"You should be more afraid. How can you not be scared after Vancouver?"
"I am scared, but I can't let it rule my life. I know we had a close call. I'm grateful that you planned ahead and he couldn't trace our flights. I know you got out the guns and we all kind of freaked out, but he wasn't going to forcefully take me in front of all those people."
"All what people? Me and two pilots? That's nothing. In Miami, he would have lied his way out of the club. Said you were drunk or sick. He could have drugged you. He could flash a fake badge like I did and say you were a fugitive. No one would think twice. He's a brilliant liar. Hell, he's lying to the whole country right now."
"I gave up everything I love to keep my family and friends safe. Garrett told me I may never get to go back." I start to cry. "That I have to start a new life. I'm trying so hard to do that."
He pulls me into a hug, just as Whitney bursts through the door.
I jump and pull out of Cooper's hug.
"What's wrong?" Whitney snaps.
Cooper takes control, herding her out of the room and saying harshly, "Don't ever barge into my office like that again. Do you understand me?"
"But she barged in your office just the other day. Why was that okay?"
"She's on my soccer team."
"And I'm in your health class."
"Make an appointment." The force that he says it with makes me glad he's on my side.
Whitney nods obediently and says politely. "I'm sorry, Mr. Steele, I hoped to talk to you about the French Weekend."
"As you can see, I'm busy. If you don't stop randomly dropping by without an appointment, I'll withdraw my help on the project. We clear?"
"Uh, yes, sir." She turns and walks quickly away.
"And if I open this door and catch you eavesdropping, you'll be finding yourself in detention."
He sits on the corner of his desk. "Continuing. You've been there how many times before?"
"Just twice. Once with Dawson and once with my friends."
"And one of those times Vincent was there?"
"Yes. But he was following my mom, not me. And Garrett told me to trust my gut. My gut tells me I'm safe there. For now. Like I am at school."
"For now," he adds somberly.
"The loft is where Garrett told me to go if Vincent ever found out I'm here."
Cooper nods. "I'm just trying to think ahead. Of what could go wrong."
"What do you think could go wrong?"
"A million things. But, realistically, he'd have to know you were here to know you went there. So then it becomes the possibility that he sees you somewhere there. That's probably not going to happen randomly. So he'd have someone looking for you. Like he did in Vancouver. Like I'm pretty sure he had on the beach. He'd go to the places he'd expect you to go. Clubs. Shopping. Favorite restaurant. Could he know any of those things about you?"
"I never told him."
"On Facebook maybe?"
"No. I never posted anything about New York. The only thing could be . . ."
"Could be what?"
"Shoe porn, maybe."
"What the hell is shoe porn?"
"It's when you post a photo of a hot shoe on social media. Shoes that other girls will drool over. Kind of like you would over a hot guy."
Cooper laughs and shakes his head. "Shoe porn. Now I've heard everything. So, I'd go to shoe stores, flash a photo of you, give them my card, tell them it's a hundred bucks if they call me."
"Would you do that in New York?"
He thinks for a second. "New York. Miami. Near the rehab in Utah. And probably Vancouver. Upscale stores. Shoe department."
"So I can't go shoe shopping?"
"No shoe shopping."
"I can't . . ."
"Do you want to go by yourself? I like New York. I could come stay with you and Aiden. That'd be cozy."
"Fine. No shoe shopping."
"Do you promise? I'm serious. Do you promise?"
I close my eyes and nod. "Yeah. I promise."
While in New York, Keatyn has some realizations about her family.
Especially after the trip to Vancouver when I realized that Mom hasn't called me even once. And now I understand why. I've become the threat too.
And while Vincent is still out there, I can't see them again.
And that's because, Abby is pushing forward with her own plan. Filming will wrap in Vancouver over the coming weeks. The tabloids believe Tommy is having an affair. Some are suggesting he's had multiple ones-including with their long-time nanny. Which is perfect for what's going to happen next. When Tommy leaves for New York to start filming the Trinity movie, she will send the girls, the dog, and the nanny with him. She'll go back to California by herself.
She can't eat. She can't sleep. And she knows she's losing weight. She's noticing the bones protruding in places they usually don't. But she can't worry about that. It will only give the tabloids more fodder. The thought of pushing everyone she loves away is consuming her. But it's the only way she knows to keep them safe. And although everyone is excited about her upcoming press tour for To Maddie, with Love, she's scared. Scared of what it's going to do to Vincent.
But if it really does push him further over the edge, she wants to make sure she's the one there to catch him. It's the only way.
Vincent is still holding out hope someone will nominate her-that he will find her that way, but as the weeks continue, he starts to grow weary. He still goes to the club every Thursday night hoping she will be there. Part of him wants to give up.
But when he goes to his grandmother's house and steps into his secret place, he knows he must keep searching for her. They are like Romeo and Juliet, being kept apart by their families. Star-crossed lovers who will find a way back to each other.
Of that he is sure.
A few weeks later, after getting hurt by Aiden, she decides to leave Eastbrooke for good. She's going on Thanksgiving break by herself to St. Croix and is going to come up with a plan to fight back.
I have to deal with Vincent first. I have to get my life back. And after that, I promised to give B a chance.
I need to forget about Aiden. Put Eastbrooke and the friends I made there behind me.
My leaving is for the best. For everyone's best.
I'm just not sure what's best for me.
I've been mulling over a lot of options. I've considered moving to my loft, getting my GED, and starting NYU in the fall. But that would mean hanging out with Jake and Dawson. It would mean coming in contact with new people. People who I couldn't make friends with.
I quickly ruled out that option.
Besides, I'm not going back to my loft.
I can't.
I'm pretty sure Aiden ruined it, just like he ruined my lips. I'll put it on the market and forget about it too.
I run my hand over my new four-leaf clover necklace and say a little prayer.
My phone rings, so I stop praying and answer with a polite hello.
"Miss Monroe, this is Edward at Jet Co-op. Before you board, don't forget to stop in the office and sign the new paperwork."
"I won't," I say. But, obviously, I had forgotten.
I hang up and ask the driver to run me back to the office.
I get out of the car and pull my sunglasses over my eyes, partially to block the light and partially because I'm a little freaked out to even go inside. I'm worried Vincent sent my photo to every airport in America.
I put myself into my role. I'm not Keatyn Douglas who's being stalked. I'm Keatyn Monroe who's just an Eastbrooke student.
Was an Eastbrooke student, I think, suddenly fighting back tears.
I'm looking at the office building, but in my mind I'm seeing the beauty that is Eastbrooke. The gorgeous trees. The old brick buildings. The commons. The people. I'm really going to miss everyone. I hate that I didn't give them proper goodbyes. I hate that I did that to them. And most of all, I hate that I'm reliving this moment again.
I was stupid to go to Eastbrooke. Anyone in their right mind should've seen the potential problems.
But we weren't really in our right minds when we made the decision. We were scared.
And I'm done being that way.
It's time to take control of my life.
It's time to fight back.
I take a deep breath and breeze into the office like I don't have a care in the world.
"I'm Keatyn Monroe." I shake Edward's hand and then review the contract for the many additional hours that I purchased on a whim a couple of days ago. That was when one of my options included me turning the tables on Vincent and stalking him.
I decided that might not be my smartest idea ever.
Besides, a new plan is starting to take root. Cooper and me on a farm in Iowa, way out in the country. Lots of acres where we can set up a firing range. A barn we can turn into a training facility. Maybe a few chickens, a cow, and a vegetable garden so that we would never have to leave. We could grow everything we eat.
Okay, maybe not. I don't think I could kill a chicken.
Or a carrot.
I think I'd prefer to buy my food already dead.
I've thought about marrying Cooper. Going Amish.
Living out my life in hiding.
I'm also strongly considering faking my own death.
I'd hate to do that to my family but if I did, I could kill Vincent. My family wouldn't have me, but they'd have their lives back. I could watch the girls grow up from afar.
Then, maybe I could become the CIA's youngest operative. Cooper and I could travel the world and spy.
I bet he'd look damn hot in a tuxedo.
Oooh, I know. I'm going to watch Triple X on the plane.
Oh, the things I'm gonna to do for my country.
While Edward goes in the back to make a copy for my records, I hear two ladies at the next counter gossiping about who's going to star in the next best-selling book turned movie.
One of them holds out a magazine. "Here, you can read this on your lunch break. Did you see the cover? I can't believe how scary skinny Abby Johnston has gotten. People think it's the stress of Tommy's affair."
"I wouldn't care what Tommy did as long as I could get a piece of that fine man. I'm not greedy. I'd be more than willing to share," she says with a chuckle.
"You're bad."
"But honest," she says as she wanders off with her lunch bag. "Besides, I read that this morning."
I wander over and help myself to a bottle of water from the self-service bar, glancing at the photo on the magazine.
I think back to Vancouver. I noticed Mom looked thin, but she looks even skinnier now.
I get my paperwork back from Edward, step outside, and call Tommy.
I'll use this situation to set the first part of my plan in motion.
"I saw that magazine cover of Mom. She looks even thinner than she did at Gracie's birthday party. I'm worried about her, Tommy."