The next few days went by in the same mundane fashion for the most part. Rainey stayed in his loft, writing, only having contact with me to tell me what to clean or repair next. I complied and kept my harsh and explicit comments to myself- ticking off a killer was the last thing I wanted to do. Come to think of it, I mused, he really doesn't act as crazy as Trevor and the boys let on. Rainey was irritating, neglectful, ornery and a total ass, but he hardly seemed crazy. Aside from the day we met (after he found his house vandalized), he really didn't show any signs of being a psychopath. No sudden rages, no death glares (although I did catch him staring at me a few times mighty creepily), no split personalities, no attempts to kill me. He seemed relatively normal, if cranky anti-social writers were normal, that is. But that didn't have me completely convinced though. Like the guys had said, if he looked and acted crazy, he'd have been locked up ages ago. There were plenty of normal looking serial killers out there- I watched those forensics shows before. It was best if I just played it safe for a month and then I was out of there!

The Monday after I had started, I found myself outside washing his jeep. I had just finished scrubbing the dirt and dead insects from the windows and crevices when Rainey came out onto the porch. I paused to watch him sit down on the step and look back at me. I turned and tossed the rag into the bucket and made for the side of the house. I needed clean water to rinse the jeep off.

"What are you doing?" Rainey asked.

"Getting water" I said evenly.

"Why don't you just pull it around?" he suggested.

"I tried. The hose won't go that far" I shrugged.

"Not the hose" Rainey said. "The jeep. Can you drive?"

I paused before answering. "I have my permit..."

He tossed me his keys, which I barely caught, spilling some of the soapy water on my legs. I shut my eyes momentarily to suppress an outburst. Mort the Murderer, I mentally reminded myself. Don't do anything rash.

"Pull it around" Rainey told me

I stared at him. "You want me to drive your car?"

"I thought I made that clear" he said. "If you want I can rephrase it."

"Are you incapable?" I asked, annoyed.

"Didn't your mother say to listen to me? I'm sure I heard her say that... I could just call her and check." He went to get up and I sighed.

"Don't bother..." I mumbled.

I set the bucket down and headed over to the jeep. Was he setting me up? Was the thing rigged to explode when I started it?

"The one with the green cover opens the door and the silver one starts it" he called.

Why couldn't he do it himself?

I unlocked and opened the door. No bomb yet... I climbed into the jeep and sat down, feeling unsure. He was still watching me as I shut the door and put on my seatbelt- playing it safe never hurt. I took a breath and turned the key in the ignition, it started easily and I sat there. I could just leave now... This whole situation was weird and his staring was creeping me out! Surely taking a car could be excused if I could prove he had ill intentions. He was a killer after all! Oh that's right, he was still innocent but hell, everyone knows he did it! The police would be grateful for another chance to nab him! All I had to do was cry "Molester!" and he'd be in handcuffs in a heartbeat. Right?

"Any day now" he called. "Before your funeral, would be nice."

I froze. Was that a threat? Or was he just toying with me? He must know about his reputation, was he using it to scare me? Shaking my head, I put it in drive and carefully edged around the house, his eyes watching as me as I did so. I parked it as close to the hose as I could without running over any corn stalks. I got out after turning off the engine and shut the door behind me before trudging over to the hose. Having experience with the damned on/off knob, I used both hands to try and force it to turn.

"Need help?"

I gritted my teeth. "No."

Rainey watched me struggle with the knob, slightly amused. I growled, giving up.

"Fine..." I stepped aside for him and went to pick up the hose with my now red hands.

He turned the knob almost easily and smirked at me as I turned away.

Only a trickle of water came out of the nozzle.

"Are you sure it's on?" I growled.

"Maybe it's clogged?" he suggested, hand still on the knob.

"No" I snapped. "It was fine an hour ago."

I looked down the nozzle, trying to make out any dirt or rocks. Hearing the squeak of the knob twisting, I pulled back as water rushed out the end of the hose. I shrieked and tried to dodge the stream but was too late. I was soaked from the waist up and despite the relief the cold water gave me in the 90 degree weather, I couldn't help but glare at him. It was so painfully obvious that he had done it on purpose.

He snickered. "You were right, it wasn't clogged."

With every ounce of self control I possessed, I held her tongue and turned the hose on his jeep, rinsing off the suds. He's lucky he's a psychopath, I thought bitterly, or else he'd be drenched too.

I heard him snicker softly and shot him a glare over my shoulder. I only then noticed how my T-shirt was clinging to me making the outline of my bra visible. Thank God I'm not wearing white! Blushing slightly, I told him to shut off the hose.

"What now?" I asked.

He furrowed his brow. "It'd be better to leave you out in the sun to dry off, but you finished the yard work. You might as well come in and I'll find something for you to do."

"And the car?" I asked fishing the keys out of my pocket.

"Just leave it" he shrugged and took the keys.

Rainey led me inside and I stood there awkwardly looking around the cabin. "Stay here" he said heading up the stairs. I frowned noticing a small puddle was forming at my feet.

I'll have to mop it up, no doubt I thought. It was his fault I was soaked in the first place!

I carefully pulled at the front of my shirt, so it didn't stick to me and scowled. He was probably a perv! God help me if my mother didn't believe that once I dug up some proof- so long as he didn't get tried and arrested for any accusations, he was guilt free!

My scowl deepened. My mother didn't even believe he was a killer. "If the police didn't arrest him then he shouldn't be prosecuted" she had said. "It's 'innocent until proven guilty', isn't it? Not the other way around." Thirteen years of being married to a cop and she didn't even see the reality of law enforcement. Not everyone gets what they deserve- some just get away.

"Hey" Rainey called from the loft.

I looked up in time to see him throw a towel at me. It unraveled and landed on my head. I wrenched it off and reluctantly began to blot myself off, starting with my hair then myclothes.

"Do you wanna borrow a shirt?"

He was still there? I caught myself before I answered. Of course I didn't want to wear any of his things, I barely accepted the towel. But... I didn't like the idea of walking around a strange man's house in a wet top either.

"Okay" I deadpanned.

He had anticipated my answer and had a red plaid button up in his hands. This time I caught it and pulled it on over my damp shirt- the more layers the better. "What should I do now, Mr. Rainey?"

He scratched his head. "Just straighten the place up a bit. Ask if you don't know where to put something."

I nodded and started towards the dining room seeing as the living room and kitchen were, for the most part, in order if not a little cluttered. There were a number of papers and letters strewn across the table. Curiosity struck her as I shifted various letters around. I doubted he'd leave incriminating evidence lying around, but it looked like the pile of paperwork had been growing for months. Maybe if I was lucky...?

Swallowing hard, I peeked out to see him sitting in the loft, typing at his laptop. I sat down at the table, sorting through the papers closest to me. Bills, bills, pages 34, 78, 5 and 112 through 153 of a manuscript(not necessarily the same one), fan mail, dental card, bills ... envelope from lawyer? I glanced over my shoulder, expecting him to be there. I opened the manila envelope and pulled out a few papers that had been ripped in two. At the bottom I saw one signature: Amelia Rainey, and a space for one more which had been left blank. It's divorce papers, I realized.

"What are you doing?"

I jumped and spun around to find Rainey standing behind me. I hastily put the papers back on the table. "Just trying to organize all this."

Rainey sighed and walked around me to pick up the divorce papers I tried to hide. I looked at my feet trying to avoid his gaze. We were silent for a moment and I shivered in the warm air. Rainey broke the silence finally.

"A man is reluctant to leave the woman he once loved, so she runs off with some other guy to avoid him and suddenly he's a killer..." he sighed.

I didn't say anything, but looked up to see that he was looking at me sadly.

"I didn't kill Amy or anyone else for that matter. The whole town doesn't believe me" he said sourly. "I don't expect you to be any different."

He tossed the papers back on the table and walked into the kitchen. I heard a few glasses clink softly and the refrigerator open. "You can leave for today" he called.

I bit my lip nervously. He came out of the kitchen with a can of Mountain Dew and raised his eyebrows. "Is something wrong?"

"My..." I took a breath, "My mom said that I should stay till six to help you... but I-I don't want to be in your way! I can just go and tell her you wanted to be alone."

He cleared his throat. "Yeah, if you get in trouble, I'll straighten it out. There's really no reason for you to stay."

I nodded. "Okay."

"Do you need a ride into town?"

I hesitated. "Uh, no it's okay. I don't want to inconvenience you."

"It's no problem" he said setting his now empty soda can on the table, "Besides, you're technically my responsibility for the time being. I don't need you getting in trouble on my watch."

"I'm not a child" I muttered, which I only then realized sounded very childish.

"Oh, of course not," Rainey mocked, walking into the living room. "You're a responsible young lady, is that right?

I didn't dignify that with an answer.

"I suppose that's why you vandalized my house?" he asked, grabbed his keys and opening the door. "Hm?"

I stared at my feet. Feeling more embarrassed that outright guilty. "It must really hurt not to be believed" I told him softly. "But that's still no excuse not to give others the benefit of the doubt..."

Rainey watched me as I walked silently through the door, still avoiding his gaze.

We went around to the side of the house where the jeep was still parked. "Sorry if I get your seat wet," I muttered awkwardly, getting into the passenger side.

"What?" he asked quickly, as if he hadn't heard her correctly.

I looked at him oddly. "My clothes are still kind of damp."

"Oh... Yeah. It's okay, it'll dry" Rainey nodded dismissively, starting the engine.

The ride into town seemed longer than I remembered. "So..." I attempted to break the silence weighing on me. "What're you writing about?"

He seemed surprised she spoke. "It's a sequel to one of my novels, Secret Window. Ever heard of it?"

"Um... no, sorry. I'm more into... romance novels."

Rainey looked at me curiously behind his thin framed glasses. After seeing me blush and avoid his gaze, he turned his attention back to driving. I didn't say anything after that. Okay, so I suck at conversations. Why should I make small talk with him anyway?

I suddenly felt as if he could read my mind and glanced worriedly at him. But Rainey was focused on driving.

After a few minutes more, they reached the main road. Just as we neared the ice-cream parlor, I spoke up. "You can drop me off here."

His jeep slowed then stopped just before the shop- I didn't exactly want to be seen with a known killer in public. He watched me get out. "Thanks again" I said quickly and went to leave.

"Sure and say hello to Mrs. Scott for me."

I turned and raised an eyebrow. "You mean Prescott?"

"Oh, right. Yeah" he said flippantly.

Had he honestly forgotten my surname? It didn't surprise me if he had forgotten my first name as well. He never called me Eden, or anything really.

I pursed my lips and quickly left Rainey sitting in his jeep. As I walked up to the ice-cream shop, I could see Trevor's grease mohawk in the window. The bell jingled as I entered and made for his usual window table. Just as I sat down, I noticed the jeep pull away.

"Shouldn't you be at the cabin? Or you finally run off on Mad Morty?" Trevor asked, a half eaten sundae in front of him.

I shook my head. "Got off early. Where's Joey?" I asked, seeing that the third from the trio was missing.

"Summer school, remember?"

Now, I remembered.

Cory snorted. "What's up with the shirt? Getting ready to go to a hoedown?"

I realized I was still wearing Rainey's shirt. Damn it I thought, why'd he let me walk off with it?

"Ha ha-- Funny" I deadpanned.

"No, really" Cory pressed. "I thought you hated plaid."

I blinked. "I don't hate it."

"Yeah, you do" Trevor continued. "You straight up started bitchin' when yo Ma got you that sweater last Christmas."

"You're exaggerating" I glared.

I was relieved when the waitress came up to the table. "Can I get you anything, hon?" she asked me softly.

"'Nother sundae for me" Cory cut me off shaking his empty bowl.

"I'll do--"

"I'mma have a bowl of the moon mist flava" Trevor said over me.

The waitress looked at me, smiling sympathetically.

"A-a root beer float, please" I muttered.

I stared out the window for a bit until I felt eyes on me. Turning my head, I saw both Trevor and Cory staring at me. I frowned "What?"

"Well?" Trevor asked.

"Well what?" I snapped, getting annoyed already.

"Well, what's with the shirt?" Cory asked.

I glared. "Nothing."

"Then why you being so defensive for?" Trevor snickered.

"I'm not!"

"Ho! Sure sounds defensive to me" Cory said and they both laughed.

I rolled my eyes.

The waitress came back with my order and I gladly accepted the distraction. "We're not giving up, you know" Cory smirked. "Not until you tell us what's up."

"Nothing. Is. Up."

Trevor sat back and eyed the shirt. "Then where'd you snag the lumberjack shirt?"

"Woooh! Does Eden have a boyfriend?" Cory teased. "You got yourself a side peice?"

I growled, stabbing a hunk of vanilla with my straw.

"You guys are being dicks" I said. "It's nothing! Drop it."

"If it's nothing then tell us" Trevor grinned.

I sighed, realizing that they wouldn't let it go. "I had to borrow a shirt, that's it."

"From who?" They asked in unison.

"From Rainey, okay?"

"What? You for real?" Trevor's eyes narrowed.

"You're wearing his clothes?" Cory asked, looking at her weirdly.

"Why you borrowing his shirt for?" Trevor asked, the humor gone from his voice.

"Because my t-shirt was wet so-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on" Cory stifled a laugh. "You were wet? Do we even want to know why?"

I glared. "I was washing his car and the hose got me! It was an accident!" Well, that's debatable I thought sourly to myself.

"Did he make you sit on the hood in a bikini while you washed it?" Cory joked, doubling over in laughter.

Trevor kicked him under the table. "Shut up!" he said then turned to me. "Yo, Boo. Imma axe you somein' and I want a straight up answer?" he began seriously. "You boning Crazy Ol' Rainey?"

"What!" I shrieked, my voice at the same pitch as squealing tires.

"Is you, Eden?"

"What the fuck is wrong with you two?" I growled.

"Oh... my... God!" Cory moaned. "You are, aren't you?"

"You're- what?- Nineteen and he's like seventy!" Trevor exclaimed. "That is some sick ass Harvey Weinstein shit!"

"I- he's not seventy" I hissed.

"Girl's got some Stockholm Syndrome..." Cory shook his head.

"Tell me you ain't cheatin' Eden" Trevor demanded.

I looked between both boys with my mouth agape, utterly speechless.

"I didn't know your taste in guys was that fucked up," Cory shook his head. "There's a difference between gangsta's and serial killers, Eds."

"Eden" Trevor shook his head. "You don't wanna go messing around with that fool. This mothafucka is bat-shit crazy!"

I slammed my fist on the table. "I AM NOT" I shouted then lowered my voice to a whisper and leaned forward. "I am not boning him- or anyone!"

"For reals?" Trevor asked, looking at me hard.

"Yes! Jesus, you're both sick in the head!"

"Well" Cory sighed. "You just got a lot less interesting..."

I scoffed and stood up, stalking towards the door.

"Eh, where you headed?" Trevor asked.

"Away from you assholes!"

"Yo, you forgot to pay for your-"

I was already out the door before Trevor could finish. I continued down the sidewalk with a scowl on my face, thinking of how my brain dead boyfriend and his idiot friend could sit there and talk about me to my face like that. Talk about jumping to conclusions! They're such pricks! Seriously. Me and Rainey? I could barely stand being in the same room with him!

After a few minutes more of walking, I calmed down a bit. I crossed my arms and was quickly reminded of whose shirt I was wearing. What was that smell exactly? Some sort of cologne, not that Axe spray all the guys were wearing. I couldn't quite place it but it smelled good. The thought disturbed me- I was actually pondering over what Rainey smelled like. I glared at the shirt as if it were it's fault. Unfolding my arms with a groan, I checked the t-shirt to see that it was still damp, but wearable. I pulled the button down over her head and folded it over her arm as I walked home. Surely, holding Mort Rainey's shirt was better than wearing it. However, I noticed with a frown that it's scent lingered on me still.