Novels by Faye

I stared at the message on my phone.Blake isn't the only person who has been hiding something from you.My heart was still pounding when I looked across the room.Blake was watching me.Not my phone.Me.There was something in his expression that made me wonder if he already knew what the message said.I quickly slipped my phone into my pocket.“Chloe?” Aria called.I turned toward her.“Yeah?”“You were about to say something.”I forced a smile.“I forgot.”Blake raised an eyebrow.He knew I was lying.Of course he did.Aria looked between us.“Okay… I'm going to get some air.”She walked away, leaving Blake and me alone.For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.Then Blake stepped closer.“Who sent the message?”I looked at him.“You know who?”“No.”“You're lying.”His jaw tightened.“Chloe.”“Don't.”I shook my head.“I don't want to talk about it.”He stared at me for a moment.Then he nodded.“Okay.”I blinked.“You're not going to argue?”“No.”“Wow.”A small smile appeared on h

I read Aria's message three times.He said he's starting to like you.My heart hammered against my chest.Then came the second message.And Chloe… I'm not sure I can let that happen.I stared at the screen.For some reason, that hurt more than it should have.I typed quickly.Me: What do you mean you're not sure?The typing bubble appeared almost immediately.Aria: Come find me.I looked around the party.People were laughing, music was playing, and everything seemed perfectly normal.Except nothing felt normal to me anymore.I found Aria near the kitchen.The moment she saw me, she grabbed my hand and pulled me somewhere quieter.“What did Blake say?” I asked.She sighed.“He didn't exactly say it.”“Then what did he say?”“He asked me something.”“What?”She hesitated.“He asked if I'd be angry if he liked you.”My stomach flipped.“And what did you say?”“I told him I would.”I stared at her.“Why?”"Because you're my best friend.”“That doesn't mean you can decide who I like.”“I

“Has been watching me?”I stared at Blake.He nodded.“I don't know who it is.”I looked toward the house.Every window suddenly seemed darker than it had a moment ago.“That's supposed to make me feel better?”“No.”“At least you're honest.”He almost smiled.Almost.Then his expression turned serious again.“I'm going to find out who sent that message.”“You don't have to protect me.”“I know.”“Then stop acting like you do.”He stepped closer.“That's the problem, Chloe.”“What is?”“I don't know how to stop.”My heart skipped.I looked away.“Blake…”“I mean it.”His voice was quiet.“You've been here for less than a week, and somehow I notice everything you do.”I swallowed.“That isn't normal.”“I know.”He was standing close now.Too close.I could smell his cologne.I could feel the warmth coming from him.But he didn't touch me.He just looked at me.And somehow that was worse.“You're staring,” I whispered.“So are you.”“I am not.”“You are.”I looked up.His eyes were fixe

I stared at Blake.“Why shouldn't I open it?”He didn't answer.That was answer enough.I looked down at the envelope in my hands.My name was written across it in handwriting I recognized immediately.My mother's.She had been away for years, but I would recognize that handwriting anywhere.“What does my mother have to do with you?” I asked.Blake's jaw tightened.“Nothing.”“Then why do you look terrified?”“I don't.”"You do.”Aria stepped closer.“Blake, what is going on?”He looked at his sister.“Stay out of this.”Aria frowned.“Excuse me?”“I said—”“No.”I stepped between them.“I'm opening it.”Blake looked at me.“Chloe.”I tore the envelope open.Inside was a single folded sheet of paper.My hands trembled as I unfolded it.Chloe,If you're reading this, then you're probably wondering why I never told you the truth about Blake and his family.My heart began beating faster.I continued.There are things about the past that I wanted to protect you from. But you're old enough

“We did.”Blake's words echoed inside the closet.For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.I looked at Aria.She was standing in the middle of the room, her face pale.Blake ran a hand through his hair.“Aria, you weren't supposed to tell her.”“I didn't know she was in here!”My hand flew to my mouth.The door suddenly opened.Blake looked directly at me.“Chloe…”I stepped out.“What did you do?”Aria's eyes filled with tears.“Chloe, please.”“No.” I shook my head. “Don't please me. Tell me what happened.”Blake exchanged a look with his sister.Then he sighed.“Three years ago, Aria and I were driving home from a party.”Aria lowered her head.“We were arguing,” Blake continued. “I was angry. I drove too fast.”My heart tightened.“Then we saw someone crossing the road.”I stared at him.“Her?”He nodded.“She was badly injured.”“And you left her?”“No.”Blake's voice cracked.“We called an ambulance. We stayed until they arrived.”“Then why did you say you killed her?”“I said we

I stared at the message until the words blurred.Ask Aria what she did that night.My fingers tightened around my phone.What had Aria done?And why would a stranger know something about Blake's past?I wanted to believe it was all a lie.I wanted to throw my phone away and forget I'd ever seen the messages.But there was one problem.I couldn't stop thinking about the photograph.Blake.That woman.And the way he'd looked at me when I'd caught him on the phone.He had been afraid.Not annoyed.Not angry.Afraid.I slipped my phone into my pocket and walked downstairs.The house was quiet.I found Aria in the living room, curled up on the sofa with a blanket around her.She looked up."Chloe? What's wrong?"I stopped.For a moment, I almost asked her.What happened three years ago?But something held me back.If someone was trying to manipulate me, I didn't want them to know it was working.So instead, I sat beside her."Nothing."Aria studied my face."You look like something happene