"Rumor!" Brock yells. "Open the door!"
"Shit," I say, getting up. "I forgot to tell him."
Looking down at the bed I see that we never got under the covers. And we never undressed. We fell asleep like this last night and didn't wake up until morning.
"I'll get it." Jackson goes to the door and opens it. "Morning, Brock."
Brock comes in the room, yelling at me. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"You weren't worried," I say. "I doubt you even noticed I was gone until just a few minutes ago."
"Of course I was worried! A girl your age was just murdered! You don't think I'd be worried discovering my niece never came home last night?"
"I'm fine," I say, standing next to Jackson. "You can go now."
Brock marches up to me. "You're going home. Now!"
"No. I'm not leaving Jackson."
"Rumor, I swear if you don't walk out that door with me right now I'll—"
"You'll what?" Roman asks, appearing behind Brock, a cup of coffee in his hand.
"Roman." Brock turns to him, clearing his throat. "Forgive me for raising my voice. I was just concerned when I couldn't find my niece this morning."
"I understand." Roman looks at me. "I think it's best if you go home. You can see Jackson later."
"Unless something happens." Jackson puts his arm around me. "I'm not taking that chance. I'm not leaving her. If she goes home, I'm going with her."
"You're putting yourselves at risk," Brock says. "If the police see you two together, they'll come up with even more theories that make you both look guilty."
"So let them," Jackson says. "I'm not leaving her."
"And I'm not leaving him," I say.
Roman and Brock look at each other.
"My son is an adult," he says to Brock. "I can't control what he does. It's up to you."
"Why don't we all go sit down and have breakfast?" Brock says. "It'll give us time to calm down and consider the best option."
He's so pathetic. He's not going to consider options. He just wants time with Roman, hoping it'll get him a part in his movie.
"I don't cook," Roman says. "And we have nothing for food since we just moved in."
"We'll go to my house," Brock says with a smile. "I'll call up Ana. She'll be right over and prepare whatever you'd like."
I look at Jackson. "What do you think?"
"I could eat. I haven't eaten since Friday night."
"Then by all means, come down to the house," Brock says. "Do you need a few minutes?"
"I need to shower," Jackson says. He turns to me. "Go ahead and go back to the house. I'll meet you there."
"You sure? Because I can wait."
He leans down and kisses my forehead. "I'll only be a few minutes. I'll be there. I promise."
