Chapter 26

Once Taylor had settled in bed after her date with Eric, she realized she wasn't in the least bit tired. She was actually opposite to that feeling; she was filled with energy that she had no idea where it came from. Emery still wasn't back from her date yet, so she decided to just go for a walk around campus to get some of that energy out of her system. Before she dressed appropriately for her walk, she sent Drake a quick text letting him know she was going to take a walk around campus and that he was strongly invited to go with her. He had responded right away saying that he would meet her out front of her dorm building. As she was getting ready, she couldn't help but think why she was so fascinated with him. She would be lying to herself if she said that despite him having a girlfriend she still wasn't attracted to him. He just made her feel good about herself unlike any other guy she's known.

"It's about time, old lady," Drake joked when she came out of her residence hall.

"Shut up! I know you just got here," she punched him in the arm.

"Hey now! Watch yourself! I'm fragile. So how was your date tonight with Prince Charming?" he inquired once they started walking.

"It was actually really nice. He was really nice too. Who am I kidding? I had a great time." She went on to tell him everything that happened tonight. She even told him about the very end of it all, and how she wouldn't kiss him for personal reasons.

"He's so whipped."

"What? Why would you say that?" she paused their journey and had him face her to explain himself.

"Because he actually believed you. I think it's quite obvious why you didn't want to kiss him tonight."

"Oh really? And why is that?" she asked crossing her arms in front of her while raising her eyebrow at him.

"Because you're still in love with me. And he's too whipped to see it. You could tell him anything and I'm sure he would believe you. He's a goner," he turned back around and started their walk again.

"Ugh! You're so full of yourself. I'm not in love with you. You have a girlfriend, remember? I wouldn't want her beating my ass because you're tTayloring her something that's not even true."

"Right… So why didn't you invite lover boy on this walk with you instead of me?" he paused again and looked at her.

"I don't have to explain myself to you," she turned abruptly and continued ahead.

"And that answer right there explained it all." He said to himself and caught up with her. They continued to walk in a calm silence. They were both really contemplating what had just happened between them. Taylor knew what he said was partially right, but at the same time she wasn't going to let him know that. So instead of saying anything else, she just kept to herself. On the other hand, Drake was also thinking about what just happened. He definitely felt something there with her, but he couldn't do anything about it because he loved his girlfriend more. This was something he had to sit down and think about what was more important to him-his friendship with this person that he just met weeks ago or his relationship with someone in which he hasn't been happy for a while.

They had walked for several more minutes before either one of them had said anything. Once they started talking, it was about the most random things friends could ever talk about. They never once discussed what was just said several minutes ago, but that was alright with them. They'd rather just leave the past behind them. So instead, they started making fun of all the other freshmen getting arrested for underage drinking. They made fun of the slutty girls around campus as they were all getting ready to go out and party. Taylor realized that this campus provided so much entertainment on nights like this one. "Maybe we should come out here around this time more often."

Then he thought tag would be fun and he chased her all over campus as if they were playing tag. Everyone looked at them like they were weird. Some offered to be her protector for two seconds, which gave her a little more time to get away. While others cheered for him to get his girl. It was a great way to end one heck of a night.

"Base!" she yelled when she got to her dorm building.

"I don't think so, princess." He picked her up over his shoulder.

"Base! Base! I said base!"

"Say 'Drake is the bestest person in the whole entire world' and then I'll let you down."

"Never!"

"Oh we'll see about that." He began tickling her until she cried for mercy. "Say it."

"Ok, ok. Drake in the bestest person in the whole entire world." She laughed and then punched him in the arm once he let her down, "Now let me down and walk me to my room."

"So demanding!"

"Oh hush. I just want to see if Emery is back yet."

"She should be. It's almost two in the morning."

"This is true. Well if she's not there, how about you stay over until she gets back, please?" she looked up at him with her best puppy eyes.

"Ok fine. But don't take advantage of me. I bruise easily."

After she signed him into the building, they went to her room. She noticed that the lights were off just like she left them, which either meant that Emery hadn't been back yet or she was already in bed. She quietly opened unlocked the door just in case her roommate was already asleep. Drake turned on the lights for her, and there was no sign of her roommate anywhere. She hadn't received any messages from her at all that night, so she just assumed that she was safe. But to make sure she sent her a quick message saying that she was just now heading to bed and that she hoped everything was alright wherever she was. She entered her room with Drake right behind her. When she turned on the lights, neither one of them expected the surprise waiting for them on her bed. There on her bed was a severed bloodied head of a young, now dead, girl whose eyes were cut out of the sockets; along with it was a message written in blood on the wall, "YOU DID THIS TO ME!"