Chapter Seven
TOREN
As far as first days go, this was the worst.
Brady tried his best to ward off the remarks of the other students, but it didn’t stop them.
If anything it just made it worse. One girl even went as far as to try and throw her food at me.
A guy tried to grab me in the hall but Brady shoved him away.
I was terrified at the look of pure malice in the guy's eyes. He called me a murderer! I stood there staring at him in pure horror until Brady had to drag me away. I’ve been called a lot of things but never that!
The moment school finally ended I ran back to my dorm.
I wanted to go to the store and buy a phone but I couldn’t stomach the thought of bumping into another student and having them hurl their hatred at me.
I know Somerset and Stormsend have been rivals but I never had anything to do with that.
I lay here on my bed trying to fight back the tears but it’s futile, they fall down my cheeks and soak my blanket.
I wish more than anything that Emery was here.
I would even settle for seeing my brother.
I may be angry with him but he always knew how to cheer me up.
I hate that I can’t call KennaDee and vent, my best friend always made me smile.
God, I miss her so much.
“Fuck this,” I snap and push up from my bed.
My father can abandon me and leave me here to rot, but I refuse to allow him to take away my free will.
I didn’t do anything wrong, all I know is that I was in a car accident and that’s it.
My memories of that night are gone. With my mind made up, I stalk out of my room and rush out of the dorm building, security isn’t going to keep me from seeing my brother and demanding answers from him and KennaDee.
I want to know why they turned their backs on me.
I tried to look for Cas today but he was nowhere in sight.
I just need someone to tell me what the hell happened and why I am being punished.
As I stalk across the quad, I clasp my pendant in my hand and take a deep breath.
“To teach is to learn. To learn is to excel. To excel is to thrive. To thrive is to live,” I mutter under my breath.
I probably look crazy talking to myself but right now, that is the least of my worries.
My blood is boiling as the events of today play through my mind on repeat—all the sneers, snide remarks, the crude comments and the worst was being called a murderer.
I have never hurt anyone in my life. My devastation over the events of the day quickly morphs into anger the closer I get to the boundary of the quad that separates the schools.
SU is a huge campus. I remember coming here with KennaDee and just being in awe of the place.
I couldn’t wait to finally come here and be with my brother, Cas and Kellan. I wanted the real college experience with my best friend by my side: frat parties, Greek row and everything else college had to offer, but that dream was ripped away from me.
Now, I feel no joy about being here or any excitement, I just feel…
lost and angry. I’m accustomed to feeling like this and I loathe it.
I can see all the Somerset students milling about and lounging on the grass under the sun as they hang out with their friends.
A pang hits me right in the chest. I should be doing that with Kenna.
I don’t realize what’s happening until a hand wraps around my arm, jerking me to a stop.
I snap my head up and meet the annoyed gaze of a security guard.
“You aren’t crossing the boundary.” His tone is laced with hatred, he clearly has an issue with Stormsend.
“I just need to see my brother,” I say in haste as I try to yank my arm free, but his grip is too strong.
“Like I said, you aren’t crossing.” His tone is filled with warning.
I narrow my eyes at the idiot. “My brother goes to Somerset—”
“Liar, no one in this school has anything to do with your kind.” His implication only serves to anger me further. How can he be so prejudiced against someone because they are from the other side of the tracks?
“My name is Toren Kellar and Masen Kellar is my brother.” I see recognition in his eyes at the mention of my brother's name.
His grip on my arm tightens to the point of pain, causing me to wince. He leans in threateningly and I suck in a sharp breath and hold it. “You have three seconds to fuck off before I throw your ass—”
“Tor?” My eyes widen at the sound of his voice. I peer around the brute and lock eyes with Kellan. He takes in the scene and purses his lips at the sight of the security guard’s hand on me. “Release her,” he snaps.
The guard drops his hold but doesn’t move away. I rub at the spot he was gripping, knowing I’m going to have a bruise there in the morning to match the one on my neck. “She isn’t crossing the boundary. You may be a Kyle, but I take my orders—” Kellan waves him off before he can finish.
“Yeah, I know. Give us a minute, would ya?” The guard grumbles but does as he is asked.
When Kellan comes to me, I don’t think as I throw my arms around his neck and hold him tight.
Tears burn the backs of my eyes and I can’t ward off the emotions.
Seeing him again after so long has me sobbing, his arms tighten around me as he holds me close.
I missed Kellan so much. “I got you, Tor,” he says quietly.
The sound of his voice has me snapping out of it.
I release him and step back. I wipe away my tears and try to act like I didn’t just break down in his arms. His brown eyes are riddled with guilt and shame, I study his handsome face and take in how much he has changed since I last saw him.
His brown hair is cut short. Gone is his bedhead hairstyle, now wearing one of those crew cuts.
He’s lost that boy next door look. I loved that look and now I see nothing of the boy I once knew.
All I see is a man who has ghosts in his eyes.
“I need to see Masen,” I utter quietly.
Kellan blows out a breath and runs a hand through his hair. I can already tell from the way his eyes crinkle at the corners and how his mouth pinches to the left that he is trying to think of an excuse for why I can’t see my brother. “Toren, I can’t—”
“Kellan, what the hell happened? Why have you, Masen, KennaDee and Caspian cut me off? What did I do?” My voice catches as the pain of their abandonment washes over me.
His brows crash together, his gaze turns calculating as he looks at me.
The way his brown eyes search mine with confusion has me stiffening.
“Toren, what the hell are you talking about?” There’s a hint of anger that laces his words.
“Why the hell did you all leave me? None of you called. KennaDee hasn’t even reached out to me since I got back—”
“Bit hard for her to do that when she’s dead, Toren.
” The harshness that laces his words distracts me for a second before the words finally sink in.
My lips part but no words come out. I search his face for any sign of him lying but I see nothing but the truth.
I stumble back a step, tears beginning to trail down my cheeks. I shake my head denying his claim.
“You’re lying. KennaDee isn’t dead,” I snap loudly. Kellan darts his gaze around us, I couldn’t give a fuck who is watching or listening. “You’re a liar!” I scream. Kellan darts forward and grips my arms. I try to fight him off but he’s too strong.
“Listen to me, Toren!” he snarls. I clamp my mouth shut and stop fighting, but my body remains tense.
I have never felt so uneasy around Kellan before in my life.
As I meet his gaze, I realize the boy I have been in love with for years is no longer present.
The person standing in front of me is a stranger.
“Keep your head down and stop digging into shit. Stay away from Caspian and leave Masen alone. I’m sorry, I really am, but it’s safer for everyone if you never bring this up again.
I envy the fact you can’t remember what happened.
I wish I could get a clean slate as well.
It’s been a year since their deaths, don’t bring it up again.
” The last part of his sentence sounds almost like a plea.
“Where is she?” I rasp out past the lump in my throat.
“Her parents buried her at their family plot.” I try to yank free of his hold but his grip tightens. “Toren, don’t go there—”
“Fuck you, Kellan. She’s my best friend.” Pain erupts inside me. I refuse to stand here in front of him and break down. When I pull against his hold, he releases me this time.
“I really am sorry, Toren. I wish things were different.” I scoff and shake my head.
“I will never stop searching for answers. I’ll find out what happened that night,” I vow as I turn and flee, tears falling furiously down my cheeks as my heart begins to shatter inside my chest.
KennaDee.
A sob tears out of me as I recall a memory of her smiling at me. She was so vibrant and full of life. She can’t be gone, there is no way. I can’t fucking handle that truth. I clasp my necklace in my hand as I start running back to the dorms, repeating my chant over and over again.
To teach is to learn. To learn is to excel. To excel is to thrive. To thrive is to live.