Love Me

“I dropped her off at her dorm.”

“I was just at her dorm. No one has seen her.”

“I’m not sure what she did after I dropped her off.”

“You have a black eye.”

“I'm sorry, Miss Clarke, but you need to leave. If you are concerned about Miss Monroe, I'll be glad to call the dean for you.”

“No, um, that's okay.”

Cooper shuts the door and turns the deadbolt. I shut the window, thankful not to have to crawl out of it.

Then I duck when I see Whitney peering back at the house.

“She’s a pain in the ass. I’m going to call Garrett to have some reinforcements sent in. I want a couple people just outside the school’s gates. Tell me what happened. How do you know that he’s here? Did you see him in the audience?”

“No. A stagehand gave me a ridiculously huge bouquet of flowers. The card was only signed with the chaos tattoo that Vincent got. And I was freaking out because I don’t have my locket on. I had to take it off for the play.”

While he’s on the phone with Garrett, I check my phone. I have a bunch of missed calls from B.

I decide to call him back.

“Keats! Wow!”

“Wow what?”

“You were amazing and I haven’t even seen it all yet. I wanted to come, but I figured that would be too dangerous. So I called a local videographer and paid him to record the play today. I’m watching it now. Keats, you did so good. I’m so proud of you. Did you get the flowers?”

Relief crashes over me like an ocean wave.

I drop my phone and start crying.

Cooper walks back in the room, picks up my phone, and says, “She’ll call you back.”

“What happened?”

“The flowers were from my ex, Brooklyn. They weren’t from Vincent. I’m sorry. I panicked when I saw the chaos tattoo. He and I both have them. I hate this!” I scream. “I hate that I can’t even get surprise flowers from a boy without freaking out!”

“Calm down. You did the right thing. Sit down for a minute. I need to call Garrett back.”

I throw myself across his bed.

Cooper shakes me. “Hey.”

I wake up with a start. “I think I fell asleep.”

“It’s called an adrenaline crash.”

“Yeah, I guess. I suppose I better get back to my dorm.”

He takes me downstairs and hands me the big bouquet of flowers that B sent. “I went and got them for you.”

I look at them and smile. “I should’ve known they were from him. The aqua blue ribbon is almost the same color as his eyes.”

“Maybe you should call him back.”

“Yeah. Do you care if I call him from here? I don’t want my friends to overhear anything they shouldn’t.”

“Go ahead. I’ve got a faculty meeting to attend. Just lock the door when you leave.”

“Thanks, Cooper. Did Garrett get mad?”

“He wasn’t mad. But I didn’t tell him what we have pla

I call B.

“What happened? Who was that guy?”

“I’m sorry. Thanks for the flowers. They’re beautiful. I just freaked out because I thought they were from Vincent. I thought he found me.”

“Who was that guy?”

“It was Cooper, my bodyguard.”

“You have a bodyguard?”

“I do now, yes.”

“How did you not know the flowers were from me? I signed it with chaos. Even did the bow the color of the ocean.”

“I told you that Vincent got a tattoo just like yours and he rubbed it against me in Miami.”

“I didn’t even think of that. I’m so sorry I scared you.”

“It’s okay.”

“I just finished watching the play. You were amazing, Keats. Really. I’m going to figure out a way to get rid of Vincent. Then you can come home and act. We’ll do a schedule. I’ll still travel but we’ll spend as much time together as possible. Tommy and your mom always make their schedules work. We’ll do it too.”

“Brooklyn, would you really be okay with me acting? With all that goes with it? The red carpet events. The tabloids. The magazine covers. Kissing my co-stars.”

“I’ve been going to clubs.”

“What?”

“I know. But that’s what all the guys like to do for fun while we’re on tour. I didn’t really get why you like it so much. But it’s the energy. The crowd. That’s what you love more than the dancing, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, probably.”

“I love you, Keats. I know I was a jerk about your party. About dancing. About your dress. It wasn’t slutty. You looked amazing. Like always. I was pissed at myself. I knew the second I left guys would be lining up for you. I just didn’t know what to do.”

“What if you got a do-over? What would you do differently?”

“I’d ask you to be my girlfriend. We’d figure out together how to make our relationship work. I’d be the only boy kissing you on the dance floor. And if I ever get the chance to walk with you on a red carpet, I’d be there. I’d even wear a suit.”

“Really?” I say, holding my hand to my heart as my eyes fill up with tears.

“Really.”

Monday, November 7th

Sandy castles.

 4am

Cooper and I leave in our separate cars from school, meet up at the airport, and do our cross-country tour to get to Vancouver without leaving a trail.

When we get to the house my family is leasing, a shocked James meets us out front surrounded by four security guards.

“What are you doing here?” he asks, eyeing me suspiciously.

“What do you think I’m doing here, James? It’s Gracie’s birthday.”

“Who’s the guy?”

“This is Cooper Steele. Garrett hired him to be my bodyguard. Why are you acting so weird?”

“Since Vincent followed your mom to New York, we’ve been worried that you might not be enough for him.”

“What do you mean?”

“We think you’re both in danger. That’s why you haven’t seen any pictures of your mom and Tommy together. She refuses to go out in public with him. She won’t even ride in the same car with him.”

“Why?”

“She had a dream that Vincent shot them both. She’s afraid it was a premonition, and she doesn’t want the girls to grow up without at least one parent.”

“That’s horrible!”

“Garrett is also worried that he could use one of you as bait. In order to get you both.”

“Has he been following Mom?”

“She always has someone following her. It’s rarely Vincent, but we know he’s hired someone. And he watches the house. You shouldn’t be here.”

“Why don’t you make him go away?”

“Because he sucks at his job and is easy to spot. If he’s there, we know Vincent is probably not.”

“Wait. Is that why you brought the hulks with the guns out here? Why you haven’t let me in the house? You think I’d bring Vincent here? Where my sisters are? Are you nuts, James?”

“I’m sorry, Keatyn. I assume no matter what that you’d want me to keep your sisters safe. Is that correct?”

I nod as tears flood my eyes.

I was so excited to come here. I thought everyone would be happy to see me.

I turn toward the car. “I have a present for Gracie. Will you please give it to her and let her know it was from me?”

I open the car door and ask Cooper to unload her present.

“We’re clear.” I hear from a walkie-talkie.

Cooper has been standing stick still but ready to strike. He hasn’t said a word until now. “That means you get to go to your sister’s birthday party.”

“I’m sorry,” James says to me. “I’m just doing my job.”

I nod as we’re led through the front door of a sprawling contemporary log cabin style home.

Mom rushes down the stairs. “Keatyn! Why are you here?”

“I came for Gracie’s birthday. I couldn’t miss it.”

She looks really nervous to see me, but she quickly hides it with a smile. “Did Brook know you were coming?”

“Uh, no. Why?” I reply as Tommy and Mom give me hugs and I introduce them to Cooper. We briefly explain how Vincent is in Miami doing his auditions, so we knew that my coming here would be okay. Cooper also fills James in on our no breadcrumbs trip here.

We follow Mom out to a lush backyard.