Chapter 18

To Amara

When I met your mother I was in a bad place but she brought me out of it. She was my light. She made me want to be different. To be better for her I would've done it for you but something in my life happened that made me leave and I didn't know about you when I left. It was the worst decision I ever made. Not raising you or watching you grow. I should've been there. When I came back and saw you I knew you were my blood I knew you were the best of me but I was a broken man when I learned your mom moved on and got married. I ended up doing things I am not proud of and paid the price but I guess this is what I deserve for not being there for you. I am not a killer or a bad man, just broken. I'm not looking for sympathy, I just want you to know I love you and I want to meet you and be the father I've always wanted to be. If you don't want to. I'll understand.

With All my love, your father Cotton Weary

Tears hit the page one by one until I was completely sobbing. I pull the letter to myself rocking myself back and forth. My mom tries to hug me but I shake my head quickly moving away from her. How could she keep this a secret from me?

Those words repeated in my head over and over. By now news spread about what happened last night, and the landline's been ringing all morning. It took a few minutes but I finally uncurled myself.

I was tempted to skip school and stay in bed all day but my mom couldn't call off work so I would be alone...and that's the last thing I wanted. I washed my body for hours, trying to get rid of the blood and his touch... every time I closed my eyes I felt I was reliving it all over again.

I wanted to try to smoke to calm my nerves but I don't think even that will help me this time

After one last shower, I stood in the mirror trying to hold back my tears but no matter how many times I told myself I'd be okay more tears fell and my chest felt heavy. I wanted to meet him but at the same time, I just felt too angry.

I hear a knock at the door, I immediately know it's Tatum. Dewey offered me a ride to school and to be my bodyguard for the day which I accepted and greatly appreciated. I quickly dried my tears and quickly finished getting dressed.

I look out the window to see Tatum and Sidney waiting outside for me to open the door. I took a deep breath before finally opening the door.

Tatum immediately tackles me making me lose my footing as we go to the ground. "Mara, I'm not sure what to say in a situation like this," she says sadly, holding my head against her chest.

Sidney slowly sits down and wraps her arms around us, "Sometimes it's better to say nothing." She breathes hugging my back tight making the tears I tried so hard to hold back fall. My friendship with Sidney was practically doomed, she falsely sent my father to prison and I'm not sure how I feel about that yet.

They held me as I cried for a few minutes and said nothing. They didn't care that we'd be late for school, in that moment they just wanted to be there for me.

I suddenly start laughing making them look at me like I'm crazy. "You okay," Tatum asks worriedly letting go a bit.

"Dewey." I point at him trying to stop laughing at him hesitating on whether he should join the group hug or not. "He's been standing there deciding whether or not to join for like 15 minutes."

Tatum and Sidney lightly let go of me laughing. "I didn't wanna ruin it," Dewey says clearing his throat. "How didn't you notice him he's your brother?" Sidney asks Tatum.

"I hardly ever notice him." She says as we all get up off the floor heading toward the door. Sidney and I stopped and gave Tatum a scolding look.

"Kidding, I love you, bro," she says smacking his cheek as she walks out the door. I give Dewey a big hug before continuing out the door.

Time Skip

Before I could even step foot into class I was called to the principal's office. I see Mr. Himbry at his desk staring at a ghost face mask.

I lightly knock to get his attention, "You wanted to see me Mr. Himbry?" I ask.

He looks up and smiles, "Yes I did, sorry kids are still running around with these on even though people were murdered I know it's sickening." he says holding it up before putting it in his desk drawer. "Please take a seat." he gestures to the chair in front of his desk.

I take a seat confused by why I'm here In the first place. He gets up and leans against his desk. "I heard about your father," he states.

"You and everyone else," I reply boldly not seeing his point of bringing it up. "You know, your dad and I were friends," he added ignoring my comment. Not my father I wanted to scream at him but what good would it do attention is already on me I'd be worse if people found out my father is Cotton.

"So that means?" I quiz rolling my eyes, he walks a bit closer and puts a hand on my chin lightly lifting it "I just want you to know, I'm here for you." He whispers low. Why the fuck is he touching me? I look at him in disgust, if I had my dagger I'd cut off those fingers. Before I could give the perverted prick a piece of my mind, Billy bursts through the door, anger vivid on his face.

looks at Billy surprised but doesn't let go of my chin, I roughly pulled away standing up and stopping a charging Billy from touching Mr. Himbry.

"Billy don't " I beg against his chest but he wouldn't even look at me. "Touch me and I could have you charged with assault." threatens as he moves to hide behind his desk.

"If you live long enough to press charges." Billy bites the inside of his cheek and threatens darkly, the look in his eyes almost seems serious.

"Billy enough," I say sternly pulling him out of the office into the hallway. "I could've handled that," I tell him still pushing him as far away from Himbry's office as possible.

He grips my hands making me stop in my tracks, "You're mad because I want to protect you? He could've hurt you!" he yells at me. Fuck now I'm pissed.

"No, I'm mad that you are being reckless, you almost hit the principal." I snap at him pulling my hands out of his grasp.

"Baby why must we argue,"

"I'm not arguing I'm explaining why I'm right,"

'How are you right?" he asks in disbelief.

"Then you threatened him like it wouldn't be your word against his"

"Why do you care?" He questions like he's annoyed with me. I shook my head In disbelief that he was even asking that.

I go to walk away ignoring his question but his hand grips my neck stopping me, he quickly drags me into an empty classroom and slams me on top of a teacher's desk.

His grip doesn't waiver on my neck as he stares into my soul, his eyes filled with rage and lust. The air filled with tension and our heavy breathing.

"I won't apologize, for wanting to protect you," he whispers lowly looking at my lips. I could feel myself turning red because of the position we were in.

"You should if it means you'll be expelled or worse in jail." I breathe out holding on to his hand around my neck. He smirks at me.

"You're so damn stubborn," he says gripping my neck tighter as he leans against my ear. " I plan to fix that," he whispers lightly biting my earlobe. I bite my lip. This is just the distraction I needed.

"We are not together you can't control me" I state trying to control my breathing, he finally lets go of my neck moving his hand into my hair. "Yet your legs are so open for me," he says teasingly as he starts to kiss down my neck.

The bell rings loudly making him detach his lips from my neck and groan "To be continued." he says picking me up off the desk.

"You coming to the Video store after school?"I ask, putting pieces of my hair back into place.

"No,"

"Come on...for me?" he pleads his eyes looking innocent for once

"Fine"

"Maybe before the party, we could have a little fun," he says kissing my neck. I pull away confused. "Party?" I question.

Billy gives me a shocked look, "you forgot about the party tonight?" he questioned.

"Yeah, lots have been going on it slipped my mind," I say grabbing my head as we quickly snuck out of the classroom trying not to be noticed. "You think Stu would notice if I wasn't there?" I ask hesitantly already knowing the answer.

"No he won't notice at all," he says sarcastically making me groan in irritation. "I don't think I can party after last night, Billy," I say stopping at my locker to grab a book.

"Come on I'd be a good distraction, you know you'd be happy with Sidney and Tatum there," he says standing up against the locker.

I think for a moment, having them there would make me more comfortable. "I'll think about it," I say closing my locker.

"That's all I'm asking," he says as he wraps an arm around me walking me to class. I notice a student hanging up missing posters of Jacob and my eyes go wide. I know he hasn't been in art class but I didn't know he was missing I just thought he was taking time off because of what happened to his brother.

Who would kidnap Jacob?

Time Skip to Blockbuster Store

I walked into the Blockbuster video store to see it was packed with people. I noticed Randy reshelving the returns. "Hi, Randy," I say smiling giving him a big hug. His aura is always so bright and nice being around him already made me feel better.

"Hey Mara, I was surprised to see you In school today". I nodded expecting that response, no one expected me to be out of the house.

"Yeah, figured might as well get it over with people are gonna talk," I say shrugging my shoulders.

"You're probably the strongest person I've ever met," he says a blush lightly hits his cheeks surprising me.

"Aww thank you,"

"Yeah, Normally girls in your situation would be in therapy," he says nonchalantly I instantly laugh at that comment, I probably do need therapy.

"You going to Stu's party?" he questions holding a stack of VHS tapes to put back. "Yeah, I am," I reply. He looked as if he was going to say something else but our conversation is interrupted by Stu smacking the tapes out of Randy's hands.

"Whoops," he says sarcastically sticking his tongue out at him. I roll my eyes at Stu giving him a scolding look, he only smiled harder licking his lips. "Hey Wifey." he greets leaving a kiss on my cheek.

"This place is packed," Stu says as he grabs me by the waist stopping me from helping Randy pick up the tapes.

"We had a run in the mass murder section," Randy replies as he picks up the tapes.

"You coming tonight?" Stu asks him.

"Yeah, I'm off early, curfew you know...Now that's in poor taste." Randy says looking behind me.

Stu and I turn to see Billy down the aisle talking to, a blonde and brunette girl.

Jealousy roared in my stomach. I take a deep breath, no big deal I told him we weren't together. "Jealously looks good on you," Stu whispers in my ear making me lightly turn red. He brushes up against me wrapping his arm around my waist. It grabs Billy's attention immediately.

"If you were the only suspect in a senseless bloodbath would you be standing in the horror section?" Randy questions looking at Billy envious.

Stu shakes his head, "it was all a misunderstanding, he didn't do anything." he says looking down at me and waiting for me to agree but I don't know if I should. What's wrong with me?

"You're such a little lap dog, he's got killer printed all over his forehead," Randy says pointing at him. I admit Billy could be scary at times but a killer... The way he looked at me the other day after we had sex and we were in the bathroom. His eyes were so dark as he watched me, his aura scared me so much that just for a moment I thought it was someone else.

"Then why'd they let him go?" Stu asks, to which Randy quickly replies. "Because they don't watch enough movies. This is standard horror movie stuff. Prom Night Revisited."

I roll my eyes trying to walk away but Stu keeps me in his arms as he continues to talk to Randy as he reshelves the videos.

"Why would Billy want to kill his girlfriend now ex?" Stu asks. "There's always some stupid bullshit reason to kill your ex. That's the beauty of it all. Simplicity. Besides, if it's too complicated you lose your target audience."

Stu and I look at each other with wide eyes. "So what's his reason?" I ask curiously.

"Maybe Sidney wouldn't have sex with him," Randy says joking. Even if Billy was the killer I doubt that would be the reason.

"She's saving herself for you," Stu says sarcastically.

"Could be. Now that Billy's tried to mutilate her, you think she'd go out with me." Randy asks wanting an honest answer. Stu let go of me pointing at Randy dying of laughter. Once he saw Randy was asking, Stu's face went serious.

"No... Not at all." Stu replies shaking his head. I elbow Stu hard making him look at me with puppy eyes.

I was gonna tell him yes, I thought he and Sid would make an amazing couple and he'd treat her so right.

"I wonder if her father did it, how come they can't find his ass?" Stu asks.

"Because he's probably dead. His body will come popping out in the last reel somewhere...eyes gauged. See the police are always off track with this shit, if they just watched Prom Night, they'd have time." I go to reply but Randy's voice gets louder.

"There's a formula to it. A very simple one. Everyone is always a suspect!" He yells making everyone turn to us. Stu quickly gestures that Randy's crazy and off something. I notice Billy coming up behind Randy as he rambles.

"The police are off investigating a dead end while Billy, who's been written off as a suspect, is planning his next hunting expedition," he says.

"How do we know you're not the killer?" Billy asks walking closer to Randy.

Randy turns around surprised. "Uh...Hi, Billy," he says awkwardly. Billy grabs Randy by the collar as Stu is behind him arms crossed on his shoulder blades.

"Maybe your movie-freaked mind lost its reality button? Randy shrugs laughing it off. "You're right, if this were a scary movie I'd be the prime suspect."

"Boys," I say trying to stop whatever this was. "Just a second Wifey," Stu says not even looking back at me.

"What would be your motive?" Stu asks Randy. "It's 1995, motives are incidental," Randy replies making Billy smile at him. Billy releases him and pats his cheek, "That's a good, good kid."

"Can we go now? I have a party to get ready for, that you two a dragging me too." I say pointing at them. "I'll see you later Randy," I say heading out of the video store with Billy and Stu quickly behind me.

"You know you can just get ready at my place," Stu states licking his lips playfully. I look to Billy who raises an eyebrow before punching him so hard he almost goes flying.

"fuck dude," he cries out gripping his arm.

Billy stares at his hand before a dark look crosses his features. "Guess I don't know my strength,"

"Not a bad idea Stu. Let's go," he doesn't wait for my answer as he throws an arm around me.