Chapter 22

*Kevins pov**

When did that brown hair start to seem so soft. It was short and layered as if it had once been cut badly but grew out in a style that seemed costly. Whenever she would get nervous or flinch the mop of hair on her head would always swish.

Maybe that was why I constantly found myself patting her head. Like a puppy.

That was the feeling I held towards her. Sure my frame towered over her and she was pretty petite but something about her behaviour would remind me of a lost puppy. One i so badly wanted to adopt.

But... the weeks past buy and i felt a strange warmth when seeing her. I would miss her at times as well. It was foreign and frightening.

So I decided I would savour it and destroy it somehow after we take care of Mr Nathaniel. But then i noticed the smile on George's face when he looked at her and it pained me? Made me feel an unknown irritation.

What was it?

It frustrated me.

I wanted to keep them both around but not together. Separate.

So i could enjoy both of their company without risking its ruin. Because, sometimes I wanted to lock her up, sometimes I wanted to hurt George.

I forced a smile on my face as I waited for Elliot to answer me.

"Yes" her large green eyes swivelled between both of us. They were captivating. That pale green colour contrasting against her olive skin.

"Do you think romantic love can also be like that?" I asked before my words were over spoken by George's arrogant tone.

"Hamper tell the guy that's just plain jealousy!" He roared.

Jealous?

The word made my eyes widen.

I was jealous?

I laughed at the idea causing George to glare me with an irked stare.

"Crazy bast***" the boy muttered at him.

Elliot gave me a concerned glance which i noticed whilst i stared at her. I hadn't been truthful earlier. I didn't really believe I could love anybody, but I wanted to see her reaction.

"When do you feel jealous?" I asked mostly towards the girl, who answered.

"Me?" She asked. I nodded. "Never... but recently I have been..." she looked as if embarrassed by the words she said.

"For who?" I asked unable to stop myself from leaning forward. A strange anticipation, one I wasn't very familiar with, controlled me.

"Er- no-nobody special" she waved off the idea but I needed an answer.

"It can't be for either of us" her face paled and George sharply inhaled. A smile twitched on my lips, one I had a hard time controlling. An unusual occurrence.

"I-I don't want to talk about it! It's not like we'll still hang out after we take care off Mr Nathaniel!" She stood and went to grab her school bag on the bench.

"Sit back down Hamper!" George shouted waiting for her usual flinch that never came.

"No!" She turned towards him while sticking out her tongue childishly.

My heart tightened at her unknown confidence. It was thrilling.

"Elliot please" i heard my voice make a strange tone by itself and it made the girl stop.

"What?" Her brows furrowed in a pathetic attempt to look angry.

"I have something important to discuss about the plans, there's only a month to go and we don't have much time" I was planning on telling them this last minute but right now I didn't want her to leave and this was the only important information I had lying around.

"Spill it Wright" George said, his voice grumpier than his usual. He was pissed. A sense of satisfaction aroused in me at his reactions to Elliots unexpected answer.

"You already tend to appear this way in school but George I want you to make it seem as if Elliot is your next victim." i saw Elliots face pale as she shook her head in rejection.

"Fine." George briskly agreed.

"Not fine! I have to keep on top of my grades and playing victim is too much on top of everything else" realising she really didn't want this, I wanted to pull apart the hastily made plans. I frowned at the strange feeling that seemed to control my rational thoughts.

"It'll only be a few name callings Hamper and I'll make sure I let others know your mine" my head snapped towards George at that. A murderous intent flipped on within me. Not the usual excitement to kill, but a need for it.

"Yours?" I held back my emotions to hear what George really meant.

"We put names on our victims since it's annoying when other people torment them instead of you", he explained, a wide grin on his face, "what? Thinking something dirty?" Elliots face dipped a shade of red so deep it made me laugh.

"S-stop laughing!" She groaned at both of us. "Fine. If that's it then I have work so I'm off!" She called. I frowned internally.

"Goodbye" I waved at her with my poster smile.