Date Me (The Keatyn Chronicles)

No two are ever the same.

5:35pm



I’m on my way to meet Aiden, the dirty carpenter, in the library, but the sunset is so gorgeous that I have to stop, sit on the bench, and admire it. I close my eyes and pretend that I’m on my deck in Malibu. Mom and Tommy are sitting next to me. We’re having a glass of wine and talking about our day. My little sisters run out in their pajamas to give us good night kisses.

When I open my eyes, Aiden sits down next to me.

At least he put his shirt back on.

“How come you’re sitting out here?”

“I was just looking at the sunset. Thinking about home.”

He looks at the sky. “It is gorgeous. Sunsets are like fingerprints. No two are ever the same.”

“It sounds like you’ve watched a few.”

“Sunsets remind me of home too.” He looks sad for just a second then changes the subject. “So I hear you helped my sister find the perfect dress.”

I study Aiden’s face. Even though he’s trying to act happy about the dress, the way his jaw is set makes me think he isn’t thrilled about it. Maybe he uses his godly telepathy on me, because I suddenly understand why. “You’re not thrilled she asked Camden, are you?”

“I’m just really surprised she would ask him after all he put her through. They used to date, you know? And he broke up with her right when she needed him the most.”

I squint my eyes at him. “I know they dated, but I didn’t know the break up was bad. I got the impression they’re still pretty, uh, close.”

Close being a bit of an understatement.

Seeing as they were naked in my hot tub.

Aiden shakes his head. “They might be now, but not back then. That’s why I ended up coming to school here. I had no desire to live away from my family. But Peyton wasn’t doing well, so I came here to take care of her. Which was a tough decision because I had been helping take care of my mom.”

“Your mom. Why?”

“She had cancer.”

“Oh, wow. I’m sorry.”

“It sucked. Cancer sucks.”

“Is your mom, um, like, is she okay?”

Aiden brightens. “She is. Her having cancer definitely changed our lives, though. We lived in Atlanta when we found out. They didn't give her long to live and the thought of losing her really affected my dad. He realized how short life can be. He told us that love is the most important thing in life. As part of her treatment, Mom made a list of all the things she wanted to do when she beat cancer. One of the things on her list was something my parents always said they wanted to do when they retired. Buy a vineyard in Napa Valley. Dad decided not to wait until Mom beat cancer to do it. Within a month, he had sold his business and our house in Atlanta, and he had bought her a vineyard. They made Peyton and me make lists too. Peyton was having a hard time with it all. She was mad. Mad that Mom had cancer. Mad that Dad made us leave all our friends. On her list she wrote that she wanted to go to boarding school. I don’t think she really meant it, but they thought she did, so they sent her here Freshman year.”

I realize now why Peyton turned to the teacher after she and Cam broke up. Why she was more worried about upsetting her parents than telling the truth. It must have been terrible to have Whitney hold something like that over her head. Much worse than my being a stupid virgin.

I was really, really shallow.

Aiden continues. “I loved California. I could play soccer pretty much year round. I had made some friends. Liked school. But then one night she called me bawling, and I decided she needed me more than Mom. When I got here, Peyton still looked perfect on the outside, but on the inside, she was hurting.”

“Because of the breakup?”

“Because of everything, I think. So when Cam broke her heart, he changed my life too.”

“It was really sweet of you, Aiden.” Now I understand why Aiden seems more mature than most boys his age. He’s lived a lot already. We kind of have that in common. We came here for reasons other than ourselves. “So do you wish you weren’t here?”

“Not at all. Even though I came to take care of her, I ended up loving it. With us being only a year apart, people used to think we were twins. We did everything together. I liked us being back together, if that makes sense. I made Varsity soccer right away and the girls seemed to like me.”

I laugh. “That's cuz you're hot.” Shit. I didn’t mean that. Why did I say that?

“You think I'm hot, huh?” he says with an easy grin.

“I mean, not me, but I’ve heard that a lot of girls think that.”

He raises an eyebrow at me.

I roll my eyes at him and laugh. “Fine. I think you are a nice looking boy.”

He stares at me for a beat then looks back out at the sunset. “One of my favorite things about Napa is watching the sun set. We’d sit outside, have a glass of wine, and talk. Mom said that no matter how bad a day she’d had, the sunset was comforting because it meant she’d made it through another one.”

“Your mom must be amazing.”

“She is. And that’s why I like sunsets. They’re, like, hopeful.”

“My family used to do the same thing. Watch the sunset together. Only we had a house on the beach. How is your mom doing?”

“For now, the cancer is in remission and she and dad are working through their lists. Traveling all over the world.” He gets a pained expression on his face. “She decided though that if it comes back, she won’t fight it. She won’t go through chemo again.”

“That’s got to be hard on you. My dad died when I was eight.”

He reaches out and touches my pinkie with his. “I’m sorry.”

We both sort of sigh, lost in our own thoughts, look out at the sun, and don’t say anything else until it slips below the horizon.



Rough to handle.

10:35pm



Katie and I are getting ready for bed when Garrett calls me.

“I just wanted to let you know that your mom cut her trip short and is safely back in Vancouver.”

“Why did she cut her trip short?”

Garrett sighs. “You told me that you want to know everything, right? Even if it’s rough to handle?”

“Yes.”

“When she woke up this morning, there was an envelope pushed under her hotel room door.”

“And what was in it?”

“A photo of you. From that day on the beach when you let him take your picture. You were blowing a kiss.”

I shudder remembering the kiss he shot me yesterday and know that the photo was not really meant for Mom.

Is was meant for me.

I try to sound unaffected. “He already sent us that picture.”

“Yes, honey, but this one was different.”

“How so?”

“It was stabbed numerous times with a very sharp object. All that was left intact was your face.”

My stomach lurches and all I manage to say is, “Oh.”

Katie says to me, “Hey, I’m gonna hop in the shower.”

I nod to her, wait for the shower to turn on, and then say to Garrett, “Poor Mom.”

“Poor Mom? Poor you, if he finds you. You need to tell me everything that happened on Saturday.”

I give him the run down.

“So it was a completely chance encounter?”

“Yes. You told me Mom was planning a trip, but you didn't tell me where she was going. I had no idea.”

“I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you'd try to see her.”

“I’m sorry about the Brooklyn thing, Garrett. I wouldn’t have gone to see her. You know what was really weird though? He didn't call me Keatyn. He called me Abby. He’s never called me Abby before.”

“He’s getting worse. More out of touch with reality.”

“Did he leave when Mom did? Are you following him?”

“We were. We tracked down his hotel. He might be out of touch with reality, but he’s still not making any mistakes. He didn’t stay at the same hotel as your mom and he had what appeared to be a business dinner tonight. Since neither you or your mom are in the city, I saw no need to continue surveillance. He's scheduled on a flight to LA tomorrow night at seven. We’ll make sure he’s on it.”

“Even though I know I’m safe here, I’ll feel better when he's back in California.”

“You and me both.”



You need to chill.

1:30am



Everyone is still in a party mood and looking forward to this week, so we all meet up at the Cave.

I’m sitting between Jake and Dawson, sharing a joint and getting chewed out by Jake.

“So you invited Peyton but not Whitney on your little shopping trip? How is that any different from what she did to you?”

“For one, I didn’t take her boyfriend with me and lie to him. For two, Peyton invited herself. And for three, my loft only sleeps so many people. So, I couldn’t have invited Whitney because she doesn’t really go anywhere without Rachel and the minions. I mean, do they follow you into the bedroom?”

Jake squints his eyes at me. “That’s mean.”

I roll my eyes at him. “It’s different, Jake. I didn’t purposely exclude her. I didn’t invite everyone else in front of her and then tell her she wasn’t worthy of going.”

“Dude,” Dawson says to Jake. “You need to relax. We’re supposed to be partying.”

I look at Jake. “Are you mad because you think I excluded Whitney or because I didn’t invite you to the Mission: Impossible party?”

“The party sounds like it was a lot of fun.”

I feel bad. “Maybe we could all hang out sometime.”

Dawson giggles. “F*ck that. I’m not hanging out with her.”

“Dawson, be nice!”

“What do you expect, Jake? Keatie is right. Whitney wouldn’t have gone even if she was invited.”

“Maybe not, but I would have.”

“It was a couples’ thing that wasn’t planned in advance. It was completely off the cuff. We were supposed to have a girls’ weekend. Shop, drink wine, watch romance movies. Then we started doing shots and felt like a party. We only invited our Homecoming dates.” He keeps staring at me. “Next time I’ll invite you. Okay?”

“Thank you. And we need to talk about Homecoming. What are you planning?”

Dawson looks at me. “We haven’t really talked about the details, but I’ve made a few plans.” He leans over and kisses me. It’s a sexy kiss, full of tongue.

“We were talking about planning Homecoming?” Jake says, interrupting us.

“We’re just doing what everyone is,” I say. “The day’s festivities. Dinner. The Dance. Coronation. Then changing and going to the club.”

“Are you riding one of the buses to the club?”

I nod my head yes at the same time that Dawson shakes his head no. “We have to go to the after-party, Dawson. You’ll love my outfit.”

“I love everything you wear.” Then he says under his breath, “And everything you don’t.”

I kiss him again. Smoking makes me want to kiss. So I kiss him.

He pulls me over onto his lap and I kiss him some more.

Jake gets a frustrated tone in his voice and interrupts us again. “So how are you getting to the club?”

Dawson pulls his lips away from mine. “I got a limo for Keatie and me. Just the two of us.” He grins at me. “I also got us a hotel room.”

I run my fingers through his hair and snuggle up closer to his chest. “Really? That sounds fun. I like just the two of us.”

Jake lets out an audible sigh.

“What?” Dawson says to him.

“It’s hard to carry on a conversation when you keep making out.”

“Fine. Keatie, stop attacking me.”

I giggle, then do just that. Attack his neck with kisses while he tries to carry on a conversation with Jake.

“What are your plans, Jake?”

“I just thought we’d party together. It’s our senior year. We’ve gone to every Homecoming together.”

“We will be partying together. At the dance. The after-party. You and Whitney are welcome to come in the limo with us to the club if you want. We’re stopping at the hotel first. Changing. Which might take awhile. Going to the after-party. Then back to the hotel. I booked it for two nights, so we wouldn’t have to check out at noon. We’ll crash. Get room service. Enjoy some private time. Then head back to school after dinner. Did you book a room?”

“No. Whitney is taking care of all of it.”

I can tell that Jake is bummed. I stop kissing Dawson’s neck. “What about dinner? We could sit together.”

“Whitney already has planned the seating arrangements too.”

“Do you get to plan anything?”

“Sure, from the list she gave me.”

“She likes to plan,” Dawson says.

“Yeah, well sometimes it takes the fun out of it.”

I hand Jake the joint. “Here. I think you need this.”





Monday, October 3rd

I thought you’d never ask.

8:20am



I’m in history class with Riley when I get called to the office. I smile, grab my bag, and figure that Peyton got me out of class again.

When I get to the office though, I don’t see her.

Instead the Dean’s secretary says, “Miss Monroe, the dean will see you now.”

The dean will see me now? Why does the dean want to see me?

What did I do!?

I walk into his office.

Be calm, Keatyn. Don’t look guilty.

The dean looks up from his desk. “Sit down, Miss Monroe. There’s something we need to discuss.”

“Yes, sir,” I say as I fidget with the zipper on my handbag.

“This is a delicate situation,” he tells me. He’s got a little bead of sweat on the upper corner of his forehead, where his hairline just barely recedes.

Is he nervous?

“We pride ourselves on security here at Eastbrooke, but it appears that someone was in our office last night. We believe that your file was accessed.”

My eyes get huge, my thoughts immediately racing to the rehabs that were broken into. To Vincent being in New York City.

Vincent tracked me from New York.

He had me followed, and I didn’t know it.

He knows I’m here.

But if he knows I’m here, if he broke in last night, why didn’t he come and get me last night while I was sleeping?

Didn’t Garrett say Vincent was too smart to do it himself? That he probably hired someone.

Does that mean he’s on his way?

I clear my throat. It’s obvious that the dean expects me to respond. “Were there other files accessed?”

Please say yes.

“It appears to have been just yours.”

I try not to panic.

I need to know what Vincent knows. “What exactly is in my file?”

“The basics. Your school transcripts. Current class schedule. Parking pass. Dorm assignment. And, well, the financial arrangements regarding your tuition.”

That’s why he broke in. He knows I’m here, but he needs to know what dorm I’m in. Tonight, he’s coming to get me. Or maybe he’s waiting for me inside my car. Hiding in the backseat, waiting for me to drive off, then he’ll overtake me. Or maybe he wanted me to know he found me. Maybe he’ll make me wait. Make me crazy with wonder as to when he’s coming. Maybe he’s playing with me. Garrett said that stalking is all about control.

What am I going to do? Where am I going to go? I just started building a new life here.

“Thank you for letting me know, sir. Is there anything else?”

“No, we just needed to make you aware of the situation. Particularly since your financial data may have been compromised.”

“Thanks,” I say.

He has no idea. He’s worried about money. About getting sued.

I’m worried about someone grabbing me and never being seen again. I grab the locket around my neck and pray that whatever they installed in it actually works.

I think I’m going to need it.

“You should probably take a few minutes to check your account and then head back to class,” the dean says as he shoos me out of the relative safety of his office.

My mind is reeling.

I imagine Vincent waiting for me outside.

I remember Garrett telling me to go where people are.

I can’t go to my dorm room. He could be there. I can’t go to class. He knows my schedule. I have to be unpredictable. I have to do something he couldn’t have planned on.

I stand outside the school office, trying to think.

“Earth to Keatyn.”

“What?” Riley is standing in front of me. Big, strong Riley. The boy who said I’d need protecting.

“Did you get in trouble?”

“What? Oh, uh, no.”

He wraps his arm around me. “Then what's wrong? You're shaking. Is your family okay?”

My eyes get tears in them. I don't know what to do.

Riley sees that I'm about to start crying.

“Come on, let's go talk.” He tries to drag me down the hall.

“No! Wait!” I yell.

“Why? Tell me what's got you so upset.”

“Just give me a minute!”

Think, Keatyn. Don't stay in this building. Don't go to dorm. Your car is out. Lots of people.

But then I think about the crazy people that come into classrooms with guns. No classrooms. I need to hide.

I remember Garrett telling me that Hawthorne House was next to my dorm. That it housed most of the school’s athletes. That I should go there if I was ever in trouble.

“Can we go to your room?”

Riley grins and raises an eyebrow at me sexily. “Baby, I thought you'd never ask.”

I don’t laugh at his joke. “I, uh, don’t want anyone to know. Can we sneak down there? Go the back way or something?”

“It’s gonna be a secret affair, huh? You want me to tie you up?”

My face goes a shade whiter. I think about what was in the van. Imagine being tied up in the back of it.

Riley looks at me closely. “Okay, you're scaring me.”

“I’m sorry. I just . . .” I can't even come up with a lie. I'm stuck in one spot. I thought if he ever came and got me, found me, I'd be all badass and fight him, but I'm not a badass. I'm a scared, freaked-out mess.

I’m paralyzed with fear.

Snap out of it and make a decision, Keatyn.

I look at Riley. He’s got on a hoodie over the tie-dyed shirt he’s wearing for 70s day today. “Can I have your jacket?”

He pulls it off and hands it to me. I put it on and pull the hood up over my head. I look over and see the big Lost and Found box. There are a pair of Cougar Athletics sweatpants lying right on the top. I grab them and pull them on over my skirt and fringed cowboy boots.

“What are you doing? You’re acting very strange. Are you on something?”

“What? No. I’m . . . I, uh, just thought that I shouldn’t walk in your dorm looking like a girl. It’s a disguise.”

“When we get there, you are going to tell me what the hell is going on.”

I nod my head and pull on his arm. The second bell already rang for the next period, so the hallways are empty. I peek around a corner to look outside. To survey the area. To see if Vincent or any other stranger is lurking there.

“Let’s sneak down by the trees.”

“No way. If we look like we’re doing something wrong, we’ll get caught. We’re walking straight down the pathway to the dorms. If anyone asks what we’re doing, we’ll say getting a paper out of my room, for class.”

I’m beyond logic but that sounds good. “Give me your sunglasses.”

“A hoodie, sweats, and sunglasses. Are you afraid Dawson will find out? I swear, I’ll never tell.”

He’s trying to make me laugh, I know.

But it’s not working.



We safely get to his dorm room without running into anyone.

I shut the door, slump against it, then slide down to the floor.

Riley kneels down next to me. “Okay. Tell me what the hell is going on.”

“Just give me a minute, okay? I need to think.”

I open the file copy the dean gave me and look through it. Look for any link between me and my old life.

A school I didn't go to. A fake transcript from a fake school but with my actual classes and grades.

A fake mailing address for my fake parents in France.

My schedule. My activities. My parking pass.

The account that my tuition comes out of from the bank in Atlanta.

Nothing to connect me to my old life.

Except the picture on my school ID. If he saw that, he'd know it’s me.

I look up at Riley and tell him as much of the truth as I can. “Someone was in the school office last night and accessed my file. Only my file.”

“Why are you so upset about that? Jeez, I thought someone died or something.”

I think about me being the one to die.

“I just feel a bit violated, I guess. Why would someone do that?”

Please let there be a viable alternative to Vincent.

“Maybe it was just a prank?” Riley guesses.

I shake my head. “Why?”

He snaps his finger. “Maybe it was Whitney. Jake said that she was pissed about Peyton going shopping with you. About her weekend.”

“Whitney? Why would she do that?”

“Because she’s a bitch and she hates you. Maybe she was looking for dirt.” He grabs my printout. “Any dirt in here? Did you get kicked out of your last school? Do you have an illegitimate child? An affair with a teacher? Been to rehab?”

I listen to him rattle off all the fake life ideas my family came up with.

“Riley?”

“What?”

I throw my arms around him and hug him tightly. “Thanks for being my friend.”

He hugs me back, which causes me to start crying.

“Are you on the rag? What's with all the tears?”

“I’m not sure.” I laugh.

He starts reading my file. “Wow. This is scandalous.”

“What is?” What did I miss?

“You got a B. Seriously?” He scans the pages. “You've only had one B in your life?”

I shrug. “Yeah.”

“Brains and beauty. It's a deadly combination. No wonder my brother is crazy about you.”

“Do you see anything else that might come back to haunt me?”

“Well, you should probably call your bank and check your account. I bet that’s why the dean was freaking out. They have your whole account number on here. They aren’t supposed to do that.”

I nod at him. I know just the banker to call.

“You’re right. Let me call my financial guy real quick.”

I get out my cell and press Garrett's number.

He answers. “Are you okay?”

“For the moment, yes. But I just got called to the dean’s office. Someone accessed my personal information last night. Only my information.”

Garrett is quiet. I wonder if the call dropped. “Are you still there?”

“Yes. I’m thinking. This sounds a lot like the rehabs.”

“That’s what I thought.”

I internally panic. Even Garrett thinks it’s him.

I let out a little cry.

Riley looks at me with concern. “What happened? Is your account okay? Is their fraud on it?”

“Who are you with?” Garrett asks.

“A friend. My file has my full bank account number in it.”

“I’m putting you on hold. Give me just a second. Do you feel safe right now?”

“Yes, and I’ll wait.” I point to the phone and tell Riley, “I’m on hold.”

“Tell me what's really going on.”

Should I tell him? Can I trust him?

What I need to do is leave school. Now.

Get on a train to nowhere.

Run.

Garrett comes back on the line. “Your school has excellent security measures in place. Did he say the school was breeched or just the office?”

“Just the office, I think.”

“Keatyn, take a deep breath. Calm down for a minute. I’m almost positive that this was not Vincent.”

I turn to Riley. “Riley, will you excuse me, please?”

I walk out his door and down the hall.

“He was in New York City, Garrett. What if I didn’t lose him? What if I just thought I did? What if he followed me here? What if he didn’t know where to find me on campus and broke into the office to find out my dorm number. And what if he’s just waiting for me?”

“The timing is troubling and no security system is infallible. That and the rehabs getting broken into is too much of a coincidence to ignore. I’m sending a car for you. I want you out of there until we can locate Vincent. Until we’re certain it wasn’t him.”

“How long will that take?”

“About an hour.”

“An hour? Are you f*cking kidding me? What happened to We'll send in the cavalry? I thought if something happened to me, there'd be people here right away.” All of a sudden, it hits me. “There is no cavalry. You're relying on the necklace, aren't you?”

“Yes.”

“Don't bother sending a car. I'm going off campus, and I'm leaving the damn necklace here.”

“Keatyn, don’t. Don’t do anything stupid . . .”

“I’m not. I’m doing something smart. I’m getting the hell out of here.”

I hang up, go back to Riley’s room, take off my necklace, and lay it on his dresser.

Riley grabs me. “I want the truth. You’re shaking and scared to death. I can see it in your eyes.”

“The truth is I need to leave campus. Now.”

He shakes his head. “No way I’m letting you drive. I don't know what's going on, but you are in no shape to drive.” He gets on his cell. “Hey, Mom, can you call school and tell them I'm headed off campus? Yeah, everything’s fine. I just need to help out a friend. Tell them I have a dentist appointment. Thanks, Mom.” He nods at me and grabs his keys. “Let’s go.”

I get outside the dorm and feel completely exposed. Like I’m naked at the Super Bowl.

“Run!” I yell.

He grabs my hand and we sprint to his car. I dive into the backseat.

“I’m not checking out,” I tell him. “I don’t want anyone to know I’m gone.”

He starts his car, drives down to the entrance, checks out, and drives through the gates.

“Where do you want to go?” he asks.

I want to go see my mom and Tommy, I think.

Which causes an idea to pop into my head. “The movies,” I say. “Let’s go see a movie.”

I’ll hide out in the dark all day then call Garrett later to find out if Vincent got on his flight home.

I decide to text him.



Me: I’m sorry I yelled at you but I assumed that if I needed help it would be there instantly. I know logically that’s not feasible. Please don’t call my mom. I don’t want to worry her. I left school with a friend. I didn’t sign out, so they don’t know I’m gone. I’m sure I’ll get in trouble later for skipping, but that’s the least of my worries. Please let me know if Vincent gets on his flight.



Garrett: I’m glad you left. I sent a man to his hotel and he’s not there. It also appears that he did not spend the night.



Me: So he could have been here? He still might be here.



Garrett: Yes. Where are you?



Me: I’m going to the movies. Not the theaters by school. We’re driving to another town in my friend’s car. Mine is still at school. I hid in the backseat, so if anyone was watching, they wouldn’t have seen me.



Garrett: I’m very impressed with your quick thinking. I’ll keep you updated.





About twenty minutes later, Riley stops the car and says, “In case you’re wondering, we weren’t followed.”

I climb into the front passenger seat, but leave his sunglasses on and the hood up.

He looks at me seriously. “Let’s go inside. Then you’re going to tell me what has you so scared.”



I buy tickets to Mom and Tommy’s latest release. We go inside the theater, but since the movie doesn’t start for almost an hour, we sit on a bench out front.

“Okay,” he says.

I blow out a breath of air. “Remember my meltdown that day in my room?”

“Yeah.”

“My parents moving to France wasn’t the only reason I came here.”

“You did mention something about a guy.”

“I had a relationship, um, go bad.”

“Go bad? Like abusive? You don't seem like you would put up with that shit.”

I shake my head. God, I hate lying to him.

Close to the truth, Keatyn. Close to the truth.

“I would never stay with a guy who hurt me. This was, um—look, you have to promise, swear to me, that you won't tell anyone this—not even your brother.”

“I swear, baby.” He holds out his pinkie.

I laugh. Take it in mine and swear.

“Tell me.”

I close my eyes and think. About Vincent. About his grabbing my arm on the escalator. How I got away from him. How I know he’s found me.

But I have to tell him something. I may not ever be able to go back to school.

I may have to just up and leave like I did at home. I wouldn’t get to see Dawson anymore. Or Riley. Or my friends.

I’d be alone again.

I can't help it. My body involuntarily shudders and tears start streaming down my face.

Riley wraps his strong arm around me, pulls me into his chest, and whispers, “You’ll feel better if you tell me. I need to know if I’m going to help you.”

I can’t look at him. I keep my head buried in his chest and start talking. “My mom has this, um, ex-boyfriend. And he sorta was stalking me.”

“Stalking you?”

“Yes. Following me around when I didn’t know it. Coming to my soccer games. Showing up at restaurants I was at. He was even taking pictures of me.” Even though I'm lying about who Vincent is, I'm telling him a lot of the truth. And it feels good—like it did that day with Aiden in the chapel, so I keep going. “He was older, good looking, and he flirted with me. When I met him, I didn't know he was, um, my mom’s ex-boyfriend.” I sit up and take a deep breath. This part isn’t a lie and it’s the part I’m most embarrassed about. “I was flattered by his attention. I was so stupid, Riley. I always thought I was a good judge of character but I’m not.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“He tried to kidnap me at my seventeenth birthday party. It was supposed to be this magical night. You should have seen my shoes. And my dress. He showed up. I think he caused a commotion. Then he grabbed me. I tried to fight, but he was strong. He was dragging me toward an exit.” I suck in a big breath of air. “He was opening the exit door when I got away. There was a van outside the exit that he was taking me to. Inside the van they found zip ties and drugs. He was going to. To . . . I don't know for sure, but people think that it wouldn't have ended well for me.”

“Was he arrested?”

“For about two seconds. There was no proof he did anything wrong. The van was a stolen rental. It was my word against his. And my word didn’t mean much since I invited him to the party because I didn't know. After they released him, he sent some pictures he had been taking of me to my mom. He wanted her to know that he could hurt me anytime he wanted. At one point, he even put a note in my little sister’s backpack. That’s how close he got to her. I left mostly to keep them safe.”

“Even if they couldn’t prove the attempted kidnapping, stalking is illegal. Why isn’t he in jail?”

“Stalking is really hard to prove and it didn’t help that I thought we were friends. I had dinner with him one night. Let him videotape me on the beach. We couldn't even get a restraining order. My family moved to France. I came here.”

“So that's why you didn't have a Facebook and why you only had like four numbers in your phone?”

“Yes. I just had to leave. Only a few people know what happened. There were rumors at my old school that my parents sent me to rehab. Not long after, the three rehab facilities—where people said I’d gone—were broken into. Their files accessed.”

Riley’s eyes get big. “And here, your file was accessed. Wow.”

“That’s why I’m freaking out. I know he’s found me.”

Riley shakes his head. “No. It's not him. If it was, he would have broken into your dorm last night and surprised you.”

“You're probably right. I don't think he would have waited. But maybe he needed time to plan. Maybe he wasn’t sure I was there. Maybe he sent someone to break in. Either way, now he knows.”

“I keep going back to Whitney. I'm telling you, that girl is evil. I think she was looking for dirt.”

“I’m not worried about her. Hell, I used to be her. Kinda. At my old school.”

“You were Queen Bitch?”

“No. That job was taken by my best friend. But I could be mean sometimes. I got caught up in the whole popularity thing and I really didn’t like the person I was becoming. I swore to myself that when I came here that I wouldn’t be popular. That I would never sit at the popular table in the cafeteria.”

“And my brother has been dragging you straight to that table, hasn’t he?”

“Yeah, but I’ve realized it’s not the table that matters. Just because I sit there, doesn't mean I have to be like Whitney.”

“You are nothing like her. So follow along with my reasoning here. We have major security at school. If this guy broke into the office, he had to get on the campus first. Our campus is extremely secure. If someone broke in, got past the guards, the whole school would have been on lockdown. That’s why I think it was done by someone who was already at school.”

What he says actually makes sense, but I’m not convinced. “I hope you’re right.”

“Come on, our movie is about to start. Let’s get some popcorn.”

We eat popcorn and I get to spend a couple of hours with my mom and Tommy.



Screwed our way around school.

5pm



Dawson: Where are you? I heard you get called to the office. Is everything okay?



I have similar texts from most of my friends.

“What am I going to tell them, Riley?”

“Maybe you should tell them the truth.”

“You won't tell me the truth about Homecoming and why you got kicked out of school.”

“That's cuz it's embarrassing. Epic, but embarrassing.”

“It's been two years.”

He give me a big dramatic sigh and then says, “Fine, I'll tell you. So, freshman year, I come to school thinking I'm the shit. I'd had sex a few times that summer and felt like I was joining my brothers for what was going to be four years full of nothing but girls and sports. So Homecoming weekend rolls around. By this time, I've been with two older girls at school, which has done nothing but up my cockiness.

“You know, the Cave has traditionally been a place that only juniors and seniors get to go to. I talked Cam into letting me come to a party with him. He handed me a flask and told me to find someone to share it with. I shared it with this gorgeous junior. Maybe it was the combination of the fact that I was pretty big for my age and the alcohol we’d shared, but I had her convinced that I was Cam and Dawson's older brother and a college freshman. That even though I had gone to a different school, my parents made me come to support my brothers.

She bought that and proceeded to tell me how she hated that her dad came to Homecoming. How she hated him showing her his old stomping grounds and telling her long, boring stories. She also mentioned she hated her dad, although I forget why. Then she told me she had the perfect revenge. She dragged me to every place he took her that night. The bleachers at the football stadium where he played in the band was the first place we had sex.

“There were about four more places, many of which I only vaguely remember. Which is a surprise because I remember thinking she needed to shut the f*ck up about her dad because dads are sort of like cock-blocking.

“We drank more, lost our clothes, and screwed our way around school.

“One of the things her dad was the most proud of was the alumni band float. He always helped plan it. Came in early to work on it. Had even designed that year’s and would be riding on it.

“All I remember is her being really pissed at that point. About her telling me this was the place she wanted to defile. How awesome it would be to watch her dad ride on the float we'd done so many dirty things on. That's all I remember until I was woken up that morning by her father, who had come down with some other band alumi to make some last minute adjustments to the float.”

Riley laughs.

“We were both completely naked and passed out on the float. The float was half trashed and I was in a whole lot of trouble. They threw us each a coat and dragged us to the dean’s office.”

“Talk about a walk of shame,” I say with a giggle.

He nods at me and continues. “I was somewhere between still drunk and majorly hung over. And if getting caught wasn’t already embarrassing enough, our parents sat in while the dean questioned us. By this time, most of our clothes had been recovered and turned in by various people. Granted, in retrospect, the girl was obviously pretty messed up and had some serious daddy issues but I was drunk and horny enough not to consider that at that time.

“She started crying. Thinking she'd get out of it that way. She told them all how I got her drunk and took advantage of her. When they seemed skeptical, she pulled out what she thought was her get out of jail free card. She told them that I was a nineteen-year-old college freshman and that she was underage. That I forced her. The dean stopped and looked at me. Sized me up. Glanced back at my dad. My dad and the dean were in the same graduating class, and I think they have plenty of their own stories because the dean sort of smirked at the girl when he informed her that I was actually a freshman at Eastbrooke.

“She just started going psycho. Yelling at her dad. Screaming at the dean. At me. She tried to attack her dad.

“My parents dragged me out of the room and told me they were extremely disappointed.

“My mom marched off, but Dad slapped me on the back and said, You know you're going to be expelled.

“I was like, Really?

“And then he told me that was the best story he's ever heard and how he hated her dad’s pompous ass.”

I’ve been trying to hold in the laughter, but I can’t anymore.

“See, you're laughing.”

“Because it’s funny. My story isn't funny-embarrassing it’s more scary-embarrassing.”

“At the time, it was pretty embarrassing. Can you imagine sitting in the dean’s office hung over as f*ck, listening to the dean explain in detail your being naked on a float. I couldn't even find my pants. I was half frozen.”

“I’m glad you told me your story, but I really don’t want to tell people mine. Maybe in a few years when it’s not so fresh. And if I’m still alive.”

“You really think he wants to kill you?”

“I think he will keep me for a while. But eventually, yes, I think he would.”

“So we’ve seen three movies and I’ve eating two tubs full of popcorn, two boxes of candy, and three slushes. Do you think we can go back?”

I check my phone for the time. It’s after six o’clock. Vincent’s flight doesn’t leave until seven, but he should be there by now.

I text Garrett.



Me: Any word?



Garrett: He’s at the airport.



Me: Oh, good. That’s a relief.



Garrett: I’ll let you know when he’s on the plane.



“Am I going to get in trouble at school for skipping?”

“I think if you do, you should say you were upset about what the dean told you. That you left to handle some financial stuff. To check your account or something.”

“That’s a good idea. Can we go in the mall for a bit before we go back?”

“Are you dragging me to the shoe department?”

“We can go wherever you want. Do you want to look at clothes for you?”

“Not really. Let’s go with the shoes. They seem to make you happy.”

“That they do.”

I try on a bunch of shoes, buy a couple new pairs, and am paying for them when I get a text from Garrett.



Garrett: He boarded the plane and we watched them close the doors and pull away from the gate. I really don’t think he knows where you are, Keatyn. If he did, he wouldn’t be going back to LA.



Me: That makes me feel a little better. But you said he’s a planner. What if he went back there to plan? What if he knows you’re watching him?



Garrett: What do you think?



Me: I don’t think he would wait.



Garrett: Me either, but still be cautious. Pay attention to your surroundings. Listen to your gut. If you feel danger, get somewhere safe. Just like you did this time. And please put the locket back on.



Me: I will.



I grab my packages and we head back to school.

When Riley drops me off at my dorm, he tells me, “I’m sleeping in your room for the next few nights, just to be safe.”

“I think I’ll be fine. He might have hired someone to break in, but I think the rest of it, he’ll want to do himself. And he just got on a plane back to LA.”

“Still, I’m sleeping in there.”

“Riley, he’s strong.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’d have the element of surprise. He wouldn’t expect a guy to be in there. What are we going to tell Katie?”

“We don’t have to say anything to Katie. That girl sleeps like a rock. Dawson has come over a couple times and she never even knows he’s been here.”



When Riley sneaks in my room a bit after midnight, he lays down on my fluffy rug.

“Riley, just come up here and sleep with me. I feel bad you’re on the floor.”

“Don’t feel bad. I love this rug. I just want to keep petting it, and I so want to do Ariela on this rug. That’s how you can pay me back. Lend me the rug.”





Tuesday, October 4th

Total diva.

6am



Even with Riley in the room, I don’t sleep well.

I keep having dreams about Vincent. Him being in my room. Me screaming. How I’m screaming as loud as I possibly can, and even though there are people all around me, none of them can hear me.

When six o’clock rolls around, I get up feeling happy to have survived the night.

Luckily, it’s Pajama Day, so I don’t have to do much with my hair. I just put it in a messy bun, throw on the pink and black polka dot camisole and short set, a black slouchy sweater with a big pink heart on it, a pair of black sweater thigh highs, a great pair of Valentino ruffled lace-up biker boots, and I’m out the door.

I even have time to grab a latte before the Social Committee meeting.

I’m in line for coffee when Peyton cuts in next t0 me. “Will you please get me a hot chocolate?”

“Sure. You look really pretty today,” I say, taking in the long silky gown and matching fur heels she bought this weekend. Her hair is smooth and straight and she’s even wearing a long strand of pearls. “Total diva.”

“Whitney is going to be pissed when she sees me. All of them are wearing silk pajamas. You know, like the kind your mom wears.”

“Were you supposed to wear them too?”

“Well, it was suggested that we all wear them.”

“Are they wearing heels with them?”

“We’ll find out as soon as we get to the meeting. You look adorable, by the way. I love how you combine stuff that doesn’t seem like it would go together and make it look so good.”

I laugh. “This was all together at the store.”

“The pajamas, yes, but they didn’t have them with the thigh highs and the motorcycle boots.”

I look down at myself. “That’s true. I don’t know. I just have weird taste.”

“Well, it works. Oh, there’s my brother.”

“Do you want something?” I ask him right before I order.

“Naw, I’m good,” he says, holding up a bottle of water.

“Your T-shirt is awfully tight,” I tease, taking in his Lorenzini blue and white striped sleep pants, extremely fitted white T-shirt—that I know the girls will be going crazy over—and a pair of driving shoes that are so cool, Tommy would die for them.

“Those might be the coolest driving shoes I’ve ever seen,” I say, commenting on the color-washed, tie-dyed shoes he’s wearing. “My step dad would love them. What brand are they?”

“Alberto Moretti Arfango,” he replies. “I found them online at Barneys. Had to have them.”

“You are seriously a man after my own heart.”

Aiden gives me that stupid grin. Like I just admitted my undying love or something.

I roll my eyes at him and head to our meeting.



After the meeting, I’m leaving the building when Aiden runs up from behind me. “Where are you going?”

“I have to go get my stitches out.”

“Are you going by yourself?”

“Uh, yeah. Everyone says that it doesn’t hurt.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not. I’m fine.” I study his face. “Is it gonna hurt?”

“Sometimes they come out easily. Other times they sort of grow into your skin and it hurts a bit.”

I wince thinking about the possible pain. “I’m kind of a baby when it comes to stuff like this.”

“Really? You always seem so tough.”

“Emotionally, maybe I’m kinda tough, but with physical pain, I’m a wimp. I don’t know how I’m ever going to have kids.”

He gives me an intense look.

“What?”

“I was just thinking you’d be a great mom. Lots of fun.”

I smile. “I adore my little sisters. I think I’ll love being a mom. Pregnancy and birth, that’s another story.”

“Pleasure and pain.”

“Kinda like love in general. It can be really great or just a great big pain.”

Aiden nods his head agreeing with me.

“I was fine before, but now you have me all nervous.”

“I make you nervous?” he asks, moving closer to me in a way that makes me feel a completely different kind of nervous.

Because, hello, I have a boyfriend.

Who I love.

Get that tight-fitting T-shirt away from me.

“What’s with you lately? It’s like your goal in life is to pin me against the wall. I’m not going to fall for your little tricks, friend.”

“What little tricks?” he asks innocently.

“Hammering. Nailing. Screwing. Give me a break. Your tight white T-shirt may leave most of the girls at school panting, but it doesn’t work on me.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because I think there’s a lot more to a person that their looks. And I really don’t like you all that much.”

“Bullshit. You’re afraid to like me.”

“Afraid to like you?” I roll my eyes at him. “Is this a new experience for you? A girl that doesn’t fall into bed with you.”

“I’m not like that.”

“Please. I’ve heard enough from Maggie to know that’s exactly what you’re like. I’m just not interested in a guy that’s a player. I’ve been burnt by that kind of guy. I’ve been lied to by that kind of guy. That’s part of what I love about Dawson. He’s not a player.”

“Except for his summer in whoredom.”

“You’ve heard about that?”

“Hard not to when he bragged about it all during football camp. All the girls. All the parties. All the meaningless sex.”

“He was just on the rebound after Whitney. She broke his heart. He had fun. Big deal. Everyone has rebound sex.” I remember Aiden telling me that Dawson was just a rebound, so I quickly add. “I mean, it’s something guys do. Girls just cry.”

He shakes his head at me. “And what about the party? When he was pawing your shirt? He’s still rebounding. So are you for that matter.”

“You don’t know anything.”

“Keatie,” I hear Dawson call from behind us. “Wait up.”

Aiden and I turn around as Dawson catches up to me. “I’m coming with you to get your stitches out. My hand has recovered. We should be good.”

I laugh at him. “I’ll try not to kill your hand this time. Jake told me this is the easy part. Although Aiden says it might hurt a little.”

“Aiden’s right. Sometimes it hurts a little. And with today being a special day and all, I couldn’t let you go alone.” He throws his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in for a hug. He turns to Aiden. “You going to see the nurse too?”

The tops of Aiden’s cheeks turn slightly pink. “Yeah, I’ve, uh, got a sore throat. Wanted to get it checked out. Don’t want to be sick for the big game.”

Dawson slaps him across the back. “Good plan. We don’t want to disappoint all the alumni. Dean would be pissed off for a week. And you know what happens when he gets pissed off.”

Aiden nods in agreement, but I say, “What happens?”

“He just gets all pissy, which causes the teachers to get pissy, which causes our dorm advisors to pay more attention than we’d like. But we’re lucky we have Aiden. Everyone thinks he’s a good boy. That’s why we always party in his room.”

Aiden grins back at Dawson, but there’s something there. Something fleeting in his eyes.