A/N: I'm so sorry this has taken so long. This chapter IS HUGE its 20k words and it was like 40 pages on docs. I hope it makes up for the wait! The POV switches a couple of times in the chapter. I know the last like 3 chapters have all been in Blaires POV this one has Killians POV too. 

𝓘'𝓶 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓪 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓶𝓫 𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓭
𝓟𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓲𝓪 𝓬𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓳𝓾𝓭𝓰𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓷𝓸 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓲𝓽, 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓲𝓽, 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓲𝓽
𝓘'𝓶 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓲𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓭

Blaire

Archie was packing up his notes and computer for the day when he turned and looked at me.
"Oh! Blaire. I don't think we had an appointment today, did we?" He asked. I shook my head.
"No. We didn't.. I just...I feel like I'm going crazy and I didn't know where else to go but if..you need me to leave so you can go home, I can." I said.
"No, no, have a seat. Talk to me." Archie smiled and put his bag down beside his desk and pulled his chair around to me and sat down. I sat down on the sofa in the room and chewed anxiously at my nails.
"What is going on?" Archie asked.
"I don't know how to say all of this without you sending me straight to the looney bin." I said.
"You don't have to worry about me sending you away Blaire. I've seen crazy and you are far from it. I know your anxiety can make you feel out of control but I promise you, you are not crazy." Archie said. "This is a safe place, you can talk to me about anything."
"I keep messing everything up. Will and Wendy are both mad at me and I deserve it I'm sure but it just really sucks when I need them the most, neither of them want to talk to me." I said.
"What makes you think you deserve their anger?" Archie asked.
"Its hard to explain." I sighed. I didn't feel comfortable telling Archie about the unknown number thats been making my life a living hell. I knew he would recommend me going to the police and there was just too much at stake if I took this to the police.
"Sometimes, our fears and our anxieties make us push the people we love away. We're afraid that our troubles are a burden on them. Sometimes it may feel easier to not have people around when you feel unstable, you feel your life is crashing down all around you and you don't want the people you care about getting caught in the middle." Archie explained.
"Exactly." I said.

"Those feelings can trigger what I like to refer to as a self destruction mode in your brain, You feel like you deserve to not have your friends and you start a chain of sabotaging the rest of the relationships with people around you until you are completely isolated." Archie said.
"I don't want to lose my friends though. I just don't know how to keep them all safe." I said feeling tears welling up in my eyes. "I keep fucking everything up. I'm so angry all the time, I almost hurt Emma at lunch today. I haven't been able to sleep well in three days. The most sleep I've gotten without interruption was in Algebra this morning and thats because the teacher just let me sleep. I keep seeing things and I can't tell if they're real or not." I said and raked my fingers through my hair.

Archie tried his best to hide the overwhelming concern on his face, probably to keep me from freaking out even more, but I could see it.
"And there it is." I said and stood up. "You do think I'm crazy!"
Archie stood up and put his hands out.
"Blaire, I do not think you are crazy. You know how I feel about that word. I'm only concerned." Archie said. "Are you having nightmares again? Lack of sleep can certainly cause hallucinations. We just need to get to the root of why you aren't sleeping."
"My life right now is a never ending nightmare." I said as I paced the floor.
"Lets talk about what you are seeing, when you say you are seeing things that you aren't sure are real." Archie said.
"I keep seeing this guy..with a mask on, its just a white mask with almost no features.Just two holes for the eyes. He dresses all in black and wears a hoodie with the hood pulled up over his head. I saw him this morning behind my truck but when I went to look for him, he wasn't there, and then I saw him again at school in the cafeteria after Wendy and I had an argument." I said.
"Have you seen him before?" Archie asked.
"Once and now I'm starting to wonder if that was real too. A while back I was home alone and it sounded like someone was trying to break in, and there was knocking on the kitchen window and when I looked, there he was, so I ran up stairs and grabbed the baseball bat we keep in the hallway, I heard someone come in the house, and up the stairs and when they got to the hallway, I swung the bat. I almost killed David. It was David." I said.

"It sounds to me like whatever is causing your lack of sleep and your anxiety is manifesting itself visually for you. It can be terrifying, and it can feel very real, but you have to know that its not." Archie said.
"How do I stop it then?" I asked and stopped pacing.
"Well, we can increase your medications a little, If you're having trouble falling asleep, I can add something to help but ultimately, we need to find out what is causing it. You've been through a lot this last year and I know that we've talked about you feeling guilty for your mothers murder, is there anything else you may feel at blame for?" Archie asked. "Guilt is one of big causes of sleep deprivation."
I tilted my head to the side and watched Archie carefully.
"Why did you ask that?" I asked.
"If I've offended you Blaire I'm truly sorry. That wasn't my intention."
I started pacing again.
"He's gotten to you too." I said. "I can't go anywhere without him always being one step ahead." I mumbled.
"Blaire..who are you talking about?" Archie asked.
"What did he tell you?" I asked.
"Blaire I don't know what you are talking about." Archie said.
"Bullshit!" I yelled.
"I really need you to settle down Blaire." Archie said calmly. "I don't know whats going on, but I do know you're confused, and you're probably scared."
"What did he tell you?" I asked and stepped forward with my fists balled at my sides. Archie stepped back looking rather alarmed.
"Who are you talking about Blaire? The man with the mask?" Archie asked as I continued stepping towards him.
"So you do know him." I said.
"I only know what you've told me." Archie said and put his hands out.
"I don't know how he knew, but he knew I would come here today...but he got here first." I scoffed. "I can't win. No matter what I do, this isn't going to end. So why even fucking bother?!" I shouted and kicked one of the chairs in the room.It hit the wall and turned on its side.

"Blaire!" Archie said raising his voice, startling me. He was always so soft spoken. I blinked at him, I looked down at my balled fists and then at the chair on its side. I looked back at Archie.
"I...I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed.
"Hey.. it's okay." Archie said.
"Its not! I almost hurt you!" I said and let out a sob and sat down on the sofa again and pulled my knees up to my chest trembling. Archie crouched down in front of me.
"But you didn't Blaire. I'm okay." He said softly.
"I don't even know what happened." I cried.
"Do you remember any of what you were saying just now?" Archie asked.
I shook my head.
"Thats what scares me the most." I sniffled. "It flips on and off like a switch and I feel so out of control. I don't want to hurt anyone. Maybe you should lock me away somewhere."
"Hey, that is not going to happen. We will work through this together. I don't see any need to have you hospitalized. But I want to start seeing you weekly, maybe twice a week. Okay?" He asked.
I nodded.
Archie smiled and stood up walking to his desk for his phone. "Did you drive here?" He asked.
"No, I got a ride..I left my truck at the school." I said.
"Would it be okay if I call your Uncle to come pick you up?" Archie asked.
I nodded again and turned my head to the side watching the rain outside.

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There was a silence between David and I as he was driving. The only sounds was the low rumble of thunder, the wind hitting the windshield, and the slight squeak from the windshield wipers.
"Have I done something to upset you?" He asked breaking the silence.
"What? No..not at all. Why?" I asked.
"Well, its just for a while things seemed to be running pretty smoothly between us. You talked to me about things that were bothering you and lately it feels like we've moved three steps backwards, you stopped talking and you seem angry all the time, like when you first came to town." David said.
"You didn't do anything." I said.
"While you were in the car waiting Archie told me a little about what happened." David admitted.
"So much for patient confidentiality." I sighed.
"He didn't go into details, just that he was very concerned. That was the deal, remember? He'd only involve me if he thought you or anyone else was at risk." David said. "He mentioned there was a moment where you didn't seem yourself, you were confused."
"I don't really remember much of it. I just need some sleep.." I said.
"He wrote a new prescription for that, we're going to go pick it up now. He also wants to increase the dosage on your other. I'm keeping you home from school tomorrow." David said.
"Okay." I said.

"Blaire I'm trying not to push too hard, but something or someone is bothering you and I just want you to talk to me. I'm not your father, I'm not going to be angry with you, Whatever is going on you can tell me and we will figure out how to make it better."
I wiped a tear away from my eyes before it fell.
"I..don't want to talk about it." I said. Talking to David about what happened back in Oregon to Dylan might have been a good way to get this unknown texter off my back considering David was the sheriff so technically I would be going to the police. But I just couldn't. I know he said he wouldn't have been angry with me, but once he found out that I pretty much killed someone? That would probably change that in a heartbeat. David was nice to me and I just didn't want to see the look of disappointment on his face once he found out what I had done.

"Its just been a really bad week, Will and I are fighting right now and We have this huge project for Mr. Jones' class due Friday and thats not going to get done. We haven't even started and to make everything ten times worse, today is my moms birthday." I sniffled. "And.. usually when Kass and I would fight, she was who I'd talk to."
"Blaire I'm sorry I totally forgot it was your mothers birthday." David said. "I don't know if there is anything I can do to make whats left of this day easier for you..but if there is anything.."
"I just need time, and space tonight Uncle Dave. I'm going to look through my moms stuff tonight and watch some of our favorite shows."
"Okay. If thats what you want, then thats what you will get." David said and pulled into the pharmacy parking lot.
"Do you want to come in?" he asked.
"No, I'll stay out here...can you bring me a root beer?" I asked.
"You got it." David smiled and got out of the car. "Be right back." He added and shut the door and walked into the Pharmacy.

I pulled out my phone and clicked on my text messages with Killian.

Me:

Sorry for the spaz attack today.. Today had bad written all over it from the start. I'm okay.

KJ:
No need to apologize. You can call if you want.

Me:
I'm at the pharmacy with my Uncle, I went coo coo for cocoa puffs on my poor shrink today.. New dosage on meds and a new one to help me sleep.

KJ:
Define coo coo for cocoa puffs love. I Hope the new meds help, I've been worried about you. Liam said you slept all through his class. I told him not to be insulted that Algebra is generally a boring subject. ;)

Me:
He does tend to drone on and on. And I'm fine. Lack of sleep has me a little messed up.

KJ:
Whats keeping you up?

Me:
Maybe its the thought of a certain history teacher that I'm absolutely crazy about?

KJ:
Well lucky him.

Me:
;)

KJ:
Be real with me now. What's on your mind?

I sighed heavily and bit my lip. I wanted to tell him everything, but after I told Will everything our friendship took a hit and I just didn't want to lose Killian too. I looked up from my phone to see David standing at the checkout counter. I shifted my gaze to the parking lot. I gasped and dropped my phone. Across the parking lot was the masked man I'd been seeing lately. I couldn't do this anymore. I got out of Davids truck and walked towards the man in the pouring rain. I stopped about mid way through the parking lot, my heart was thundering in my chest as I stood staring at the figure that had been tormenting me. The figure lifted his hand and waved at me tauntingly. I growled and took a step forward.

"Blaire! What are you doing out of the truck its pouring!" David said from behind me. I turned my head to look back at him, and then looked back to where the figure was standing. Was. He wasn't there anymore. I felt an overwhelming sense of defeat that was nearly paralyzing, or maybe it was the fact that I was so tired I just didn't want to move anymore so I stood there, in the rain because I didn't even know what else to do.
"Blaire..honey what are you doing?" David asked as he stood next to me and took off his coat holding it above my head trying to shield me from the rain.
"I don't know." I said honestly.
"Lets get back in the truck, okay?" He asked calmly and then he draped his jacket over my shoulders and turned me towards the truck and lead me back to the truck. I looked over my shoulder and still the figure was gone. What if Archie was right? what if my guilt about what happened to Dylan was actually manifesting this nightmare I seemed to be living?

I got back into the truck, shivering. David got in, and started the truck and turned on the heat.
"Lets get you home, and get you some rest." David said and handed me my phone that I had left on floor of the truck.
I just nodded and looked at my phone as David pulled out of the pharmacy parking lot.

KJ:
Blaire?
Are you okay?

Me:
Yeah. Sorry I think the storm knocked out my service for a minute. Heading home now. David is keeping me home tomorrow.

KJ:
Okay love, you had me worried. That is probably for the best, you looked exhausted today. Go home and take care of yourself please?

Me:
I will. I promise.

"So why didn't you drive your truck after school?" David asked.
"Oh, it wouldn't start and it was starting to rain so I couldn't really work on it." I lied. I was getting better at lying on the spot, and that probably wasn't a good thing.
"Well, I'll go take a look at it tomorrow morning and see if I can figure it out." David said.
"Sure." I nodded. I didn't even have the energy to try and argue it or to think of what I would say when he told me it started just fine tomorrow morning.

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When we got home, David handed me my new prescriptions. "He raised your dose of Zoloft, but wants to keep the Buspar the same, and the new one for sleep should be taken 30 minutes before you plan to go to bed. The pharmacist said it should make you pretty drowsy so make sure you are ready to get into bed when you are taking it."
"Okay." I said. "Thanks." I added. I tucked the pharmacy bags under my chin and lifted the box of my moms things from the floor in the living room.
"I'm going to look through some of this in my room." I said.
"Okay." David said. "If you need us.."
"I know where to find you." I nodded and turned around and walked up the stairs.

When I got in my room I set the box down on my bed and picked up the tv remote, and flipped through my streaming services and put on Ghost Hunters. Mom and I used to love binging this show and most of the time we could only do it on her birthday because that was one of the only days she usually always got off work. Bowie jumped up onto my bed and rubbed against my arms.
"You wanna watch the ghost boys with me?" I smiled and scooped him up and kissed his nose. He'd gotten out of that stage where he liked to be held a lot, so he wiggled out of my arms and jumped down and started batting one of his toys around the room. I sighed and opened up the box of my moms things and looked inside. The first thing that was on top was a photo album my mom had kept with pictures of me as I grew. I smiled as I flipped through the pictures and came to a picture of her, my dad, and me around the age of 6. They both looked happy, and I did too, I couldn't remember what we were doing in the picture, it wasn't marked. I knew that it wasn't as simple as this picture made it look, and they weren't as happy as they looked, I was too young to really understand here but I wanted with everything I had to go back to this picture and stay forever. I missed my mom so much, much more than I ever thought I could, and as much as an asshole as he was, I kind of missed my Dad too.

I wiped tears from my eyes and put the photo album to the side and reached into the box and pulled out a plastic bag that was tied and a note attached to it.
"I think you and your mom were almost the same size, so I thought you might want some of her tee shirts. <3 Kass"
I tore into the bag and pulled out one of my moms band tee shirts and held it against my face. It still smelled like her. I decided to take a quick break from looking in the box and change out of my school clothes. I stood up, and peeled my school uniform off and threw it into the laundry hamper. I walked over to the dresser and opened it, digging through it until I found my favorite lounge pants with the MTV logo on them, and I pulled them on and grabbed a pair of comfortable fuzzy socks and slipped them on my feet and then dodged bowie as he tried to pounce on my feet all the way back to the bed. He loved attacking my feet when i had fuzzy socks on. I picked up my moms Metallica tee shirt and slid it on, My mom wasn't much bigger than I was, she was only a little taller than me so it fit pretty good. I threw my hair up in a bun, and sat back down on my bed tucking my feet under me, to keep them safe from Bowie. I picked up my phone from the nightstand and opened the camera and took a selfie and sent it to Kass.

Me:
You have no idea, how much this means to me. Thank you. <3.

Kass:
You're welcome <3 How are you doing today? I've been meaning to call but school has been a bitch.

Me:
Its...been a rough day to be honest, but this makes it better.

Kass:
I'm so sorry. I wish I could be there for you today...

Me:
It's okay. So... I've been thinking of coming to visit, maybe during spring break. I..kind of want to see my Dad.

Kass:
You know I'm all for you visiting babe. But are you sure?

Me:
I don't know. I feel like I need to talk to him and the things I have to say are much better heard in person.

Kass:
Are you planning on coming out alone?

Me:
I doubt it. I don't think my Uncle would let me travel all that way by myself, especially if he knows I want to visit my Dad in prison while there.

Kass:
Well you could always bring Mr. Dreamboat with you. I wouldn't mind seeing him again ;)

Me:
Lmao He's mine. Find your own Teacher. Maybe Mr. Collins? The only reason we ever showed up for Algebra 1. :P

Kass:
He got married. Tragic right?

Me:
Absolutely devastating.

Kass:
Dad and I are about to go grab some take out. Talk to you later!

Me:
Talk to you later. Miss you bitch.

Kass:
Miss you too bitch.

I put my phone back on the nightstand and pulled the box of my moms things to me and looked inside again. There was a collection of a lot of the artwork I had made her from Kindergarten to a couple years ago. I was surprised by how much of it she actually kept. There was a small box of the Christmas ornaments I had made for her in Elementary school. Maybe I'd give them to David and Mary-Margaret. A lot of the ornaments on their tree last year were made by Emma.

There was a knock on my bedroom door.
"Come in." I said. The door opened and Emma walked in carrying two plates of food on one arm.
"Shit let me help." I said and went to get up.
"I got it. You aren't the only waitress in the family." Emma smirked and set a plate with a couple slices of pizza and a salad with ranch on it on my night stand.
"Dad didn't think you'd want to be social, but I didn't want you to eat alone. I hope you don't mind Pizza considering you work in a pizza place, but the cravings are real tonight and I got to pick." Emma said.
"Pizza is fine." I said and picked up my laptop table beside my bed, and put it on the bed and put my plate on it. Emma sat in my computer chair.

I went to pick up a slice of pizza, and paused and looked at Emma.
"I'm really sorry for freaking out on you at lunch today." I said.
"Its okay. I overheard Dad talking with Mom about an incident at Archies office...I didn't mean to snoop but it sounded like what happened on lunch..." Emma said.
"Yeah...I kind of lost myself for a moment. It was much worse at Archie's office than at lunch." I sighed and took a bite out of my pizza.

"You know you can tell me whats up right? Something seems to be really bothering you." Emma said. "And.. I know you said something about having less secrets to be responsible for and.. I think I'm going to introduce my parents to Neal and tell them I'm pregnant soon." She added.
"Em, I didn't mean what I said earlier...I just have a lot going on." I frowned. "Don't tell them just because of what I said."
"It isn't because of what you said Blaire. I need to tell them eventually and if I don't do it soon, they're going to figure it out on their own and I'd rather tell them before that happens." Emma said. "My parents...are a lot more understanding than either of us give them credit for."
"You're probably right." I said. "And better for them to find out through you than someone else." I said.
"What do you mean? I've only told You and Neal." Emma said.
"Will knows...he promised he's not going to say anything and I trust him but the only reason he knows is..." I paused and hesitated I wasn't sure Emma knowing about the unknown texter would be a good thing. I didn't want him coming after her too.

"Blaire?" Emma questioned and rolled the chair she was in over to my bed where I was sitting.
I sighed heavily. She had to know that someone else knew, just like Killian would have to know soon that someone else more dangerous knew about our secret.
"Will knows, because someone else knows and Will has seen the messages from that person." I said.
"Well who knows??" Emma asked.
"I honestly don't know Emma. This guy has been tormenting me since New Years with creepy fucking text messages and calls, he knows everything about me, he knows about you and Neal and he knows about Killian, and he says our whole family is full of secrets and he knows them all." I blurted out.

"Holy shit Blaire." Emma said and stood up pacing. "Holy. Shit." She repeated.
"I know. He's been following me since I lived in Oregon and before me, I think he was following my mom and I think he's the person who killed her but I don't know why. I found this video on my camera from my mom and she says there were things that happened here that they had to get away from which is why they moved to Oregon when I was a baby and I think those things that they were running from caught up with them. Literally. In the video this guy broke in a grabbed my mom, I only know it wasn't my dad because he didn't have a tattoo on his arm." I rambled.

"But it kind of makes sense because on my birthday my Dad called, and he said he knew who killed my mom because he was there and he was being framed, but he said he would rather sit in prison for a crime that he didn't commit if it meant keeping me safe but I don't think that was the killers plan at all."
"Blaire this is insane!" Emma hissed. "You are being stalked by a possible murderer. Why haven't you taken this to my Dad??"
"Because Emma, this guy threatened to hurt you, or Will and Wendy or maybe even Killian if I told David and If I tell David, then I have to tell him about you and Neal, and Killian and I."
"I think my father would be less mad, that I am pregnant and dating a bartender at the rabbit hole, and you are dating our history teacher, and more worried that this guy is going to kill you!" Emma said.
"This is why Will and I aren't talking anymore. He wants me to go to the police." I sighed.
"As you should." Emma insisted.
"Neither of you understand. This guy possibly murdered my mother. He put a bullet through her fucking head and I don't think he would think twice about doing the same to you, or anyone else I care about if I don't follow the rules of his sick fucking game. Its not just as easy as handing my phone over to your Dad and telling him what is going on."
"So what is the end game here? You do everything he says and he leaves you alone?" Emma asked.
"I doubt that, I don't know how this ends but he's made it clear its not going to be that simple."
"Is he the reason for that pool party friday?" Emma asked.
"Yes, its just one of his games." I said.
"What happens when he tells you to meet him somewhere alone or else?" Emma asked.
"I don't know Emma. I just know that I can not go to the police yet not until I have enough on this guy."

"I don't know Blaire, this is all just.."
"I know. Its..really fucked up but you promised you wouldn't say anything." I pleaded with her.
"Blaire this could get you killed. If this guy is the guy who killed your mother, you're falling into the same trap he set for her."
"My mother tried to run away from it and he caught her. I'm not running away. I'm going to play along and figure out who this psycho is." I said.
"And then what?" Emma asked. "Tell me how this ends without you getting killed or seriously hurt."
"I can't Em. I just need someone who is on my side here. I don't expect you to understand why I need to see this through, But I need someone to understand its for the best that I try to figure this out without getting police involved."

"You know I'm on your side, and Will probably is too but both of us are caught in an impossible situation now. You don't want to see us get hurt, and we don't want to see you get hurt, but bottom line someone is going to get hurt in this situation if it goes too far." Emma said.
"I need you to trust me that I won't let it get that far." I said.
"And I need you to promise me that you will take it to my dad if it gets to that point. I don't care if I haven't told him about me and Neal yet, or the pregnancy. I would rather him find out that way then you end up with a bullet in your head too and I know Killian would rather risk losing his job that way than finding out this psycho killed you because you didn't want him to tell your secret."
"I promise. Just let me figure this out, for my mom." I said.
Emma sighed heavily.
"This is insane. But if you absolutely feel like you have to do this, I want to help."
"I don't think thats a good idea." I said.
"None of this is a good idea Blaire but you're my family, and I'll be damned if you do this alone."
"How can you help?" I asked.
"My Dad showed me how to get information from unknown phone numbers once. We can start with that." Emma shrugged. "It doesn't always work, but its worth a shot and I go to the station all the time and go to my Dads office even if he isn't there so no one would think twice about me being in there looking around in the system. Think about it, you don't want to tell the sheriff, the next best thing you can get is his daughter who grew up learning about it all."
"If this guy finds out you are doing this.." I started.
"By the time he finds out, we will know who he is and have the upper hand. You aren't the only Nancy Drew in the family. Will is a cool side kick and all I guess, but now this guy is up against both of us. He's going to learn not to mess with my family." Emma said.
"Wow." I chuckled.
"What?" Emma asked.
"You actually said something nice about Will." I smirked.
"And it tasted funny." Emma said and made a gagging face. Emmas phone chimed with her text message notification and even though it wasn't my phone my stomach dropped. Could he have known that we were planning to work together? Was my room bugged or something? The paranoia was settling in again. Was he going to torment Emma with the texts too?
Not her too. Please.

Emma looked up at me and saw the fear written all over my face.
"Relax its Ruby, I'm going to go over there now that the storm has died down a little and work on finishing our project for Killian's class." She said and paused. "God it is so weird to call him that. How do you manage?"
"I still call him Mr. Jones sometimes." I shrugged and smirked.
"Ew. I did not need to hear that." Emma said and scrunched her face. "How is your project going?"
"Haven't started it." I sighed.
"What? Its due friday!" Emma said. "I don't think you're going to get a free pass because its your boyfriends class." Emma said.
"I don't expect to. But Will is not talking to me and Wendy is not talking to either of us so we're kind of screwed." I shrugged.
"Friday is going to suck. I'm sure Wendy is doing something independent. Why don't you come with me to Rubys and work on something with us? We can help you."
"Uh yeah I don't think your Dad is going to be comfortable with me leaving this house until I get some sleep considering I've gone coo coo for cocoa puffs not once, but twice today. You go ahead..just be careful Em."

"I will. You too, get some rest you really need it." Emma said.
"I will." I nodded as Emma got up and picked up our empty plates. "I'll probably see you tomorrow morning, you'll probably be asleep by the time I get back."
"One could hope." I chuckled.
"Don't worry about this creep, okay? You're safe in this house and We are going to figure this out." Emma said.
"I'll try not to worry about it." I said. I still hadn't told her about the reason for the pool party and what this asshole was holding over my head at the moment. Friday was my last day to come forward about it and I had no idea what was going to happen if I didn't.
"See you later." Emma said and walked out of the room.

--------------------------------------------------------------

After working on a little bit of homework, the 3 days of exhaustion was catching up with me, I looked at the new prescription on my desk. I really didn't want to take a sleeping pill, part of me was afraid I'd be so dead asleep I wouldn't know it if this psycho broke in and killed everyone but I knew if I didn't get more than a couple hours of broken sleep soon I was going to mentally break. I was already seeing shit and I didn't want to push it any further. I took a pill out of the bottle, and put it in my mouth and washed it down with the glass of water beside me.

I walked over to my bed and picked up my throw blanket. I put my phone on the charger on my night stand, not even wanting to look at it before I left the room and walked down stairs. David and Mary Margaret were on the couch watching tv. Mary-Maragret looked at me and smiled.
"Whatcha up to?" She asked.
"I just took my new medicine, but I didn't feel comfortable being alone..." I said "Can I hang out with you guys?"
"Of course!" Mary Margaret said and scooted over so I could sit between them. I curled up on the middle cushion and pulled my blanket up to my chin.Once I was settled, they both scooted closer to me.

It wasn't long into watching tv with them that I felt the medication hit me like a ton of bricks. My limbs felt heavy, almost paralyzed and my eyelids felt like they were weighed down by anchors. My stubborn brain was trying to fight it off. David wasn't kidding when he said that the pharmacist said it would make me really drowsy but I think he completely skipped over the fact that it would make me feel like I got hit in the head with a sledgehammer. I felt completely out of control, anyone could do whatever they wanted to me in this state and I wouldn't be able to fight because my arms and legs felt like they had weights tied to them. The only thing that gave me reassurance and kept me from having a full force panic attack was that David and Mary Margaret were right beside me and they wouldn't let anything happen to me. I felt myself slouch against David's shoulder as the overwhelming drowsiness took hold and I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I opened my eyes and squinted at the sunlight coming through the window. I propped myself up a little on my right elbow and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and looked around. I was still in the living room. Wilby was curled up on top of my feet and Bowie was behind me on the arm rest. I moved my feet out from under Wilby and stretched, glancing at the clock in the living room. It was 11AM. I couldn't believe I had slept for nearly 12 hours.

I pushed myself off the couch and wandered into the kitchen where David was talking on the house phone. He turned and looked at me.
"Actually she's awake now. Okay, Thank you Archie talk to you soon." David said and hung up.
"What was that about?" I asked and reached up into the cabinet for a coffee mug.
"Well, when you were still out cold by noon, I wanted to call Dr. Hopper and make sure that was normal." David explained. I lazily poured some coffee into my mug and nodded.
"He said it was okay, and you probably needed the sleep." David said.
"Well someone should tell that man I'm pretty sure its illegal to give elephant tranquilizers to humans." I yawned and went to the fridge to get my coffee creamer. I poured some into the cup and put it back in the fridge.
David chuckled.
"How are you feeling?"
I took a sip of my coffee and shrugged.
"Better than I did yesterday. My brain feels a little less like a shaken bag of cats than it did yesterday. Yesterday was such a shit show I almost went to the morgue and asked it they took walk-ins."

David hesitated for a minute before he chuckled again. He'd gotten used to my dark sense of humor.
"Well you certainly seem more so yourself today." David said and smiled. "Are you hungry?"
"Not really, I'll probably toast a poptart in a bit once I wake up a little more."
"Okay, well I wanted to wait until you woke up so you didn't wake up alone but I'm going to go grab one of the guys at the station and see if we can figure out your truck situation. Are you okay by yourself?"
"Yeah I'll probably be in my room sorting through my moms stuff and finding places to put some of it." I said and shrugged.
"Okay, well call me if you need anything." David said.
"Will do." I said.

I walked up to my room and checked my phone on the nightstand. I had a few texts from Killian.

KJ:
Morning love.

Why is your truck still in the parking lot?

You must still be sleeping.

Me:
Hey sorry, yeah that new med my psychiatrist gave me knocked me the fuck out. I just woke up. I don't think I like this med. I just wanted to walk yesterday..it was a rough day.

I put my phone back on the nightstand and started hanging up my mom's tee shirts that Kass had sent me in my closet before my notification tone went off. I walked back to my phone and rolled my eyes at the text from the unknown sender. I didn't even open it, I just deleted it. I was not going to board that crazy train today. I sighed and set my phone down and looked back in the box of my mom's things. I never finished going through it last night.

I gasped as I moved the Christmas ornaments I made out of the box and found my mom's Halloween village. Most people put out little villages as Christmas decorations but my mom had one that was halloween themed and she left it out all year because I loved to look at it. I walked over to my dresser and moved some stuff around so I could set it up.

Midway through setting up the village my phone started ringing. I looked down at the caller ID and grinned at Killians name. I picked up the phone and answered it.
"BK have it your way. What can I get ya?" I answered.
Killian chuckled. "Have it my way Aye?" He questioned. "Lets just say, if I were to have it my way, it would not be school appropriate."
I felt my cheeks heating up and knew my face was turning red. Only he could make me blush this way.
"You're silence tells me you're blushing." Killian said. I smirked and bit my lip. "And doing that thing where you bite your lip that drives me crazy."
"You have got me figured out Jones." I said. "Lunch time?"
"Aye,I'm spending it in my car so I could call you without being bothered." Killian said. "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine. Better than I was yesterday. Yesterday was just a terrible day all around. It was my moms birthday so I knew it wasn't going to be good." I said.
"Oh, love, I'm sorry." Killian sighed. "No wonder you weren't so much yourself yesterday."
"My shrink says I'm self sabotaging myself by pushing everyone away and I'm really sorry I have been distant with you. I can't seem to help it." I said.
"You don't have to apologize to me love. I understand when Liam and I lost our mother I shut myself down for quite some time, you've just recently lost yours, and from what I gather you didn't really have the support system back home to help you to cope, you've had to learn for yourself that its okay to show emotion, and grieve, the brave face only lasts so long." Killian said.

I sniffled and wiped away tears.
"Are you okay?" Killian asked.
"To be honest no, I'm not and I haven't been for a while. Theres just a lot going on that I haven't been honest about and its really starting to wear me down." I said.
"Come over later we can talk about it." Killian said.
"I'll try to get out later. I kind of almost hit my shrink with a chair during a mental breakdown yesterday afternoon so my uncle has been keeping a close eye on me." I said. "I really do need a break from all of this and I want to see you."
"You have a key if you want to get away for a little, Captain won't mind I'm sure." Killian said.
"I miss him too." I giggled. "I might. Kass sent me some of my stuff from Oregon and she sent a box of my moms stuff too so I've been going through it today and..its really hard." My voice cracked.
"Why don't you take a break love. Have you eaten today?" Killian asked.
"Not yet. I'll find something in a bit." I said, knowing I likely wouldn't. "But I think I am going to take a break and watch some TV."
"Alright love. I'm about to have to go back in. I hope to see you later." Killian said.
"One way or another I'll figure out how to get over there." I said.
"I'll be looking forward to it." Killian said.
"Me too." I smirked. "Talk to you later. Love you."
"Love you too." Killian said and hung up.

I looked at the rest of my moms stuff on my bed and sighed. Maybe a break would do me some good. I walked out of the room and downstairs to the living room. Wilby was whining at the back door to go out, so I opened the door to let him out. I happened to glance at the pool in the backyard and gasped, the normally clear water had a crimson color to it. I walked outside and went over to the pool to make sure I wasn't seeing things and sure enough the water was dark red.

I heard Wilby growling at the privacy fence. There was a piece of paper that appeared to be taped to the fence and was moving with the breeze. I cautiously walked over to the fence and looked down at the spot where Wilby was growling at. There were boot prints in the mud, and Wilby was picking up a scent that he didn't like. I looked at the piece of paper taped to the fence and pulled it off and read it
"One More Day"

I felt something taped to the back of the paper and turned it over and instantly felt my stomach turn. On the back, was a photograph that had to have come from the police in Oregon, It was an autopsy photo of Dylans body. How the hell did he have access to this? What other kind of photos did that asshole have?

I jumped as my phone started ringing again. I reached my shaking hand into my pocket and pulled out my phone, it was David. I took a deep breath before I answered it.
"Hey." I said.
"Hey, I'm sorry I haven't been home yet, When I got to the station they needed my help with something and it turns out I'm stuck here for a while." David said. "Are you okay by yourself? If not I can come and get you."
I didn't really want to be here by myself but I didn't want to tell him that.
"Yeah I was going to go on a walk I think Its a nice day." I said.
"It is, a walk would probably be good for you to clear your head a bit." David agreed.
"Yeah.." I said.
"Blaire are you sure you're okay?" David asked.
"Yeah Yeah.. I let Wilby outside and noticed the pool was kind of messed up." I said.
"What do you mean?" David asked.
"The water is red...It looks like blood it just kind of spooked me I guess." I said. "What would make it red?"
"I'm not sure it might be something with the chemicals, I'll look at it when I get home. Enjoy your walk, text or call if you need anything." David said.
"I will." I said and hung up. I whistled for Wilby and he ran to me and we walked back inside and I sent Killian a text.

Me:
You're right. I do need a break so I'm going to your place.

I walked up the stairs and into my room to grab some clothes so I could shower at Killians because I didn't feel safe enough to shower here while I was alone. I put them in my small backpack that I used as a purse. As I was putting my shoes on Bowie was rubbing against my legs.
"I wish I could take you with me, but David would probably wonder why I took you. Someday you'll meet Killian I promise." I said and scratched behind his ears. "Be nice to Wilby." I said. Somehow my tiny cat liked to bully Emma's dog which I found comical, but Wilby not so much.

I grabbed my laptop bag and put my laptop in it, I wasn't actually planning on coming home tonight so I would have to convince Emma to bring an overnight bag to Wendy's house later because otherwise it would look suspicious if I brought all the stuff with me now. As much as I knew that keeping this secret meant Killian could keep his job, I wanted to tell David before I wasn't my choice anymore but now was not the time. He was already going to probably have a heart attack whenever Emma decided to tell him about Neal, and the pregnancy. I didn't want to hit him with a double whammy.

I walked out of the room and back down the stairs I picked up the note and the picture left on the counter and took it into the home office and put it into the paper shredder without even giving it a second glance. I then walked to the front door and pulled my lanyard off the hook by the door with my house key. I left the house and locked the door behind me and started my walk to Killians place and looked at my phone there was a text from Killian telling me to let me know when I got there, and another text from the unknown number.

Unknown:
You're quiet today. Or you're ignoring me, which would be very stupid for you to do.

It probably wasn't smart to ignore this asshole, but I just wanted some peace. I knew I wasn't going to be able to avoid what talking about what happened to Dylan that night for much longer, I didn't know what was going to happen once I told the truth about what really happened but I just wanted a moment of peace to try and think clearly. I knew Kass and I should have told her dad what really happened from the start I think Sean would have understood I did what I did to protect Kassidy, and I didn't mean for it to happen exactly the way it did, but that didn't take away from the fact that it did happen, and I was guilty.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kass and I sat in my room, we were supposed to be working on Homework but all I could think of was what happened at the party last friday.
"Earth to Blaire." Kassidy said. I shook away my thoughts and looked at Kass.
"What?" I asked.
"Do you have the answer to number 7?" Kassidy asked.
I looked down at my paper and shook my head.
"No." I said and got up.
"I'm going to the kitchen to get a snack, do you want anything?" I asked.
"Ohh ask if your dad can make us grilled cheese." Kassidy said.
"Okay." I said and walked out of my room and into the living room where my Dad was on the phone.

"No Sean, Blaire hasn't said a word about that party." Dad said. "What about your kid? She say anything?" Dad paused. "If they said the boy fell Sean he fell, Why would they lie about that? These are our kids for fuck sake do you really think they are capable of doing something like this? Blaire has a guilty conscience, she wouldn't be able to keep something like that from either of us."
To be fair, I did try to tell him but he shut me down. But it was good to know he didn't think I would do it.
"I don't care what the forensics people say, these girls are not capable of murder." Dad argued. "Don't give me that bullshit. I know how this works, you get Blaire to admit to something she didn't do, claiming it was an accident and the next thing I know is my daughter is in Juvi or worse, Prison so you can have a case. Not going to happen." Dad said and hung up. He tossed his cell phone down on the couch and ran his hands over his face. He turned around and looked at me.

"Aren't you supposed to be in your room working on homework with Kass?" He asked
"We got hungry..." I said.
Dad looked at his watch. "I lost track of time, I was going to make something for dinner." Dad sighed.
"Kass requested grilled cheese." I said and shrugged.
"She is not hard to please." Dad smirked.
"Well to be fair Her dad looks at food and burns it." I said.
"Thats fair." Dad said and picked up his phone and walked to the kitchen. I followed him.
"Can I talk to you about something?" I asked.
"Whats up?" Dad asked as he was getting into the fridge.
"Its about the party...and Dylan." I said.
Dad turned back to me.
"Whats there to talk about, you and Kass are teenagers. Teenagers do dumb shit like drink, and fall into pools." Dad said. "But I know you won't ever be caught in that kind of situation again."
The way he said it, was like a warning. Pretty much saying if I ever let Kass drag me to another party again I'd be dead meat.
I shook my head.
"Good." Dad said.
"But Dad.." I started.
"Blaire, the kid fell. End of story. It served him right anyways for attacking you and Kass like that. I don't want to hear anymore about it. Got it?"
I nodded. "Okay."
"Go back in your room and finish your homework, I'll call you guys out when Dinner is ready." He said
I turned and walked to my room I looked over my shoulder and saw him dialing on his phone. I walked into my room and stood by the door with it open so I could hear him.
"Hey. I know I said I'd never speak to you again.. But I need your help with something..It concerns Blaire."

--------------------------------------------------------

I got to Killians and unlocked the door with the key he gave me for valentines I walked in and set my stuff down. Captain came over and excitedly greeted me.
"Hiya Cap." I smiled and pat his head. I sent Killian a quick text that I was here and that I was going to take a shower.

As soon as I got out of the shower I curled up with Captain on the sofa and got out my laptop. I didn't bring my own soaps so I used Killians and honestly the scent was helping to ease my anxiety. It made it easier for me to breathe.
There was a knock on Killians door.
Okay, theres the anxiety.
I picked up my phone and sent Killian a text. I checked the time, he should have been in the middle of a class change.

Me:
Uhh.. someone is at the door.

KJ:
Its okay, love. They left something at the door, bring it inside.

Me:
How do you know they left it there? What if they're still there?

KJ:
I have a camera on my door. I get the feed on my phone. Its okay I promise.

I walked to the door, and unlocked it and pulled it open just a bit to peek out, Sure enough There was no one there. I looked down at the floor and there was a paper bag with a Waitr sticker on it. I raised my eyebrow and opened the door wider and bent down and picked up the bag There was a note typed out on the receipt,

"Making sure you get something to eat because I know you. Running detention today so I'll be late. Love you."

I smiled and carried the bag inside and closed the door and locked it again. I set the bag on the coffee table and opened it inside there was a burrito and chips and queso from my favorite mexican place in town and a can of root beer. This man really did know me. This was my comfort food. I did a little happy dance and picked up my phone and sent Killian a text.

Me:
You are actually the best. <3 Thank you.

KJ:
That is what they tell me ;) You're welcome, I know you didnt actually find something to eat when you told me you were going to earlier. I know how you get when you're upset or anxious and I just wanted to make sure you were taken care of.

I felt my eyes well over. How was he so perfect? And how was he mine?

Me:
Love you.

KJ:
Love you too. See you soon.

I sat down on the couch and started to eat my burrito, while still crying. Captain whined and put his chin on my lap.
"I'm okay boy, they're happy tears." I said and scratched behind his ears. "A lot of shits gone down this week, and a lot more is going to go down before its over with and I don't know if I deserve Killian." I sighed. "He's..so good for me, but I could literally destroy his career."
Captain nuzzled into my hand.
"I cant tell if you are trying to tell me I'm overthinking or if you want some of my burrito." I chuckled. I picked a piece of chicken out of the burrito and gave it to him. I continued eating, and overthinking. My phone pinged beside me. I glanced down at it. It was a message from Jacob.

Jacob:
Hey just checking in, how are you doing today?

Me:
Better. My uncle kept me home from school today. I'm on some new meds and don't feel comfortable working until Saturday, I hope thats okay. Tell Thomas I'll work a double this weekend.

Jacob:
Saturday is fine. No need to pull a double. I got yelled at for overworking you and Will lol.

Me:
Ouch. Sorry dude.

Jacob:
Its my fault. Don't worry about it. Just take it easy for a couple days okay kid?

Me:
You're like 2 years older than me. Don't call me Kid. :P

Jacob:
Got it lol.

I wasn't really used to Jacob being nice. Sure he started out kind of charming when we first met, and then once Thomas made him assistant manager he became kind of a douche nozzle to be around but it was kind of good to know, that when it came down to it, he cared. At least a little.

I finished eating the burrito and took the queso to the fridge and put the chips on the counter so I could share with Killian later while watching TV. I walked back over to the couch and grabbed my phone and sent Emma a text.

Me:
At Killians. When you get home can you tell your dad I'm staying with Wendy to finish our project for Killians class? And maybe bring me an overnight bag? Also don't freak when you see the pool, the unknown creep is trying to send a message.

Emma:
Sure. Are you planning on telling Killian you guys havent done the assignment? Also not sure I like the idea that, that creep can just walk into our backyard. I've told Dad for ages we need security cameras but he thinks the cop car in the driveway is security enough.

Me:
I think I will let it be a fun surprise for tomorrow afternoon. I don't want him in a bad mood tonight. I don't think my anxiety could handle it. And yeah to the usual criminals around storybrooke it might work as security but for this twisted fuck not so much.

Emma:
I got to go. My mother just got on to me for being on my phone in her class. I'll bring you an overnight bag later.

Me:
Ok. Sorry. Thanks.

---------------------------------------------------------------

I spent the rest of my time waiting for Killian to get home, curled up with Captain on the couch watching true crime. Now that I was living an actual true crime nightmare, I found it a little harder to watch. Some of it made me down right sick to my stomach to watch now, but it was mostly on for background noise because I kept dozing off. I figured it was probably the new med, and the stronger dose of zoloft making me feel drowsy, or maybe because I felt safe for the first time in a while.

Captain all of a sudden moved making my head hit the arm rest on the couch.
"Heyy come back." I whined as he ran to the door wagging his tail. My head perked up at the sound of keys from the other side of the door. The door unlocked and Captain tried to run out the door.
"Whoa! Easy boy I'm coming in!" Killian chuckled. "I missed you too."
I stood up as Killian closed the door and looked at me.
"I'm home love." He smiled.
I leapt over the coffee table because it was the fastest way to get to him and threw my arms around him. It felt like eternity since I was able to do that. We hadn't spent much time alone together since Valentines.

Killian wrapped his arms around me holding me tightly and he rested his chin on the top of my head.
"I have missed this." He said softly.
"Me too." I said. "Emma is bringing me an overnight bag. I hope you don't mind."
"I don't mind at all." Killian said. "I do have some papers to grade from my junior class tonight but it won't take me too long, I did some of them while running detention."
"Can I steal some of your time first?" I asked a batted my eyelashes at him.
"Of course love. What did you wanna do?"
"Oh, I don't know." I said mischievously and sauntered away from him and towards the bedroom.
Killian smirked and put his laptop bag down.
"I think I know exactly what you want to do my love."
"Yeah its kinda obvious. I want to play monopoly." I shrugged trying to keep a straight face.
Killian raised an eyebrow and stalked towards me. I squeaked and tried to run but he caught me around the waist and attacked my neck with kisses.
"I have missed that sarcasm dearly." He whispered in my ear.
"Mr. Jones, I don't know what you are thinking, I was just wanting to play an innocent board game." I giggled.
"I think you want to play something Miss Nolan and I don't think it is Monopoly." Killian said and walked me backwards into the bedroom.
"Okay okay, you win, but after this we play monopoly." I smirked and then squeaked again as Killian picked me up by my waist and tossed me onto the bed.

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I opened my eyes and looked around the dark bedroom. I couldn't believe I fell asleep again. I looked to my side, Killian wasn't there but the light in his home office across the hall was on so he must have been working on grading those papers. I picked up my phone on the night stand beside me and looked through my texts.

Emma:
Brought your overnight bag. Killian took it said you were sleeping. Hope you're doing okay. Dads a little worried about you being away from home while on different meds.

I sent her a quick I'm fine text and went to the next one from David.

David:
I know, you're 18 and you're an adult but I am a little worried about you staying away from home right now.

I sighed and hit the dial button on his name. I knew he'd be better reassured if he could hear that I was okay.

"Hey Blaire." David answered.
"Hey. I just wanted to call and let you know I'm okay. Emma brought me my overnight bag Its got my meds in it." I said.
"As long as you feel that you are okay, its fine. I just know something has been bothering you lately even if you don't tell me. I know." David said.
"I'm fine Uncle Dave. I'll come home in the morning before school. Were you able to fix my truck?"
"Nothing was wrong with it, it started just fine for me. Its home now."
"That is weird." I said. It wasn't I knew it was fine. "Speaking of weird, did you look at the pool?"
"I did it looked like someone dropped one of those color tablets in there. Probably some kid pulling a harmless prank."
Yeah, not so harmless.
"Oh yeah. Probably." I said.
Killian came into the room and stood at the doorway smiling at me with a cup of coffee in his hand.
"Hey I'm going to go, Wendy and I have a lot of work to do on this thing for school."
"Alright see you in the morning. Love you." David said.
"Love you too." I said and hung up.

"Did you have a nice nap?" Killian asked.
"I'm sorry this new dose of medicine is fucking my world up today." I frowned.
"Its okay love, you needed the rest, and lets face it, I kind of wore you out." Killian winked.
I blushed and hid my face with the pillow.
Killian chuckled. I shifted to get out of bed, and felt something wet on the back of my thigh.
"Oh my God no." I said.
Killian flipped on the light.
"What??" He asked.
"No! Don't come over here!" I cried.
"Blaire love, what is it?" Killlian asked. "Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
He tried to pull the blanket off of me but I had it in a death grip.
I shook my head.
"Don't! I'll clean it up!" I said.
"What are you talking about?" Killian asked and got the blanket away from me and pulled it off of me revealing the giant red splotch on his white sheets.
"Oh, darling.." Killian said.
I hid my face in the pillow in shame.
"I'm so sorry!" I weeped.
Killian pulled the pillow away from my face and crouched down beside the bed putting his coffee on the night stand.
"Blaire its okay."
"But its embarrassing and gross and its such a mess!" I panicked. Killian held onto my hands.
"Blaire its okay, sweetheart. I can wash the sheets and your clothes."
"I don't have anything, I wasn't expecting to start this early!" I continued crying. "Being a woman is so stupid!"
Killian reached up and wiped tears off of my cheeks.
"Heres whats going to happen, You're going to write me a list of what you need, I'm going to start you a bath, and then I'm going to throw the bedding and your clothes in the wash and I'm going to go and get what you need." Killian said. "And while I'm out I'll pick up dinner. What do you want?"
"Anything greasy and terrible for me." I sniffled.
"Noted." Killian smiled.
"Can You get chocolate too?" I asked.
"I will get you the entire candy section as long as you don't cry anymore It hurts my heart to see you cry darling." Killian said and brushed some hair out of my eyes.
"I'm really sorry, its been one hell of a week and then this." I said trying to calm down.
"You don't have anything to apologize for. Let me go get a bath started and I'll be right back." Killian smiled and kissed me on the cheek. He stood up and walked to the bathroom and I sent him a text of the items I needed while he was running the bath.

Killian came back in the room with a towel in his hands.
"If you want to wrap this around you while you walk to the bathroom you can if that makes you feel better."
"Thank you. I sent you a text with what I need but if you don't want to do it, let me clean up and I'll go." I said.
"Absolutely not. You are going to relax, and I am going to get what you need." Killian insisted.
I stood from the bed and book the towel and wrapped it around me. I sighed as I looked back at the bed.
"Hey, don't worry about it." Killian said. "I will take care of it."
"Okay" I said softly.

Killian followed me to the bathroom. The smell of lavender hit me as soon as I walked through the door frame.
"I did not take you for a lavender guy." I smirked.
"I do like it, but its mostly for Sebastian, it calms him when hes having a meltdown, I'm sorry I forgot to ask if you liked it."
"No, I love lavender. Its perfect." I smiled. I took the towel off, and stripped out of my underwear and Killian helped me into the tub.
"Theres a towel up here for you being heated, I'm going to start the bedding and then I'll run to the store." Killian said.
"Okay. Thank you. I love you." I said as I sank into the tub.
"Love you too. I'll be back soon." He said and leaned down and kissed me on the top of the head.


---------------------------------------------------------------

Killian

I pulled up Blaires list in my text messages as I turned into the pharmacy section of the supermarket. I knew she was stressed, and I wanted to help as much as I could, but the word tampons at the top of the list, could not have been more vague. This was not by any means my first time picking up products like this, but it was my first time picking them up for Blaire and I had no idea what kind she used. It wasn't that I was embarrassed to be standing here staring at the wall of feminine hygiene products cluelessly despite the teenage boys who walked by snickering muttering that they wouldn't be caught dead shopping over here. It never even bothered me when I was their age to go and get things for my highschool girlfriend when she needed them.

I contemplated grabbing one of everything. I knew Blaire left her phone charging on the nightstand so it would be no use calling her.
"Killian?"
I turned around to see who was speaking to me, and saw David, Mary-Margaret and Emma with a shopping cart full of groceries.
Well...now this is just awkward.

"Hello." I said and gave a friendly smile. Emma looked like she was holding back a giggle.
David looked at my cart, that was mostly chocolate, chips, and other junk foods that I figured Blaire would want and then looked at the box of tampons I had in my hand.
"Looks like its going to be a rough evening." David chuckled. "Or it already has been."
Fuck me this could literally not get any worse.
Emma literally had to turn away at this point but I could see her back shaking as she was trying to hold in a laugh.
"Aye, you could say that." I chuckled.
"I had no idea you'd already met someone new!" Mary-Margaret beamed. "That was fast."
"Oh..you know me, I kind of keep to myself. And it was fast, but..much welcome." I said and scratched behind my ear awkwardly.
"Oh I won't say anything." Mary-Margaret smiled.
You literally can not keep a secret. You're the reason behind most of the gossip in the teachers lounge.
"I thought I noticed you seemed happier." Mary-Margaret smiled.
"Aye, she's been wonderful for me." I said.

"Guys lets not hound my history teacher about his new girlfriend." Emma said.
"Its quite alright Miss Nolan." I chuckled awkwardly.
Mary Margaret picked up something from the shelf beside me and put it in her cart.
"I hope we get to meet her soon!" Mary-Margaret said.
You already have.
"I plan on keeping her to myself for a while longer." I smirked.
At least until she graduates.
"I understand." Mary-Margaret said. "Well enjoy the rest of your evening." She smiled
"You too." I said and waved them off and then turned back to the wall of tampons.
"You guys go ahead I have to grab something over here." Emma said from behind me.

Emma waited until her parents were out of sight before she picked up a box of tampons and tossed it into my cart.
"She uses those." She smirked.
"You have no idea how much that saves my wallet. I was about to buy one of each." I chuckled. "Any idea what she might want for dinner? I got greasy and terrible for me as a response."
"Cheese fries from O'malleys, with bacon and a side of chili to dip them in." Emma said.
"That is oddly specific." I said.
"I know my cousin." Emma shrugged.
"You're a lifesaver." I said. "Thank you." I smiled.
"You're welcome." Emma said. "I gotta go before they come looking. See you tomorrow." Emma added and walked away from the pharmacy section.

I had called in my order for O'Malley's after I left the store so by the time I got to the other side of town it would likely be ready for me to pick up. When I walked into O'Malley's I went to the counter. I saw one of my former students behind the bar, she looked up at me.
"Be right with you."
"Take your time Elizabeth." I said. She groaned in distaste. She hated it when I called her by her actual name in school too but I couldn't see myself calling her Lizard in class.
"Don't worry Lizard, I got it." Will said and came to the counter He read my order ticket.
"You are about the only person I've seen order a caesar salad from this place." He said. "And I know that aint for Blaire."
I chuckled.
"No, I had a large lunch today I'm not so hungry but I don't want Blaire to feel uncomfortable eating alone."
"We ran out of chili for the night, but I knew this was Blaires order so I gave her extra fries and I snuck in a slice of cheesecake with the chocolate drizzle she likes."
"I'm sure she will be very thankful for that. Thank you." I said.
"Is..she doing okay?" Will asked.
"I think so. Why? haven't you talked to her?" I asked.
"Not recently. We're having ourselves a bit of a spat." Will said and frowned.
"Oh, I had no idea. Sorry to hear that." I wasn't just saying that to be polite. Will was far from my favorite person but Blaire told me all the time about how important Will was to her and that I should be nicer to him.
"I'm sure we'll get over it." Will shrugged and scanned my order ticket. "15.75" He said.
I handed him my debit card and he ran it through the reader.
"I'm sure you will. Blaires a stubborn lass but I know she probably misses you."
Will handed me my receipt and nodded. "Yeah you're probably right." He said.
"See you tomorrow Mr. Scarlet." I said and gave him a nod and took my order off the pick up counter and left.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I got home I set the food out on the table and put the bag of chocolates for Blaire on the counter. I grabbed the other stuff for her and walked down the hall to the bathroom and smiled at Captain as he stood guard by the door.
"Good boy." I said pat his head before I knocked on the door.
"Blaire, I'm home. Can I come in?" I asked.
"Yeah." Blaire replied. I opened the door as she was draining the tub.
I set the tampons on the bathroom sink and put an extra box that I bought of them under the sink for when this inevitably happened again.
"Thankfully I ran into Emma and your Aunt and Uncle at the store or you'd have had one of every kind." I smirked.
"Oh, I knew I forgot something. I should have specified. Sorry that had to be awkward." Blaire said.
"It was a little. But only because of your Aunt questioning me about my new girlfriend, and your Uncle staring me dead in the eyes with that I'm always suspicious, look of his. " I chuckled. "But its okay. I honestly don't ever mind going to the store to get things like that for you. I don't know why it makes other men cringe. I've never understood it." I shrugged. "Anyways, I got you some new pajamas and those fuzzy socks you like, I even found some on clearance from Halloween with bats and pumpkins." I said.
"Oooo! You know me so well." Blaire said and smiled but then pouted. "You didn't have to do all this."
"I wanted to. I know you must feel uncomfortable and I just want to do whatever I can to help you feel more comfortable. I will let you get dressed, dinner is in the kitchen I'm going to go move the bedding in the wash over." I said.
"Okay, thank you." Blaire smiled at me.

By the time Blaire came out of the bathroom, I was in the kitchen stirring a small pot of canned chili on the stove.
Blaire tilted her head at me.
"Will said they ran out of chili at O'Malleys and Emma specifically said you like to dip your cheese fries in chili, and its likely not the same but I wanted you to have the option at least."
Blaire sniffled and wrapped her arms around me from behind as I stirred the chili.
"I don't deserve you." She mumbled into my back.
"Love, its only canned chili." I said.
Blaire pulled away from me.
"Its not just the chili, its everything. You take care of me because I suck at taking care of myself lately, and you're just so incredibly patient and I deserve none of it." Blaire frowned. I took the chili off the burner and shut the stove off.
"I do all of this because I love you Blaire. What on earth gives you the idea you aren't deserving of love." I frowned.
Blaire just shrugged and wiped a tear from her cheek.
"Talk to me." I said.
"I shut you out almost all week, and you're not mad?" Blaire asked.
"Blaire, darling you have a lot of things going on, you're fighting battles that I can't even begin to imagine in your head I know you needed your space, and I knew you'd come back to me when you were ready I just wanted to make sure that you were taken care of. I'm always going to be in your corner, love. Win or lose and when the weight of the world you seem to carry on your shoulders gets too heavy some days, you can tag me in and I will help you carry it." I said and thumbed a tear away from her eye.
"Okay?" I finished.
Blaire took a deep shaky breath and nodded.
"Okay." She said and smiled. "I'm sorry, sometimes my Dads voice gets into my head he always knew how to make me feel like a lost cause." Blaire said.
"Don't apologize. You're allowed to feel." I said. "And Lost causes aren't lost, if there is someone to fight for them and I will always fight for you." I said and brushed her hair behind her ear and kissed her on the forehead.

"Come on, sit down lets eat." I said. Blaire sat down at the table and I brought a bowl of chili and set it beside her fries. Blaire took a sip out of her root beer and swallowed it before telling me thank you.
"Will said he gave you extra fries because there was no chili and he snuck a slice of cheesecake in the order too. Its in the fridge." I said and sat down.
"That was nice of him." Blaire said but there was something off about her tone. Her spat with Will as he called it earlier was not really any of my business, but she did seem upset.
"He also mentioned you two were not really speaking?" I questioned.
"We talk." Blaire shrugged. "Its nothing really." She said.
"Thats not how he made it sound." I said "He seemed about as upset about it as you do right now." I observed.
"Its just complicated and I don't really want to get into it." Blaire sighed.
"Okay, say no more." I said and smiled.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Blaire

Killian was putting the freshly washed bedding on the bed, I leaned against the dresser and looked down at the bottle of sleep medication in my hand. I wasn't sure if I actually wanted to take it again after looking at the side effects online earlier.
"What are you doing?" Killian asked.
"Thinking about making poor life choices." I shrugged.
"Well, maybe we don't make poor life choices." Killian smirked. "Whats up?"
"Its just this new med Archie has me on." I sighed. "Last night when I took it..I almost felt paralyzed before I fell asleep, and I was reading up on it today."
"Thats never a good idea, googling medical stuff I mean." Killian said.
"The side effects are crazy, I mean, night terrors, sleepwalking, I mean what if I get up and walk out of the apartment?!" I panicked.
"Blaire, I am a very light sleeper, I will know if you are getting up and walking around. I won't let you leave the apartment. You are safe here, I promise you." Killian smiled. "I'll stay up until you fall asleep so if you feel weird, I'll be here to tell you its okay. If your psychiatrist thinks you need to take this medication, Its for a reason."
"Probably because I scared the shit out of him with my last visit." I mumbled. "I mean I got sleep last night, I think I'm okay." I shrugged.
"The thing about sleep, darling, is you're supposed to do it every night." Killian winked.
I sighed again.
"You promise you won't let me do crazy shit in my sleep?" I asked.
"I promise." Killian said. "Let me go get you some water to take that with, you get in bed and pick a movie or something you want to watch until you fall asleep."
"Okay." I said and walked over to the bed and climbed in, sinking into the warm blankets straight out of the dryer. I picked a movie on disney plus and waited for Killian to get back. Killian came back with a glass of water and brought it to me and glanced at the tv
"No true crime?" He asked.
I shook my head.
"I haven't been able to watch it much lately. Maybe after a while."
"I'm sorry, I didn't even think about that." Killian frowned.
"Its okay. Really." I smiled and took my pill. "Sorry if I drive you crazy with Alice in Wonderland." I said.
"No,Alice is fine, As long as it makes you happy." He said and went around to the other side of the bed and climbed in next to me I pushed play on the movie and curled up next to him.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I opened my eyes suddenly to nothing but the glow of the disneyplus selection screen. It was eerily silent, and for whatever reason I felt nearly chest crushing panic set in. I went to turn and wake up Killian, only to find that I could not move at all. I tried to speak, but I couldn't do that either. I felt tears slip out of my eyes. I'd never experienced anything like this before. I saw something move in the corner of the room, and moved my eyes in that direction, my eyes were the only thing I could move. Someone was standing in the corner of the room I frantically tried to move, scream, anything. Captain was at the foot of the bed and he didn't seem bothered by the person standing there. The person slowly stepped forward and I tried to shut my eyes but they wouldn't close. This wasn't real. It couldn't have been because the person slowly creeping over to the bed was Dylan. His eyes were cold and dead, and his face had a blueish tint. He walked up to the side of the bed and peered down at me until we were almost nose to nose.
"Times almost up Blaire." He said.
I tried again to scream but nothing came out.
"If you don't tell the truth about what you did to me, I'm coming back to see you." He said and grinned, his teeth were rotted and his skin was starting to decay before my eyes.
"I wasn't completely unconscious when I drowned, I felt the water fill my lungs until they felt like they would explode" He said "Do you want to know how that felt?" He paused for a moment and then plunged his hand into my chest and at that moment I was finally able to scream. I heard Killian bolt out of bed and nearly trip over Captain who was also jumping out of bed. The light flipped on and Dylan disappeared.

I sat up, tearing my shirt off, and feeling all over my chest. I was still screaming, and sobbing as Killian came over to my side of the bed.
"Blaire, love, you've got to calm down." He said as I was hyperventilating.
"Where did he go?!" I demanded.
"Where did who go?" Killian asked. I rolled out of bed and stumbled out of the room and to the bathroom I got down on the floor and barely made it to the toilet to vomit. Killian held my hair back and rubbed my back.
"It was just a dream love." Killian said. I sat against the bathtub and put my head in my hands trying to breathe. I could still feel the intense pressure in my chest, like Dylan was still squeezing the life out of me.
"It wasn't a dream. I was awake. I couldn't move, I couldn't scream. I couldn't even speak. I couldn't call for help." I sobbed.
"That sounds like sleep paralysis. Has that ever happened before?" Killian asked.
I shook my head.

Killian put his hand to my chest.
"Your heart is pounding love. It feels like its going to come out of your chest. You said you saw someone?"
"He's never going to leave me alone until I tell the truth." I said.
"Tell the truth about what?" Killian asked.
I looked up at him with tear filled eyes. kl\
"If I tell you, you won't love me anymore." I sobbed. "No one will not after what I've done."
"Blaire you're acting like you've killed someone." Killian said. I looked up at him again, and between the look in my eyes, and the silence, Killian knew. I could see the fear in his eyes.
"You...didn't kill someone did you?" He asked.
"I didn't mean to do it. He was hurting Kassidy." I said and hid my face in shame.
"I'm going to go make some tea, and we can talk." Killian said.
"We have to be up in like 3 hours for school." I said.
"I don't think either of us are getting anymore rest tonight anyways if we don't talk about this. You need to calm down. Just breathe love. Deep breaths." He coached. I took a few deep breaths. "Good. Keep that up, lets go to the kitchen." Killian said and stood up and helped me off of the floor.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Killian leaned against the kitchen counter, I had just told him everything about the night that Dylan died. I couldn't look at him, so I looked down at my half empty mug of tea.
"If you don't want to be with me anymore I'll understand." I said.
"That never crossed my mind Blaire." Killian said. "From everything you've told me, you were defending yourself, and Kassidy and it sounds like an honest accident. I understand Kassidy not wanting to tell her father the truth she didn't want you getting in trouble, but I do think its time you tell at least your uncle what happened that night. I don't think you will get any rest until you do."
"I'm scared Killian. I don't want to go to prison." I said.
"I don't think you will. It sounds to me like an honest accident. I don't believe you intended to kill that boy at all."
"I don't think it matters that I didn't intend to do it. Hes dead. I can't take it back."
"No, that you can not but you can start to make it right by admitting what was done. The boy sounds like an absolute shit show of a person but the truth will give his family closure. Accidents happen Blaire, and drunk high schoolers and pools do not mix. How do you feel now that you've told me what happened?" Killian asked.
"I feel like I can breathe a little easier." I sighed.
"Imagine how you will feel once you tell your uncle. If you think he's just going to send you off to prison without a care in the world I think you are very mistaken."
"I suppose you are right." I said.
"No matter what happens Blaire, I'm always on your side. Okay?" Killian said.
I nodded.
"Okay."
"Is there anything else you need to get off your chest?" Killian asked.
"We don't have time for that. Its almost time for you to start getting ready, and I have to go back home."
"Well, I'm always available to talk. Theres no time limit Blaire, whenever you are ready, I have a feeling that this was only a fraction of the demons you are fighting right now but I don't want to push you." Killian said.
"Thank you." I said.
"Of course. If you want to go get a little more sleep while I get ready, I'll wake you up before I leave so you can go home and get ready for school." Killian offered.
"I don't think I'm going to get back to sleep.I think I'm going to get packed up and head home and shower and get ready." I said.
"Alright, just text me when you get home so I know you made it safely."
"I will." I said. "See you at school."
"Aye. I look forward to your presentation in class." Killian smiled.
Fuck fuck fuck. Sure tell the man you literally killed someone but fail to tell him that you don't have a presentation to give.
"Oh, its gonna be a good one." I said and finished my tea.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I walked into the house, David and Mary-Maraget were up and getting ready.
"I didn't expect you home so early." David said.
"I..just wanted to come home." I shrugged.
"Everything okay?" David asked.
"I just missed you guys is all. I took my meds but I had a rough time trying to sleep." I said.
Thats the understatement of the year
"We missed you too sweetie." Mary-Margaret said.
"If you want to stay home another day you can." David said.
I shook my head.
"No I want to go today. I'll have plenty of time to catch up on sleep through the weekend." I said.
"Alright thats fine." David smiled.
"Are you making breakfast today?" I asked.
"I can if you want. What were you thinking?"
"Waffles with bacon." I said.
"Chocolate chips?" David asked. Its like the man sensed I was in dire need of comfort food.
"Well of course." I smirked.
"You got it." David smiled and pulled me into a hug. "Go get ready for school I'll get breakfast ready."
"Okay. Thank you." I said.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Emma and I rode to school together.
"Are you okay? You seem...not so yourself this morning." Emma asked as we walked up the steps to the entrance.
"I think I'm okay." I said.
"Any more texts from the creeper?" Emma asked.
"I ignored him all day yesterday."
"Do you think that was a good idea?" Emma asked.
"Probably not, but it was nice to have a moment of peace." I said. Will met us at the door.
"Can I steal Blaire from you?" He asked Emma.
"If its okay with Blaire." Emma shrugged.
"Its fine. I'll see you in English." I said. Emma nodded.
"See you then." She said and walked into the building.

"So.." I started.
"Look. I don't like this fight we're in. Wendy still wont talk to me so I couldn't get her to be here for this. I think it would help if we told her the truth but also I think it might make things worse so right now I just want to focus on fixing us." Will said.
"I hate this fight too." I said. "We probably won't ever be on the same page about going to the police about the texter." I said.
"I get it Blaire. I know why you don't want to do it. I still think you should but I'm not going to force you to do it unless this guy starts making moves to try and hurt you. I just want us to be friends again. I didn't really have anyone until you came to town and without you to talk to it sucks." Will said.
"Agreed." I said.
"So are we good?" Will asked.
"Yeah. We're good. We will see what we can do about Wendy. Are you still coming to that god awful pool party tonight?"
"I'll be there." Will nodded. "When are you coming back to work?" Will asked.
"We'll try for tomorrow. No promises." I said.
"I understand" Will said. "You ready for Jones to scream at us for not having a presentation?" He chuckled.
"I don't think he'll scream...maybe give us the penance stare all class period." I smirked.
"I'd rather he scream." Will said.
"Me too." I said with a laugh as we walked to Algebra.

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The day for the most part, felt like the most normal day I'd had almost since I first moved to town, The unknown texter hadn't bothered me all day and I didn't feel on the verge of panic. That would probably change later, I knew tonight I needed to tell David about what happened to Dylan. I felt much better now that I had told Killian but I knew I wasn't done. It wasn't going to be over until I told the police.

I had seen Wendy off and on all day, she didn't speak to me or Will, and it hurt, but maybe it was for the best. If I somehow managed to avoid going to jail for murder I knew whatever else the unknown texter had in store for me, would be even worse of a nightmare and maybe it was best to cut ties with Wendy and keep her from getting involved.

I scanned the cafeteria, Wendy wasn't to be seen anywhere.
"Who are you looking for?" Will asked.
"Wendy. Its pizza day even if she doesn't want to sit with us, she should be somewhere its one of the only days she doesn't bring her own lunch."
"Maybe she's outside. She likes to sit outside sometimes." Will shrugged.
"Its been raining off and on all day, the tables would be all wet." I said.
"I'm sure she's around here somewhere. Its not like she would have skipped out." Will said.
"True." I said. Emma walked over to the table.
"Any trouble out of the texter?" She asked.
"Wait she knows too?" Will asked.
"Yes." I said. "And no. Nothing out of him today."
"Wait a second, I'm the mystery solving sidekick." Will said and almost pouted.
"You still are. But Emma can help too. She knows how to do some stuff my uncle taught her that could come in hand." I said.
"Still on for that Party tonight?" Emma whispered.
"Yes. I don't think because he's suddenly silent that I'm getting out of that." I sighed and looked around the cafeteria again.
"Whatcha looking for?" Emma asked.
"We're playing a game of Where's Wendy. Like Wheres Waldo...but with Wendy." Will said.
"Oh, on the way to the cafeteria I saw her walking with Mills towards her office." Emma shrugged.
What are you up to Wendy?

As the bell rang, signaling lunch was over I saw Wendy walk up the hall and towards Killians classroom so she must not have been in any trouble.
"Well, are we ready to get our asses handed to us when Jones finds out we don't have a presentation?" Will smirked.
"Not really." I chuckled. Killian had made it clear that our relationship did not excuse any grades, not that I expected it to in the first place. But he also made it clear, that he knew first hand how smart I was when I applied myself and he expected more from me. So this was going to be fun. We cleared out trays and made our way to Killians class.

I was anxious as I listened to everyones presentation, everyone had put a lot of work into their assignments and Killian was actually in a good mood, and had good things to say about everyone so far.
"Alright, Thank you Emma, Regina and Ruby, that was entertaining and educational." Killian smiled and looked at the list in his hand. "Alright, last on the list is Blaire, Will and Wendy." Killian said. The three of us looked at each other awkwardly and back to Killian.
"Well, we don't have all day, the floor is yours." Killian said.

I cleared my throat.
"We...uh actually don't have anything." I said. Killian chuckled and leaned against his desk.
"Very funny Miss Nolan."
"It wasn't a joke." Will confirmed. "We don't have a presentation."
"Now I expect this from you Mr. Scarlet but you two?" Killian looked back and forth between Wendy and I.
"I actually have something." Wendy spoke up. "I did my own."
Killian pinched the bridge of his nose, a sign I knew as him trying to keep his temper in check.
"What I asked for, Miss Darling, was a group effort not your own project!" Killian snapped. Wendy flinched.
"I want to see all three of you after class." He said and turned his eyes to me. I should have told him not to expect anything from us. His eyes were disappointed and I hated it. Apparently I could literally get away with Murder, but heaven help me if I didn't do one assignment.

As asked, Wendy, Will and I stayed after class. Killian sat on one of the desks in front of us.
"Does anyone care to explain what happened?" He asked. We were all silent. Killian ran his hands over his face and pointed at Wendy. "You tell me what happened." He said.
"We all stopped talking to each other." Wendy said. "So I did my own project."
"You should have come to tell me, if you didn't want to work together I could have put you three with another group." Killian said. "Why did we all stop talking to each other?" He asked.
"Just a fight I guess.. Will and I are good now." I said and looked at Wendy who looked away from me. I sighed and looked back at my desk.
"I'm going to give you another chance to do this assignment as a group effort because I don't want to see any of you fail." Killian said. "We are in the last 4 months of your senior year, lets not mess it up now." Killian said.
"Honestly, I don't want to do it." Wendy said.
"If that is how you feel, you can turn in what you have and I will give you a grade but because I asked for a group project, you'll only get a fraction of the grade. You have a high A in my class but this could bring it down to a B." Killian said.
"Thats fine with me. May I go?" Wendy asked.
"Fine." Killian nodded. Wendy got up and left the classroom.
"I want a presentation by next wednesday." Killian said and looked back and forth between Will and I. "Got it?"
"Yeah." I sighed.
"I don't know what happened to the three of you, and I wont press, just get the assignment done." Killian said. "You may go to class William."
"Well that wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. You're going soft Jones." Will smirked.
Killian looked up at Will and blinked. I also knew this look as his Test that assumption at your earliest convenience look, which was his much more polite way of saying fuck around and find out.
"Right, well best of luck to you Blaire." Will said and left the classroom.

"I'm sorry, that sucked." Killian sighed.
"Don't apologize. We were the ones who fucked up. You didn't even have to give us another chance." I said. "I don't expect you to treat me any different than any other student here." I said.
"I know, but I know some of what you have been dealing with this week. No one else does so, I hated that." Killian said. "How are you doing today? I know last night was quite the night."
"It was. I'm a little tired, but..otherwise I feel more calm than I have in a while. I plan on talking to my Uncle tonight at the station." I said.
"Good. I know you'll feel better when you do." Killian smiled. "I better let you go to class."
"Yeah. I'll text you tonight..if I'm not grounded. I don't know what Davids standards are when it comes to that but I'm pretty sure Murder is unacceptable in any normal household." I sighed.
"Blaire, Murder means you intended to do it. It was an accident don't be so hard on yourself." Killian sighed.
"I'm trying. One step at a time I guess." I said and gave him a small smile. "See you later."

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As the day was almost over, I was starting to get more nervous, I could hardly focus on my work in Art. I was nervous about the pool party and what this asshole had in store for that, since Id ignored him all day, yesterday and he hadn't messaged me once today. More so than the party I was nervous about talking to David about Dylan.

The classroom door opened.
"Mrs. Mills, what can I do for you?" Calliope asked.
"I need to borrow Miss Nolan and Miss Darling." Mills said.
"Oh, sure. No problem. I'll likely see you ladies monday have a good weekend!" Calliope said.
"You too.." I mumbled and glanced at Will. He shook his head having no idea what was going on.

Mrs. Mills walked ahead of Wendy and I.
"What is this about?" I asked in a whisper.
"I'm angry with you, but I don't want to see you expelled and if you went through with that party, you would be expelled." Wendy said.
"What. did. You. do?" I hissed.
"I told Mrs. Mills about the party." Wendy said.
"Wendy what the hell have you done?!" I spat.

Mrs Mills turned around.
"What Wendy has done, has saved you from expulsion and perhaps a destruction of property charge depending on how out of hand that party got this evening."
I glared at Wendy. She may have had good intentions but there was a lot more on the line than she realized and she should have stayed out of it.
We walked into the office and David was there.
He followed us into Mills office and shut the door.

"What is this all about?" He asked.
"Would you care to tell him Blaire?" Mills asked. I was silent.
"Well then, Wendy can show you what she showed me earlier." Mills said as I sat down. Wendy handed David her phone, with the secret group for the party with my name written all over it.
"Thank you Wendy, you can go." Mills said. Wendy left the office in a hurry.
David sat down next to me and looked at me expectantly.
"What do you want me to say?" I sighed.
"I want you to tell me why you even thought that would be a good idea so close to the end of your senior year?!" David demanded.
"I just wanted to have some fun. Its been a shit year." I lied. I wanted no part of that pool party and was only a little relieved that it was not going to happen now.
"This was not the way to do it." David said.
"Noted." I mumbled.
"So what happens now?" David asked.
"Considering Blaire has missed a considerable amount of school this year, I'm not going to suspend her. You are right, the year is almost over and she needs to get as much credit as she can to graduate." Mills said. David looked at me again expectantly. I turned looked up at Mills.
"Thanks..I guess." I said.
"I only asked you to be here, because of how serious this could have been if she went through with it."
"I understand. I will speak with her on the matter at home." David said. "Are we done here?"
"You are. I will see you Monday Miss Nolan." Mills said.
"Sure." I said and got up and followed David out of the office.

"What is going on Blaire? I think I know you well enough to know that you had no part in whatever that party was, so why take the credit for it?" David asked me. Instead of answering his question I jumped right to what I should have done when this all started.
"Can we talk?" I asked.
"Well of course, I want you to talk to me about this." David said.
"Not about this..about something else." I said "You're right, something has been bothering me lately and Its not going to stop bothering me until I tell you, but I think we should go to the station."
"Why the station?" David asked.
"Because I have to confess something that I did back in oregon. Something I should have told the truth about back then." I said.
"Okay..we'll go to the station." David said.
We got in his truck and I picked up my phone and sent a text to the unknown texter

Me:
The principal found out about the party. Its off. But I'm on my way to the station now with my uncle to tell the truth.

Unknown:

Record it so I know it happened.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once in the station, David brought me into his office and shut the door. I hit the record audio button on my phone, and put it in my lap as I sat down.

"I have to admit Blaire, I'm a little scared right now." David said.
"That makes two of us, but If I don't tell you now, its going to eat away at me until Archie locks me up in a psych ward." I said.
"What is going on?" David asked.
"Back in Oregon I was at a party with my friend Kassidy, She had this boyfriend at the time who was hitting her and stuff and I caught him doing it at the party." I said. "I got him away from her and he started attacking me. There was a pool in his back yard, and to get him off of me, I pushed him in the pool." I said.
David breathed a sigh of relief and I hadn't even finished the story.
"Hang on." David said. "I know where this is going Blaire."
"But you..don't understand!" I said.
"Blaire, sweetheart. I know about Dylan." David said.
"I don't understand..how?? And if you know, then you know that I killed him." I said. "I didn't mean to do it though, I was just trying to stop him from hurting Kass I didn't know he was going to hit his head." I explained, starting to panic again, remembering my sleep paralysis episode from last night.
"Blaire, take it easy." David said and got up and went to his file cabinet. He unlocked it and pulled it open and went through it and pulled out a thumb drive and sat back down.

"Your father, called me one night to talk about the party because he knew you could be in some trouble, and I came to Oregon to see if I could help. I worked with Kassidys father, after all, his daughter was there too, and she had lied about what happened so she was in trouble too and neither of us wanted to see you two in trouble."
"But..I just don't understand. How did you just make it go away?"
"We didn't just make it go away. Dylans family had been on vacation, of course they came back once they found out their son had passed. Sean and I went to speak with them, and we noticed they had a security camera outside in the backyard." David explained.
"So...theres video evidence..of what I did." I said.
David put the thumb drive into his computer on his desk and turned the screen towards me.
"There is video evidence of the whole thing, him attacking Kassidy, and you and you defending yourself." He said and played the video. It was hard to watch him attacking Kassidy all over again and it was even harder to watch me push him into the pool.

"Dylan's parents couldn't believe that He had attacked you both like that and it was clear to them that you acted out of self defense. They knew you did not intend to kill him Blaire. His death was ruled accidental."
"So my dad knew that I lied to him?" I asked.
"Yes." David said.
"And he let me continue to feel guilty for what I did even though Dylans family didn't see it as murder?"
"Apparently so. I honestly thought after I left he and Sean talked to you and Kass but apparently they just wanted to pretend it never happened." David said. "I'm sorry Blaire that its haunted you for this long."
"What. the actual. Fuck." I said. "If he knew the week I just fucking had..." I said.
"But its all out in the open now." David said.
"Yeah but this could have been all out in the open 2 years ago!" I exclaimed. "Why is my dad the worlds biggest asshole?"
"Thats a mystery I've been trying to solve myself." David sighed.
I looked back up at David.
"Wait a second. My dad never mentioned you to me at all until I had to move here when he was put in jail. How did you manage to come to Oregon, and me not see you?" I asked.
"Well...you did see me.You just didn't know it." David admitted.
"Wait a minute.." I said

I walked into the apartment after school and set my bag down by the door. I walked into the kitchen to see Dad sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee.
"Hey Dad." I smiled and walked to the fridge to get a snack. I turned to the sound of him choking on coffee.
"You good?" I smirked.
"Yeah..Yeah wrong pipe." Dad smiled and stood up.
"We need to go grocery shopping." I said and opened the freezer. "I didn't eat lunch today because it was spaghetti and I forgot to bring one." I said. I struck out with the freezer too. I turned back to Dad and he was giving me a goofy smile.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing, its just when did you get so big?" He asked.
"Well I stopped growing at about 13 so I don't know what you are talking about." I chuckled. "Can we order pizza? I'm starving. I'm due for a cheat day this week."
"Yeah sure. Whatever you want." Dad smiled.
"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked. "You're acting weird."
"Yeah I'm fine." Dad said.
"Well, I'm going to order the pizza, and go do my homework let me know when It gets here." I said.
"Wait." Dad said. I turned around and he pulled me into a hug. The only times my dad usually hugged me was when I won a boxing match so I was surprised.
"I love you Blaire. I just want you to know." Dad said.
"Love you too Dad." I smiled.

"That was you! I can't believe I didn't realize it until now. I always felt like my dad was abducted by aliens and switched out for a nicer version. And that explains why he was confused about the pizza that night too." I exclaimed.
"I'm sorry I never told you about that. My brother made me promise not to tell you. I should have ignored him and I should have made it a point to be in your life a lot sooner than I got to be." David said. "I think a lot of things would be different."
"No kidding." I sighed.
"So...now that, that is out of the way, are we going to talk about this party thing?" David asked.
"I plead temporary insanity." I said. "Wont happen again." I said.
"Good." David said. "Lets go home."
"Yes lets, I need a snack and a nap." I said."A really long nap."
David chuckled and shook his head and stood up walking out of his office.
I waited until he was out of the office before I took my phone out of my pocket and stopped the recording. I sent the file to the unknown texter with a middle finger emoji.

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That evening we were all sitting around the table for dinner, and everything for the first time in a while felt normal.
"So with spring break coming up what are we thinking for a family vacation?" David asked.
"My vote is on Disney." Emma said.
"Wait.. Disney?? Is that even an option?!" I asked.
"We go usually every year." Emma shrugged. "You weren't here for our trip at the beginning of summer."
"Wait. Like.. this isn't a joke?" I asked.
"Blaire do you want to go to Disney for spring break?" David asked.
"Pardon my language but shit yeah I want to go to Disney!" I said. I'd never been to Disneyland.
David and Emma both laughed.
"Well then I guess its settled." Mary Margaret said. "We'll have to take a lot more pictures since It will be Blaires first trip." She beamed excitedly at the new potential scrapbook adventure.
"Now, not to dampen the mood, but I was wondering, if after Disney we could make a trip to Oregon. I want to talk to my Dad and the things I need to say are better said in person. If not, its okay I'll figure out how to get there another way."
"I'm sure we can arrange that." David nodded.
"We can check out the saturday market in portland while we are there." I added. "I use to go all the time, and its really cool. I actually have Art hung up in a gallery over there."
"That sounds fun." Emma said.

My phone pinged on the kitchen counter.
"Can I check that really quick? Will and I have a make up assignment for Mr. Jones class and he was supposed to text me when He finished the slide show." I said.
"Sure. Oh, Emma usually brings Ruby along for Disney, if you want to ask Will if he wants to go thats fine." Mary-Margaret said.
"I'll ask." I smiled and got up to go check my phone.
I should have known it wasn't going to be Will that sent the text.

Unknown:
Sounds to me like a cover up. Your Uncle is really good at covering up things he doesn't want people to know about. You'll see for yourself soon enough. You're off the hook for the party but this game is far..far from over Bean. ;) Talk to you soon.