can't help but wonder why Zac's advances have stopped, you know?"

Cole sat next to me. His hand was resting on my knee.

"I mean, think about it. Did we ever really see Zac? We saw Alec. The texts we just assumed were from Zac."

He was right. Had it just been Alec this whole time?

COLE'S POV

So far living with Emily and Mark has not been great. After the 'school shooting' I was sure I'd need to hide out from everyone, including Emily.

Surprisingly Mark has taken me in. He's protecting me. Or maybe he's protecting Emily and I'm just along for the ride. Either way I'm not going to let my guard down.

Zac has been completely silent since the last text we received at the school. Part of me and I know Emily wonders this too...was it actually Emma all along? I heard her mention the guy in the van.

Was Alec getting dirty for his brother? Or someone else? It's not like Zac to take a back seat to stuff like this.

Mark finally trusted me after a month of sucking up, or my version of it anyway. I tried not to kill him, I guess he saw that.

As for the camera watching me, I ripped it off after hearing Emily agree with it being there. It wasn't hooked up to anything..just for looks. I hate to admit it, but it did make me be on my best behavior any time I was in my room.

I can tell as I've gained Marks trust I've lost some of Emily's.

I came here to protect her from Zac and Alec. Mark was now on that same mission but we are getting nowhere. We needed to draw Zac out but Mark wouldn't listen to me.

It was up to me do it.

I knew Emily wouldn't let me leave by myself and there was no way I was going to let her be alone either. Sure Mark is on our side, but would he put his life before hers? I don't think so.

Emily and I were in her room. I could tell she was wanting to go out somewhere, I don't blame her. But she was understandably hesitant.

"We're free to leave, you know?" I told her.

She sighed. "Yeah. I know. It's just..I can't help but wonder why Zac's advances have stopped, you know?"

I sat next to her, it felt good to not be in a fight for once. I put my hand on her knee. I could hear her swallow.

"I mean, think about it. Did we ever really see Zac? We saw Alec. The texts we just assumed were from Zac." I tried to ease her thoughts.

I would protect her if we went out anywhere.

"So, then what?" She asked.

She looked into my eyes for an answer.

"Let's go out. I won't let anything happen to you. If we see Zac I'll take care of it. If we see someone who is suspicious I'll take care of them too."

"I want this to be over already." Emily looked away and fell on her back.

The bed bounced.

"I want that too. It's not going to be over until we take care of Zac. He's obviously not coming to us." I tried to get her to take the hint.