Page 107 of The Keeper

None of these kids here know me. I don’t have to pretend around them. I don’t have to do as I’m told or strive to be better than the best.

I could just be. It was freeing.

I shouldn’t write this part out.

Millie wanted to go outside to smoke. I told her I’d keep her company. She needed a few minutes to vent about the boy she likes who likes someone else, but he also likes her. Does this ever get easier? Or will we always be running in some hamster cage of I like you, do you like me, why do you like them?

After a while, we saw a guy walking to his car. I could only see him from the back so I don’t know who it was. A few minutes later some other guys came out of nowhere and beat him up. It looked bad. They slammed his head into a car door, kicked him, punched him. I think someone slashed at his face with a key or something. I heard yelling and clearly heard someone shout “If you try something like that again, I’ll take your fucking eye out.”

One of the guys saw us. Millie panicked because she knew who it was so we ran inside. She told me not to say anything. I guess I didn’t have to because a couple minutes later some other boys ran outside.

I really have to remember to tear out these pages…

We got cornered in the room by some other guy. He was big for a teenager. Handsome but his smile looked more like a threat. It made me super uncomfortable.

He told us he saw us outside when they beat up that kid. He wanted to know how much we saw. Millie refused to say anything but I did. I told him we saw the whole thing.

He stared at me. His eyes were really dark and brown and mean. I didn’t care though. What they did was wrong. That guy didn’t deserve to be beaten up so bad, no matter what they think he did. I told this piece of shit as much.

I didn’t even flinch when he grabbed my throat and pushed me against the wall. He called me a fucking American tart and said he knew all about my family and where we lived. He said he knew I had a twin and said some really vulgar things about getting us both in a room alone. I can’t write those out. What he said was too awful. I’m so sorry, Tori.

I did tell him to go fuck himself though. That didn’t go over well at all.

He told me he knew how much money we had and said he’d make sure to ruin our reputation if I ever told anyone about what I saw tonight.

Then he said if I ever went to one of these parties again, he’d teach me a lesson I’d never forget.

Victoria

“What happened?” Killian’s face dropped from happiness to concern. “Are you okay?”

I stood in his doorway holding Winston’s leash. Max came over and took the dog since I was incapable of moving.

“Baby girl, you’re scaring me,” Killian pulled me into hug.

My arms stayed frozen at my side. My feet remained rooted to the floor. I eventually let him guide me to the couch. Killian sat next to me so I could rest my head in his lap. We’d sit like this so often it’s a wonder there wasn’t a head shaped indentation on his leg. The weight of everything I’d read in Charlotte’s diary last night consumed me again and I sobbed.

After a few minutes I heard footsteps. Then voices.

“What could have happened?” Max asked.

“I don’t know.” Killian responded, stroking my hair. “But when I find out who did this to her I’m gonna strangle them.”

“You think it was Xavier?”

“No. He’s not even here. And from what she’s told me, they barely spoke all week.”

“Maybe that’s it then. The lack of contact.”

“Max.” Air from Killian’s aggravated sigh tickled my neck. “You’ve met Victoria, yes? Have you ever known her to bawl her eyes out over some asshole guy?”

“Point taken.”

“Xavier isn’t an asshole.” My muffled voice elicited a giggle from both of them.

“I’ve never been happier to hear your sassy voice.” Killian cocooned his body over mine in a hug. “Feeling better?”

“I was until you started suffocating me.” I sat up and stared into two sets of concerned eyes. Their suitcases sat untouched in the middle of the room. The minute they’d arrived home I bolted over here.

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