Chapter 3: A Close Encounter of the Dangerous Kind

Braelyn POV

Initially my first thought wasn't even my own. It was a scream in Sam's voice that would have made me flinch had Jared not been holding me.

'WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!' Sam screamed in my head. But I couldn't move away because Jared had his hand lightly on my waist, as if to say, 'Is this okay?' But the main reason that kept me rooted into place was, I didn't want to move. It was like the best dream I ever had, I was filled with this floaty feeling, light headed and wanting more.

But suddenly, reason bitch slapped me across the face so hard that I jerked. My eyes flew open to his and I jumped back so far like I was on fire. I backed away, feeling my eyes widen in shock, my cheeks reddening in shame.

"I… I'm sorry." I was crying. I saw the hurt cross his face, not anger, and he didn't make a move towards me. In that moment I saw a boy who was scared and lost and defeated. I should have gone to him. Instead I ran. Like the coward I was, I ran.

Sam POV

The blood dripped onto the bare cold floor of my basement. I liked the cold. The cold told no lies. The sound of my mother's heart on the monitor comforted me. Remembrance scalded my skull with cold fire. Hate for my own reflection bloomed in my heart. The trip of the knife went into my skin and stayed until the pressure of self hate threatened to explode, in one quick movement. I slashed down the top of my arm. It burned. But it was just. I did it again, careful to avoid veins. Death would be too easy, I DESERVED this pain. Revenge for being weak. I couldn't help mommy.

Slash

I couldn't change May.

Slash

I couldn't reason with Kathy.

Slash

I couldn't protect Braelyn.

Slash.

Brandon POV

I didn't know what to do. Or rather I did, I just didn't want to do it. Because she made me feel so good. But Braelyn was better. The first thing I did was text Jared.

Jared POV

Her golden brown eyes were wide and tears trailed down her cheeks, she still wore my jacket. She saw through me. I still tasted her.

"I… I'm sorry." She sobbed. She ran. They always ran in the end. My father stayed until she ran out of sight. Then he flashed his lights. It was a demand. I could feel his fathers righteous anger. I got into the back and was met with a slap in the face.

"Who is she?" Leo glanced at me with compassion in the rearview mirror.

"She's a friend." I did not show fear. Adrian slapped me again, his anger nearly visible.

"Didn't seem like just a friend. Maybe she's a whore I need to watch." No reaction from the open threat. But I was quick. As fast as a viper I was on my father, giant hand on his throat. My father showed fear.

"I'm working on it." JI snarled, and squeezed for good measure before letting go and getting out of the car. I let my feet lead me wherever. Later when I read the text, his rage tasted like cotton.

'I am leaving Kathy. I'm going to try and be good for Braelyn .'

It was from Brandon. I closed his eyes, took a deep breath through my nose. If he couldn't have Braelyn, that ginger bastard couldn't either. Brown eyes open to an idea.

Kathy POV

I was crying. I hadn't cried in a while. It was exhilarating. Braelyn needed to be shot was my first thought in the morning on Sunday. Brandon needed to be broken was my second. A lovers tragedy, romantic and cruel and deserving. The cunt and bastard, buried beneath 8 feet of dirt. The day dream brought a smile to my face.

Braelyn POV

I made sure my mom didn't know anything was wrong. His jacket felt like a ton of weights on my shoulders and I wanted to wear it forever. It smelled like home. I shook myself hard, what the hell was wrong with me? I had fallen for a boy... No that seemed wrong somehow. Jared wasn't a boy, not really. He was a man. I didn't want to face school tomorrow. That seemed like the worst thing. But I had to, for myself I had to. I would go straight to Brandon and demand an answer, then go to Jared and...well shit. I flopped on my bed and tried not to scream. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't go to mom, she wouldn't understand. Sam would.

"No." I said out loud. I couldn't burden her anymore. I had to figure this out for myself. I had to be strong. I allowed myself to sleep and dreamt of fear and Jared.

Jared POV

I spent the night in the empty mansion bathroom. Leo was standing guard outside the door. I had everything I needed in a black canvas bag, everything but my anger. My anger was becoming something uncontrollable.

Sam POV

The harsh morning brought old blood and pain. Pills in my hand and the shivering cold, mommy's heartbreaking smile. I dressed robotically, pulling a black shirt on with jeans, putting my tired hair in the normal braid. I avoided the mirror and went to school, feeling the cold and the burn in my arms. Pain held back the hate.

Brandon POV

Braelyn did not avoid me. She came up to me and spoke in even tones.

"I kissed Jared." She said. Anger burned.

"You slut!"

Braelyn POV

It's funny how much two simple words can change everything. What's even funnier is that it didn't even shock me. I laughed and walked away because, deep down, I wasn't sorry. I spent my day looking for Jared, but he didn't show. I had to walk home today and looked forward to some alone time. I was strangely calm. Sam noticed and I told her the story behind the closed door of the bathroom. Her response was shock and some part of admirement.

"You did what you felt was right. You should explain to Jared." She said.

"He won't text me back." I said feeling a pang of sadness. My feelings seemed to rule me.

"Well I can text him later too then."

The day felt odd, like things were changing. If only I had known how much each of us had changed, how important that day really was to my future...

Brandon POV

I saw her in that day three separate times, and each time she seemed more changed. Her laugh had scared me, because it said that she was completely done. My Braelyn was gone. I was skipping last period, wandering the halls when it happened. My last thought was that I hoped it wasn't Kathy in that grey hoodie.

Kathy POV

I watched Brandon the whole day and thought I had never seen red so often. Braelyn had changed, almost in a stasis, not responding to anyone, this weird smile on her face. Sam avoided me and it stung because Sam was the most level headed. There was no sign of Jared and later Brandon was gone too. I hoped he was dead.

Sam POV

I noticed the change almost immediately. Braelyn was calmer, she didn't speak unless spoken to, and her gaze was...measured. I texted Jared with no response and worry bloomed in my chest. I felt something bad in the air and it took me a moment to pinpoint what it was. Dread.

Braelyn POV

The last bell was such a relief that I sighed. I was out of the doors before anyone else and decided to take the long way. I needed to think. So many things had gone wrong, yet I couldn't help but feel they were right. Brandon didn't love me, I had known that from day one. With a shock I realized that thought, that knowledge didn't hurt anymore. It was like I was free, and I couldn't see any downside to this. I was almost giddy. The kiss didn't weigh on my mind, it floated around me, and the weight of his jacket felt amazing. I paused, I had just gotten off the big stone bridge, home was about four blocks away. But I wasn't thinking about home, or the cold, the snow or even myself.

I thought about Jared. The way he walked, the careful tones in her voice, his odd hair and deep intelligent brown eyes. I allowed myself to think of him without feeling weird because it felt right. Thinking about the man I kissed with my own free will, felt right.

"My god, I'm in love." I whispered, just as the scream pierced my thoughts. I returned to reality in a flash, looking around me. The scream was male, and had come from the grove of trees by the river. My instincts told me to just keep walking, but my compassion led my feet towards the scream . You are being stupid.

My conscience, who sounded too much like Sam for comfort informed me. I shook my head and kept going, following. Large footprints in the newly fallen snow. What I found made me want to scream.

Brandon POV

When I woke up, I screamed, loud enough to receive a kick in the ribs. It wasn't Kathy thank god. It was Jared.

Jared POV

The ginger bitch stayed asleep for an hour after he was tied to the tree. I didn't move fast enough and the scream sounded, and I kicked him to shut him up. Brandon focused on me and I smiled.

"If you scream again I'll kill you before you know why." The boy nodded and didn't speak, fear overruling his anger. I did not pace as I had seen my father do, instead I crouched down in front of Brandon, inches away, and spoke. "Do you know why?" Brandon shook his head. "Do you want to know?" Brandon shook his head again and I sighed. I opened my mouth to speak but paused when I heard the sound. An angelic "Oh no." From the bushes.

Braelyn POV

I made an involuntary noise when I saw the scene. Brandon was tied to a tree and Jared was there, a gun in his belt, face inches from Brandon.

"Oh no." I whispered before I could catch myself and his head came up to see me. I tried to move but he was on me, one hand over my mouth, dragging me by my hair into the clearing.

"How did you find us? How?" He shook me and I squealed in fear. A second ago I was madly in love with him, so I was a little conflicted. He set me down across from Brandon and pointed the gun at him, holding to his head and looking at me. His eyes were cruel. "Do you want him to pay? For cheating on you? For hurting you?" I spoke before I could think.

"Of course. But not like this. Not like this." In my fear I tried to think like Sam. Don't enrage him, don't let him hurt Brandon. Let him talk so I could think. "Why would you do this Jared?" I sobbed. His anger flashed and he stood, walking over to me he picked me up by my shoulders.

"Because I love you. I've loved you since the first day I laid eyes on you Braelyn." I wasn't very shocked. My fear left no room for surprise.

"My god man, could you be even more pathetic?"

"Brandon you moron!" I squealed, grabbing Jared's arm, trying to stop him from pulling that trigger. Talk, keep talking. "Jared please! You don't want to do this. He isn't worth it. You don't want to ruin your life for him." I turned him to face me. "Jared...I..." I kissed him and then when his hand slacked, I grabbed the gun from him and drew my knee to his groin. When he went down I hit him in the head and ran to Brandon. "Brandon. Hold still." I chewed at the ropes.

"Shoot him." He snarled.

"Shut up." Then he gasped. I whirled to see Jared with the gun pointed.

"No!" I screamed and tackled him hard enough for both of us to go rolling down the bank. The gun went off and I felt fire in my leg, seeing rolling trees and feeling freezing water and pain. I was going to black out.

"Braelyn." Jared put his hand on me.

"Go. Run before they catch you." I managed and slipped into blissful dark.