HER SECRET DIARY

Episode -6

SUSPECT II : ERIC BENT (PART 2)

Almost everything about Eric and Ron was as different as salt and sugar. While Ron was the posh looking cool tempered playboy, Eric was the regular looking quick tempered trouble maker. As Kayla put it there was nothing special about Eric other than his fists and bank account. The Bent's were the richest family in the town. Their company which owns an alcohol processing plant and wine distillery was the backbone of the entire county for over seven decades. They were literal saints to the locals and a could do no wrong, but despite the fact that he could steam roll Ron when it came to splashing the cash he never outwardly flaunted it. He drove an old truck that belonged in a farm with its loud smoke popping engine and rusting black exterior. He really didnt seem to take after all his last name did what no expensive sports car could do. He rarely got in trouble with the teachers or the principal who walked on eggshells around him given his background and the fact that he was a legacy student with four generations of family members having been in the school.

"Say that again and let's see how many teeth you have left," he moved menacingly closer to Ron's face almost kissing him.

Ron was quiet for a few seconds measuring his next sentence, he didnt move an inch back standing in place while eric breathed on his neck like a raging bull.

"Look man I dont want any beef with you."

Ron chickened out, how emasculating.

Oliver, one of Eric's friends broke up the tense standoff coming between the two and pushing them apart.

"Leave him Eric or you'll be going to military school for another year let's go we're missing practice coach will be mad."

Eric took one long hard glare at Ron before slowly moving back, he turned his attention away from him and finally noticed standing a distance away behind Ron. He was shocked at first having not noticed me and it showed, his face turned red in embarrassment before taking a long hard look at me as his friends started going away. There was alot in his eyes, volumes of emotions ranging from love, sadness, anger, guilt and hopelessness. He was a brute sometimes but unlike Ron who had cold emotionless eyes, Eric's grey orbs were full of life and stories to tell, no secrets could be hidden with him, his eyes were always truthful.

He glanced at me a minute too long and oliver once again had to call out to him, "Yo bro are you coming or what!"

"Sure," he said still staring at me before turning around and walking off.

It had been three months since the incident and it was still kept between kayla, me and him but he still felt defeated and ashamed after this long. I wondered whether it drove him to the edge enough to commit the unthinkable.

"You and the gorilla have a thing going on," Ron said his cocky persona once again making a comeback after temporarily retreating.

I still wasnt done with him yet now that Eric so helpfully revealed that there was a video involving Kayla that Ron was scared of, I had more ammunition he wasnt dodging me again.

"Hold up what about the video you've got."

His face lost its colour, Marcus and Fred who stayed back came to his rescue.

"Look it was nothing just a snapchat video Eric just freaked out you know he's still...."

"Shut up Marcus I wasnt talking to you," I cut him off tired off his nonsense, " Ron it's simple I want to see it or maybe the next time a teacher or Kayla's parents visit me I'll tell them about our wonderful evening and a mysterious video."

Ron visibly choked, I had him where I wanted him. Whatever was on that video must have been bad enough to have Ron in knots. There was an uneasy silence as I waited impatiently for Ron to answer. He was stern and in moving more deadly looking than ever, paranoia started kicking in and I thought he would jump on me any moment with Marcus and Fred as backup even Todd wouldn't escape his wrath. I stepped back just incase the worst happened. He sighed heavily before falling on the hood of my car.

"What the hell you know what you can watch it I dont care anymore."

"RJ what are you doing?" Fred spoke up.

"Shut up you two put me in this mess," he barked at the both of them.

He stood and walked towards me before pulling me closer to him and making close eye contact that was weird for me given the mood.

"Look Kim I'm a messed up person I can admit that much and I know you think little of me but whatever you see dont judge me too quickly I care about Kayla and I really want to find her no matter the problems we have."

It was the most sincere I had ever een him before, but it may have been his charm working its effects on me. I was on the fence currently with the video being the final determinant.

I nodded in response to his statement and he pulled away from me.

"Marcus you got her number?"

"Yep."

"Send it to her and Kim dont open it now do it alone," he said while eyeing Todd who was watching on with excitement in the car.

"Whoa Ron I got it yikes you're getting too preachy just pray my snitch side doesn't wake up."

Ron didnt smile as he walked slowly back into the school like a wounded animal, this really wasnt his day.

I got in the car glad that it was all over with. I got a beep from my phone and I knew Marcus had sent the video, satisfied I turned on the engine and was more than ready to get home. I didnt know how the video would help me trace Kayla but at the moment I was grabbing at straws and this was the best thing I had to a lead.

"That was amazing! The way those guys were about to beat the s**t out of each other oh man if only they did it this would have gone viral," Todd practically yelled.

"You're gonna have to delete that."

"No way this is still gold."

"I'm not asking besides if they know you have that who do you think they'll come for next."

He gulped, " you know I dont really need it anyways it's taking too much space."

He deleted his recording and sat quietly throughout the trip home maybe mostly thinking about getting knocked out by Eric.

I smiled inwardly knowing that I'm better perfecting my manipulation technique.