Chapter 7

• I was scared. It's not every day that you receive a message saying they're going to kill you. Oh my God. It's terrible. I've only been here for two days and they already want to see me dead. I couldn't take my eyes off my phone, I was breathing with some difficulty, maybe I shouldn't pay attention, maybe it's just a cruel joke. But should I stay away from Kayler? I'd be happy to, but I'm not the one seeking him out. Who could have sent the message? Paige? I looked at Paige, she was sipping her juice, very calm. I don't see her with her phone in hand so it can't be her. Could it be another girl in love with Kayler? Because there must be several.
• I turned my gaze back to my phone. I think I need to calm down and ignore it. This message shouldn't scare me, I am strong and can handle whoever is behind this. I turned off my phone and looked at Anne, who was watching me with a furrowed brow.
• "Are you okay?" she asked. "You look pale."
• Yes, I'm fine, considering there are wolves and now Kayler's admirers who want to kill me.
• "Yes, it's just that... I don't feel well," I lied. It wasn't entirely a lie, I feel awful.
• She placed her hand on my forehead and nodded.
• "That's true, you have a fever," she said, taking another bite of her sandwich. "You should go to the infirmary to get something prescribed."
• Not a bad idea. If I'm lucky, they'll tell me to take the afternoon off.
• "Alright. I'll go," I grabbed my backpack and slung it over my shoulder.
• "Do you want me to come with you?" Anne asked, starting to get up.
• "No. Don't worry, I'll go alone. We'll talk later," I smiled at her.
• I walked straight to the cafeteria exit, I could see that Kayler couldn't take his eyes off me, and neither could Paige. I headed to the infirmary, knocked on the door twice, and a young girl opened it.
• "Hello, what can I do for you?" she asked.
• "I think I have a fever."
• The girl ran her hand over my forehead and nodded.
• "That's right."
• I sat on the edge of a nearby bed, watching the girl search for something in the drawers.
• "I'll give you some pills," she announced, pulling out a packet, "but they'll make you sleepy so go home and rest for a bit. Don't worry about anything, I'll report to the principal."
• She handed me two packets of pills. I smiled at her.
• "You just need to leave your name..." she approached her desk and handed me a notebook and a pen, "... here."
• She handed me the notebook, I took it, writing my name on it. There were two names above mine, one said Augusto and a certain Hannah Grey. When I finished, I handed it back to her.
• "First, take two and in eight hours take another two," she explained.
• "Thank you."
• I left the infirmary intending to find a taxi or something to take me home, but as I walked down the hallway I saw Connor coming towards me, the guy who separated me from Paige yesterday.
• "Hello, Carolina," he greeted with a smile.
• "Connor."
• Connor wasn't bad looking at all, he's very handsome. His body is well-built and his gaze is sincere... Sweet. Not like Kayler.
• "Are you okay? I saw you go into the infirmary."
• At first, I nodded uncertainly but then shook my head, pursing my lips into a straight line.
• He frowned.
• "Are you sick?" he asked, with a hint of concern.
• "Yes. It seems I have a bit of a fever, I'm going home to rest."
• We went down to the first floor in search of the exit. I just hope I don't run into Kayler, I don't want him to take me home. The bell rang announcing the start of the next class hours. The boys started to leave the cafeteria. I quickened my pace.
• "Do you want me to take you?" he inquired, keeping up with me.
• Not a bad idea. That way I'll escape from Kayler.
• Speaking of the devil...
• "Hey, where do you think you're going?" he grabbed my arm and held onto me.
• I looked at him with disdain.
• "Let her go, Brown," Connor snapped at my side.
• Kayler shifted his gaze from me to Connor. He looked at him with hatred.
• I feel terrible witnessing a fight. My head is spinning and I don't have the strength to break free from Kayler, all I want is to get home and sleep.
• "This is not your problem, Connor," he bellowed.
• Kayler held onto me tighter. Why am I not doing anything? Damn it!
• "If she doesn't want to go with you, leave her. You have no right to tell her what to do," Connor said, clenching his fists.
• Kayler became more enraged. He let go of me and approached Connor threateningly. Kayler didn't flinch. They were ready to start a fight.
• "Enough already!" I managed to say. Well, actually, I think I shouted.
• The two boys in front of me looked at me, then their gaze shifted from hatred towards each other to concern for me. It must have been because I was sweating, seeing double. I saw two Kaylers." a nightmare for sure." and two Connors.
• Then I felt faint and everything turned black.
• ***
• I opened my eyes, blinking a little too fast in the process. Everything was blurry but it was clearing up as the seconds passed. My throat felt dry, bitter. I looked out the window and it was dark.
• Is it already night?
• I scanned my room until I stopped at the door frame where Kayler was leaning.
• "What happened to me?" I asked, bringing a hand to my head, feeling awful.
• Kayler approached me and sat on the edge of my bed.
• "You fainted, how do you feel?" he whispered.
• "Terrible."
• Kayler looked me over.
• "Your mother has arrived. I had to convince her to go to sleep. That you were going to be okay," he informed me.
• I furrowed my brow.
• "My mom left you here. With me. At night?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.
• He scratched his neck nervously.
• "Actually, she thinks I left," he replied.
• I looked at him incredulously.
• "I climbed in through the window," he added, pointing to the open window.
• I pursed my lips.
• "I'm fine. You can go," I snapped, lying back down.
• He sighed.
• "Could you stop being so rude for a moment?" he asked. "I'm taking care of you."
• I rolled my eyes.
• "I can take care of myself."
• Now that I have Kayler here with me, I can ask him a couple of questions that have been bothering me.
• I sat up on the bed.
• "Kayler, who are you really?" I asked. I noticed how he tensed at my question. "What are you and your weird group hiding?"
• He got up from the bed and paced around the room, sighing.
• Then he stopped to look at me.
• "I see you're feeling better, so I'll go."
• After that, he left my room without giving me a chance to say anything. This only raises more suspicions that Kayler and his group are hiding something. And I have to find out.