When we got back to the house, Ethan and Benny were still in the living room watching Galactica. I walk in and sit beside Benny, laying my head on the back of the couch. He seemed confused that I would opt for a seat beside him instead of Ethan.

Benny looks over at me. "What?" I ask.

"Bad day?" he asks.

"You have no idea." I say

"Tell me about it. I could help."

"I can't."

"Aw, why not?" Benny asks with mock sadness.

"It's secret," I explain.

"Secret like how? Secret like how Darth Vader is Luke's father? Or secret like…" he trails off, trying to think of another nerd analogy.

"In geek terms, I guess you could say it's equivalent to Darth Vader being Luke's father."

Ethan looks over, concern in his eyes. "Kate, could I talk to you a minute in the, uh, kitchen?" he asks.

I nod and walk into the kitchen, with Ethan following me.

"Oh, c'mon E! I was just getting through to her! I think she likes me!" Benny complains.

"She'll be here for two more weeks. You'll have time to…canoodle…. Ugh. Do you seriously have to like my cousin?" Ethan asks.

"It's not like you called dibs on her when you kissed her. She's your cousin."

"Hey, I was three and didn't know any better."

"Whatever, dude," Benny said, dismissing it.

Ethan walked in to the kitchen shaking his head. "Do you remember that?" he asks, looking at me.

I smile.

"Vaguely," I say. "So, what do you want to talk to me about?"

It took Ethan a minute to phrase what he wanted to say correctly.

"Did anything happen at the mall?" he asks

"What do you mean?" I play dumb again.

"Did you, um, run into, um…"

"Who's Um?"

"He Who Must Not Be Named?"

"Unless there was a Harry Potter convention in the mall today, no, I did not run into Lord Voldemort."

"That's not what I meant," Ethan explained.

"What did you mean?" I ask. I knew he was talking about Jesse. I was just acting dumb to protect him. And myself.

"Nothing. Forget it."

I all of a sudden feel bad that I'm not telling him the truth. I couldn't risk slipping him anymore information with Jesse watching me.

I go up the stairs to my room and close the door. I walk over to my closet and get my duffel bag. The only way to get out of this mess is if I just leave. I didn't want to get anymore deeper with Jesse than I already was.

The truth was that I did feel something for Jesse, and I knew that it was wrong. I wasn't sure if he had feelings for me, or if he was just acting that way so I would turn my back on Ethan and he could follow through with his revenge.

I couldn't do that to Ethan. It would hurt him. He was the closest thing I had to a brother.

I turn back to the closet and start stuffing my clothes into my bag, not bothering to fold them. I had to get out of here.

Next, I searched in the room for a piece of paper. I take one out of the printer by the computer.

I write:

Ethan,

I can't keep hoping that everything will be alright. Jesse has told me of plans to get revenge on you and Benny. It involves turning me and disappearing with me just to see the look on your face when he turns me and you realize I'm gone. I can't let that happen, so I'm leaving. Hopefully Jesse won't follow me home. Tell your mom and dad and Jane that I'm so sorry.

I'll contact you as soon as I can,

Kate.

I zip up my bag, and place the note on the nightstand as I turn to leave the room.

"Going somewhere?" a familiar voice behind me says. Jesse. I turn around slowly, facing him.

"Jesse," I say.

"You weren't thinking about leaving, were you?" he asks, looking pointedly at my bag.

"Actually, I was." No use in lying, I was already caught.

Jesse smiled. "Running away from your problems? That's not what your dorky cousin would do," Jesse mocked.

"I am not my cousin," I argue.

"Maybe not," Jesse agrees. "But I am disappointed. I thought you had more sense than this."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I'd have no problem with going down to the front door and snapping your cousin's neck when he opens the door. That is, unless you invite me in."

"Why do you want in?"

"It's kind of conspicuous when a guy is floating near a two-story window in broad daylight. It's bound to attract attention," he explains. "So is a teenage boy lying in the front yard, dead with his neck snapped."

"Fine. Come in," I say through my teeth, not wanting the police to get involved.

"So…" Jesse trails off.

"So what?"

"Since you're dead-set on leaving, why don't you come with me?"

"Come where?"

"My mansion."

I take a deep breath. "If I come with you, will you leave my cousin and his friends alone?" I ask, hesitant.

"You have my word," he murmurs. At this point, he's close enough that I have to look up to see his eyes. For a moment, I think he's going to kiss me again, but everything goes black instead.