K: Be there in two.
No matter how much I tried I couldn’t tamp down the nervous feelings or the bile that steadily rose. Keiran appeared in the doorway and walked right in. He ignored the officers who were talking to the class and my teacher who looked pretty pissed off but didn’t say anything. He walked up to my desk, grabbed my hand, and pulled me up from the seat. I hurriedly grabbed my bag just in case I didn’t or couldn’t come back.
“You are quickly putting me on every teacher’s shit list you know.”
“At least we’ll be together,” he smirked.
“Keiran what did you do?” I asked once we were out of earshot. He backed me into the lockers and rested his forearm above my head.
“I was caring,” he answered sarcastically. “The less you know the better. This is my shit.”
“Someone could have saw them being taken.”
“Let me worry about that. You don’t know anything. That’s what you tell them when they ask.”
“But I do know something!” He narrowed his eyes and I felt that familiar chill that I mistakenly thought was long gone.
“So what do you plan to tell them?”
“Don’t do that. You don’t get to look at me as if I already betrayed you. I don’t owe you anything.”
Instead of responding he took my lips with his, opening me up for his tongue, which I took greedily. The stress and fear of our current situation had me needy and trying to climb his body right there in the hallway. “Do you want to get out of here?” he asked, lifting his lips from mine.
“I would like that very much but I can’t. I have a test coming up and a project due in Art next period. Are you leaving?”
He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you here alone.”
“My hero,” I whispered, smiling teasingly up at him. When he flinched and his gaze became murderous, I remembered his feelings about heroes. His reaction made me think it was more than just an opinion.
The police officers came out the room and cast us hard glances. I looked back at them nervously. I was probably giving everything away with my face. Keiran’s back was turned so he didn’t see them come out. I was distracted from their scrutiny when Keiran used his thumb to rub small circles over my lower stomach, just as I was about to warn him.
“I should get back,” I whispered.
“You should. The pervs are watching,” he said indicating the cops at the other end of the hall. I looked back at the cops and notice them saying something to each other but they were too far away for us to hear.
“You’re way too calm about this,” I remarked. It was actually making me nervous rather than assuring me. The cops were watching us too hard and standing around as they were waiting for something. He shrugged, dropped his arm from over my head and backed away from me.
I missed the safety his closeness created. It felt like my personal hideaway from the world. Funny when he used to be the only thing I needed to hide from not so long ago. Maybe he still was, I thought, thinking about Anya, Trevor, and what he said about my grandmother.
He nudged me to the door but this time waited from me to go inside before heading in the direction of the officers. I couldn’t resist so I peeked my head outside the door, fully aware that the entire class along with my teacher’s attention was on me. When Keiran was in hearing distance the officer said something to him and I tensed even though I couldn’t hear. Keiran didn’t stop to talk to them, though. His only acknowledgment was to flip them off. I watched him climb the stairs, taking two at time, until he disappeared.
“Ms. Monroe, if it’s alright with you, please take your seat so that I may resume class,” Mrs. Bisette, barked. Definitely on her shit list.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I leaned my head against the wall and closed my eyes drawing out the sound of Keiran’s practice. My head felt like it was spinning and all I wanted to do was go home and hide under my covers. I’d fully expected to go straight home after school but like always, Keiran had different ideas and like always, I followed.
“Is it Friday yet?” Sheldon griped from her seat next to me.
“Nope.”
“Fuck. I don’t think I can tolerate going to practice today. I’m too stressed.”
“Can you skip that now? With Anya missing, aren’t you captain now?”
“Oh my gosh. What if people think I did it?”
“Why would they think that?”
“So I could take her spot as Captain?”
“You watch too much TV.”
“Trevor did it to Keiran,” she pointed out.
“Point taken.”
“Ugh, what do you think they are going to do about the investigation?” she asked.
“What makes you think they are going to do anything?” I asked while keeping my eyes shut.
“Because they are too calm and quiet about it.”
“What do you think they did to them? You know them better than I do. What would they do?” She paused from tying up her sneakers and hesitated before answering. “If Keiran is behind it, I don’t think I want to know. Dash says he has connections that money can’t buy.” I watched her carefully for any sign that she was holding back but her answers sounded genuine.
I remembered the conversation I overheard him having last Friday but none of it put me closer to figuring out what may have happened to Trevor and Anya. Keiran was dead set on making me leave his past alone but his past didn’t seem to be much of a past at all.
“They don’t say much around me anyway,” Sheldon continued, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Keiran said I had a big mouth. Can you believe that?” she yelled drawing the attention of a few players and cheerleaders.
I raised my eyebrows and pursed my lips. “No…I couldn’t imagine.” I said sarcastically. She gave me an indignant look and went back to fixing her shoes. “Are you guys practicing in here today?”
She nodded, “It’s raining outside. You didn’t notice?” she gestured to the double doors leading outside. She left with a quick “see you later” and headed to the other part of the gym. Our gym was unique in that it multiple sections so it wouldn’t impede on the basketball practice and other events.
I looked over to the court in time to Keiran make an effortless shot at the halfway line. Keenan began to gloat as if he had just taken the shot and I shook my head. Keiran made eye contact with me and called for a break.
“What’s wrong?” he asked approaching me.
“Besides my raging headache and impending jail sentence?”
“Sure,” he said rolling his eyes.
“Then nothing. I think I’m going to head home.” I stood up on my tiptoes and pecked his lips. He wore a scowl and looked as if he was going to protest as I picked up my messenger bag.
“Go to my place.”
“I’ll be fine at home.”
“What did I say?”
“You’re not my father, Keiran.” He gripped my chin hard and stared down at me without saying anything. “How am I supposed to get in?” I rolled my eyes him. He bent and dug into his gym bag and produced his key ring. He popped one of the three keys and handed it to me. “Straight there.”
“Well I’m kind of hungry so I was thinking about grabbing a burger on the way,” I said just to piss him off.
“Monroe,” he warned over his shoulder as he walked away. Mission accomplished.
* * *
I pulled into Keiran’s place and noticed a large black pick-up truck parked in the driveway. Keiran didn’t mention anyone being over at his place and I contemplated calling him before going inside but I knew he wouldn’t get my call until practice was over.
I got out with my bag…and my burger and entered with the key he gave me. I didn’t hear anything or anyone when I walked in. I walked deeper into the house with slow steps. Just as I reached the edge of the stairs, the backdoor opened down the hall and a tall, imposing man entered. We both froze as we stared at each other in surprise.