A/N: I am Sooooooo Sorry its taken me 2 months to get an update out. School is kicking my ass. Good news is, class only goes until June 12th! Hopefully the next chapter wont take as long since I'm already working on it! This one is quite long, its almost 7000 words and... well you know me and my cliffhangers :P Hopefully the chapter is worth the wait I put you guys through! <3 

𝓘 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓹 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓼𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓾𝓷𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓷
𝓤𝓷𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓷𝓾𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓫𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓾𝓹 𝓶𝔂 𝓹𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮
𝓘'𝓶 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓯𝓸𝓸𝓽𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓹𝓼 𝓸𝓾𝓽𝓼𝓲𝓭𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮
𝓘'𝓶 𝓪𝓯𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓭 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮'𝓼 𝓽𝓻𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓽

Blaire

I rolled over and looked at the clock on my nightstand. Another sleepless night, meant another exhausting day. The mysterious texts had picked right back up after my weekend with Killian last weekend and they hadn't stopped. I felt like every move I made was being watched. I was probably somehow being watched right now. My phone lit up on the nightstand. I had begun to leave it on silent, because the sound of my notification tones were starting to give me anxiety. I picked up my phone and looked at it.

Unknown:
Morning sunshine.

Me:
I don't understand what it is you want from me.

Unknown:
You'll know soon enough. Do you remember what today is?

Me:
No, but I'm sure you will tell me.

I waited for a little bit before a picture of a newspaper obit came through. I felt sick to my stomach looking at it. I tried to push this particular person.. And his death as far from my mind as possible. I had no idea how this person even knew about it. Dylan Hendrixson, the secret I tried so hard to keep.

Unknown:
Accidental drowning, hm. Not exactly what I've heard.

Me:
So thats it. You're a friend of Dylan's, out to get some sort of revenge. It WAS an accident.

Unknown:
Wrong again Bean. I didn't even know the kid. I'm just someone whos been following your life in very close detail.

Me:
So what is the goal for today?

Unknown:
I want you to admit what you did. What really happened that night. Or I'll expose you to the entire school.

I felt like throwing my phone across the room and smashing it to pieces. Why was I even entertaining this asshole?

Me:
I'm not afraid of you.

Unknown:
Oh.. Blaire Nolan you have no idea the can of worms you've just opened. You have no idea what I am capable of. I wonder what Kassi could tell me about Dylan.

My heart started thundering in my chest. The only other person who knew about Dylan, and what happened that night was Kass and it was something that maybe she struggled with more than I did. This asshole knew the way to get to me, was to hurt people I care about.

Unknown:
You're quiet. You must be thinking, so I'll make it easy for you. Tell the police what really happened that night or your friends are fair game. All of them. It's time for all your little secrets to come out, your mothers too. Let the games begin Bean.

Me:
And if I just hand over my phone to my uncle and let him trace the text messages to figure out who you are?

Unknown:
Have I not warned you clearly? I could easily ruin your life all on my own but its much more fun to watch you do it and its not just your life, your entire family if full of secrets. I know them all. You want to play a game. We'll play.

The house phone downstairs started ringing. I gasped and got out of bed and bolted out of my room and down the stairs. David was going to answer the phone but I all but pushed him out of the way to get to it first.
"Blaire!" David said as I picked up the phone and answered it.
"Hello."
"Hello Bean." A distorted voice said. "That was a close one."
"Oh my school tour for march? Yes! I got the letter in the mail. I'm super stoked." I said.
"Listen carefully, because this is your last warning. You have three days to comply or I will make life very difficult for one of your friends, or maybe your pregnant cousin."
"Yes I understand. I will see you in March."
"Good. Hang up the phone and get ready for school. Wouldn't want you to be late."
I hung up the phone and took a deep breath, feeling like I was about to vomit. I looked up at David who looked at me with his eyebrows raised.

"Sorry uncle Dave I've been waiting on that phone call." I said.
"The New York School of Art and Design...called you at 6 in the morning to confirm your tour for..next month?" David asked skeptically.
"Uh huh. Weird right. Well Imma get ready for school." I said and hurried past him back up the stairs.

I got back into my room and looked at my phone.

Unknown:
Ball is in your court. ;)

I grumbled in frustration and sat down on my bed putting my head in my hands trying to think of how to avoid this mess all together. I had told myself for years that what happened to Dylan that night, was an accident but now I was starting to doubt myself and that feeling of guilt came creeping back under my skin.

My phone lit up beside me again and I glanced at it.

Kass:
Hey you should get a couple packages today, they let me and my dad go into your place to get some of your stuff, I grabbed some of your parents things that I thought you'd want too. Your moms stuff is in a separate box, I didn't want you to open it all together and get overwhelmed. Love you B. Skype me after school.

Me:
Thanks. I will.. I wanted to talk to you anyways.

I wanted to talk to Kass about what happened that night. In case this creep decided to message her too, I didn't want her to be blindsided.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Whoever decided to make Algebra my first class of the day, was the devil. Mr. J was a good teacher, and he taught Algebra in a way that was somewhat easier to understand, but the lack of sleep, and algebra did not mix. Not even the Java Monster that I picked up on my way to school was helping me focus. My mind kept slipping back, to the last high school party I ever went to, the last one I ever planned on going to. A night, I had tried so hard to forget.

Blaire age 16

"Kass, you should slow it down." I sighed as Kass made her fourth drink for the night.
"Oh relax B. Have another drink." She said and passed me a beer.
"I can't Kass. I'm driving tonight."
"Hey babe. Make me one too." Dylan said as he came to the kitchen standing next to Kassidy.
"Its your house, make your own drink." I snorted.
"Why do you bring her?" Dylan scoffed.
"She's my best friend Dyl." Kassidy sighed. "What do you want?"
"You know what I like." Dylan smirked.
"Sure." Kassidy nodded.
"Cool, I'll be out by the pool." Dylan said and walked out of the kitchen. Blaire could tell that Kassidy was uncomfortable when he was around but when he left she seemed to go back to being herself.
"Why do you stay with him Kass?" I asked.
"I like him." Kassidy shrugged.
"You flinched when he spoke to you." I said.
"I did not." Kassidy scoffed.
"He's the reason for that bruise on your neck isn't he?" I pressed.
"Blaire, just leave it alone!" Kassidy hissed.
"No, Kass if he's hurting you, you need to leave him!" I argued.
"What would you even know about it? You've only been with one guy and he pretended like you didn't exist the next day. You don't know what an actual relationship is like Blaire!" Kassidy shouted.
"You've had way too much to drink." I scoffed. "Come on Kass lets just get out of here and go back to my place and watch movies."
"No, B. I'm actually having fun. Go home if you can't hang." Kassidy said.
"You know what? Fine. But I'm taking your keys with me." I said and took her car keys from her pocket.
"Fine!" Kassidy spat and walked towards the back door to the pool area.

I rolled my eyes and left the house. The last time I left a friend like this, they ended up dead. I sighed heavily and turned around to walk back in the house when I heard Glass shatter from the backyard. I raised an eyebrow and went to the back gate and listened.
"What the fuck is this Kass. This isn't my drink, who else are you making drinks for?" Dylan demanded.
"I'm sorry! I thought thats the one you wanted." Kassidy said and then cried out in pain. The gate was locked from the other side, so I stood back and kicked it until the lock broke and I hurried into the backyard by the pool where Dylan had Kassidy by the hair and his fist raised ready to hit her.

"Hey!" I shouted "Get the fuck off of her!" I yelled and ran over and shoved Dylan away from Kassidy. Kassidy dropped to her knees crying and I crouched down to her.
"You're okay. I got you Kass." I said.
"I thought you left." Kassidy whimpered.
"Not a chance." I said. "You're a bitch when you've been drinking but you're still my best friend." I smiled. Kassidy smiled at me. I looked up and gasped and shoved Kassidy out of the way as Dylan swung a baseball bat and almost hit her in the head. I rolled out of the way to avoid getting hit with it.
"You're a fucking psycho!" I yelled and stood up.
"You should have taught your friend to mind her own business Kass." Dylan said and swung at me with the bat again. I ducked out of the way.
"Blaire!" Kassidy cried. "Dylan stop! Please don't hurt her."
Dylan turned his attention back to Kassidy and pointed the bat at her.
"Tell your little friend to go home Kass." Dylan barked.
"Blaire..just go." Kassidy cried. "Please."
I shook my head and slowly walked behind Dylan.
"Fine. I'll go." I said and put my finger to my lips shaking my head at Kassidy.
Dylan turned back to me and I grabbed the bat from his hands and tossed it aside.
Dylan growled at me and grabbed a hold of my shirt.
" Now what are you going to do?" He laughed.
"This." I said and maneuvered out of his grip using the self defence my dad had taught me. He swung his fist at me and I ducked and put my hands out shoving him into the swimming pool.

Kassidy hurried over to me and other people were coming outside hearing the commotion.
"He's going to be so pissed off when he gets out of there." Kassidy said. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. You?" I asked.
"I don't know." Kassidy said, trembling. "I'm sorry for what I said."
"Its fine." I gave her a half smile. Another girl from the party started screaming. I looked up and noticed she was pointing at the pool. I looked at the pool and noticed a bunch of blood rising to the top and in the middle of the blood, Dylan was floating face down.
"Oh.. God. What did I do??" I whispered.
"I'm..calling my dad. You didn't do this Blaire."
"Kass I pushed him!"
"He attacked you!" Kassidy hissed. "I'm calling my dad."
"Dylan!" One of his friends shouted but there was no response.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

There was an ambulance, and police cars all over the place. Kass and I were being questioned by her father in the front yard.
"What exactly happened?" Sean asked.
"We were all drinking.. And I made Dylan a drink and he didn't like it and got mad." Kassidy started.
"Kass and I got into an argument and I was going to leave but I heard them yelling in the backyard and then I heard Kassidy cry so I broke the gate open to get back there and he had her by the hair trying to punch her in the face so I got him off of her and he started attacking me."
"How did he end up in the pool?" Sean asked.
I started to speak but Kassidy cut me off.
"He fell Dad. He slipped and fell." She lied. I swallowed thickly as I watched a body bag being rolled out from the backyard.
"You two realize how serious this is right?" Sean asked. "And you are in a lot of trouble." He said and pointed to Kass.
"I figured as much." Kassidy sighed. "We're telling you exactly what happened Dad. He fell in. We've all been drinking." Sean looked to me.
"That what happen?" He asked.

I nodded quickly.
"Yes sir." I said. "He fell." I felt like I was going to be sick to my stomach. I looked to the left as my dad pulled up and got out of the truck. He looked pissed. I handed Sean Kassidy's car keys.

"Are you questioning my kid without me present?" Dad asked as he stormed over.
"James, it's fine it was just an accident, a bunch of drunk teenagers and one of them fell into the pool and busted his head." Sean said.
It wasn't fine. Someone was dead as a direct result of me pushing him into a pool.
"You were supposed to be home." Dad said and pointed his finger at me.
"I..I know I'm sorry." I stammered.
"Is she done here?" He asked.
"Yes, she is all good to go home." Sean nodded and then spoke up. "But..if you are busy or have to go to work I can take her home with me. I'll bring her home in the morning." He said. He must have picked up on how uncomfortable I was.
"No. Shes coming home with me Sean." Dad said and took my arm in his hand. "Lets go."
My dad never hit me, it wasn't like that at all but I knew there would be a lot of yelling and I hated it when he yelled at me. Dad pulled me along with him to the truck and let me go when we got to it. I got in the truck and he got in and slammed the door.

"Were you drinking?" He asked.
"I had one beer." I admitted. "Dad.. I really have to talk to you about what happened." I said, my eyes were tearing up. I did not do well with guilt at all.
"I don't want to hear it Blaire. The less I know the better." Dad said.
"But Dad you don't understand I really-"
"I don't want to hear it Blaire!" He shouted. I flinched and looked down at my hands. "I have a reputation to keep up with here Blaire. What do you think people are going to think of me, when they see it in the news that my kid was at some high school party being an idiot, and someone got killed?"

His words hurt. I hated it when he called me things like that.
"I'm sorry Dad. I wasn't thinking about it. I just didn't want what happened last time to happen again."
"It was that kids fault that it happened. Not yours Blaire and if Kass wants to be reckless thats on her. Not you. You need to focus on yourself."
"I Just didn't want anything bad to happen to her Dad.." I said.
"Well it seems like everywhere you go something bad is happening to someone." Dad said. "Maybe thats a hint to stay home like you're told."
"Dad.." I started
"I don't want to hear anything else from you for the rest of the night and you better be ready to get up early tomorrow to hit the gym."
I just nodded and looked out the window.

--------------------------------------------------

"Blaire....Blaire!" Mr. J said. I flinched and almost jumped out of my seat. A few people started laughing but Mr. J gave them a look that was quite identical to Killian's scary teacher look. Mr. J looked back at me and put his hand on my shoulder. I flinched away again.
"Blaire are you alright?" He asked with concern in his tone. My eyes welled up but I nodded.
"Why don't you step out for a moment and clear your head?" He asked. I got up from my seat and walked out of the classroom and stood in the hallway pacing trying to tell myself that what happened that night was an accident. But if it was such an accident.. Why did Kass and I lie about how it happened?

-------------------------------------------------------

"Ah there she goes again." Will sighed. I blinked and looked at him
"What?" I asked.
"You're doing it again." Wendy said.
"Doing what??" I asked.
"That thing you do, when you're bothered about something you sit here and stare at the wall and your lunch tray collects dust." Will said. "What's up buttercup?"
"Don't call me buttercup." I said and narrowed my eyes at him. "Its just... a rough day." I sighed. Emma walked over to the table.
"I gotta talk to you." She said.
"So have a seat Blondie, We're a package deal." Will winked.
"Not a snowballs chance in hell Scarlet." Emma snarked and turned back to me.
"Its important." She said.
"I'll be right back guys." I said and stood up and followed Emma out of the cafeteria.

"Whats up?" I asked.
"Are you out of your God damn mind??" Emma hissed.
"I mean.. According to my therapist... possibly?" I mused.
Emma just glared at me.
"Look, its been a really long day already and I have no clue what you are yelling at me about." I sighed. Emma showed me her phone screen. I looked at a picture of a party invitation, for a secret party, friday night here at the school in the pool house.
"Okay.. what does this have to do with me?" I asked.
Emma scrolled up a little and I noticed the mass invite had my name attached to it.
"What the actual fuck." I said and grabbed the phone from her hand and clicked my name.
"This isn't my account! Someone made a fake account. I don't even have half of these people on my facebook Emma. I don't like anyone and I certainly wouldn't host a party. I hate high school parties."
"Well if it wasn't you. Who would do this? And it doesn't matter. Half of the school has already said they are going!"
"Just..give me a second." I said and looked at my own phone and opened the messages from the unknown sender.

Me:
I am absolutely having nothing to do with that pool party you son of a bitch.

Unknown:
Oh. You are. Or the next thing I send from that account is this.

Attached was a picture of Killian and I taken from outside of the pool house on Valentines day. That son of a bitch was watching us that whole time.

Me:
I thought you just wanted me to confess to something I didn't do. Why a pool party??

Unknown:
Why not a pool party? ;) Be there or else.

I looked up at Emma who was typing a message on the mass invite.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Putting a stop to this."
"No!" I exclaimed.
"No?" Emma questioned.
"I mean.. Just...maybe it could be fun?" I suggested in a very unconvincing manner. It was absolutely not going to be fun.
"No way Blaire. This is crazy and way too risky. A pool party at the school? You realize how much trouble you'd be in if you got caught?"
"Live a little Em. you only have so much longer before your whole life is over." I said.
"Dramatic much?" Emma scoffed.
"You gonna be there or not?" I asked.
"I'll be there. Cousin Code, if you go down, I go down. I just don't understand why you are willing to risk it." Emma sighed.
"I have my reasons and thats as far as I'm going into it."

I walked back to the lunch table where Will and Wendy were looking at their phones and then looked back at me for an explanation.
"So... you guys coming or what?" I asked.
"I don't do pools. Hard pass." Will said.
"Oh come on.." I pouted.
"My parents will KILL me if I attend this. I'm out." Wendy said.
I sighed and sat down.
"Please Will." I said.
"I can't bloody swim Blaire." Will said.
"You don't have to swim I promise. Just.. come with me?"
"I'll think about it." Will shrugged.

When the lunch bell rang, Wendy went ahead to class and Will pulled me aside.
"I know there is no way YOU arranged that party." He said. "You've been acting really weird lately. What is going on and don't give me that nothing bullshit." Will said.
I sighed and looked around.
"Come on Blaire, Its just you and me." Will said.
I unlocked my phone and pulled up the messages from the unknown sender and handed it to him.
Will scrolled through the messages with wide eyes.
"Holy shit Blaire this... is serious." He said.
"I Know!" I hissed.
"You need to take this to the police this guy is stalking you and other people."
"Thats exactly why I can't take it to the police. He's dangerous Will. I take this to the police and maybe something happens to Wendy tomorrow, or Emma...or even you!"
"Or You Blaire." Will frowned. "This is way beyond our little investigation duo. This guy knows a LOT about you..and whats the deal with this Dylan kid?"
"I don't want to talk about it." I said. "You're the only person who knows anything about this, and I think maybe together we can figure out who is behind it I need your help Will. Please come to the party." I pleaded.
"You realize if you get caught hosting this party you're in deep shit right?"
"Since when were you afraid of trouble?" I smirked.
"When it could hurt people I care about.. Yeah I'm afraid." Will said.
"He won't hurt anyone if I just show up and if I get caught.. Whats the worse that can happen?" I asked.
"Your uncle murdering you." Will said. I flinched at the words and he frowned. "Shit.. wrong choice of words. Sorry love."
"It's fine." I said and gave him a half smile.

Killian whistled at us from outside of his classroom.
"Lunch time is over, lets go." He said.
"That man is always in a hurry to talk about shit thats already happened." Will sighed. I just smirked and shook my head as we started making our way to the classroom.
"He know that half the school thinks we are together yet?" Will asked.
"I don't think so. I don't think he'd care, he knows the truth." I shrugged.
"Lets go you two!" Killian said again.
"Give us a break! You carry 100 pounds of textbooks on your back and tell me how fast you move." I said.
"Watch the sass Nolan." Killian said and winked at me. Thankfully it was just Will and I approaching him.
"Yeah if you could not do that when I'm around." Will said and scrunched his face before walking into the classroom ahead of me.

The fact that I didn't really sleep last night was beginning to catch up to me and I found it very hard to keep my eyes open while we were going over the review questions at the end of the chapter we had done for homework over the weekend.
"Am I boring you Miss Nolan?" Killian asked. I blinked my eyes open.
"No. Sorry." Honestly he wasn't. Though it didn't help that his voice had become so soothing to me that it helped me sleep.
"Perhaps going to bed at a decent hour would be a good idea?" He suggested. I narrowed my eyes at him.
Way to attack me Jones.
"Oh probably, but you know me, I'm just a regular party animal." I said flatly. He almost slipped and chuckled at my response but cleared his throat and continued on with his discussion.

After the discussion, he moved onto a lecture over the chapter that would be tonight's homework.
"Friendly reminder that, although graduation is coming soon, your focus should not sway from your studies. I was a senior in high school once."
"What like...centuries ago?" Will asked.
Killian just glared at him.
"My point is, at lot of you will get what we call senioritis Or in Williams case, its every year-itis" Killian smirked. Paying Will back for his comment about his age.
"You think, its almost over so you stop putting the effort in and then before you know it, its the end of the year and you've stopped handing in homework, you aren't doing as well on tests, and you're failing. Not just my class, other classes too. Its a very nasty habit to fall into, and very hard to catch up when you've fallen so far behind. Right now, you guys are my top performing class and I'd hate to see that change. So stay focused, Make sure to get good rest" He said turning to me briefly and then turned back to the rest of the class "
and keep up the good work."
"Are you...dying or something Jones? I think thats the nicest lecture we've gotten all year." Will said.

Killian rolled his eyes.
"I'm ignoring your comment Scarlet, and ending class on a good note. Being that this chapter is a long one, I'm going to do something different, You'll get to work in groups of 3. Theres 6 sections in this chapter, each group will be assigned a section and you'll have to come up with a way to teach us all about that section on Friday. Presentations must be at least 15 minutes long, make it interesting, don't just stand up here and read from the book. I don't let you work in groups often so have fun with it." Killian said and turned to me, Wendy and Will.
"I know the three of you will be working together so you two make sure he does something too. Don't do all of the work." He said and narrowed his eyes at Will.
"I thought we were ending on a good note." Will scoffed.
"We are. Have a good rest of your afternoon." Killian said with a cheeky grin as the bell rang.
"Before you all leave, one person from each group stay behind and get your assigned section from me please." Killian added as everyone was getting ready to leave.
"You want me to get it?" Wendy asked.
"I've got it Wendy. See you in Home Ec." I smiled and waited my turn to get our assignment.

Killian handed me my paper and I looked down at it before I folded it and stuck it in the side pocket of my backpack.
"Don't look so unenthused. Greek Mythology is fascinating. Especially your section." Killian said.
"I love greek mythology. I'm just tired." I shrugged. Killian glanced up as the last student left the room.
"Everything okay?" He asked.
"Yeah. Just.. not sleeping." I shrugged. I loved Killian, but I didn't want him getting involved in this more than he already was, and didn't know it.
"Are you sure thats it?" Killian asked.
"Yeah. I should probably just turn the tv off sooner but you know..those disney plus originals got me hooked." I gave him a small smile.
Killian looked at me skeptically.
"You know..if something is bothering you..you can talk to me about anything right?" He asked.
"Yeah." I nodded. "I know...I gotta get to home ec. I'll text you later." I smiled at him and looked behind me to make sure no one was looking before I kissed him on the cheek.
"Aye." Killian smiled. "Looking forward to it."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

After school, I went to Granny's with Will and Wendy so we could work out what to do for our presentation Friday.
"We could do a powerpoint." Will said. "I know how to do that."
"A powerpoint would be good. If Wendy gets all the key points from the chapter, I'll write up something to read out while we show the powerpoint. I'll make it interesting, not straight from the book and then we will get all the pictures and stuff together and Will can make the power point. You can come over and use my computer if you want since theres no wifi at O- Your house." I caught myself before I slipped up and revealed he was living in the loft at O'Malleys.
"Sure." Will nodded.
"I'll be right back." Wendy said and slid out of the booth and went to the bathroom.
"That was close." Will said.
"You still haven't told Thomas have you?" I asked.
"No. I don't know how he'd take it. I'm fine Blaire, spring is coming."
"I just worry..are you eating okay?"
"Blaire.. I live in the upstairs level of a restaurant. I'd say i'm eating just fine." Will chuckled. "Don't worry about me Blaire. This isn't my first time on my own." He shrugged.
My phone pinged on the table and I looked down at it.

Emma:
Dads wondering if you are coming home for dinner tonight? Oh..and you got two big packages in the mail.

Me:
Yeah. I'll be there about to leave Grannys now.

"I have to go, We'll get together tomorrow and work on this some more." I said.
"Alright. See you tomorrow Blaire." Will said and let me out of the booth.
"See ya." I said and left some money on the table for my drink and picked up my backpack. "Tell Wendy I said bye."
"Will do." Will nodded. I hated leaving Will behind knowing he'd be going back to that cold loft at O'Malleys.
"You know.. You could just come with me." I said.
"Nope, I'm fine Blaire." Will said. "Don't you worry your pretty little head about me." Will smirked.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Go. Don't be late for dinner." Will smirked.
"You're impossible." I scoffed and walked out of the diner.

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When I got home, I saw two big boxes in the living room. I sighed and walked over to them and looked at the first one. It said "Open this one first." on the top. This one must have been mostly my stuff.
"What do you think they are?" David asked.
"My stuff from Oregon. Kass said they let her and her dad in the apartment to get our stuff, what she didn't put in the boxes is in a storage unit. This ones my stuff.. The other has some of my moms stuff in it." I said.
"Do you want to open them?" David asked.
"Mine.. yeah. Moms.. I don't know." I sighed.
"Well lets start with yours." David smiled.

I nodded. David dug out his pocket knife and cut through the tape on the box. I opened the box and smiled at my boxing gloves right on top. Some of my band tees were in the box as well as a few of my stuffed animals. I picked up a teddy bear that was practically falling apart and hugged it to my chest. It smelled like home. I started to feel tears welling up and quickly set the bear aside. David looked in the box.
"That.. is a lot of trophies." He said "No wonder this thing weighed a ton." He chuckled.
"Oh yeah. I don't know where to put them all." I said.
"Emma has shelves on her walls for hers, I can build you some." David said.
"That would be great." I nodded. "I can help." I added as I picked up a framed picture of me and my dad I was holding a trophy and instead of looking at the camera, Dad was actually looking at me, and for once he looked proud. I loved this picture, but the memory seemed so far away, and it was the only picture I had like this. I put the picture to the side and dug further into the box and found my old digital camera. I popped it open to make sure my SD card was still in it, relieved that it was. I had so many pictures on here, most of them of Kass and I goofing off, probably some of me and my mom, and random pictures I would sneak of my Dad when he wasn't looking.

"Is that it?" David asked.
"Yeah for now. The bigger stuff I'll have to go and get during summer." I said and put everything but the camera back into the box. "I'll bring it up to my room later." I said and looked at the second box with my moms stuff in it.
"I don't think I'm ready for that one yet." I said.
"Its okay. Take your time." David smiled.
"I'm..going to go work on some homework before dinner." I said.
"Alright, I'm going to get dinner started. I'll call you down when its ready." David said.
"Okay." I nodded and stood up. I hesitated for a minute and opened the box and pulled my old teddy bear out of it to take with me up the stairs.

Bowie followed me from the hallway into my room and I put the teddy bear on my bed and sat down at my desk and set the camera beside me before I opened my laptop. Bowie climbed up my leg into my lap.
"Lets skype Kass shall we?" I said. Bowie climbed up to the spot he liked to curl into between my neck and shoulder. I opened Skype and went to dial Kass but she wasn't on so I sent her a text.

Me:
Hey thought we were going to skype. I wanted to talk to you about something.

Kass:
Hey B. Sorry, Dad wanted to go out tonight so we are having dinner. He's in the bathroom so I can chat for a minute if you want to call.

I hit the call button and waited for her to answer.
"Hey B. Get your packages?"
"Yeah. Thank you for sending them..and separating them." I said.
"Of course." Kass said. "You find your camera?"
"Yes! I'm so excited to look through the pictures..."
"I'm sure theres gold in there." Kass chuckled. "So.. whats up?"
I sighed heavily.
"Its... about Dylan." I said.
"Blaire.." Kass sighed. "We've been over this."
"I Know.. its just...if it was an accident.. Why did we lie about what actually happened?" I asked.
"You and I watched enough ID network to know exactly why we lied about what happened. The second you say the word pushed, it would open up a whole can of worms you don't want to open B. He attacked you, he attacked me, and you probably saved my life that night." Kass said.
"But..he died, because I pushed him and he hit his head Kass."
"Its been 2 years Blaire. Its over." Kass sighed. "I wish you would stop feeling so guilty. I hate that you can't put it behind you. Either way.. You didn't mean for him to get hurt, you just tried to get him away from you. It was still an accident."
"Yeah.. I guess." I said.
"It was Blaire." Kassidy said. "Look.. I gotta go, but if you want to call later we can talk more okay?"
"Sure." I said. "Thank you.."
"You're welcome. Have fun looking through those pictures. Send me the good ones!"
"I will." I chuckled. "Enjoy your dinner."
"Thanks. Talk to you later B."
"Talk to you later." I said and hung up.

Maybe she was right, maybe I was overthinking the whole thing, and letting this creep get into my head too much, however the mystery texter did know a lot about me, and everyone I cared about was I really willing to risk not complying with his demands?
Give your brain a rest Blaire. Look at the happy pictures on your camera.

I took the SD card out of my camera and put it into my laptop and opened up the gallery. There were hundreds of pictures so I just picked a random spot to start flipping through. I giggled at the pictures of Kass and I posing with cardboard cutouts at the movie theater. I smiled at the random photos of my Dad working on stuff around the house, or photos I took of him at the gym teaching kids about boxing. I cried at the pictures of my mother and I making silly faces, these were the last pictures we took together, they were all I had left to remember her by.
I clicked over to the next photo...but it wasn't a photo. A video started playing. I raised my eyebrow at my mom sitting on my bed with the camera held out.
"Hey Bean." She smiled.
"Mom..." I choked out. It had been so long since I heard her voice.
"I know, that you went to school thinking I was mad at you for that fight we had. I understand you don't want to split the family up, you don't want to leave your dad and thats okay. I'm not mad sweetie."
Tears fell down my cheeks as my moms expression turned sad.
"I wanted you to know that before I left..that none of this is your fault. I know your father might blame you..I know that once he realizes I've left he might be harder on you but I want you to know..its not your fault so don't you ever think it is. No matter what he says." She smiled through the tears.
"I love you..and I don't want to leave but theres just so much..that you don't know about, so much that I wish I could have told you before I left but..its just safer for you that you don't know. I've been getting these messages and phone calls and I just need to leave the area for now. I will call you when Its safe for me to do so."

Glass shattered in the background.
The glass from the back window by the fire escape. The horror set in as I realized..I was watching my mothers last moments of life.
"Shit...I thought I had time." Mom said and took the camera with her as she ducked under my bed. Whispering now.
"I love you so much Blaire and I'm so sorry for whatever happens next. We should have been honest with you about why we came to Oregon when you were a baby and I'm sorry that I never got the chance." Mom sobbed.
I heard footsteps outside my bedroom door in the video, and my stomach twisted as the door opened. Mom kept the camera on as the foot steps approached the bed and then I saw two arms in the frame as my mom was pulled from under the bed She let out a scream and she fought like hell trying to get away from her killer. I heard a sound that sounded like she was hit very hard and then a thump, and then I heard the sounds of her being dragged out of the room.

I quickly shut my laptop I nudged Bowie off my shoulder and set him down before I stood up and paced the floor to catch my breath. I was trying to cry silently, I didn't want to alert David. I wasn't sure what to do at this point. Clearly this was important evidence but...
Wait a minute..
I slowly walked back to my computer and opened it. I rewound the video to the spot where my mother was grabbed and as soon as the arms came into frame I paused it and zoomed in. There was no tattoo on the left forearm...meaning my Dad really didn't do this. So why was he covering for the person who did?