Lighting a Match in the Rain

Chapter Seventeen

Reed's small attempt at being nice was a one-hit-wonder because the very next week he had me pushed against my own locker in a raged fury. His right hand pressed my left shoulder against the metal. With him leaning as close to me as he was, I had to press my head back too, in order to have a little space between us. His eyes were like forest trees blowing in a windstorm.

"Take down the blog post," he demanded.

My whole body shuddered at his tone, yet my eyes narrowed on him. "It's not my blog."

I knew exactly the post he was talking about, though. Kinsley always texted me as soon as her posts were published and I always read them immediately.

That's bull and you know it," he spat through gritted teeth. "Why would you write it? Trying to take me out of the president position? Trying to get me kicked out?"

I shook my head and glanced over his shoulders at the students walking to class. Most definitely glanced in our direction, but I knew no one would cross paths with Reed Brewer in order to get me out of this situation. "I swear...I'm not even talented in that way," I insisted. Psht, me writing a blog? Never. "And why would I fight to keep you in council, just to get you kicked out the next week?"

Very briefly, he hesitated, maybe questioning his own actions. "That's a lie. I read that poem of yours."

I scoffed. "Yes, I write poetry every blue moon; I don't write investigation theories."

"This wasn't a theory. Whoever it was, told the world that Ricky and I were behind all of this. The feds are digging on us."

Kinsley's article was basically throwing Ricky and Reed under the bus and telling the world that they were the ones behind all the robberies going on. She reached far for evidence, even correlating their school and work schedules with the incidents, though there was no real proof of anything. In the end, it was basically just a conspiracy theory.

"If you are innocent, then there shouldn't be a problem."

His grip tightened against my shoulder, making the peaks of the locker vent and the lock dig into my skin. I bit my lip to keep myself from wincing or reacting to the pain. Those green eyes of his glanced down to my lips when I did so.

"The problem, sweet Ella, is that I don't need the feds looking into my business," he snapped, keeping my eye contact.

"I don't know what you want me to do about it."

Pausing, he thought for a long minute, his eyes staring so hard into my own, I wondered if he was trying to read my soul. Maybe he was psychic. Every time his chest rose and fell, my heart raced faster as his skin got closer to mine. "It's Kinsley, isn't it?"

My eyes widened before I could stop myself, making him smile in pure satisfaction. "What?"

He nodded, leaning back away from me ever so slightly and releasing his grip on my shoulder. "She wants to be a criminal investigator, right?"

"She says she doesn't."

"But you've said she does," he replied.

"I don't recall mentioning that to you."

He smirked. "But you told Julian."

I raised an eyebrow at him, about to questioned him about talking about me and Kinsley, but he turned and stalked down the hall. My heart dropped once I realized where he was going. "Where are you going?" I chased after him.

"To make a new friend."

As soon as I caught up to him, I grabbed his upper arm and he spun back around to face me. "Don't you dare to her," I ordered in a hard tone.

"I need her to listen to me in one way or another."

I didn't know what he was threatening but I didn't want to find out. Before I realized what I was doing, I slapped him.

His head snapped to the side and for a long moment, he was stunned. Reaching up, he touched his reddening skin before the corners of his lips lifted. "Are we really doing this whole enemies thing?" he asked me.

Breathing heavily, I stared at Reed. I didn't care who he was. No one threatened my best friend.

"I'll tell her to take down the post. She will listen to me," I insisted.

He huffed, readjusting his weight on his feet and looking behind me down the hall before finally meeting my eyes. I was surprised he hadn't hit me back yet or threatened to shoot me with his childhood bb gun. "And if she doesn't?" he considered.

I shrugged. "You'll make me regret it?"

He nodded once. "I guess you are smart." With one last glare, he disappeared down the hall.

Great, now I had the job of talking Kinsley into taking down that post, which was going to be absolutely impossible. I wondered how much time I had before Reed would decide to make her himself.

Cursing under my breath, I spun on my heels and made my way to class, knowing I was about to go off on my best friend for even writing such a post. That post might be the end of both of us.

***

Very short chapter, and posting was delayed :( so sorry.

I've had a bit of an intense week and either haven't had time to write, or did not have the mental energy to be able to even attempt at a good chapter. 

Hopefully I will be back on track next week. Thanks for being understanding!