Count On Me(29)

I’m so angry listening to them laughing about what they did to her that I’m seeing spots in my eyes and they aren’t the ones you get when you’re dizzy. They’re red, just like the rage that’s threatening to boil over in me any second. If they don’t shut the hell up, I’m not going to be responsible for what I do.

It’s taking everything in me right now not to rip their throats out. I did everything Dillon wanted, so why the hell are they still going after her?

The minute I think it, I realize I already know the answer. They aren’t doing this to scare her. It’s all about me. Charlotte’s reaction when I showed should have been the first clue. I’ve known for awhile she likes me and with Dillon catching me talking to Isabelle this morning, I’m sure he passed it along. It means they aren’t doing any of this just to get to her, they’re doing it to get to me. They’re getting their wish too because all I want is them dead at my feet.

The bathroom.

I should have known to check there for her earlier. If I had gone there, instead of the library, maybe none of this would be happening now. Amy and the others always take their victims there. They put an out of order sign on the door and do their business, no one the wiser.

Shit. This is my fucking fault.

“Kayden, you alright man?” I hear Tim ask as I get to my feet again, this time clear on my destination.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just realized I need to hand in a paper for History. He gave me two extensions already and if I don’t hand the damn thing in, he’s gonna flunk me. It’s half the reason Coach wanted to see me so bad. I’ll catch up with you later.”

It’s a lame excuse and I’m pretty sure one of them is gonna see through it, but it’s the last thing on my mind. All of this is happening now because of me. There is no way I’m going to leave her in the bathroom with the way they’re talking about everything. She deserves better than that.

As I go back into the school, Ms. Taylor’s words play over in my head the more I propel myself forward.

“You’re a good guy, Kayden Walker.”

She’s wrong. If I was such a good guy then none of this would be happening right now. No, I wasn’t the good guy she believed me to be. I was the worst kind of guy. There’s only one person alive that I don’t want to be the worst for.

As I reach the bathroom, I take a quick look around, praying there aren’t any teachers around to see me do what I’m about to. It’s against the rules to be caught doing this and with as much shit as I’ve caused lately, I didn’t need this being my last strike. Content that there’s no one around that’s gonna stop me from reaching her, I push on the door.

Where I expect it to push open easily, I slam into it, my face smacking off hard, my body stumbling back in response to the violation. Shaking off the sting my face takes as it hit, I push at it again, this time putting all of my body weight into it. When it doesn’t budge, I realize what I’m going to have to do.

As much as I don’t want to involve anyone, if the only way to get to her is to get one of the janitors to unlock the door, it’s something I’m gonna have to do. There’s no way I’m leaving her in that bathroom one second longer then she’s already been. I’d deal with the fallout later.

It’s only when I hear a sound from the inside that I place my head to the door. After a few seconds of silence, thinking that I’m just hearing things, I hear it again. It’s faint, but it’s a girl’s voice and she’s calling out for help.

Shit.

It’s Isabelle.





Chapter Nine



Belle



Someone is banging on the door.

They’ve been doing it non-stop for the last few minutes and it’s bothering me. I’ve covered my ears with my hands, tried rocking back and forth, nothing blocks it out. It gets louder and not even sticking my fingers in my ears gets rid of it. I just want it to stop and it won’t.

Even though it took awhile, I tried my best to clean the floor underneath me. It’s still stained and wet, but at least there isn’t a puddle anymore. I really hate having accidents, but I hate the mess it leaves behind more. As much as I hate what they say to me when it happens, it isn’t a lie. It does smell.

The problem with the smell is, I don’t usually notice it as much, but this time, it’s all I can smell so while I tried to clean it up, I got sick. Now not only am I burned and soaking wet, my brand new shirt is broken and damp. I want to get out of here so badly, but I don’t have the strength to open the door and leave. The minute I open the door people are gonna see me like this and they just can’t. I’m barely hanging on as it is.