Love Behind Lies (7 page)

Chapter 14

About twenty minutes later we were driving into town, down the main road in Evansville. We arrived downtown and parked on the side of the street. We stayed in the car while we tried to figure out where we were going.
“Where do you want to go,” William asked me.
“I don’t care. Whatever you guys want to do,” I replied. William and Brent hadn’t talked much on the way here. I think that William might be mad at Brent for the whole forest incident from last night.
“Well do you want to get something to eat,” Brent asked.
“Sure. I haven’t eaten yet today,” I replied
“Where do you want to eat,” William asked.
“I don’t know!” I was angry that they kept asking me the questions. It was silent for a little bit. “William, why don’t you go somewhere and meet up with us later,” I asked.
“No! I’m not leaving you alone with him,” he yelled back.
“So that’s what this is all about? You don’t feel that I am safe with Brent,” I said. Brent grabbed my hand. He was trying to get me to relax.
“Well, after you basically got kidnapped in the forest, don’t you think that I have a reason to be worried about you with him?”
“I’m still safe, and I am with you. If I were missing right now, I would understand. But, I’m not missing, am I?” William was silent. “Ok, let’s go get something to eat. We can just walk down the sidewalk until we find something we like. Ok?” I received two head nods and that was it. I was mad at William. There was no reason for him to talk about Brent that way, especially with Brent in the car.
I got out of the car and began to walk. Brent grabbed my hand and William stayed behind us.
“Sorry,” Brent said.
“You need to stop being sorry, right now,” I said. Brent laughed a little.
“I know, but I just feel so bad for you.”
“It’s ok. Don’t feel bad. You’re just going to make me angry if you keep apologizing.” I said and he started smiling and I smiled back, trying not to laugh. “I’m serious.”
“Are you sure that you are serious, because your smiling.” Brent asked me, making me laugh.
“Yes, I’m sure,” I said smiling.
“Hey, you two love birds,” William said behind us. We both turned around and slowed down. “Do you want to stop here to eat?” Brent and I looked up and the sign and then we both shrugged.
“Sure,” I said.
We walked into a small Mexican restaurant. The restaurant is usually full of life, but that’s always at night. Since it was pretty early in the morning, there were not that many people there.
The main room where everyone sat was bright. The walls were colored red and there were lights lined up where the ceiling met up with the walls. The lights were dimmed, letting the light from outside seep in.
We followed the waitress further into the restaurant. She led us to a booth in the corner of the main room. We sat down in the small booth and began looking through our menus. Brent and I sat on one side and William sat on the other.
“You guys hungry,” I asked.
“Yeah, I guess,” Brent said.
“Yeah, I don’t think that I have eaten since last night,” William said.
“What did everyone do last night,” I asked William.
“We basically just sat around. Some of us started to get hungry after dinner. Mom just made us some toast for us to munch on.” William responded.
“Yeah, I saw that on the table.” I said.
“Yeah, and then Margaret went to see someone and was gone for an hour or two. Thomas and Oscar played video games until mom wanted to watch the news. I worked on homework and sat around. Nothing special. You certainly didn’t miss much.”
“Well that sounds exciting,” I replied. “What did you do after you left last night,” I asked Brent.
“I went home and watched some sports and then went to bed. I was really tired and didn’t really feel like doing anything.” William laughed. I glared at William and Brent must have noticed because he squeezed my hand under the table. I looked at him and he gave me that look saying that it was ok. Ugh. William needs to know that there is no reason to be mean to Brent.
“If you keep being mean to Brent, I’m not going to tell you when I’m leaving and where I’m going,” I said to William.
“Fine. But it’s not going to change the way that I feel about all of this.”
“That’s fine. I could care less what you think about this. Your opinion does not impact me whatsoever.” I snapped. William had nothing to say to that.
The rest of the lunch went by slowly. There was very little talk and all you could here was the sound of forks clanging. When we were all finished eating we paid and then left. William walked beside Brent and me as we walked down the sidewalk toward the car. When we reached the car everyone got in and we drove home. As soon as the car stopped in our driveway William was opening the door and getting out.
“Sorry, about William. I’ll talk to him,” I said to Brent.
“Cat, you can’t lecture me about being sorry and then start apologizing all the time,” Brent said. We were both smiling because we both knew he was right.
“I know, you’re right. But I’m still going to talk to him.”
“Ok. Whatever you want. Hey, I found Jake by the way. I texted Sam earlier and I told him what you told me. He seemed amused, but he told me where he was and Evan went to pick Jake up. Jake is at home now. But, I would listen to Sam. He might do something else if you don’t listen to him.”
“Ok, good. I will try to figure that one out.” Brent must be a fast text-er. I hadn’t seen Brent’s
phone the whole morning.
“Call me if anything happens.”
“Ok. I will and thank you for taking me out to eat today.” I said.
“No problem. It was…interesting. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”
“Bye.” I opened the car door and got out of the car. I walked up the path to my front door. I opened the door and walked inside. William must have already been up in his room because he was no were in sight.
“Hey, where were you,” Thomas asked. He was sitting at the kitchen table, looking at a sheet of paper.
“Out. Why,” I replied.
“Just wondering.” He didn’t even look up at me.
“Oh, ok.”
I started walking up the stairs. I stopped for a one second at William’s door and then decided to keep walking down the hall to my room. I would talk to William later. I was more worried about my day at school on Monday.

Chapter 15

I worked on homework, and sauntered around the house all day on Sunday. I didn’t want to do anything else. I went downstairs for dinner and then came back upstairs as soon as I was done. I had to get ready, mentally, for my school day on Monday.
As soon as I got into my room I got ready for bed, on Sunday night. I didn’t want to stay up late thinking about tomorrow. I just wanted to get it over with. I was really nervous that I was going to get beat up or something. I cleaned my room and made sure that the laser ring was still working. Maybe I should test it out on something before I rely on it tomorrow. I walked around my room and found a piece of clothing that I didn’t need. I did what Brent told me to do and it worked perfectly. I was pretty amazed that it actually worked.
I set the ring down next to my bed and climbed in under the sheets. I turned off the lights and then took a big breath. I closed my eyes and began to think. I am pretty sure that I fell asleep almost instantly. I didn’t even dream. I must have been so tired, because I slept through my alarm the next morning.
“Catherine! Are you up,” someone was knocking on my door and yelling.
“What,” I asked, I was trying to figure out what was going on.
“Are you up? We are leaving in 30 minutes and you need to get ready,” The voice was Margaret, and she had opened the door slightly so that I could hear her.
“Shit! I must have slept through my alarm! Thank you Margaret and I’ll be ready soon.” I jumped out of bed and jumped in the shower really fast. I got out of the shower, ran a brush through my hair, and got dressed. I went to my room and grabbed the ring and my backpack and then headed downstairs for a quick breakfast. My hair was still wet, but it was already drying straight.
“Don’t you love how straight our hair dries? If you are running late in the morning, you don’t have to waste time blow drying it and stuff. I love it,” Margaret said.
I laughed and grabbed a granola bar. Then I said goodbye to mom and we all walked out the door. My family was pretty close so we didn’t have any problem walking to school together. We did every morning.
Once I got outside I took at deep breath. I had been rushed out of the house, and I had a big day ahead of me. I was not excited to see Sam whatsoever, or any of those boys for that matter. I need to prepare myself. I walked behind the rest of my family in silence, trying to make myself feel better.
“Hey. You have to watch your back today and play everything safe. Ok?” William asked, breaking the silence.
“Yeah, I got it. I am just really nervous that something bad is going to happen and I haven’t seen them since that night.” I didn’t need to be descriptive. William knew that I was talking about the four boys and the kidnapping incident in the forest.
“You will be fine. Don’t worry. And if anything happens to you, and it has to do with Brent,
you’re never going to see him again.” Well that made me a feel a ton better.
“What? He has nothing to do with this. You can’t do that to me!”
“Then don’t get into any trouble.” I was gaping at William. I couldn’t believe him. William just smiled at me.
“Whatever.” We walked in silence for only a little bit more before we came to the school’s entrance, and William had already put me into a bad mood.
“We will all meet here after school. Everyone got that,” William was looking at me when he said that. I rolled my eyes and Oscar, Thomas, and I all walked towards our first class.
“What was William talking to you about,” Thomas asked.
“None of your business,” I replied.
“Why don’t we ever get to know anything,” Oscar asked.
“I promised that I wouldn’t tell anyone but William. If I ever get the chance, I will tell you guys some day.” They both looked at me with a confused looks, but we kept walking.
Then my phone vibrated. I looked at the text message.
I dont think that I can meet in the hallway during homeroom today.
The text was from Margaret. Our plan was to meet and stay together, so that Margaret didn’t have to deal with Loren and his friends. I didn’t know what was going to happen now.
Ok. Hopefully your day will go good. =)
I shut my phone and walked towards my locker. I was really nervous. I guess that I am lucky that Sam, Nate, Evan, and Loren aren’t in my grade. I feel bad for Margaret. I hope that everything goes okay for her today.
I went to my locker and still no sign of the boys. When I opened my locker a note fell out. My stomach fluttered. I was trying to think of who the note could be from. I unfolded the note and examined the full sheet of paper.
The note said:
Meet us in the main hallway during 5th hour. After lunch. If you don’t show up we will spread rumors all about you and your family. You don’t want that do you?
Sincerely,
Loren
I couldn’t believe it. The boys were going to get to me by words rather than in person. That’s ridiculous. I was about to text Margaret telling me that she couldn’t meet me anymore, but then remembered what she just texted me. I bet she got the same note, which made me even more mad.
We were both supposed to meet them after lunch. I began walking to my first class, when I realized that I was probably walking into trouble again. Hopefully this time won’t be as scary. Maybe I can stand up for myself.
I reached down and touched the ring that was resting on my finger. Brent was probably busy with school too. If I needed him, he might not be able to come. I took a deep breath and walked to my first hour class. I walked into my classroom just as the bell rang.
The first half of my day went really slow. I never really thought about what I was going to do after lunch. I once thought about texting Brent, which was probably a good idea, but I knew that I was going to be fine. I also had the ring if anything got too out of control.
After lunch I went to my locker and put my stuff away. I wasn’t missing any class because it was my homeroom. Students don’t have to report to their homeroom at my school. Instead of having a study hall, my school has free period after lunch. That extra time let’s kids go home or get some homework done. I was using my free period by meeting the boys and my sister.
I walked down the main hall in my school. I heard footsteps behind me and I turned around. It was Margaret.
“Hey,” I said to Margaret, turning around and slowing down.
“What are you doing? I told you that I couldn’t meet during this time,” Margaret said, catching up to me.
“I’m not coming here to meet you. I’m coming here to meet someone else.”
“Who are you coming to meet?” Margaret looked confused.
“Loren and his friends, the ones that we talked about, a couple nights ago.”
Margaret’s smile disappeared. “Uh oh. That is who I am meeting.”
“Well this will be interesting,” I said, we were still walking down the hallway.
Suddenly four figures stepped out from behind the wall right in front of us. Margaret stopped walking, but I didn’t. I could tell that Margaret was scared.
“I’m so glad that you showed up. You would have been pretty mad at us if you didn’t show up,” Nick said. I just glared at him. Margaret had taken a few steps and was standing next to me.
“What do you want from us,” I asked.
“You know what I want from you,” Sam said to me, smiling. I glared at him.
“Whatever, Sam. Leave us alone. You may never get what you want after this, anyway.” I paused. “Why did you need to talk to Margaret,” I asked.
“You know that too! Why do you have to keep asking us questions that you already know the answers to,” Loren asked, laughing.
“You think that Margaret is hot and that’s why you stalk her,” I snapped. I looked at Margaret who didn’t look shocked.
“Yeah pretty much. Do you have a problem with that--Cat,” Sam asked.
“Yeah I have a problem with that! Why can’t you just leave us alone? And don’t call me Cat,” I yelled, glaring at Sam. He made me so mad.
“Maybe we should take her somewhere before someone hears her,” Nate whispered to Loren.
“Yeah and quick,” Loren replied. Loren grabbed Margaret who didn’t even look surprised. I tried to help her, but Sam caught on to what Loren was doing. Sam grabbed me from behind.
“What are you doing with us? Where are you-,” I yelled. I couldn’t even finish my sentence because Sam’s hand covered my mouth.
“I suggest that you stay quiet from this point forward. We don’t want people to know what we are doing,” Sam whispered into my ear. I struggled against his hold on me but he didn’t let go. Where was everyone? Why weren’t there any students in the hallway to witness this? I have never seen the hallways so empty.
I gave up on freeing myself. I knew that even if I did get free Sam would just grab me again.
“I like the feeling of you struggling against me,” Sam said. I pushed my elbow back as hard as I could and hit him in the gut. He dropped to the ground and I was free. Loren turned around with Margaret, and Nate and Nick came running towards me. I tried to run, but Nate grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him. Nate was much stronger than Sam so I didn’t struggle at all.
“Nice try Catherine,” Nate said to me as he started walking again. Where were we going? The only places down this hallway were the locker rooms and we couldn’t go in the guy’s locker room and the guys couldn’t go in the girl’s locker room.
“Where are we going,” I asked.
“A special room that no one knows about except us,” Loren said.
“Great,” I mumbled. Sam finally caught up to us again and was only a few steps behind Nate and me. He must have been really angry at me because he was breathing really hard.
Loren finally stopped walking and let go of Margaret. Margaret didn’t even move. She must have been terrified. Nothing like this has ever happened to her before.
“Catherine. I think that you should learn from your sister. She is a very good listener,” Loren said to me. I just glared back at him. Loren took out a key and unlocked a door and I have never seen before. Loren opened the door and led us all through it. I was nervous and Nate still had a strong grip on me as we walked through the door.