Chapter 17 17
Kimberly’s POV
I held his gaze, waiting for him to explain it properly, to stop speaking in riddles for once, but he didn’t look away. “What does that have to do with Julian?” I asked, my voice steady even though something in my chest had started to tighten.
London’s expression shifted slightly, it was not mocking this time, but really seriousl, like he was weighing how much to say. That alone made my guard go up. He always talked like he didn’t care about consequences, so seeing him hesitate felt wrong in a completely different way.
“It has everything to do with him,” he said.
I exhaled sharply, already losing patience. “You don’t get to say things like that and then act mysterious about it. If you know something, just say it. I am really worried about him.”
He stepped closer, not invading my space the way he usually did, but close enough that his voice didn’t have to carry. “You’re asking the wrong questions.”
“Then tell me the right ones to ask, since I came to this school it has been one issue to the next.”
His eyes flicked over my face like he was trying to read something off it, something I didn’t even know I was showing.
“London!”
The voice cut through the moment sharply, pulling both our attention toward the courtyard entrance. One of his friends jogged over, breath slightly uneven, expression tight in a way that didn’t match the usual careless energy they carried.
“There you are,” the guy said, glancing between us before focusing back on London. “Your dad’s people are here.”
London’s jaw tightened slightly. “So?”
“So you need to come now. They’ve been asking for you.”
There was a brief pause, tension flickering across London’s face before it disappeared just as quickly. He looked back at me, something unreadable settling in his expression.
“This isn’t over,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be,” I replied without hesitation.
His lips twitched faintly, almost like approval, before he pushed off the wall. “Stay out of trouble.”
I let out a short, humorless breath. “You should try taking your own advice.”
He didn’t respond to that. Just turned and followed the other guy out, leaving me standing there with more questions than I started with.
I didn’t move for a few seconds after he was gone, my mind replaying everything he said, every word, every pause, trying to pull something solid out of it.
I went home and waited eagerly for Julian. I wanted him to throw stones at my window and give me a surprise visit like last time. And I was done standing around waiting for it to make sense on its own.
But he never came. Eventually, sleep came and I was pulled into a deep sleep, but could not have a good night's rest, almost immediately after my sleep. I appeared in a dark room, I could only see one light by the corner and I walked towards it. When I got there,I could see a guy bending under the light, so I reached out my arm to touch him. Then a man with bloody eyes,lips and fangs snapped his head towards my direction.
I woke drenched in my own sweat and also a weird taste in my mouth. What could those mean? I questioned myself as I sat upright, unable to sleep back.
The next morning, I practically dragged my feet to the school. School felt louder than usual. If anything, people spoke in lower tones, but there was something underneath it, something restless. The kind of tension that spreads when something big has happened and there was a new rumor that no one fully understands it yet.
I walked through the hallway without slowing, ignoring the looks, the whispers that followed like they always did now. That part didn’t bother me anymore. What did was the way everything else felt slightly off, like I was walking into something I couldn’t see yet.
By the time I reached my locker, I already knew what I was looking for. Or rather who I have been trying to find since yesterday's event.
Julian leaned on a locker. I thought I was seeing things, but he was really here. Exactly where he should be. His posture straight, expression composed, like yesterday hadn’t happened at all.
If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought I imagined the entire thing. But I didn’t imagine it. I coudnt have and I trusted my guts. I stepped closer.
“Morning.”
His eyes lifted to mine immediately, calm, steady, giving nothing away. “Morning.”
That was it. No acknowledgment of anything.
I opened my locker slowly, more aware of him than I should have been, waiting for something to slip through that perfect control he always carried.
“You left yesterday,” I said, keeping my tone even.
“I had something to deal with.”
“That’s it? Because it didn't seem that way yesterday,”
He glanced at me briefly. “What else would there be?”
I shut my locker a little harder than necessary. “You tell me. I was worried about you, I mean, you could have reached out.”
Instead, he shifted his attention back to the hallway, like the conversation had already ended in his mind. I watched him for another second before turning away. If he thought I was just going to let it go, he was wrong.
Classes dragged, I just wanted it to end, not that I was even concentrating anyways. I barely registered anything that was being taught, but because my focus refused to settle anywhere except on the questions still sitting in my head.
Every now and then, I caught that feeling that someone was watching me like someone was watching.
The way his gaze lingered a second too long before shifting away, the way his attention seemed fixed on me even
By lunch, I’d had enough. I found him outside, near the quieter side of the building where fewer people passed through. He was alone, which made this easier.
“Are you going to keep pretending nothing happened?” I asked, stopping in front of him.
His gaze lifted, calm as ever. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”
I let out a short breath. “You disappearing. And showing up out of nowhere to have a fight with London. The way you looked—”
I stopped myself. His eyes stayed on me, waiting, but not pushing.
“That’s what I thought,” I muttered, shaking my head slightly.
“You’re overthinking it.”
“No,” I said quietly. “I’m not.”
I crouched slightly so I was at eye level with him, not giving him the chance to look past me this time. Then his gaze dropped. All the way to my wrist, I followed it without thinking.
And that was when I saw it. It was fine but it was there. Barely noticeable unless you were looking for it. It was a mark.
My breath caught slightly as I turned my wrist, examining it more closely. It wasn't a bruise or something that bled,it looked more like a mini tattoo “When did this get here?” I asked, more to myself than to him.
Julian didn’t answer. “You see it,” I said.
He didn’t deny it. “What is it? What did you do?” I asked quietly.
His eyes flicked back to mine, something unreadable settling there. “I didn’t do anything.”
“I do,” I said, my voice firmer now. “Because this wasn’t here before.”
“You should stay close to me,” he said.
I blinked. “What?”