Endless thoughts

Endless thoughts
Raelynn POV

It’s been three days since meeting up with Ares, and I’ve yet to talk to Kieran.

Ares was a murderer, and I was his prey. Why? That’s the part I haven’t figured out yet.

Was he simply a sick man with taboo desires? The way he spoke that night sent chills through my body… He seemed; Proud.

But not only over his handiwork with the bodies. It seemed like he was proud that I figured him out. The thought seemed to excite him, and I don’t know if that should make me happy or terrify me.

Ares told me he wouldn’t leave me any more gifts, but that didn’t mean that he was no longer following me.. Nor did it mean that I was safe.

“Earth to Raelynn,” I blinked, and Miles was standing in front of me, concern etched in his features. “Where were you just now?”

“What do you mean?” my teeth clamped down on my bottom lip. I’d been trying to avoid Miles because how do you tell a guy who might be interested in you that you are sort of being stalked by a maybe serial killer and you’re also in love with said serial killers’ brother…

That and I’ve just finally begun speaking normally.

“I’ve been standing here for at least two minutes,” Miles frowned, “I’ve been going mad trying to figure out what happened to you.”

“I didn’t mean to worry you,” I whispered, glancing down at my casted leg. “It’s been a long two weeks.”

“Can I grab us some smoothies to talk?” the hopeful look in his eyes had me reluctantly agreeing.

“Bitch, you’ve got some explaining to do,” Sadie snarls from about ten feet away. Her face is scrunched in a snarl, and the bun on her head falls a little more with every stomp. “I have called you, I don’t know,” she whips out her phone, flashing the screen at me. “FIFTY TIMES. I thought you died. Then I thought you were a vegetable. Then, I had to go asking around, which, newsflash, have you heard the rumors?”

“I have not,” a dull ache began throbbing in my temples. It seemed like rumors followed me wherever I went.

“They’re saying you were rammed by the angry wife of the guy taking you home. I’ve just about throat punched at least five people,” she placed her chin in her hand, “Kieran hasn’t been here either, so the other theory is that he tried to kill you for your drunken stunt the other night.”

“Wait,” my brows pinched together, “Kieran hasn’t been to school?”

“Girl,” Sadie narrowed her eyes, “That’s where you got snagged?”

Miles returned with two smoothies, frowning as he walked up, “I would have grabbed three if I knew you’d be joining.”

Sadie waved him off, hopping up from her seat, “I wasn’t staying,” she practically bear hugged me, “You and I. Tomorrow night. Booze and girl time,” she hissed in my ear before wagging her fingers.

“I guess everyone has been worried,” he slides over my smoothie with a smile.

“Yeah, I didn’t think anyone would notice my absence,” I realized as the words left my mouth, how depressing they sounded. “I didn’t mean for that to sound so… pitiful,” I huffed, a nervous smile pulling on my mouth. “Me ignore.”

My eyes widened, but Miles didn’t get hung up on my mix up. I was almost one-hundred percent, but occasionally, words still jumbled. “How bad were your injuries?”

“You don’t want to know what happened?” I chewed on the end of the straw, my thoughts returning to the rumors and Kieran.

Miles scooped out some of the whipped cream on the top of his smoothie with the spooned-end of his straw, “Only if you want me to know.”

If I didn’t know better, I wouldn’t believe that men like Miles existed. Every time he speaks, it’s genuine and mature.

I give him the watered down version of what happened, leaving out the fact that Kieran’s father and brother murdered my friend and nearly myself in the process.

“And here I thought you were an adulterer,” he shook his head in mock disappointment, making me giggle, but the moment was short lived.

Johnny’s death was like a dark cloud looming over my head every day since the accident. He died so suddenly, without having a chance to say goodbye to anyone… And knowing him, his last moments weren’t spent sifting through the memories in his life.

They were likely spent wondering whether or not I was safe.

“How’s football?” I changed the subject, and Miles transitions with ease, not commenting on the abruptness of it.

“Same as always. Playoffs are soon, so I’ve been busy training. There is actually a party on Friday night before the big game this weekend,” he smiled. “It’s going to be a costume party. You should come.”

“I don’t know…”

“Absolutely no pressure, but I’d love it if you joined me,” Miles’ smile was bright, genuine. He wanted me to come... with him. Not be a dirty little secret behind closed doors.

Once again, my mind spirals back to Kieran, and it makes me angry with myself. Why does he have to consume so many of my thoughts? Why does he keep me at an arm’s length? Especially now that I know the truth about his family.

“I’ll send you my costume and you can let me know if you’d like to coordinate,” he grins as the alarm on his watch goes off. I watch his face fall, “If playoffs weren’t around the corner, I would skip training, but….”

I smile, “I understand. Send me your costume and I’ll think about it.”

“Gotcha,” his grin grew into a full smile. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

“I won’t.”

“I’m holding you to that,” he pointed the smoothie towards me, walking backwards, and making me laugh.

The quad was quiet as I grabbed my crutches, moving through the bitter October air. The last few days have been colder than usual, and for some reason, it feels like a bad omen.

Professor Gallows has the door open, my eyes scanning the filled seats, but still no Kieran.

A few stragglers nearly send me toppling over before I’m spinning on my heel and ordering an uber.