Killing For Love

Chapter 25

Megan POV

I lay on my couch, scrolling through the tv channels, trying to find something decent to watch. I've been trying to keep my mind off Dean, and what happened between us a few days ago.

It's Friday night, and all I can focus on is what happened to my boyfriend. He's so much scarier now, and I have to do everything he says. I wish he would just go back to being carefree and happy, but apparently that's not going to happen.

For the past few days we've gone back to the group, but everyone is acting really awkward and tense. I mean, no shit, because I'm still terrified of Dean. That doesn't mean that I don't love him anymore, honestly, I don't think I'm allowed to not love him.

I finally come across something on the tv that strikes my interest. Well, okay, more so terror than interest.

It's a news report on a missing person case, and the face on the screen makes my heart drop.

It's Branden.

He went missing the day Dean threatened to kill Danyelle, the day Dean yelled at me, the day Branden stood up for me.

Did Dean....

No. I refuse to believe that my boyfriend's a murderer. He didn't kill Branden, he would never do anything like that. Sure, he hates Branden, sure he's made a couple of death threats, but he'd never go through with them, right?

Okay, this is probably an absolutely terrible idea, but I really want to talk to Dean about this. Not here though, since my mom is asleep upstairs.

I send a text to Dean, asking to meet at the park, and like always, he responds within five minutes.

I run upstairs to grab a hoodie, then quietly leave the house.

—-

I sit on a bench, in the dark, to wait for my boyfriend (who is potentially a murderer) to show up. Also, I want to talk to him about the guy that he potentially murdered, and hopefully not say something completely stupid like 'hey, did you know that Branden, the one dude at school that you absolutely despise, has gone missing? Have you by any chance murdered him, and let's say for example, stuffed him in the cornfield where your parents live?' Oh yeah, THAT will go over well.

I suddenly hear a stick snap from behind me, and I turn around, half expecting to see Dean covered in blood and holding a knife.

I'm partly right, as I see my boyfriend sauntering out of the shadows. Fortunately, he does not have a knife and is not covered in blood.

"Hey Meg. This is an interesting time to meet up. Is something wrong?" Dean asks me, with a hint of concern in his voice.

He sits down beside me, and looks at me with glinting blue eyes.

"Well, in my defence, you wanted to meet here a few weeks ago even later than this." I point out, then add. "I, uh, I wanted to talk to you about Branden."

Even through the dark, I can tell Dean is frowning at me.

"What about him?" He asks sharply.

"Well, he, uh, he's gone missing, and I just wondered if you know anything about it?" I say slowly.

"You're worried I killed him. Do you really think I'm capable of that?" Dean asks, and I'm pretty sure I can hear humour in his voice.

"Well, um, no?" I answer uncertainly, although it comes out sounding more like a question than an answer.

"Megan." Dean says softly, putting his hand on my shoulder.

I flinch, and I can tell that he's looking at me with sad eyes.

"I love you, and I'm sorry that I've been scary lately. I just-I just don't want to lose you." Dean's voice starts to crack.

"I love you too Dean, and you won't lose me. I just want you to be happy again." I say softly, wrapping my arms around him.

"I'll try. Just promise you'll never leave me?" Dean asks, in the most vulnerable voice I've ever heard him use.

"I promise." I whisper, my own voice starting to crack.

I feel tears starting to fall down my face, and when I look into Dean's eyes, I can see that he's been crying too.

I smile sadly at him, then press our lips together. He kisses me back, and for a while we sit there together, simply kissing. It doesn't turn lustful or desperate, it just stays calm and ordinary.

It finally occurs to me, as I'm walking back home, that Dean never answered my question about if he killed Branden or not.