Chapter 8 - BPOV

I was planning on spending the afternoon at the library, but instead, I'll do my studying in the safety of my dorm room. Until I know for sure what's going on, I'm not taking any chances. I may be a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them.

Hours later, after much reading and studying, there's a light knock on my door.

"Who is it?" I ask, climbing off my bed and hurrying to the door.

"Lauren."

I open the door and give her a wide berth, inviting her into my room.

"Hey," she says, turning around to face me as she sits on the edge of my bed.

"Hey." I close the door behind me and walk over to the mini fridge to get a Coke. "Want one?" I ask, holding up the ice cold can.

"No, thanks."

"So, what's up?"

"I wanna talk about the guy," she says bluntly, not wasting time on pleasantries.

"I don't know who he is."

"I think you do."

"How can I? I didn't see him. You did."

"Yeah, but I could tell that you knew him. I saw fear in your eyes, and that wouldn't have happened if you didn't know him."

"I—I'm not scared," I stutter, lying to her and myself.

"Who is it?" she asks again, pulling me onto the bed beside her. "As your RA, I feel like I have a right to know, but more importantly, as your friend," she says, pausing. "Tell me so I can help you."

I sigh, my shoulders sagging. "I don't know for sure, but I think it's a guy named James." The second I say his name, chills run up my spine. "He was my step-brother at one time. I guess, for all intents and purposes, he still is. My dad is technically still married to his mom, but he's in prison. I thought that's where James was as well, but apparently, he's out. If it's not him, it's a seriously strange and fucked up coincidence, but I don't know who else would be looking for me."

I look up and over to Lauren. Her eyes are wide with questions and maybe a little fear of her own. "Why was he in prison?"

"It's a long story." I can't tell her. It's weird, and if I tell her the whole story, it makes me sound like a bad person. I like just being Bella here, someone without a past—just a normal college student. Telling her would ruin all of that.

"Why's he looking for you?"

"I honestly have no idea. I don't even know how he knows I'm here."

"Did you have your files set to private when you enrolled?"

"I don't know. I didn't know you could do that."

"It's easy to overlook, but yeah, you can have it to where no one can search for you in the student database."

"I didn't think I'd have to worry about it for a long time. He was supposed to be put away for six years."

"When was he sent to prison?"

"Over two years ago."

"They probably considered some of his jail time before the trial part of his sentence."

"Exactly."

"And he probably got out early on good behavior," she adds.

"Yep."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know." I shake my head and take a long drink of my Coke. Staring at the blank white wall in front of me, I start to formulate different plans in my mind. All of them end with James dying. I know it's the only way I'll ever truly be free from him.

"Do you need to get a restraining order?" Lauren asks quietly.

"I already have one."

"Maybe that's how we can get him put back in," she says conspiratorily. "My mom had a long line of horrible boyfriends when I was growing up. The last guy she was with was sent to prison for drug charges but was released early for good behavior. He came to our apartment that night and tried to force his way in. What he forgot about was the protective order that was still in place. When the cops were called, he took off running, but they caught him and put him back in that same night. He wasn't even out twenty-four hours."

"Is he still in?"

"Yeah," she says, blowing out a deep breath and raising her eyebrows. "I guess when he went back in, he started a twelve-step program and found Jesus." She shrugs her shoulders and looks away. "He called my mom not too long ago to ask for forgiveness."

"What did she say?"

"Well, of course, she forgave him."

"But she wouldn't take him back, right?" I ask skeptically.

"God, I hope not, but who knows with her?"

I lean over and pull Lauren into a side hug. We've all got a past—things in our closets we're not proud of. By her telling me a little of hers, it makes me feel less self-conscious about mine.

"Maybe we should wait until he comes around again and get him up to the floor. I could call the cops. You'd be safe. I'd make sure of it."

"Is it bad that I'd rather we kill him?" I deadpan. "I'm kidding."

"No, you're not."

"No, I'm not, but he's not worth going to prison over."

She lets out a deep sigh and leans her head on my shoulder. "You're too good of a person for this shit."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"How do you know?"

"I just know. I'm good at reading people, and you're good people."

"I'm not. I have too many skeletons in my closet to be good people. You don't even know, and if you did, you wouldn't want to help me."

"Well, why don't you tell me, and let me make that decision for myself?"

"Huh-uh," I say, shaking my head. "I don't like talking about it. It makes me feel bad about myself."

"How did you meet Edward?"

"Why all the questions?"

"Because you're so secretive."

"Can we just drop this for tonight?"

She sighs out of frustration, knowing she's not going to get anywhere with the inquisition. "Wanna watch a movie?"

"Do you have one for girls when they have psycho ex-step-brothers?" I ask.

"Ooooh, what about Cruel Intentions?"

I shrug and nod my head in agreement. I'll take a distraction for the night and a couple of hours where I'm not avoiding Lauren's questions or thinking about why James is lurking around my dorm… or what Edward is doing while he's on a break from me.

~C22~

As I'm getting ready for class, my cell phone buzzes with an incoming message. I leap for it, still expecting, or hoping, for it to be Edward. But it's not.

Lauren: Take the back exit. Creeper standing at the corner of our building.

Shit.

Me: What should I do?

Lauren: TAKE THE BACK EXIT.

Me: I KNOW. But I can't just keep running from him.

Lauren: Then call the cops. But whatever you do, be careful and keep your cell phone on you.

I groan in frustration and throw myself on my bed. I'm tempted to hole up in my room and not come out. Ever. But I refuse to let James rule my life. He's done enough of that. I'm not sure that calling the cops will even work, so I take Lauren's advice, and when I finally leave my dorm room, I take the elevator down and then dart out the back exit, watching my back the entire way to class.

Something inside me says "call Edward", but I shut that voice up. I can't call Edward. We're on a break, and besides that, he can't always be my savior. That's not a healthy relationship—me always being in trouble, him always coming to my rescue. I don't want to live my life being a damsel in distress. There's got to be a way out of this, some way I can take care of James on my own.

When I told Lauren that I'd like him dead, I wasn't really kidding. It wouldn't bother me in the least if he somehow died unexpectedly, like got struck by lightning or hit with a meteor… ran over by a car. Normally, I have compassion for people, even bad people. I always feel like someone can be redeemed, and I'm not in favor of playing God, but I just want to be able to live my life without always looking over my shoulder or being afraid.

After the longest day on earth, I'm finally walking back to my dorm, when suddenly a strong hand grasps my arm and pulls me into a hidden area between two buildings. I want to scream, but a hand to my mouth prevents me from doing that. With wide eyes, I turn, knowing who I'm going to come face to face with, and ready to get this shit over. Whatever he's got planned, I can handle it.

"Shhhh," his voice soothes in my ear. "Stop fighting me, and I'll let you go. I just want to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," I spit out when his hand drops from my mouth.

I know he can see the ire in my eyes. The cocky smirk that I've come to loathe is in place, and I want to punch him.

"What are you doing here? What do you want?"

"I just want to make peace," he says, holding up his hands in surrender.

"Peace? Are you fucking kidding me?"

He lets out a deep breath full of frustration. "Look," he starts, running his hand through his hair. "I just need to know that you're not going to send your rich boyfriend after me."

"He doesn't even know you're out of jail."

"He will soon enough. Word travels fast amongst the rich folk. Actually, I think he's been having someone follow me," he admits, looking back over his shoulder.

"Edward's not like them."

"Aww," he says, cocking his head to the side. "It's so sweet to see you two on a first name basis. I'm surprised you haven't weaseled your way into his inheritance."

"I'm not like you!" I yell, shoving him as hard as I can. The fact that he has tracked me down just to spew his insanity is ridiculous. Maybe I should call the cops. Maybe another couple of years in jail would do his ass some good.

James laughs as he stumbles back a few steps. "Whoa, little sis has some fight in her."

"Don't call me that." I shake my head, and the irrational thoughts of killing him are back. Maybe I could hide the body and then come back for it later. "Why are you here, James? I'm tired of your games. Let's get this over with once and for all."

His face grows serious, and I can see the anger there that he's been hiding with this false sense of congeniality. "My lawyer said that Edward has something on me that he was saving… as an insurance policy. I just need to know that he's not going to come after me. I'm not made for prison life."

I wouldn't doubt that, but I don't know for sure. Seeing him so uncomfortable makes me want to smile, laugh in his face, but I keep my composure and lie like it's my job. "He does. He said he'd only use it if you came after me again. I see that a phone call is in order."

James' eyes grow scared. It's unlike him. He's normally good at poker faces. "I don't want any more trouble. In fact, Jessica and I are…"

"Jessica?" I ask incredulously. "You mean Jessica Stanley?"

James nods. "We've kept in contact while I've been away."

"Are you kidding me?" I laugh. I can't help it. This all seems so absurd, and I have to wonder if I'm in some sort of alternate universe.

"She loves me, and I love her," he says with a bite to his words. "We're leaving. Going far away. So you don't have to tattle on me to your sugar daddy. Just keep your mouth shut, and you'll never see me again."

Really? Could it be so simple? I'm not sure if I believe him. His offer sounds too good to be true, but I'm willing to give it a shot. "It's a deal. I won't let Edward know you were here as long as I never have to breathe the same air as you again."

"Such big words for such a little girl."

"Don't tempt me," I say, pulling my phone out of my back pocket. The truth is, I won't have to tell Edward. I have no doubt he already knows James is out, and if he doesn't, he will soon enough. I hope James rots...in hell or jail, makes no difference to me.

With one last smirk, he slinks away, around the corner. I wait in between the buildings, regaining my composure and taking some much needed deep breaths. Someone passes out of the corner of my eye and it causes me to jump, thinking James changed his mind and came back, but when I turn my head to look, no one's there. I take another minute to breathe, still gripping my phone like a lifeline.

Did that really just happen?

When I peek around the corner again, I don't see him anywhere.

Quickly, I make my way back to the dorms, keeping my eyes open and my phone in my hand, just in case. When I make it back to my room, I immediately take off my clothes and head straight for the shower, feeling the need to wash away this fucked up day and James. Just being in his presence makes me feel dirty. The fact that he touched me makes me want to scrub my skin raw.

I hope that's the last time I ever have to see him.

As I'm drying off, my cell phone chimes. I'm sure it's Lauren. I should tell her everything that happened today. She'll want to know. But, I feel exhausted. So, it's going to have to wait until tomorrow. Crawling into bed, I pick up my phone to text her back so she won't worry, but it's not Lauren.

Are you okay?

Edward. My heart leaps into my throat with three words. Even though they're not the three words I really want to hear, they're something. He's still there. He still cares.

A/N:

As always, a big THANK YOU to our beta, GeekChic12! And to Rachel (J Ray Fanfiction) and Pamela (DrivingEdward) for their awesome pre-reading skills! This chapter was tweaked a little after Geeky had her hands on it, so I take complete responsibility for any mistakes.