I didn't say a word as Kyle explained everything. I couldn't. Everything he was saying just rendered me completely speechless and confused. At first I had assumed that him talking to Chris would be the highlight of the conversation but it turned out to be something entirely different. And I didn't know how I was supposed to internalize the fact that Chris was apparently after Kyle and not me. And that he somehow believed they were meant to be and in his delusional and psychotic mind, I was the one getting in their way. Kyle had been holding onto me and I gently retracted his arms from around me so I could sit up. He ended up doing the same,but he shifted to sit while facing me and crossed his legs. It was crazier than I would have ever imagined....and it meant that I was suddenly in more danger than he was. Which was the only positive thing about it all.
" I was just trying to find a way to tell you, "
" Didn't you just find out today a well?"
If he admitted to have been aware for longer then I was going to get a little mad. It would mean they had met before and he hadn't told me about it back then.
" I did! But I had my suspicions...do you remember the texts on Reign's phone?"
I recalled what he was referring to and slowly nodded. I had just believed that Reign had been behind that and it had been a ploy to get Kyle to break up with me, but if what Kyle was saying was true then Chris really was insane. Why would he even bother to go that far? And how much would he have been stalking Kyle inorder to know about that singer? I only ever knew they hang out because I had walked in on them, and Kyle had also told me, otherwise I'd have been clueless about it all. But Chris managed to find out while still being on the run. He was dedicating more of his time to his obsession than to his safety.
" But since when? Did he just see you again after all those years and realize that he liked you?"
" Actually...according to what I picked up, he liked me since we were kids. "
Shockingly, that didn't surprise me as much as it should have. Because back then,I had always found Chris to be a little weird. He had probably thought I hadn't noticed how he'd always walk up to Kyle whenever he thought I couldn't see him. I used to assume he was just trying to pull some harmless pranks but clearly I had been wrong. And then I recalled how afterwards,when Kyle had left and him and I started to get closer, he'd randomly ask me about Kyle. I had warned him against doing so because I used to be really hurt by the subject. And I always thought he was either curious or trying to get closer to me...but now it somehow made sense.
Because what other reason would he have had to ask me whether I knew where Kyle had moved to and things like that?
" Are you mad? You seem like you're mad, "
" Of course I'm mad. "
" I'm sure he'll be caught, especially now that we've told the cops about it. "
" So he's what? Trying to snatch you from me?"
Was I wrong for focusing more on that than the fact that he was a murderer. I had always known I was a bit twisted myself, and I had clearly been right. The fact that Chris wanted Kyle enraged me more than every other shitty thing he'd ever done. There were two emotions I had never been able to manage well, anger and jealousy. The first one turned me into a crazed lunatic while the other one made my blood boil with extremely dark thoughts. And I was only ever insanely jealous when it came to Kyle. I wasn't going to let some unstable kid believe he had a shot. Even if he was mentally unwell.
" What did he tell you when you spoke? "
Kyle shrugged, but I wanted a voiced answer. He had to give me the exact details because it was the only way I'd be able to be at peace. He sat up on his knees and came closer to me, settling behind me and loosely wrapping his arm around my shoulder. If I wanted to look him in the eyes I'd have to glance up.
" He just went on and on about how he was the right one for me and-"
" That fucking asshole!"
" You guys were close, are you trying to say you never realized he was that messed up in the head?"
" I just assumed he was an overly energetic teen. And he was having a hard time at he so his anger was understandable to me, "
" Meaning he never did anything as awful as what he did to that boy?"
" Never! The worst thing I can think of was when he secretly fed shrimp to our severely allergic Maths teacher and she ended up in the hospital for three days. "
" And that didn't seem like a red flag to you?"
" He swore that he hadn't known it would be that bad, and he seemed really apologetic as well. "
" I'm sure he did. " I looked up, wrapping my hands around both his wrists because h had been about to let go. I knew we weren't really fighting or anything, but we weren't on the same page and I wasn't okay with that. The true enemy there was Chris and so he was the one we were supposed to be mad at and not each other.
" Is that why you wanted us to stay here? You were scared he'd try and break into your house again?"
When he nodded, I sighed. We'd have to be more careful than before. He could be anywhere.
" Perhaps we should have gone somewhere else, he knows where you live too. " Kyle said. There was guilt in his voice and I wanted it gone. He had made the best choice by suggesting we stay there, even if Chris knew the address, it would be really hard for him to get in. I told Kyle that I'd warn Khloe about ever letting him in again, and I'd ask her to warn the staff as well. I'd ask them to call the cops the second he dared to show up.
" I just don't get it!" I admitted. How had Chris let matters escalate to that point. Even if it wasn't really his fault entirely, he ought to have sought help or something. And I also blamed myself for having been so ignorant of his situation when we had been so close. If I had been more keen then I could have probably noticed that something was off.
" Don't do anything stupid though, you get that?" I warned Kyle. Pulling on his arm to force him to sit, he ended up doing so, complaining that I was hurting him even though I really wasn't. He settled next to me and sat with his knees up, wrapping his arms around his legs protectively and focusing exclusively on the mattress.
" Stupid like what?"
" I don't know? Anything! This isn't your mess to deal with so don't even try. "
" Only if you promise to do the same. "
" Sure. "
He mimicked my "sure" and rolled his eyes sarcastically. His way of letting me know that he didn't believe that one bit, and he was right not to do so. If it came down to it then I was going to deal with things whichever way I saw fit. And why the hell had Chris gotten so close to me if he hated me? It was just exhausting having to think about all that.
" Why is everyone trying to take you away from me?"
Kyle told me I was exaggerating, but I wasn't. With that singer, I admit that perhaps I had been blowing things a tiny bit out of proportion, but this time there's no way Kyle could argue because it was clear. There was literally someone out there that was willing to kill if it meant him having Kyle for himself.
" Why can't they just fucking realize that you're mine? I mean, what do I have to do for everyone to let you be?!"
He looked at me for an instant and I saw how flushed his face was, and his ears had turned red, giving him away.
" This isn't the time to be flattered Stevens, I'm being very serious!"
He chuckled, but then the chuckle eventually turned into a soft laugh. I don't know why I was so pissed off at that situation, but atleast he seemed to be having fun. If only he knew how much the thought of someone else wanting him upset me. Especially if that someone else was Chris! If I could voice the thoughts playing around in my head, then Kyle wouldn't be happy at all. Because the sort of things I imagined doing to Chris were enough to make me as bad as he was. I noticed that Kyle was still secretly smiling to himself as he watched me brood and fume, so I just groaned my anger into the pillow next to me and remained in that position. It was hard to breathe but I didn't move.
" Don't be dramatic, " he told me. I instantly sat up and turned to face him with a ton of ready statements just itching to be voiced, but he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me before I could say a word.
" It's both physically and mentally impossible for me to love anyone else, not that I'd even want to. So just ease up, will you?"
He made it impossible for me to not be obsessed with him.