« Skylar's POV »

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How to make someone believe in your lies:

Number One: Rescue them from a creepy guy at their front door.

Number Two: Act innocent.

Number Three: If they ask for any explanation, just kiss them.

Sounds familiar, sweet Skylar?

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"Let's just pretend that you're lying to me." I stated the next morning. Obviously, he had stayed the night at my house since mom and dad weren't to come till the next morning.

And I wasn't that crazy to stay alone here.

"So?" He asked, looking away from his phone's screen at me. His black hair fell over his forehead, almost in his eyes. Now that I actually noticed, they were getting a little longer. But I wasn't going to point that out.

I loved his slightly longish hair. And everything else, of course.

"Well, why are you lying?" I asked, wriggling my brows. He was sitting on my desk chair, busied in his phone. While I was sprawled on the bed, on my stomach, trying to forget about the recent letter I got. The one I just read.

He leaned his head back against the chair, eyeing me.

"Because I don't see a reason to tell you the truth." He replied.

See, that was the problem. I didn't even know if he meant that just because we were pretending it or if he meant that to be real.

"There is a reason." I pointed out before standing up from the bed and slowly pacing around. "You love me. And people don't lie to the ones they love, right?"

He narrowed his eyes at me. "They can if it's for their safety."

I continued pacing again. What did he mean by that? Back then, he had been lying to me just to protect me from Blake. And Kevin.

But why now?

I stopped in front of my closet and turned around.

Maybe I should, for the first time in my life, try not to mingle with something that I'm not supposed to know. It always led to bad situations. And very bad trust issues.

He got up from the chair and walked towards me. Until he was right in front of me. "Why are you so insistent on believing that I'm lying to you?" He asked.

I leaned my head back against the door and looked up at him.

I hadn't been insistent. Those letters had been.

"You haven't even told me the reason for joining your gang back again." I pointed out. "What else do you expect?"

This all reminded me of the time when I used to be insecure about our relationship. I hated thinking that he wasn't being truthful with me. I hated being insecure about us.

He let out a small sigh before slowly snaking an arm around my waist.

"It's because of Blake." He replied.

I furrowed my brows, aware of his body's warmth against me. "You're trying to find him?"

For a mere second, I saw some sort of emotion flicker in his eyes. And then it was gone. "Yes."

An uneasy feeling grew inside me. I couldn't put my finger on it but I knew something was...strange.

"The police is already doing that."

"And yet they still haven't found him." He said. Which was right. I didn't know why it was hard to catch Blake when he was just lurking around here. In Pennsylvania, in Philly.

"The thought of him being anywhere right now. That's scary." I murmured looking at my window. Sunlight shone right inside, spreading a warm glow.

"You don't have to be scared." He pulled me closer, making me look up at him.

"What if he's just outside my house." I wondered out loud. "Nobody would ever know."

A slow smile tugged on his lips. "He can't be lurking around your house, believe me."

"You're saying this as if you're sure about that."

"I am." He said before leaning closer and capturing my lips with his. I placed my hands on either side of his face before kissing him back.

Because I missed this.

And all these moments.

He pulled away before placing soft kisses along my jawline.

"So apart from Blake, do you trust...Kyle?" Forming words was quite hard. But I needed to ask him as much as I could right now.

His lips grazed along my neck as he spoke, "I do trust him with the gang." He murmured before trailing off. As if thinking about something. "But I don't trust him with you."

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

"Well, he is technically staying at my apartment." I said, not mentioning how that was his sister's apartment too.

He pulled away as a small frown formed on his forehead. It was so hard not to grin at that adorable frown.

"He is?" He asked.

"Yeah. It's his sister's apartment too, you know." I shrugged nonchalantly.

His frown didn't seem to leave until I wrapped my arms around his neck and placed a small kiss on his lips.

"Don't worry. I won't try to flirt with him." Which I wouldn't have done anyways. "Even if he's like a little bit hot."

Caden narrowed his eyes at me. "You don't even know how to flirt."

I looked at him accusingly before placing a hand on my chest. "Ouch?"

"And besides." Traces of a smirk formed on his lips. "You'd be the last person he'd want to flirt with."

"How could you say that, you jerk." I was about to push him away but he just pulled me closer.

"It's the truth, babe." He murmured before placing a kiss below my ear. My brain was literally fighting on whether I should've moaned out loud or slapped him.

"You're so mean." I managed to whisper before he pushed me back on my bed in one swift movement, leaning on top of me.

His green eyes stared at me, shining with a sort of hunger in his eyes. "I could just kiss the living shit out of you."

I narrowed my eyes at him then looked away haughtily. "You. Are. Mean."

The edge of his lips turned up in a smirk. "I won't be mean when I kiss you."

I felt my neck heating up.

"I don't care." I replied crossly, still not looking at him. The truth was, I really did care.

He leaned further down, his lips hovering over mine. While his other hand slipped inside my shirt, caressing my bare back. I couldn't help but shiver this time.

"You don't care?" He mocked me in response, still smirking.

"You are...mean." I said, instead of replying to his question.

His hand traveled lower down my waist making the slightest of gasps escape my lips.

"And I love you." He said before finally, pressing his lips on mine.

********************

"I think my boyfriend wants to breakup with me." Emma, my sixteen year old cousin whined for the thousandth time.

I felt like groaning out loud. But Sloane beat me to it.

"Are you for real?" She groaned loudly. "First you freaking show us the adorable and cute pictures you just took with him. And now you're saying this?"

"Insecure much?" I whispered under my breath. I didn't mean it to be heard by any of them. But Uncle John, who was sitting on one of the dining chairs around the couch, let out a snicker at that.

Mom and dad had arrived almost at noon. And everyone else– including my two Aunts, grandma, Uncles and cousins– came few hours later.

"But still." Emma murmured, placing her hands on either side of her face. I had never been close with my cousins. The only time we got together was when parties like such happened.

"You're over thinking." Sloane commented. "Look at me, I don't even have a boyfriend!"

I leaned back on the couch as Chicken mewled and jumped up on my lap. It was almost night by now judging from the dark sky outside the window.

"Even Sky has a boyfriend." I didn't know if that was meant to be offensive. I didn't actually care anyways.

"I know, right." Emma perked up on the change of topic. "When are you introducing him to us, Sky?"

He had left just hours ago.

"Do I have to?" I asked unenthusiastically.

They both nodded excitedly.

"I can't actually. Since I'd have to go back to Philly this Monday." I loved crashing their hopes. I most definitely did not want them to swoon over my boyfriend. Which I'm sure they would've done.

Only I was allowed to do that.

As if Chicken could understand my hidden intentions, she let out an approving meow. I just stroked her fur in response.

"Oh. That's sad." Sloane said.

Talking about Pennsylvania, Caden told me how he'd be moving there too. At least for few days. Ironically, he wasn't doing that for me– which he should've done. But him moving to PA was probably because of his gang. And Blake.

"Guys, the bonfire's done! Come out!" Jake, Sloane's nine year old brother, came in jumping up and down excitedly. Jake and his father, Uncle Chris, had decided to make a bonfire in our backyard.

I was too sleepy to even go out. I never actually saw a reason for such get togethers. Like, why couldn't people just stay inside their own houses?

"All right." Sloane stood up as Emma joined her. "Come on, Sky."

Somehow I made it outside, joining everyone else with Chicken just beside me. Mom was chatting around with everyone else. I hadn't got a single second the entire day to corner her and ask about Blake. Or how he was able to escape under the police custody.

I knew how they both must know about this. But at the same time, I also knew how they weren't willing to tell me any news about this situation. Mom still blamed herself for the time when I practically got killed by Kevin's gang.

Even if that wasn't her fault.

"I actually like spending time with you guys." Emma said looking at Sloane and me. Even if she was few years younger than us, she still got along pretty well.

"Same, Em." Sloane said with a smile, pushing her shoulder length blonde hair from her shoulder.

I would've probably added something onto it if I hadn't seen a tall shadow behind one of the bushes along our fence. For a mere second, I thought I had mistaken it since all the surroundings were dark as well.

But then I saw a figure stepping away from the bushes. Squinting my eyes, I realized how it was the same black hooded guy.

At least the hoodie was same.

Oh Lord.

And for a whole horrifying moment, he stood still, looking at me.

Maybe that's just a freaking statue.

My eyes widened slowly in response when slow chills erupted on my arms. I felt Chicken curling around my feet.

"Guys–" I started but was interrupted.

"Come on, Sky!" I heard somebody calling me where everyone else were gathered. I looked at Emma's direction and saw them all happily chatting.

And then I jerked my head back towards the bushes. I could almost make out someone running away.

It was him. The same guy who was at my door yesterday.

I could've caught up to him so easily. But I stayed rooted at my spot. No, I didn't want to get killed.

Unfortunately, my cat had different plans.

All I heard was a small mewl before Chicken rounded up the corner, chasing after his silhouette.

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Crystal 🌿