by M. R. Polish
“She’s fine,” Steven said through clenched teeth. “You go on and mind your own business.”
“You know, if he’s that bad, you don’t have to stay with him, right? A pretty girl like you has options.”
I gave a short nod. My whole body trembled as I watched the stranger and my only hope walk away.
“Good girl,” Steve cooed in my ear. “Now, you need to listen. If I catch you with him again, it’s over for him. I don’t share what’s mine.”
“I’m not yours,” I seethed.
He gave a dark chuckle. “I always get what I want, and I want you, so that makes you mine.”
“I’ll never be yours.”
“Keeley, if you really like Vahn, then you’ll want him to stay safe.” He kissed the top of my head and I jerked back. “Goodnight my girl.” He walked away and I ran into my apartment, locking the door behind me. I slid down the door to the floor, curling into a ball, and cried. My perfect night turned into the perfect nightmare.
I called Vahn almost immediately. “Steve was here.”
“Shit. Are you okay? I’m coming back right now.”
I choked on my tears. “No, I’m okay. He’s gone. I just, I don’t know. I just wanted to hear your voice.”
“Keeley, I can be there in a few minutes.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me and sniffed back more tears. “Yeah. I don’t know what to do.”
“Call the cops. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
We hung up and I called the police for the second time in two days. I told the dispatcher everything that happened and she said she’d send an officer out my way. She stayed on the phone with me until Vahn got there, just in case Steve came back.
When he got to my apartment, Vahn cradled me on his lap as we sat on the couch. I clutched his shirt in my grasp never wanting to let go.
The two cops who showed up looked around the apartment and found a screen missing and a broken lock on one of my windows. I gulped realizing how easy it was for Steve to break in.
I filled out another report and they called in more officers to help look for Steve. I rubbed my arms up and down, trying to drive off the chill from fear. Vahn and I got up and followed them to the door.
“Will you be staying with Ms. Moison tonight?” The policewoman asked Vahn.
He nodded. “I’m not going anywhere until Steve is found.”
Her partner, a guy who looked old enough to be my grandfather nodded his head. “Good. And remember, if anything happens or he comes back, call dispatch immediately.”
I agreed eagerly. There was no way I was going to take a chance now. Steve showed me that he was certifiably crazy. He threatened not only me, but Vahn too. I folded my arms and watched as Vahn locked the door behind the officers.
Vahn paced the house, looking out every window with each pass. I took the world’s hottest shower and tried to scrub off my skin in every place Steve touched, but I still didn’t feel clean enough. Only when the water was ice cold did I shut it off, giving up on the hopes that I would feel better.
I checked the lock on my door for the hundredth time before crawling into bed around two a.m. Vahn laid down next to me, wrapping me in his arms. Even with his comfort, it took another hour before I could fall asleep.
My phone went off with an annoying buzzing sound about fifteen minutes to eight. I moaned, but groaned even louder as I reached to shut it off. Not only did I not get enough sleep, but my muscles ached with each movement.
I sat up and as quickly as my achy body allowed, I got dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I threw my hair back in a messy bun and applied some makeup. It wasn’t my best, but at least I covered up most of the dark circles under my eyes. It was quite the contrast from last Sunday. Crazy what could change in one week.
Vahn was already awake and mumbling in the kitchen.
I met him and gave him the best smile I could to start the day. I knew nether one of us slept very well, and our nerves were on edge, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t try to be happy.
“Let’s go out for a drive. It might do us some good.”
Vahn nodded. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he didn’t get a wink of sleep. Guilt weighed on me, knowing he probably didn’t rest because of me. He made sure I was safe all night.
We climbed into his car and drove in silence. We were both so lost in our own thoughts that we didn’t have to speak. He pulled into the parking lot of a tiny café and parked. Slowly, he slowly got out and opened my door. Reaching down, he helped me out.
We stood that way, with him staring into my eyes, yet not talking. The world disappeared and all that mattered was right then. Not Steve, not the past, nothing…
He gripped my hands with his, brought them to his mouth, and kissed them. He spoke first, breaking the silence, “I won’t let him hurt you again. I finally found a spark, a reason to wake up excited about life. I never believed in love at first sight, but now…” He shook his head slightly and sighed. “I don’t have to spend weeks or months with you to know I want to be with you. Keeley, we’ll figure this out. Everything will be okay.”
I pulled my hands back and glanced away. “What if it’s not? What if he kills you? I can’t live with another death on my shoulders.”
“Keeley, if you leave, then he wins. I don’t know what we have here, not yet, but I’m not willing to let you walk away, either. We owe it to ourselves to find out, because happiness is something everyone deserves.”
I turned around, not wanting to let him see my grief. “I’m not sure I do.”
He placed his hands on my upper arms and rubbed them gently. “You don’t really believe that, do you? Keeley, you deserve so much more than just happiness.”
“I don’t know what I believe anymore, Vahn.” My voice broke.
He pulled me close to him so my back was against his chest. “Keeley, I love you. I do. I’ve spent the last couple of days trying to convince myself I don’t, but I can’t deny it any longer. I refuse to lose you. Especially now that I’m telling you.”
I stiffened. That’s what I wanted to hear, wasn’t it? Deep down, somewhere, I wanted to be happy about it, but all I could do was cry. Loving him, him loving me, it was dangerous. It could get him killed.
“Keeley, say something. Please,” he begged.
I turned to face him, wiping the tears off my face. I looked up into his stormy eyes. “I love you too.”
He smiled my favorite smile and pulled me in tight. His lips crashed down on mine and I couldn’t get enough. Reaching around his neck, I grasped the scruff of hair at his nape. His tongue darted out, brushing across my lips. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once: my hair, my back, my hips.
He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to the hood of his car and sat me down. Vahn leaned back and feathered kisses down my neck. A moan eased past my lips. Nothing ever felt so heavenly.
A clearing of the throat startled both of us. I gasped and grabbed Vahn’s shirt. An older man with a smirk on his face stood outside the door of the small café. “I’m sorry, you two, but we’re going to be opening soon and I can’t have you out here like that in front of my customers.”
I was sure my face was redder than any tomato inside his kitchen. “I am so sorry.”
He waved us off. “I was young once, too. You just need to find a place you won’t be seen. Now get out of here.” He smiled before turning around and going back into the café.
I giggled. “I can’t believe we just did that. We were making out in front of an old dude.”
Vahn ran his hand over my cheek and to the back of my head. His voice was still thick with desire. “I think I would’ve done more than just make out.”
To be honest, I still wanted to do more than make out too, so it was a good idea that we stopped. I nodded, still a little breathless. “Me too.”
Vahn smiled then picked me up, lifting me from the hood of his car, letting me slide slowly down his tall fram
e to the ground. “You’re beautiful.”
My heart melted into a puddle of goo, and I couldn’t help but smile at him.
“Come on, if we don’t get out of here and get you to class, I won’t be able to stop and then you’ll be late.”
I smiled. “Would that be so bad?”
“Don’t tempt me.” He smiled and walked me to the passenger door, opening it for me. “Keeley,” Vahn started as he took my hand in his while he drove back to the campus, “We’ll find a way to stop him. I swear.”
I nodded and squeezed his hand. “I know we will. It’s just surreal, ya know? I can’t believe people like that are real. It doesn’t make sense to me yet.”
“Me either.”
We pulled into the school parking lot. Vahn got out and opened my door and I hesitated before stepping out. I didn’t want to go to class today, I wanted to find a place to hide away with Vahn and disappear from everything, everyone, including Steve and the team.
“Come on, I’ll pick you up after your classes are done today. I don’t have any, but I have to make an appearance at work. As soon as I can, I’ll be here. I don’t want you to be alone.” He held his hand out for me to take.
“So, you get to go to work and I have to sit in a class with Professor Priese? Somehow that doesn’t sound fair.”
“That’s the joy of owning your own business; you have to show up every now and then. Well, that and they might be busy. I’m sure it’s nothing J can’t handle, but I need to be there. But I promise, I will be back.” He paused, and rubbed his palms on his jeans. “You know, about earlier… I’m not sure how you feel about, well, you know… I know what I want, but I don’t want you to feel pressured.”
I smiled. “Thanks. You know I’ve done some bad things. I’ve partied, drove while drunk, killed my best friend; I’ve shamed my parents so many times. But that is one thing I want to do right. I haven’t, you know, done that before and I want to, more than you know, but I want to be able to say I did that one thing right. Maybe we can wait for a bit.”
He smiled. “Of course. I can wait.”
“You’re so sweet. I appreciate that. Honestly I do.” I took his hand and let him pull me out, grudgingly.
“I didn’t say it would be easy though. I’ll be thinking of you today.”
“Ha! You’re always thinking of me.”
He smiled his half smile. “Yes, but now I have something else to think about. Now I’m gonna have all day to think about what could’ve been. Or should I say what I have to look forward to in our future.”
I blushed. “Well, since you put it that way…” I grabbed his shirt and pulled him to me. “Maybe I should give you a better image of what’s to come.” Teasing him was teasing me, but I didn’t care. I needed a distraction from earlier, from last night. I kissed him lightly, feathering my lips softly across his. It didn’t take long before he demanded more and deepened our kiss, pressing harder, more urgently. Our tongues danced together, licking and teasing. Vahn grabbed my waist and pressed himself tightly against me.
I fought to keep my sanity, as I no longer cared where we were, or who might be watching. Everything inside me was on fire, and I knew only Vahn could quench the flames. I had to stop before I couldn’t. I leaned back, breaking the kiss. I wanted to wait, but the feelings he awakened in me begged to give in. I wasn’t sure how long I could hold out.
We were both breathing hard. Vahn chuckled. “Damn, girl, you’re gonna kill me today.”
“Well, I gave you something to think about.”
He grabbed my backpack out of the car and handed it to me. “You’d better get to class.”
I raised a brow and laughed. “I have to live with the same thoughts all day too.”
“Oh trust me, it’s definitely not the same.”
I reached up on my tiptoes and kissed him quick on the lips. “Okay, I better go. I’m gonna be late.”
“That’s what I keep saying.”
I waved him off. “Oh, go fix a car or something, but don’t forget about me.”
“Not a chance, babe.”
I walked away, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.
“Keeley,” Vahn called out.
I spun around and walked backward very slowly. “Yeah?”
“I love you.” His smile widened and he dipped his head down just a bit.
“Love you, too.” I giggled and spun back around. All the way to class I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing out loud. Thoughts of Vahn kept most of the worrisome thoughts of Steve at bay.
Ten
I tapped my pen on my journal and glanced around the classroom. This morning’s escapades had me floating on cloud nine, or was it cloud twenty? Hell, this was happiness, I didn’t care which cloud I was on. Love. I can’t believe I told Vahn I loved him. Better yet, he told me. Nothing could ruin this day.
Caty nervously looked at me before casting her gaze elsewhere. Yeah, and then there was this problem. Ugh. Okay, maybe something could ruin it. Vahn was so sure we’d fix it, but I wasn’t one-hundred percent certain yet. I twisted in my seat, but Alison still wasn’t anywhere to be seen. I thought for sure she’d beat me here. Having almost all the same classes was nice, and I was excited to tell her about Vahn confessing his feelings. I figured I’d leave out the part about Steve. No sense in bringing her into it and making her feel more insecure.
“Looking for someone, sweetheart?” a raspy breath whispered next to my ear. I froze and my heart raced.
Slowly, I turned to face Steve. “What do you want?” I had a hard time breathing.
His pasty skin was flushed red from the sun. The blue in his eyes danced malevolently. “I thought that was clear. I want you. You know, I heard that the police are looking for me, because of you.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Steve, just leave me alone. I told you, I’m not interested.”
“But you’ll kiss that loser in public?” he hissed.
“Vahn is not a loser, he’s my boyfriend.” I could feel my anger toward Steve grow and take over the feeling of fear. “You need to leave me alone.”
He took the seat next to me and leaned back, throwing his arm over the back of the seat. “No, I don’t think I will. Besides, I want to watch the show.”
“What show? Ugh, Steve, you aren’t even in this class. What are you doing? I thought you said the police are looking for you?”
Professor Priese cleared her throat in front of the room. “Class, before we start, I have an announcement to make. So, if you will all take your seats.”
I glared at Steve. Whatever Professor Priese wanted to tell us, I was sure it had to do with the show Steve mentioned, which meant it had something to do with him. My heart raced even faster.
The entire class was seated and quiet, waiting for the announcement.
Professor Priese stared at Steve for a brief moment before starting.
“There has been a tragic death of one of your classmates.”
My whole body froze. I glanced out of the corner of my eye at Steve, who solemnly shook his head and clicked his tongue. “That’s too bad.”
My stomach flipped and instantly I was sick. I covered my mouth and fought back the urge to run.
“As you may have noticed, Alison Wheatley is not with us today.”
I gasped, searching for breathable air. Oh my God, was this really happening? The room closed in on me, spinning as my chest constricted.
“It was a car accident. Services will be held next week, and we will have a half day today, and the day of the services classes will be excused for those of you grieving.”
Tears rolled down my face. I couldn’t hear half of what Professor Priese said. Arms wrapped around my shoulders and I tried to shrug them off but they were unmovable.
Steve cleared his throat. “Professor, Alison was one of Keeley’s friends, this news has hit her pretty hard. I’m gonna take her for a walk and some fresh air. Can she be excused from class today?”
No! I
wanted to scream. I didn’t want to be anywhere with Steve. I wanted Vahn. Internally I cried out, but my voice and body was frozen.
“Of course, Steve.”
I shook my head. No, I didn’t want to leave with him. Why would she excuse me like that? She hated me and wanted to make my life miserable. Why would she all of a sudden be nice? I glanced at Caty, who had tears in her eyes. She nodded at me. Or was it at Steve, I wasn’t sure.
Steve pulled me from my seat and grabbed my bag, throwing my journal inside before zipping it and throwing it over his shoulder. I was numb. I didn’t even know how loud I was crying. It was like Celeste all over again. The looks I got from my classmates when they told the student body how she died. Now everyone looked at me. Did they know it was my fault? That I told the quarterback no and so he retaliated? Was that really what happened, or was I only imagining my fear of what he threatened me with Vahn?
I walked outside and took a deep breath. I bent over with my hands on my knees and continued to gasp for air in between sobs.
“Keeley, you need to calm down before you get sick.”
I stood up straight and glared at Steve through blurred, tear-filled eyes. “It was you, wasn’t it! You did this. All because I said no to you.”
“I’m flattered that you think so, but this wasn’t me. Oh no, actually, I believe it happened last night when you were with Vahn. I still can’t believe you let him kiss you like that.”
I stiffened.
“Yeah, I watched from the shadows of your kitchen.” He grabbed my wrists tightly and pulled me to him. “I even saw you this morning when you let him press himself against you in the parking lot.”
I struggled to break free. “Get away from me!” I pushed against him until his grip slipped and I was able to wiggle free. I started running away as fast as I could, pushing past other students and dodging judgmental stares.
I could hear his footsteps fall in behind me, closing in on me. His arms wrapped around my middle, holding my arms down. We tumbled to the ground. I cried out as he pushed me over on my stomach and twisted my arm behind my back. “Get off me you jerk!”
