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Arrested again? What does thatover et my emotions under control Zach scowled down atup his hands innocently His eyes were concerned as he regarded , keepinghappened Was it just coincidence that those texts were received saying someone could see me and then Zach was there? I didn’t know the answer But just the fact that he was standing there was surely a sign of his innocence The police had let hi in his house that connected hi like that for? You looked like you were going to shit a brick," heslowly as if he was trying not to startle ulped, o There’s soet hoot half way an agonising pain shot through ain and yelp
My eyes glazed over as I clenchedelse Zach squatted down in front ofto o ho up and down the street, waiting for so maniac to ju now Cold see ether loudly, so I clenchedwhat Zach was doing
Zach shook his head, carefully unlacingwith my sock "Let me just take a look and make sure it’s not broken before we move you," he instructed I closedmore pain to erupt in little bursts "This isn’t broken I think it’s just sprained," he said finally
All of a sudden ot the better ofup to ht Are you okay?" Zach’s voice was soft as one of his hands stroked the back of hat me orried eyes "I’roaned, leaning forward and pressing his forehead tohold ofmy hands away fro lots of tiny scrapes and grazes with blood oozing out in parts "These don’t look too bad We should get the dirt out though" He pulled the botto off the dirt and little stones that were there before blotting the blood away "I suppose you think I’m the one that killed Sandy too, huh? That’s why you were running froaze firulped Did I think it was hihtened in the heat of the uy who shouted my name was Zach Would I have run if I did? I didn’t think so Now that I kneas him, my heart rate had started to slon, the fear had started to ebb away, and I was actually incredibly glad that he was here I wasn’t frightened of hi to my wounds
"I didn’t knoas you that shouted htened and then I saw a shadowy figure in the street shouting hup my jeans so he could see the scratches there too "And I don’t think you killed Sandy," I added confidently I didn’t knohy I was so sure that it wasn’t him, I barely even knew him, but what I did know about hiuy, yes, but a girl, no
His lips parted as he turned his head, his gaze ratitude in the darkness as his fingers deftly worked to roll my jeans up over my sore knees "Well you and Olivia are the only ones that seerily "Why were you frightened in the first place?" he asked, frowning
I gulped Zach didn’t knowon Other than family, I’d only told Charlotte, Beth and Luke All Zach kneas that Chester had been poisoned because I told hi on recently So letters and phone calls"
His head snapped up at that "Seriously? Wait, phone calls? Is that why the police kept asking me if I had another phone? They think I’ his head in disbelief
I shrugged, looking away from him because I actually felt terrible that he’d been arrested for it "I guess so The person broke intoyou about fingerprints in my house and on his collar," I explained
He sucked in a deep breath through his teeth, nodding slowly as if everything was now dropping into place and he understood as going on "Thathow I explainedon the collar and in your house It’s so stupid Of course I touched your dog, it was hard not to when he’s ju to be petted," heabout a phone, where I put it, where I bought it, that kind of thing, but I didn’t really knohat they were talking about Now itone of the cuts onwhen it burned "Apparently the nu me, called Sandy an hour before she wasin rip onyou too? No freaking wonder why they were bustingup the street "There’s a café open up there Let’s get you off the cold floor and in there in the waret you some ice for that foot before it swells too badly I’ll take you ho down and picking upit back inside
He grabbedup and holding down both hands tohi not to wince as the little scratches ached on my hands "Keep that foot off the floor," he instructed, loopinghis other arree to put it on the floor anyway because the ache was already bad enough and I didn’t want todown and brushing his hand overfroasped, shocked by his hands onme up in theas the shivering started to get worse
His eyes widened and he whipped his hand away quickly, a subtle blush for on his cheekbones as he looked away and up the street "Sorry You have mud and dirt all over you, I didn’this jaw
I couldn’t help but chuckle at how unco at his horrified expression I hadn’t taken Zach for the innocent type; he was always so cocky and self-assured Why was he so embarrassed to have touched my behind? It was obvious that it was an innocentI’ into shock," heood foot "I-I’m f-fine Just c-cold," I stuttered as another shiver racked et you in there so you can sit," he said, nodding at the café again
Aardly, we hobbled and hopped up the street to the café with Zach taking ht as ent As he pushed open the door and helpedme moan in appreciation The war on my skin, but it was like my insides had frozen solid The place was deserted
The waiter looked up as alked in, a startled expression on his face "Is she alright?" he asked, co shut behind us "She just fell I think she h Can you et some into one of the metal chairs The waiter disappeared Zach smiled down at me as he pulled off his black hoodie and then crouched down in front ofit down over riped He chuckled, and I leant forward in the chair, letting him help me put my arms into the oversizedof watery brown liquid in front ofto a glass pot with a spout on the table "I’ll just get soain
Zach stood up, grabbing the sugar pot and tipping it into the tea I cringed and shook ar," I mumbled almost incoherently as I tried to reach for his hand to stop hithe pot up another three tienerous slosh ofit towardsers to get the blood going again I had no plans to drink it though