Page 11 of Bound By Secrets

I glance around the empty cafeteria and then back at Kat who’s watching me with caution. I nod, and she releases a sigh, probably from relief that I’m allowing her to ask a question. She looks at me for a little while before reaching forward and grasping my hands in hers.

"Are you in danger?" Her voice is soft and tinged with concern as her eyes assess my face, looking for any indication of an answer from me. Thankfully, I'm used to masking my emotions, so she doesn't get any clue as to what my answer will be. I worry my lip between my teeth as I think about whether I should give her a truthful answer or not.

Can I trust her if I tell her the truth? Will she ask more questions if I tell her that I am?

My eyes dart around the room to ensure no one else is around before my eyes connect with hers again. Her lips tilt down in a slight frown and her eyes soften as she waits for me to say something.

"I've kind of been in danger for a while now, but I can't get out of it and in all honesty, I'm fine. Might need some therapy for a while but I'm okay." I try to joke and lighten the mood but she doesn't laugh. I squeeze her hand and smile. "Honestly Kat, I'm fine."

“Yeah, you seem to say that a lot… Just make me another promise, okay?" I nod, indicating that she should continue."Promise me that you'll tell me when you're not okay. My dad could probably help you, and we could get you somewhere safe."

"Okay, but, Connor and Callum as well. If I decide that I need help, then they have to come with me." She gives me another sad smile and wiggles her finger. I lift mine and we twist them together, securing another promise to each other.

"Anyway, sad stuff out of the way, let's talk boys. Are you interested in my brother?" My head pulls back in shock at her straightforward question and she giggles. "Sorry, but I have to know. I can tell already that he's attracted to you and probably going to fall madly in love with you at some point. Call it twin tuition if you want to." My mouth opens and closes, not knowing what to say.

"Uh, well, he's good-looking for sure, so yeah I'd say I'm attracted to him, but I'd also then have to say that I'm attracted to Brad too." She smiles at my answer.

"So, you like the brooding bad boy vibes as well as the nice golden retriever vibes, too." I laugh at how she phrases it.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that. I don't know if I have a type, to be honest." She raises an eyebrow in question and I feel my good mood start to deflate. "I've only ever been with one guy, and that didn't exactly end too well. I haven't been interested in anyone since him, and I also don't know if I'll ever get over him either. It's been a couple of years now, and he's still etched into my heart."

"Did he hurt you?" I shake my head as soon as the words leave her mouth.

"Not physically or anything, and he didn't cheat. He didn't really do anything. He just left. Completely vanished without a word and I haven't heard anything since. Even his Mum has told me she doesn't know where he went." My eyes tear up, so I tilt my head to look up at the ceiling and blink them away.

"Ahh, sounds strange and complicated... I guess that still hurt though, right?"

"Hurt like a bitch."

Chapter Seven

Nate

The bell rings, and the teacher reminds us to complete the projects she's been discussing for the past half an hour as everyone starts packing up. I put all my things back into my backpack before picking Callie's handbag up off the floor and putting her things back inside. I look up to find Brad staring at me with an amused and quizzical stare. I shrug my shoulders and follow the stampede of students out of the room and towards the cafeteria.

"Can you text Kat, see if she knows where Callie is and tell her I have Callie's bag?" He huffs and pulls his phone out of his pocket. When he starts typing out a message, his whole body crashes into mine, and we fall into the lockers beside us.

“What the-" My glare is met with an even angrier and more intimidating one. Callie's brother, the grumpy one, I'm assuming, because I glance over his shoulder and see the other one with a beaming smile on his face. Brad pushes off the lockers and practically growls at the guy.

"Watch where you're going, man!" He spits out. The glare then sweeps its way over to Brad. Yeah, the dude's scary as shit. Hisnostrils flare and his jaw clenches as he stares Brad down for a moment, then turns and stomps off.

"Sorry about Connor. He has a hard time controlling himself sometimes," the smiling twin says before he skips off down the hall in the same direction his brother went.

"What the fuck was that for?" Brad asks as if I have any idea. I shrug, straightening myself, and carry on to the cafeteria with Brad in tow, huffing and puffing about getting knocked into.

As I enter the cafeteria, I collide with my sister, her forehead smacking into the top of my chest. I place my hands on her shoulders and create some space between us. She grunts and rubs her forehead with her hand, holding the phone she's focused on.

I tut, about to make a joke about her being glued to her phone, but she quickly glances around the cafeteria before grabbing mine and Brad's hands and pulling us back out into the corridor and down the hall to a storage closet. She opens the door and attempts to push us both in, but we both stand still with confused expressions on our faces.

"Just get in there. I need to talk to you both quickly and privately right now!" We glance at each other and then allow her to push our bodies inside the small closet. She closes the door and turns on the light, peering up at us both with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"I'm a little concerned that you know about this storage closet and that you know where the light is without even looking, Kitty Kat," Brad jokes.

"Look, I can't say much because I made a promise, and you know how serious I am about promises. But something is up with Callie and her family. I don't know what, but it's something. Just keep that in mind, okay? Oh, and also, don't ever call her sweetheart. It's not good." She aims that last bit at Brad, causing the guy to gulp nervously and nod in acknowledgement. I go toask her what she's going on about, but as soon as she sees my lips part, she slaps her hand over my mouth and shakes her head.

"No questions, please don't ask me any questions. I don't want to lie to you, but I will if you ask about something that I can't answer. Now, this conversation didn't happen. Just keep an eye on her and be careful what you say. That's it." Then she pulls open the door and walks out.

"Okay, seriously, what the fuck is going on with people today?" Brad asks.

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