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Haven

Freshman year - Halloween morning

?

The late October wind hits my face as I walk out of my dorm hall. Even bundled up in jeans and the black leather jacket Xander got me, it’s cold enough to have me shivering.

Even though it’s almost seven-thirty, it’s still pretty dark out. The sun is just beginning to rise, but the thick clouds blanketing the sky keep most of the sunlight out.

Cursing myself for picking an early-morning class, I wrap my arms around myself and duck my head down. It’s probably why I miss the man standing in the shadow of a large oak tree along the path, watching me.

“Good morning, Haven.” He places a firm hand on my shoulder as I walk past.

With a yelp, I whip around. The light from the lamp posts illuminate his face, and I stumble backward in fear.

Colton’s father.

“You’ve gotten awfully close to my son this semester.” He steps closer, and I back up even more, until I’m cornered against a tree on the other side of the pathway. “He’s never trusted anyone completely, but you’ve broken down quite a few of his walls.”

I keep my lips pressed together. The less I say, the better, I think. I’ve seen the way Colton can manipulate someone into doing exactly what he wants them to, and I’m sure Mark is the same way. If I don’t talk, he can’t do that to me.

That’s what Colton told me to do, isn’t it?

“Problem is, he’s gotten himself into some trouble.”

Dread fills my lungs, weighing down on me like lead. My only thought is of the briefcase the boys hid a few days ago. Was I right? Is Mark telling the truth?

“In fact, I believe Lucas and Xander are involved, as well.” Again, Mark steps forward, so close he’s almost touching me. He’s tall enough to tower over me in a way I know he’s doing on purpose. It’s an intimidation tactic Isaiah used on me all the time.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I manage to get out.

“Hmm. You sure about that? They haven’t even hinted that they’re planning something?”

“N-no.”

Mark narrows his eyes. “They haven’t told you anything at all?”

“Nothing at all,” I whisper.

I should call Colton. That’s what he told me—don’t talk to Mark, and call him.

“Colton is in over his head, sweetheart,” Mark coaxes. “He’s still just a kid—only eighteen—yet he’s getting involved in some very dangerous activities. If you don’t help me, he’s going to get himself killed.”

I freeze, my hand gripping my phone in my jacket pocket. “Killed?”

“You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

The ache in my throat is too intense for me to speak, so I shake my head. The thought of Colton dying—of never being able to see him again—tears my heart in two. He deserves to live the rest of his life, and I want to live it with him.

But if I tell Mark about the briefcase, Colt will never trust me again.

“Can—can I think about it?” I ask.

Mark shakes his head. “This is too urgent to wait. I need to know now.”

No. No, no, no.

Colton can’t die. I can’t let that happen.

But I can’t let him cut me out from his life, either.

I want to be able to throw myself into his arms again, to laugh at his silly jokes, to know he’ll always keep me safe. I want…

I want him to kiss me again.

He hasn’t, not since I panicked in the rose garden, but I want to try again. It’ll take some working up to, but I want to do that with him.

“Now, Haven. There isn’t much time.”

Loyalty is everything to Colton. If I do this, whatever he and I have will be over for good. But if I don’t…

“I need to talk to him,” I say. “I need to ask—”

“No. He thinks he can do this, but he can’t. He’s misguided and overconfident. You can’t trust him. Not on this.”

Desperately, I look past Mark, hoping Colton or one of the guys will appear and help me out of this. I don’t know what to do—don’t know who to believe.

But if Mark is right, and I lie to him…

Is it worth the risk?

“I don’t want to lose him,” I whisper.

“You will, either way,” Mark says. “But if you tell me the truth, he’ll at least still be alive.”

Oh god. Oh my god.

I know what I have to do. What choice do I really have?

But it’ll mean ruining everything.

Everything.

“They’re hiding something,” Mark prods. “Something important. Tell me where it is, Haven.”

“The pool house,” I blurt, scrunching my eyes shut as tears fill them. “Underneath the floorboards in the closet. There—there’s a briefcase. I don’t know what’s inside it.”

Mark doesn’t say anything, just turns and heads toward the parking lot. The moment he’s gone, I stumble farther off the path until I’m hidden behind another large oak. I sink to the ground as my tears hit my cheeks.

He’s going to hate me.

He’ll never forgive me.

Oh my god, what have I done?

Frantically, I pull my phone from my pocket, but all I do is stare at it. What would happen if I called Colton? Could he get to the briefcase before Mark does? What would happen if he did?

With shaking fingers, I unlock it and pull up Colton’s contact, but I don’t press the call button. I’m pretending I will, pretending I want to, wishing I had the strength to do it.

But I can’t.

No matter how much the thought of hurting Colton breaks me, it’s better than being the cause of his death.

I stay leaning against the tree for hours, unable to move. Athelia calls me multiple times and then texts, but I can’t answer. I can’t do anything.

So I sit in silence as light rain begins to fall, sealing my fate by doing absolutely nothing.