Chapter 24


    “So tell me something, Kitten. Do you have a problem with the school buses or you just love walking?”


    He asked, moving closer to me.


    “Neither of the above. I just prefer walking.” I replied, trying to find a way to escape him. “Now, would


    you please get out of my way? I have somewhere to go.”


    Carson put both of his hands beside my head, trapping me between him and the lockers. My heart was


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    beating rapidly. It was doing that a lot whenever I was with him. His alluring scent hit me, causing me


    not to think straight.


    “Hmm…now why should I do that?” He asked teasingly. He was so close to me that I could feel his


    breath on my face. I wonder if he knew what he was doing to me?


    “Because I asked nicely.” I replied, as soon as I found my voice.


    Carson chuckled lightly and began to back away from me. He then stopped abruptly. I looked up at him


    and saw that his eyes were focused on my neck. His piercing blue eyes were so focused on me that I


    became self conscious under his intense gaze. He tilted his head slightly, studying me.


    My heart started to race again. What was he doing? What was he looking at? Did he n on kissing


    me?


    I internally shook my head from that bizarre thought. What was I even thinking? What is wrong with


    you, Ka?


    “What’s that on your neck?” Carson asked, before my thoughts could continue to run away with me.


    “What?” I asked him confused. What was he talking about?


    “Those bruised marks?” He asked furrowing his eyebrows. His yfulness was gonepletely and


    now he had a serious expression in his face.


    Bruise marks? I then felt my heart sink with realization. Oh God…


    The rain must have washed off the makeup that I used to conceal my bruises. Now, he was looking at


    the bruises that An gave mest night, when he squeezed my neck. How could I be so stupid? I


    should have been more aware and noticed it in the bathroom mirror.


    “Oh…um…the curling iron burnt me this morning.” I lied. Iugh a little. “The curling iron is always


    burning me.” I added, hoping he would fall for that story.


    Seriously, Ka? Curling iron? Couldn’t you havee up with something better? I knew I was a bad


    liar, bute on, burnt by a curling iron?


    His eyebrows pulled together in suspicion. “I’ve never known a curling iron to do that damage.” He


    replied.


    “Yeah, that’s because I burnt myself more than once. I’m always so clumsy.” I replied, hoping he would


    drop the subject.


    He looked at me for a long while, studying me. “You’re lying to me.” He finally said.


    I felt a lump form in my throat at his words. I was so shock that I couldn’t speak to defend myself. He


    didn’t believe me. Normally people would fall for my stories, but now Carson was telling me that he


    didn’t believe me.


    Thankfully, I found my voice just in time. “You are so paranoid. What do you mean by you don’t believe


    me? What else could it be?” I asked.


    “I’m no fool, Ka. I know the difference between a bruise and a curling iron burn.” He responded, his


    eyes boring into mine. He then turned and walk away without another word.


    I stood where I was and watched him leave. I then close my eyes, resting my head on the locker


    behind me and sighed. I can’t believe what had just happened.


    What have you gotten yourself into, Ka?


    It was now Saturday and I was at the cafe. It was just a few minutes to six and for the moment,


    business was slow. There hadn’t been any customers for the passed half and hour and the small


    amount that were in here had already gotten served. Because I didn’t have anything to do, I made


    myself busy with the task of wiping down the counter.


    I was finished and had just washed my hands, when the bell over the door indicated a new customer. I


    looked up at the person and saw that it was Carson. He came into the cafe and sat at a booth near the


    window. I took up my ordering pad and walked over to him.


    “Hi Carson. What can I get you?” I asked, when I reached where he sat.


    Carson looked up at me with a surprise expression. He then smiled, but it wasn’t a full smile. “I didn’t


    remember that you work here.” He said, then looked down adding. “I don’t want anything. I just came


    here to sit down.”


    “Okay then.” I studied him. Carson wasn’t himself at all. It was obvious that something was on his mind.


    Even when he talked to me, his mind was somewhere else. I frown at him. “Carson are you okay?”


    He look up at me, then back to the table. “Yeah, sure.” I knew he was lying, so I pushed on. “You can


    tell me. I’m a good listener.”


    He looked at me and smiled again. This smile was much more believable. “You don’t give up, do you?”


    He asked, propping his elbow on the table and rest his chin in the palm of his hands.


    I smiled and shook my head. “Nope.” I said popping the ‘p’. “One, I’m sure you have a lot of work to do


    and two, as I said before, I’m okay.” He replied.


    “One, you are not and two, take a look around you. The cafe is practically empty.” I countered, waving


    my hands around the almost empty cafe. I then turn around to give Samantha, who was at the cash


    register a signal that I was going on a break. She nodded at me and I took a seat in front of Carson.


    “So, tell me.”


    “It’s nothing. You don’t have to worry yourself with it.” He said, removing his hand from his chin and


    resting both of them on the table.