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CHAPTER SEVEN

Seated on a swing in my backyard beside Aaron, who had walked me home after school, I kept replaying the events of the day in my head. First, I had gotten into a fight with Noelle, after which I had learned of Jake's betrayal. Mason had shown up at school, but as soon as I called his name, he simply walked away and ignored me for the rest of the day.

"Hey, are you okay?" Aaron asked, concern written all over his face. He had insisted on walking me home and staying with me until my mom got back because he didn't think I should be alone.

I shook my head in response, "I'm not…" I let out a dry laugh. "…but I'll be fine. I just thought he would at least say something, you know?" I said, turning to watch Aaron, who stared back at me. "If he had yelled at me, called me names, or even said anything, anything at all, it would have been better than the silent treatment he had given me. What's worse is that he had carried on with everyone else normally but ignored me like I didn't exist,” I sniffled.

I felt Aaron's arms around me as I tried to stay strong. "We'll get through this, I promise you. Mason is a dumbass for hurting you.”

"No," I said, shaking my head as I wiped off the tears that wouldn't stop falling. "No, he's not. I deserve this."

Aaron groaned loudly, "Will you just stop saying that? You didn't do anything; you didn't even know Connor existed! You were just doing what seemed right at the moment.”

"Yes, but if I hadn't enabled him…"

"That's enough, Kat. I don't want to hear this again, okay?"

I nodded my head reluctantly and dissolved into his warm hug, wondering what I did to deserve having Aaron in my life. "I love you, Aaron."

"I love you too," he declared and then planted a sweet kiss on my forehead.

We stayed in each other's arms for a few minutes until the sound of footsteps approached us. Aaron saw who it was before I did. "Now is not the right time, dude," he said, and I raised my head to see Jake.

"Please, I just want to talk," he pleaded, his hands in his pockets as he shuffled his boots against the ground nervously.

I stared at him for a few seconds before signaling him to speak.

"Katrina…" he started, and I glared at him; he had no right to call me that anymore.

"Sorry, Kat… I know I've been a horrible friend to you lately, and I am sorry. It's just, with everything so different now, there's no one to talk to except Noelle. I know I distanced myself, but I was only trying to make things easier because I know you two don’t get along," he paused, waiting for me to say something, but I remained mute. He cleared his throat and continued anyway. "Just know this, Kat. I've never stopped caring about you, and I do love you."

"What about Noelle? Is she going to be a problem?"

"No," he shook his head. "I broke up with her."

To say I was shocked was an understatement.

"What? Why would you do that? You love her.”

He simply shrugged, his face taking on a stony expression.

"What she did… the things she said to you were inexcusable, and she has to understand that she can't just say things like that to you anymore."

"But Jake…"

"It's fine, Kat, I promise," he smiled. "Just forgive me?"

Grudgingly, I pulled away from Aaron and beckoned for Jake before hugging him tightly. "I love you too, Jake, and I forgive you for being an ass," I said with a smile.

He chuckled and kissed the top of my head before taking a seat on the swing next to me, leaving me in the middle of my two boys. He gave Aaron a short nod, which was reciprocated before turning to me. "I saw what happened with Mason… he's an idiot if he blames you for what happened.”

It was my turn to chuckle. Jake wasn't known for sugarcoating things "I think that has been established.” I answered with a knowing smile directed to Aaron.

Jake cleared his throat, drawing back my attention. "So, about the strange man. Do you still… you know?"

"Do I still see him?" I asked, and he nodded. "No, I haven't in a few days now, and I think everyone was right about it being a hallucination. I've decided to take my therapy sessions with Dr. Martin more seriously now,” I beamed at him, finally feeling a little bit better.

He nodded his head solemnly. "That's good to hear. It couldn't have been any of those men involved with Connor's death anyway. After all, you identified all three of them, including the dead one.”