Chapter 3

Jenna's Pov

“Jenna, see what I did. I won this round.” He showed me the game he was playing on my phone like a happy kid.

“You did good.” I smiled, patting his head.

He seemed to enjoy it because he rubbed his hair against my hand. This cannot be real.

The Caesar Sokolov I know doesn't like head pats. He likes smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol and terrorizing students. Now, he, the dangerous guy on campus, was following me around like a lost puppy.

“Can you finish this later?” I reached for my phone. “I need you to try these on.”

I'd taken him to a nearby store to shop for a cap and sunglasses. I couldn't risk the exposure.

“Is this for me, Jenna?” His eyes sparkled as he reached for the hat and sunglasses.

“Yes. It's your gift for being a good boy.” I smiled.

He put them on and smiled at the mirror. “I look cool.”

“Yes, you do.” I turned to the cashier behind the counter and asked for the price but the lady couldn't stop staring at Caesar. I had to snap my fingers to get her attention.

After paying for those, I took him to the police station and of course, Caesar refused to let go of me.

When we got there, he hissed at the officers. I guess I'm not the only one who hates cops.

“Yes, miss? Here to file a complaint?” The officer at the reception asked me with a curious stare.

“No…” I gestured to Caesar. “This guy is…”

My voice trailed off when I looked at him. Standing in a transparent office with a coffee mug in his left hand and a bagel in his right was the man I saw last night. His attention was on the two officers addressing him. I read out the words emblazoned on the door of his office and gasped — LIEUTENANT JOEL HARPER.

My hands moved on instinct and took out the card he'd left me last night. It didn't say NYPD. Instead, it said SPIDER LILY. Holy shit.

“Yes, miss?” The receptionist asked.

“You know what? It's no problem. I'll just figure it out on my own.” I said, reaching for Caesar.

“You sure?” The officer asked.

“Yeah. Come on, C.” I pulled Caesar away.

His hands closed around mine as we walked away from the station. “Jenna, are you okay?”

“No…” I caught my breath.

He frowned and cupped my cheek. “Why?”

I want to tell him but I can't. Just what did Caesar involve himself in?

****

I figured Joel must've asked around about Caesar in school so I slipped him into my empty biology class. I was lucky because the class was over.

“Why are you being naughty, Jenna? This classroom is empty.” Caesar said.

“Shh. No one should know we're here.” I whispered.

I'd barely taken a step before he pulled me to face him and stole my lips with his.

I gasped into his mouth and he swallowed the sound. Caesar kissed me like he wanted to own me, to devour me but I didn't kiss him back. I didn't know how to.

“No…” I murmured against his lips.

“Use your tongue, Jenna.” He told me.

“I don't know how to kiss.” I managed to pull away. This handsome asshole just stole my first kiss.

“Okay. I'll teach you later.” He said.

“What the hell are you doing?!” A voice thundered in the room and I stiffened. He can't be here.

I turned slowly to find Roger staring right at us. Not us, Caesar.

Roger repeated his question as he approached us.

Caesar pulled me behind him and clenched his fists. “And who are you?”

“I'm Roger or as you like to call me ‘Steve Rogers’. You bully me everyday, remember?” Rogers said with a hint of disgust in his tone.

“Bully you?” Caesar scoffed. “I don't even know who you are.”

“Jenna, are you okay? You can come out if he's hurting you.” Rogers yelled.

Okay. That's not good.

“I will never hurt my Jenna!” Caesar growled. Before he could lunge for Rogers, I stepped out of hiding and blocked him.

“No.” I said, spreading my arms.

“Move out of the way, Jenna. I need to teach this boy a lesson.” Caesar huffed angrily.

“Boy? I'm two years older than you, pal.” Rogers scoffed.

“Shut up, Rogers,” I hissed at him then turned to Caesar. “Don't hurt him. He's a friend of mine.”

“He's your friend?” Caesar arched a brow.

“Yeah,” I reached for him slowly. “Don't hurt him, okay?”

“Anything for you, Jenna.” He smiled and pulled me into his arms.

Rogers' jaws dropped to the floor. “Okay. What the hell just happened?”

“You tell me.” I said into Caesar's chest.

“Jenna, what the hell is going on?!” Rogers demanded.

I pulled away from Caesar but his arms still found me. “It's a long story.”

Eventually, I told him what happened except meeting Joel last night.

“Holy shit. Caesar has lost his memories?” Rogers whispered.

“Yeah.” I heaved a sigh.

He turned to Caesar and smiled. “This is so cool.”

I scoffed. “How dare you?”

“Don't you get it? He won't bully me or anyone anymore.” He grinned.

“I know it sucks but we need to get him back to the way he was.” I whispered. “He can't keep following me around.”

“So?”

“Everyone will talk. Including his friends. Don't you think they'll find it suspicious that he's gone?”

Rogers stroked his jaw. “You're kinda right. His crew are probably looking for him. Have you tried taking him to the police station?”

I remembered seeing Joel and gulped. Right now, I couldn't trust the police.

“Turns out they're even more useless than I thought.” Which was true by the way.

“So what are you going to do?” He asked.

“I think we should reach one of his friends or maybe his family? Someone needs to take him.” I said softly when Caesar's arms tightened around me.

“No.” He shook his head.

“No?” Both Rogers and I asked.

“Don't send me away.” Caesar shook his head again.

“No. We're not sending you away, C.” I touched his arm.

“We're just going to call your friends. They'll know what to do.” Rogers said.

“I don't have any friends,” Caesar tightened his hold around me. “I'm staying with my Jenna.”