My head hurt.
'So now you think Liam was trying to protect me?'
'I don't know. That's what scares me. We don't know what's going on here. All I know is that since we now have this album, we, or more specifically, you, could be in a lot of danger. We know things we shouldn't. Liam's identity, for example, is destroyed. I can easily see why he'd want to break in here to find the album. But like I said, it could have been anyone that had caught an interest in you considering your scar.'
'It might have been that guy from the house. He could have easily followed us.'
'Exactly,' she said, shifting her gaze away from me. Her fingers fumbled with her charm and then she snapped the album closed. 'I don't think you should trust anyone. In fact, maybe we should call the cops. I mean, look at your room.'
The cell in my pocket felt like led. 'No,' I said, shaking my head. 'If it wasn't Liam, I don't want any attention drawn to him. You're not even supposed to know about him. Besides, if word of anything trouble related regarding Liam gets to my dad, I'll never see him again.'
'But if it was him? Charlotte, this is your life we're talking about.'
'I know, I know,' I said with a groan. 'I can't think right now. Just, no cops, at least until I figure some things out.'
Chapter 15
I felt terrible. Liam had called my house numerous times over the rest of the weekend, but I hadn't picked up. I still had feelings for him, I knew that, but fear had set in. Why would he destroy my room, even if he wanted the album? Didn't he love me? Now I didn't know if Liam wanted to confront me, kill me, or kiss me. Confusion and conflict twisted my stomach in a knot.
Leaning my head back against the school lockers, I tried to slow my swirling montage of thoughts as the hall drained of students. Everything around me felt like a haze, the normal world surreal compared to what I was dealing with. I had never felt more different and alone. My heart hurt.
I turned to face my open locker, and placed both palms against the metal siding, leaning my head down in. I wanted to stay there forever.
'Charlotte,' a deep, familiar voice said. I froze, unmoving from my position. He couldn't be here at school. Ty even said he wouldn't be back after getting kicked out that first time. I had to be hallucinating. My fingers trembled against the locker, and the back of my hairline prickled with electricity. I could feel him right behind me. 'Charlotte, please,' Liam said, his voice low and calm. 'We need to talk.'
'No, no we don't,' I said.
'Charlotte, please,' he said.
I inhaled a sharp breath as I felt the warm sensation of fingers run down my back. My mind screamed for me to run, yet every cell in my body tingled.
'I know you've seen the album, Charlotte.'
I couldn't hear anything but my pulse as I gripped the steel frame of my locker, and then I felt his warm breath on my ear.
'Not here, Charlotte,' he whispered. 'Come with me.'
'I don't think that's a good idea.'
'You can't hide from me forever, Charlotte. We need to talk.' Fingers moved from my back to the edge of my jaw, and he lifted it. Trembling, I cast my eyes down. I couldn't look at him.
'I'm not going to hurt you. You know that, right?' he asked.
'I don't know,' I said, mumbling.
'Charlotte...'
He sounded bruised and a flicker of me felt guilty, but I didn't trust him. He had lied to everyone. 'I have classes. Please let me go.'
Liam dropped his hold on me, his body still looming over mine. 'It's not what you think,' he whispered. 'Can I at least explain?'
His hand moved to the locker next to mine, and I froze, trying to keep my breathing normal. I did want answers. I needed them. The hallway spun and I blinked my eyes. 'I can't leave school,' I said.
'Not a problem.' He grabbed my hand and before I could protest, began leading me down the hallway.
'Wait, where're we going?' Glancing back down the hall, I contemplated screaming, but he rounded the corner, and pulled me into a large open closet. He shut the door, and turned me around. 'The janitor's closet?' I asked.
He shrugged. 'It's private and you can return to classes after we're done.'
I swallowed and looked around. Finding a light switch, I flicked it on. It buzzed sputtering, and then softly illuminated the tiny area. Boxes and cleaning supplies left little room to move. Liam's proximity and stature, blocking the only way out, made my anxiety soar. 'I don't know about this.'
'You don't know about what?' he asked, leaning against the closed door.
The dim lighting cast eerie shadows, accentuating his deep-set features, giving him an intense air. I struggled to focus and relax, knowing full well he could hear my pulse and smell the fear rising off me.
'I know why you haven't been returning my calls, Charlotte,' Liam said, his voice low. I arched my back against the large storage box behind me, trying to manage some distance, my palms sweaty. 'I know what you must be thinking. I'm sure this is all very confusing.'
'Confusing?' I said with a tight voice. 'Confusing, is an understatement.' A surprising rush of adrenaline flushed through me. 'Who are you?'
I could see Liam's face tighten even with the poor lightening, his eyes vacant, and hard. 'I'm a wolf. I told you.'
'That's not what I mean. Who are you?'
'I'm Liam.'
'No you're not,' I said. Liam had never looked so intimidating. His irises flooded gold as they narrowed in on me. I could barely breathe. 'Did you kill him?' I asked. The threat of tears stung. 'Did you kill that boy and take his name?'
I didn't think it possible, but he tilted his head to the side, and took a step closer to me. His human features seemed more wolf-like then ever. His hand began to reach for me, and I pressed the side of my face to the storage box.
'Charlotte,' Liam said, brushing his knuckles down the side of my cheek. Tears fell. 'You know I would never do such a thing. Come on. You know me.'
'Obviously, I don't.'
He dropped his hand and took a step back, casting his gaze down.
'Everything about you is a lie. How am I supposed to trust you? Why should I believe you didn't kill that guy? You're a werewolf!'
Liam flicked his gaze up, gold, and clasped his hand over my mouth. I squeaked a scream under his clasp. 'Shh,' he said. His nostrils flared as he inhaled, focusing on something outside the closet. Footsteps moved on the other side, and I froze. I could feel Liam's skin begin to quiver and stretch.
A few muffled voices spoke, and then the footsteps moved on. Both of us stood silent. Liam released me and stepped back.
'You can't tell anyone, Charlotte. Do you know what people would do? Everyone thinks I'm Liam. They'd kill me. I'm a monster, remember?'
'So you're really not Liam?'
'No.'
I nodded and then scrunched my face up as I felt a tear slip. It hurt.
'Oh, Charlotte, please don't cry. I love you.'
He reached out for me again, but I stumbled backwards, knocking over a storage box. 'Please don't,' I said.
