Chapter 10

All my textbooks and notebooks were packed in my backpack, prepared for the next class where we'll be studying for the next big test. Slamming my locker shut, I noticed Zach leaning against the locker next to me.

A tap on my shoulder made me flinch and I turned around to see Kayden leaning against the locker on the other side of mine with his arms crossed. I balled my hands into fists to prevent myself from punching the life out of Olive and asking the boys to dispose of her body

"So. You look like shit. Does it, by any chance, have to do with any dreams you had lately?" Kayden interrogated with his gaze intensely on me.

"If you see Olive, let her know I'm going to kill her if she tells one more person."

"Answer his question, Isabella."

It was easy to relive every detail of the dream without breaking down right here in the middle of the hall. The boys had been in my life for years. Telling them felt comfortable. "What if Gray's the one who's been sending me all those creepy texts?"

They both visibly tensed up. Zach's eyes darkened in anger and I could see, under her chin, that his jaw clenched. A hostile glare was etched into Kayden's flushed facial features.

"What if he escaped prison? How would I be able to sleep at night? With my parents both being full time nurses, how would I handle being home alone all the damn time?" A myriad of more questions bounced around in my head. They echoed over and over until they took over every other thought.

If he escaped prison, they would be looking for him, right? They had to be. He wouldn't be out for long. At least that was what I was trying to tell myself to ease my anxiety.

"I'll move in with you." Zach didn't have to think about it. His face relaxed as well as his fists at the offer knowing that I'd have protection. He stepped closer and pulled me in for a warm embrace filled with assurance, lightly wiping my eyes with his thumb.

"And I'll come over everyday after school and all day on weekends. We won't let you out of our sight, Belles. We promise."

It was like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. All the questions that had been haunting me all night had been put to rest. My fears vanished in a second knowing that the boys would be there to protect me from any evil that threatened me.

"Did you tell your parents that he may have escaped?"

"Are you kidding me? Mom started crying after Miss Blabbermouth told her about my nightmare. Imagine how she'd react if we tell her there's a good chance he escaped. No way. Not until we know for sure."

“Hey, Kaykay.” Angela suddenly appeared around the corner and wrapped an arm around Kayden's elbow.

Kaykay?

Ugh.

Barf.

“Did you invite her to my birthday that Halloween party?” It was like Zach and I didn't exist as she was only maintaining eye contact with him. The use of his nickname and sultry look marking her eyes even made Zach nearly gag.

“Oh yeah.” Kayden's hand reached to scratch the back of his neck. “On a lighter note, I'm throwing a party for Angela. It's a costume party so… yeah. If you and Olive wanna come, you're more than welcome.”

A pleading look flashed across Zach's eyes. I couldn't blame him. Being stuck at a party, being forced to watch Angela being all handsy with his best friend without his other friends to talk with would be intolerable.

“Yeah, I'll ask her but… she loves parties. I'm sure she'd love to come. We'll be there.” I wasn't sure if she was only inviting me because my best friend was best friends with Kayden or if she actually wanted me to be there. Either way, it was going to be miserable.

Not because seeing her with Kayden would be unbearable, but because it would be disgusting having to watch her get kissy and lovey-dovey with him. However, any excuse to dress up for Halloween when it was socially acceptable for our age.

-

Zach's parents, Naomi and Brian, were helping Zach move in with me. Naomi and I were, at least. Brian was too busy reviewing with Zach how to shoot a gun and making phone calls to security companies about installing cameras outside the front door as soon as possible.

Mr. Evans had treated me like his own daughter all my life and I practically was. Being born the same day as his son, buying the house in the same neighborhood as my parents' and coming over everyday when Zach and I were in middle school.

When we told him there was a chance that Gray escaped, he even suggested we sue the prison for not informing us. That wouldn't have worked anyway, but he cared enough to suggest. It didn't take long for us to bring Zach's clothes from his house so Naomi and I resigned on the couch to watch Disney's Halloween movies.

"Sweetheart, you know that, if you change your mind at any time, you are more than welcome to move in with us. I already talked to your parents and they'd feel much better if you lived in a house with more protection."

My eyes flew wide open. Naomi stopped me from asking questions by lightly grabbing my thigh. "Don't worry, love. I didn't tell them about the possibility of Gray escaping. I made it seem like my husband and I were just genuinely concerned about you being home alone all the time. We would feel better if you had more people around for protection."

"Hey!" Zach chimed in.

"Grown-up protection, baby!"

"I'm eighteen! That qualifies as a grown-up in the eyes of the law!"

Naomi rolled her eyes, but an amused smile crawled on her face as she shook her head. "We love you, baby. We just want you to feel safe." She sat down beside me and interlocked our fingers together.

"You know you're like the daughter we've never had, right? We will do anything in our power to make sure he can't hurt you anymore. Okay?"

I nodded.

She kissed the top of my head and rubbed the sides of my arm before standing up and carrying the bags upstairs. I followed her up and threw the sheets on the guest bed into the washing machine.

I felt much safer knowing that Zach would be living here twenty four-seven and that Kayden would be coming over everyday.

Olive had to find out everything that happened eventually. I knew that, but my biggest concern was that I would start sobbing before I could get a word out.

Bella:

Will you come over after cheerleading practice? We're thinking about ordering pizza tonight.

My phone pinged with a new message, but it wasn't a reply from Olive. It was from the unknown number. It wasn't unknown anymore, I guess. It had to be Gray. No one else would torment me like this.

Unknown:

You should've replied to my texts.

You're gonna regret it later.

My stomach churned and I felt the lunch I had today come up my throat. I swallowed the puke and my thumbs shook as they hovered over the keyboard.

Bella:

What did you do?

The smart side of me was telling me that I shouldn't be replying to him, but the knots in my stomach grew tighter at the thought of him hurting anyone I loved. My mind immediately went to my mom at work. Did he get to her? Is she okay? Is the hospital under lockdown because he entered the hospital with a gun? What about Olive? Did he touch her?

Unknown:

Now you decide to text me back?

It's too late lol

Reading that 'lol' part in my head made me feel more sick. Whatever he did to make me regret it, he was laughing about it. Whoever he hurt, he found it amusing. Only the likes of Gray Vance would type out an 'lol' when referring to something evil that he did.

I went to my contacts and pressed on the hospital number that I added in case I needed to reach my parents in an emergency. I dialed the number and held the phone to my ear and paced back and forth, anxiously waiting for the call to be picked up.

Mumbles escaped my lips as I begged someone to pick up the phone. Relief washed over me when I heard the receptionist's voice on the other end. "Los Angeles Hospital, how can I help you?"

"Hello, this is Bella Price, Nurse Natalie Price's daughter. May I speak with her please? It's... kind of an emergency."

"Please hold."

Zach was calling out my name from downstairs, but I needed to make sure that my mom and dad were okay. There was no way I could live with myself if something bad happened to my parents simply because I didn't send a text back to my psycho, abusive ex.

"Belles, love, are you alright? What happened?"

There was another wave of relief at the sound of my mom's voice. She sounded okay, like she was safe. "Mom, thank God you're okay. I was so worried."

"Worried about what? What's going on?"

"Gr–..." She couldn't know about Gray. She would freak out and drive home as soon as she hung up. I didn't want her to worry. "The creepy texter sent me another message saying I'd regret not answering his texts. I just... wanted to make sure you and dad were okay. Is he okay? Where's dad?"

"He's operating on someone, but he's okay. Are the boys there? Have you heard from Olive?"

It was a long shot, but I pulled the phone away from my ear as if she somehow replied to me without me hearing, but there was nothing. "Zach's here and Kayden's coming over later. And no, but I'll text her one more time. Maybe practice ran late or her phone died or something."

"I send my prayers that she's okay, love. I gotta get back to work. I love you."

"I love you too."

Hours later, Kayden, Zach and I were gathered on the living room couch binging The Office with popcorn and two boxes of Domino's pizza. The pizza didn't look appetizing.

All I had been thinking about was if Gray had gotten to Olive. I stepped out of the room about twenty times to try calling her, but it went straight to voicemail. I had been checking my phone every half hour for a reply, but nothing.

It was unlike her to not respond to my texts and I was starting to worry that she was the one Gray targeted to get my attention. That girl was glued to her phone. She said that if she could have it surgically attached to her hand, she would. I knew she would've texted me back hours ago.

Bella:

I don't mean to sound like the mother of the group, but in case you forgot, we have phones to communicate to each other for a reason.

Where the hell are you, Olive Benz?!

In a last ditch effort, I sent a text to Sean in hopes that she contacted him, but her phone died before she could contact me.

Bella:

Have you heard from Olive? She didn't text me back and it's been hours. Cheerleading practice ended at three. Do you know if something happened to her?

In good timing, the doorbell rang throughout the house. "Thank God, Olive! I was worried sick, you idiot!" I opened the door, but froze at what stood in front of me.

Olive was still in her uniform. Her hair was still pulled back into a ponytail with a sheen of tears staining her cheeks. Those eyes that always held a sparkle in them were dull with red surrounding the iris and they were puffy underneath.