Chapter 12

Kevin to say the least was charismatic not only in personality, but with his beautifully crafted face as well. This made just about everyone at the barbecue drawn to him. Aunt Clair and Uncle Bernard were especially interested in him, thinking he was Jennifer's boyfriend.

"Where did Jenny meet such a catch?" Jamie asked in awe, as her eyes seemed glued to Kevin.

"He goes to our school" I muttered, but it was deaf to their ears.

Kevin handled the situation well and when the food was ready and everyone gathered round the table, he was included.

I usually didn't eat with the family so I went inside to finally lounge around, until they were done and I had to clean up.  I went to my room where my phone lay untouched since morning.

Lying down, I pressed the power button and notifications came streaming in.

Missed calls from George and Kevin- messages from them as well.

Are you okay?- George

Text back dammit!!!- George

Elliot are you sick?- Kevin

I'm coming to your house- Kevin

I stared at them and suddenly my vision blurred and I closed the screen.

Up until this point, I thought nobody would care if I died or disappeared. I thought my life mattered as much as a fruit flys and just lived to survive. The alien warmth that I had been exposed to so little before was suddenly coming at me full throttle and from the two people I would have least expected it from.

I straightened up when I heard a knock on my bedroom door and hesitantly walked over.

I opened the door to familiar green eyes.

"Kev"-

"Are you crying?" His brows were furrowed as he lifted a hand and wiped away the stray tear on my face, "Why?" He lowered his head towards mine in confusion.

I felt more tears cloud my vision as I pushed him away and covered my face in embarrassment.

"What's the matter?" He said once more, this time not intruding my personal space.

I wanted them to stop but they wouldn't. They couldn't.

"It's nothing, just a girl thing" I finally managed to suppress the tears and smiled reassuringly at the blonde.

"Okay...?" He gave up on receiving a satisfying answer it seemed. "Why aren't you eating outside?" He asked.

"I usually eat later after cleaning up" I shrugged as I gestured for him to sit down on  the bed in the cramped room.

He sat down unperturbed by the size of the room and threw his head back, half lying down on the bed.

"Your not allowed to die." He spoke randomly surprising me.

"What if i die in an accident?" I challenged him stubbornly.

"Don't." He curtly answered.

"What if I get killed by someone?" I said but then regretted my words. If anyone would kill me, it would be Kevin.

"Then it would be by me" he spoke turning his head and making eye contact with me.

I frowned.

"Can't you leave me alone after we get rid of Mr Nathaniel?" Kevin was like an addictive poison for me. Something I would crave but shouldn't have. A drug.

He went silent.

A call came through on my phone surprising me. It was George.

Kevin held out his hand, offering to take it and I willing gave it to him.

"She's alive." Their was desolate look in his eyes as he spoke like his thoughts took a turn for the worse.

I couldn't help but wonder why Kevin was suddenly so fixated on keeping me alive. Did he want to kill me so badly?

"Then why the hell wasn't she picking up her phone!" The screaming on the other end of the line made it seem like my phone was on speaker.

"It's her cousins birthday" he drawled and then he shut the phone quickly.

Kevin turned his head to look at me and then grinned.

"Happy Birthday!" It was kinda comical but I couldn't laugh instead the moment I opened my mouth an awkward croak came out. The tears I held back flooded out at once.

Kevin's face turned to a look of surprise, but soon recovered as he came over and patted me on the back. It was awkward, but I appreciated it.

Wiping them off quickly, I smiled at him.

"Sorry it's been a while since anybody said that to me" I laughed it off.

I saw Kevin's hands clench as his face hardened. Anger blinded his eyes. He stood up and exhaled shakily releasing his tension.

"Sorry I - I don't enjoy seeing you being treated like this" he confessed moving towards the window and shooting a thoughtful glare at the view of the back garden.

"Why?" I always assumed people like Kevin weren't capable of any emotions. Psychopaths.

But judging from his behaviour that couldn't be true.

I didn't receive and answer from Kevin so I asked another one.

"Why do you kill people?"