AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Phoenix
It’smy first night back at the Ducane’s. After the incident in the cafeteria, Stryker brought me home. He and Jonah decided that it wasn’t wise for me to stay at school in just my dance gear. I personally think that they couldn’t handle all the additional stares I was getting. So here I am, sitting at the kitchen bench doing homework with Stryker while waiting for the cookies to finish in the oven.
“Hey, Phe, you know how you said I needed to prove that I was worth the chance and that I needed to earn your trust?”
“Yeah.” He has piqued my curiosity, so I put down my pen and turn to face him.
“Well, we kinda broke into your room.”
“What do you mean you kinda broke into my room?” Indignation is all I am feeling right now. How could he possibly not have come clean about this sooner?
“I know what you’re probably thinking, but this was before everything at the party and the studio. I just didn’t know how to tell you. I am so, so sorry, Phe.” He reaches for my hand.
“There is more to it, though, yeah.” It wasn’t really a question, but more of a statement.
Nodding his head. “Yeah, there’s more, and you’re definitely not gonna like the next bit. We placed cameras in your room and the bathroom.”
“You fucking did what?” He flinches away as my voice reaches a pitch I didn’t know I was capable of.
“I know you’re upset, Phe. I’ll go up there right now and remove every single one of them for you.”
“Damn fucking straight, you will. And when you’re finished, you can go and fuck right off.”
An apology is written all over his face, but I turn away. I can’t look at him right now, let alone be in the same room. “Go, Stryker, the door is open; remove the fucking cameras. I want them gone.”
Sighing in resignation, he turns to exit the room. I hear him pause at the doorway. “Phe, something good did come out of it, though.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“We caught someone breaking into your room while you were sleeping, and they took some of your stuff, including your diary.”
“Leave some of the bedroom ones, but you can remove the rest.” I know he isn’t going to like that, but too damn bad. As upset as I am about them invading my privacy, it is somewhat comforting to know that if something were to happen to me, there would be evidence. I’m not going to make too many changes after what I just discovered. If Logan wants to watch from the shadows, then I’m going to give him just enough without letting him get too close.
Things with Logan are weird. Everywhere I turn, he’s close by. I think that because he couldn’t get anywhere near me at school, he’s making up for it at home. The snide remarks, looks of disdain, and the constant reminder that he thinks I’m a liar are all becoming more frequent. He only seems to stop when his parents are around. In front of them, he acts like the perfect son, but I know what lies behind his fake façade.
They really need to tell him what kind of man Kyle was, or at least some of it. I also know that I have to tell him too. Just as I’m about to see how Stryker is doing upstairs, I hear voices coming in from the garage.
“Afternoon, honey. You’re home early.” Logan’s mom greets me as she places her bag on the counter.
Turning around as Logan’s dad comes into the kitchen behind her. “Yeah, had the afternoon off from dance.”
“Oh … okay. Is everything alright, honey? You haven’t been around much lately.”
Seeing an opening, I decide to bring up the whole Logan issue with them. “Well, now that you mention it, I do have something I need to ask you.”
“Hey, Phe, Mr. and Mrs. Ducane.” Great timing, Stryker chooses this exact time to interrupt us. “Just thought I would let you know I finished doing that thing you asked me to do.”
“Yeah, thanks. I’ll see you at school tomorrow, okay?” He nods in understanding, grabbing his backpack and car keys from the table before turning to go.
“Is there something going on between you and Stryker, Phoenix?” Kayla whispers, leaning over the kitchen counter as we hear the front door slam behind Stryker.
“No, not really, he was just here helping with an assignment for school, and I asked him to set something up on my laptop.” I lied, not at all ready to explain the atrocities her son has committed.
“Okay, honey, what were you saying before we were interrupted?”
“I was just saying that I wanted to talk to you about Logan, and about what happened between Kyle and me. I really think you need to have a conversation about it,” imploring them to see this from my point. “I know you think you’re doing the right thing by keeping this from him, but I really don’t agree.”
