Page 102 of The Pinkie Pact

I collapsed on a bus bench, holding my knees up, and burying my face in them. Then I truly let go, sobbing what was left of my heart out.

How dare he not believe me! I didn't care who it was. He shouldalwaysbelieve me. Always. Why couldn't he see that? I would have believed him.

With one moment's hesitation, he had thrown away everything we'd built. Every amazing moment that had happened between us was now tainted, stomped on, demolished. Within a heartbeat, he had tossed it all away like it didn't even matter to him. How could he do that? Did I mean nothing to him?

Fuck you, Kieran.

Suddenly standing up, that anger surged through me again. I was insane, feeling rage and tears at the same time.

Needing to walk, I started off in some direction. I wandered for a long time, a small voice inside me telling me to pay attention and be careful. Wiping my eyes, I took in my surroundings. I was on a street with lots of closed shops. From my back pocket, I whipped out my phone... the very phone I had just retrieved from the piano room before that asshole had accosted me.

Heaccostedme. Not the other way around! God, why wasn't that obvious to Kieran? On top of Kieran not believing me, I had just been grabbed by someone I didn't want touching me. I was doubly wounded by being assaulted and then not believed.

Heartbreak turned to fury. I hated Kieran. I suddenly hated him with a passion.

My phone vibrated, and I looked down, hopeful despite my newfound hatred. But it was only Kara, wondering if I was okay.

I repeated the same words. "Please tell your mom I'm sorry. I just felt sick all the sudden and had to run."

She responded immediately. "Are you sure? Kieran puked in my mom's office, and he looks like he's been crying. Did you guys have a fight or something?"

Oh, God, I couldn't deal with this right now. What could I say to Kara? I already knew I couldn't tell her about her dad. That would destroy her, and I didn't have the heart to do that to her.

Finally, I decided to give her part of the truth. "Yeah, we had a fight."

"I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Do you need anything? Where are you?" she wrote.

At least someone cared where the hell I was. I didn't want her to worry, so I didn't mention that I had no clue of my whereabouts. "I'm going to call Bear and spend the night with him."

"Are you sure? I'm leaving soon, and I can tell Gen not to come over tonight."

"No. I'll be fine," I assured her.

"Okay. Let me know if you need anything. Just call me, and I'm here for you."

"Thank you for that."

"Of course. You know I love you."

Her words brought a new lump to my throat. "Love you too," I wrote back.

And then I called Bear to see if he was home, if he was available once again to rescue me, and thank the universe, he was.

Feeling numb, I flagged down a passing cab and stepped in, giving him Bear's address. The lights flew past the window as the cabbie sped down the street. The moisture in my eyes made everything a blur, the colors streaking by outside.

There was a buzz from my phone, and I looked down. There it was. Kieran calling me. Ignoring it, I turned off my phone. He was too fucking late. I didn't want to talk to him. Not now. Not ever.

I had been right to be wary about love... because love fucking sucked.

Too Late?

Sky

Bear took the best care of me, and I was so incredibly grateful to have someone like him in my life. I poured my heart out to him and told him the whole story, knowing I could never tell Kara everything.

He was outraged and wanted to call the police. But I didn't want to do that. I couldn't do that to Kara or her mom. However, Bear did have a point. Mr. Emerson had definitely done this shit before, and he would do it again. He needed to be stopped. I just didn't know what I could do about it.

I needed time to think about it.

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