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The next day was Friday, the day of Lauren's party. The day of a test I had forgotten about in history. The day that I would escape this problem my dad put our whole family in. And I was practically shaking in my boots about it.

I was under strict orders from Mom not to tell a single soul about these kidnapping plans, since it was a kidnapping to everyone else but a getaway plan for us. Especially not Gabe, considering his dad was our town's sheriff.

So when he materialized out of nowhere Friday morning, hounding me about the car accident, I was forever grateful for the bell. I knew his intentions were pure, that he was just worried about me, but I cared too much for him to get him involved in this too. I practically sprinted down the hall and to my first period class, being the first one sitting in my chair by the time everyone else shuffled in.

"Hey," Mandy sang, wiggling her eyebrows.

"What?" I couldn't help but grin.

"Sooo, I heard about you and Gabe."

"What'd you hear?"

"That you crashed a football practice and stayed after with Gabe. Everyone knows that the coach considers every single one of those practices as sacred."

I let out a sigh. "Well that's not much. I was just going there to," I stopped myself before saying to call Luke, instead saying, "to find a quiet place to think." I shrugged. "He just happened to stay after I guess."

"Did you guys kiss?" Mandy leaned in, excitedly whispering.

I laughed, blushing. "No, I just kind of cried."

Her jaw dropped in a look of disbelief. "You cried? Carter Mason actually cried. I didn't know that was a thing."

"Well it is and I'm so embarrassed about it because I am the world's ugliest crier."

She laughed. "Believable."

Mr. Trent entered the classroom and brought the class to order, instructing us to get started on today's work. Mandy and I each took out our books, continuing our hushed conversation.

"On a more serious note, I was wondering if you wanted to come over tonight? Considering everything that's happened, I thought a girls' night would be much needed," She whispered, winking at me.

Considering everything that's happened. I swallowed and forced a guilty smile, suddenly feeling awkward. It was like she wanted to hang out with me out of pity. "I'm sorry. I was going to go to Lauren's party tonight with Drew. Do you want to come too?"

"Lauren's party? Why her?"

I grinned sheepishly, my cheeks heating up. "My pride wouldn't let me say no."

She rolled her eyes. "You know, one day, that's going to get you in trouble."

I didn't tell my best friend that it already has. It makes my heart hurt to think about how out of the loop she is about my life. She knew nothing yet I called her my best friend. Even though I knew I couldn't tell her anything, I still felt the guilt building up like Teddy's Legos in the pit of my stomach.

I pressed my lips together, shrugging. "You never know. So do you want to come to?"

She bit her lip in thought, "We'll see," before bringing up a new topic, "Oh! I also wanted to ask if it was true if-"

Mr. Trent shushed us, interrupting Mandy, and we giggled, bending down our heads to work.

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I exhaled a deep breath when I met Drew in the hallway, comforted to see a familiar and non-prying face compared to my morning of the never-ending gossips who approached me asking if this or that rumor was true. Most of them weren't but they mainly centered around the car crash which I precariously tiptoed around directly answering.

We were on our way to lunch when I caught up to her, nudging her with my elbow, "Hey!"

"Hey." She winked. "Are you still on for tonight?"

"You bet I am."
"Ok, great. I was thinking that after school I could pick you up and we could get ready at my house, that way we have one car."

"Sounds good to me." We walked through the doors into the crowded cafeteria.

"Oh." She whirled around to face me, walking backwards down the aisle of tables. "I have the perfect dress for you, so don't bring anything."

She set her backpack down at her seat on the bench before finding a spot in the lunch line. I plopped down on the bench next to her bag, pulling out my packed lunch. Bags and lunches were dropped on the table around me by our other friends.

One kid with blonde hair rushed up to my table, gripping the edge, "Carter, is it true you were in a car accident?"

I huffed, "Yes."

"What-" he started but was cut off by Gabe who slid across the bench next to me.

"Move and mind your own business," he sneered at the kid before turning back to me. "What happened?"

"Mind your own business," I snapped with a grin.

"Carter, seriously." He ran a hand through his hair, looking worn out and exasperated.

"Gabe, there's seriously nothing to worry about so quit getting your panties in a bunch."

He ignored me. "After seeing you last night, I stopped by the station to see my dad before driving home. I arrived to see him leaving to go to a car accident scene. He called me saying it was you."

"Well, I'm fine, see? Just a little car accident, the only thing that was hurt was my nose and it's pretty much fine already." I gestured towards the bruised coloring my nose.

"A little car accident? Carter," he leaned in like he was telling a secret, "my dad said it wasn't an accident."

I choked on the water I was drinking, sputtering on it as I replayed those words in my head. Once I regained my composure, I pressed, "Why did he say that?"

Gabe shrugged, leaning back, "That's just what they said after they surveyed the damage of the cars. Plus, there were witnesses that said they saw a black car pull a hit - and - run stunt."

"Oh." It was quiet, I didn't know what else to say. His dad was the sheriff, there wasn't much I could say. More people sat down at the table, some casually eavesdropping on Gabe and I's conversation. I had to get out of there, or else I would break.

"I have to go to the bathroom, I'll be right back." I forced a smile, hurrying to the hallway. I immediately gravitated towards the display cases around the corner that held the art projects submitted by students over the past year. I bit my lip, finding peace in leisurely strolling past the paintings, sketches, and sculptures. Stopping at mine, I couldn't help but smile.

I had submitted the sketch a couple months. It was a self - portrait project, using pencils for the outline of my face and the dark contrast of my black hair. But the primary focus of the sketch, where somebody's attention was supposed to be drawn to, was the electric colored pencil of my bright blue eyes. Life was kind of like art, where you have to read between the lines to discover the true purpose of the creation. You have to dig deeper to find the sole reason of something. It wasn't as easy as 1, 2, 3 or A, B, C. But unlike art, I couldn't simply escape in the mysterious twists and turns of life because if I did, I would drown without even knowing it.

It was only a week ago that Sam was kidnapped, and I was still trying to read between the lines. Mom told me her reason, but why honestly did it come to this? What was the purpose of all of this happening? I shook my head, I just couldn't seem to figure it out.

"I thought I'd find you here," A soft, low voice rumbled. "Are you okay?"

My head snapped up in his direction, unable to help rolling my eyes with a hint of a smile on my lips. "Careful, Gabe. You don't want someone to think you actually care. You're about to wreck your reputation."

"But I do care." He came closer, shyly shoving his hands into the front pocket of his pants.

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach and I bit my lip, turning back to my sketch. But I found myself looking at my reflection in the glass, watching him come closer.

"So why'd you tell me you were going to the bathroom, when you were coming here? What's to hide?"

"Nothing." My cheeks heated up at the lie.

"What happened last night? I called you, you know. But you never answered."

"I know, I was busy being rushed to the hospital," I laughed humorlessly.

"After the hit - and - run car accident," he prompted. "My dad said your nanny, Natalie, is still there. I'm not going to tell my dad, if that's what you're thinking. I'm just trying to figure out what's happening. Between your siblings going missing to that weird coincidence of hearing your brother at that guy with the gun's house to this non - accidental car accident."

He made me nervous, he was digging too deep. It was going to get him hurt, and if the wrong people found out that he was putting his nose in this business, there was even a chance it was going to get him killed. Butterflies erupted in my stomach again, but for the completely opposite reason from before. This time, it was because I was jittery and anxious of the results my family would find themselves in, I didn't want to have to add Gabe to that list of worries.

"Stop," I snapped. "You're supposed to be there for me, not put me through an interrogation. That's actually the last thing I need right now. So once you stop being a detective butting into every detail of my life, then I will talk to you. But for now, just give me some space."

He muttered, "I'm sorry," turning around as I speed walked around him.

I stopped when he spoke again in that soft voice, "You never denied that it wasn't an accident."

Refusing to look at him, I faced the option of either telling the truth or lying. I was already lying to Mandy, and the guilt from doing that to my best friend made me feel awful inside.

He still stood in front of the art display cases, eyes trained on me, waiting patiently for a rebuttal. One that I wouldn't give.

It was almost a whisper, just a kiss of air moving past my lips. "You're right." My eyes flicked up to his gray ones before I returned back to the cafeteria.

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awww....what do you guys think about Carter and Gabe?

whatever it is, Carter is under a ton of stress for Friday night....what do you think will happen????

thank you so much for reading!! you make my day!! I'd love if you shared what you thought or click that little star at the bottom to vote for this chapter, it encourages me!!

-Scarlett Wilson