Forbidden With Me - Leigh Lennon Page 0,53
behind me.
“Tell me you found something,” she calls.
“Um, not yet. And certainly not a name. That would be too fucking easy, but read this.”
He highlights a section of Annie’s written words, ready for both Vanessa and me to devour this journal.
He’d gotten physical with me yesterday. And when he drove by the school, he saw me talking to Smith. He doesn’t understand Smith had been my best friend before we ruined it with dating. I’m trying to get Smith and me back to where we were before, and although I love him, I won’t turn my back on Smith.
Today he gave me this bracelet. But I want to break up with him. I can’t trust a guy who shoves me to the ground and leans over me with his fingers around my neck. It scared me. Can you love a man but hate his actions? I told him I forgave him, but I don’t know if I should.
Mom and Dad don’t know I’m dating him. I sneak out at night to be with him. But I’m not ready for sex, not yet. He’s pushing me, and this shouldn’t be a surprise. Everyone thinks he’s bad news. Everyone from the neighborhood kids to Ms. Becket, who’s the eyes and ears of the block, thinks he’s no good.
But I see him better than anyone else. He’s not had the easiest life. And I can say, I’m sheltered by Mom and Dad. They don’t let me see the bad in the world. I get it, but one day, I’ll have to decide what’s good and bad for me.
No one knows we’re dating, except Gracie, who knows everything about me. Malia saw my bracelet today when Gracie and I were doing our makeup. I told her it was from my boyfriend. She thought it was pretty cool, me having a secret boyfriend.
I often wonder what I would tell my little sister if someone physically abused her like he’d abused me. I would tell her to run and run fast. Why can’t I take my own advice?
AMS
Finishing this entry with her initials was not uncommon. But it was dated September 1st, only two weeks before her murder. It was odd to hear her inner struggles and her concern for Malia had she found herself in Annie’s predicament.
“Well, I’d say, once the DA gets ahold of this and turns it over to Smith Turner’s lawyer, all charges will be officially dropped,” I explain, not sure how to internalize the thoughts of a teenage girl just weeks before her murder.
No calls, no new murders, and with the clock past ten, I pack up, intent on reading the rest of Annie’s journals on my laptop at home.
“On your way out, old man?” Higgie asks, searching vendors for wooden beads or wooden beaded bracelets. Vanessa suggested it was homemade with beads the murderer bought. She claimed it was something many girls did, and she explained further, the murderer could have had the same bracelet, something they made for one another.
“Yeah, I need to scour the files for people who lived close to them, to see if there is something we missed. There were no leads at the time, but maybe there’s something buried since she made it seem other neighbors knew of her boyfriend.”
“I’m not far behind you.”
My phone pings, and I’m filled with the warmest sensation with the name that comes up. I don’t open it, not yet, and respond to my partner across from me.
“You have your key?” He answers with a nod of his head. I give this kid the most shit, but besides Matt, he’s one of my closest friends even though we’ve only been partners for just a year. When you spend as much time with each other as we have, the friendship is expedited.
“Okay, I need sleep, so I’ll see you in the morning.”
His little laugh stops me. “What the fuck is that for?” I’m grumpy, tired, and hungry as hell.
“Are you sure you’ll be sleeping?” At his reply, he has already ducked when I grab for the closest thing to me, throwing a pen his way. I leave without anymore interaction.
Hurrying down the stairs, I hold my phone until I’m in the peace and quiet of my car, but it dings again.
I settle in, turning the car on, to feel a little of the A/C relieve my sweaty head. It’s not hot, but it’s not cool either, or maybe it’s the thoughts of Malia that make me all hot. I don’t think