Count On Me(92)

Dillon’s eyes go wide, like his secrets are being exposed and I’m confused by it. It doesn’t seem like such a big secret. Honestly, it’s something I was thankful for until they chose me to target. So what’s with the look now?

“At least that’s how it was until you chose to single her out. I didn’t get it at first, but I do now.”

“Well don’t keep us in suspense man; we’re dying to know what your retard loving ass thinks.”

“Tim, say that word again. I dare you.”

Tim’s mouth instantly shuts and Eric laughs, probably as amazed as I am at how right I was with my earlier statement. He does seem to follow commands easily, almost like a dog obeying its master.

“You chose Belle to get to me. I still don’t understand why, but it’s obvious that it’s what you wanted. That’s why you gave me the choice a few weeks ago isn’t it, Dillon? Choose another victim or you’d continue to harass her? You planned on continuing anyway, you just wanted her to hate me at the same time.”

I can tell by the look in Dillon’s eyes that he’s been caught. Whatever plan he put into motion weeks ago is being pulled apart at the seams and he can’t talk his way out of it. I had no idea that’s why Eric was chosen, but now that I do, everything’s clear. I really was a game all along, but not to Kayden.

I was a game to Dillon.

“Every frigging step you made was to try and bring me down. I thought it was her, hell, I think she thought it was her, but it was never about her was it? It was always me.”

Dillon nods and I feel sick. There are so many things I blamed Kayden for; even knowing deep down, he had no part in. All the while it was him they were after. They really wanted to hurt their friend.

“It ends now.”

Dillon takes a step forward and there’s a moment as he moves in on Kayden that I think they’re going to end up fighting again, but just as soon as I think it, I watch Kayden take a step back, closer to me and he makes his position clear.

“I said it ends now and I mean it. We all know I can easily take you down, but that isn’t going to solve shit. I’m done.”

He turns his back, his eyes again leveled in my direction and he smiles, but only the one side of his mouth lifts. There’s an uncertainty in his eyes, like he’s unsure what he’s supposed to say or do next and as much as I want to guide him. I can’t.

“This is never gonna be done, K. I told you. When you least expect it, I will end you.”

“I’m on the edge of my seat Dillon, really I am. You want me, I’m not that hard to find. What I’m talking about is the torture, not only to Eric, but Isabelle too. It’s over. If I hear or see any of you near these two, or any other kids the way you were with them, suspension or expulsion from this hellhole will be the least of your worries.”

“Is that supposed to scare us?”

“I don’t really give a shit what it does, but try me and find out.”

Turning his body, this time moving until he’s positioned directly in front of both me and Eric, he points down the hall.

“Let’s get out of here. It’s over.”

We both turn and start moving away from Dillon and the others even though we can still hear them arguing with each other. It’s only when we’ve made it far enough away that they’ll be unable to hear us that Kayden speaks again.

“Eric, can I talk to you for a sec?”



Kayden



He wasn’t supposed to be a part of my plan, but with the way he seems to care about her and the way he smiled at me when he heard it was me rigging the P.A system, he’s the only person that can help me with what comes next.

I have no doubt that the mess with Dillon is nowhere near over. I also know that despite my threat to him about leaving Eric and Belle alone, he’ll still find ways to get around it. I’m banking on him doing that. I meant what I said about backing away from the fighting. I’m done with it, but it doesn’t mean I can’t get him back in other, smarter ways.

She’s wary of me, since I stopped in the middle of hall and called for Eric instead of her. Pretty sure that’s gotta come as a shock, but I can’t worry about that right now. Everything that happens from this point forward has to have my entire focus. If it works the way I hope, it all comes back to her happiness anyway, so I can handle her being pissed for a little while.

Hearing her speak only solidifies what I’m doing here. There may have been a point, a few weeks ago where she actually needed me there to protect her, but I always knew she could take care of herself. That all she needed was strength and her voice. She proved that to me today, talking down to those assholes that until a few weeks ago, I called my best friends.