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Jackson had accidentally tripped down the staircase and suffered serious injuries in the head. For the next three days, he was in a critical condition in the hospital. Cheryl looked very much at distress and worry and I felt sad for Mr. Parker who came across as extremely pale and much older than he was.

It was finally when Jackson regained consciousness than I began easing out of all the anxiety and dread that was bottled up within me. I visited the kid everyday. It was disheartening to see the little boy lying on thr hospital bed with a bandaged head. But I cheered him up as much as I could. I even brought Roald Dahl books to read out to him in Cheryl or Mr. Parker's presence. I was happy that I could bring a smile on Jackson's face and lessen some of his miseries.

But Devon didn't accompany me in any of these visits. I assumed that he'd be checking on Jackson separately when no one was around. And l was okay with it if that was how he wanted to be a caring and good brother to the kid without letting me know about those qualities of his.

But that morning when I went to visit Jackson, I understood how much of what I was supposing to be true was actually true.

Jackson was sound asleep when I entered. I persuaded a tired looking Mr. Parker to have some refreshment while I was there. After he left, I took a stool and sat on it by the bedside near Jackson's head. After a certain while, Jackson squirmed a little before opening his small baby eyes to blink at me.

"Hey how are you, champ?" I asked softly.

Jackson glanced at the door and then back at me. "I'm fine, Eleanor. Did you come alone?" he asked as though he was expecting someone else with me.

"Yes," I said.

"Oh..." he said, lowering his gazes in disappointment.

"What happened, Jackson?" I asked fondly. "Are you missing your mother? She is on her way here."

Tears welled up in his eyes and rolled down his temples.

"Jackson don't cry, baby," I whispered, trying to pacify him. "You're a miracle child. Jesus saved you and He wouldn't want you to cry..."

"Wh...Where is Devon?" Jackson sobbed silently. "Wh...Why didn't he come to visit me even once? Everyday I wait for him to come but he never comes. It's been so long since I've seen him, have talked to him...please tell him to come over once. P...Please tell him I'm really sorry if I've upset h-him in anyw--"

He was crying again. I was left brutally shocked at what I just heard.

"I don't know what is happening..." he hiccupped. "Mom tells me Devon is bad....but I know he is not. Never Ever."

It was heartening to see such a strong conviction in the little kid.

"I just wish he comes to see me..." Jackson said gloomily.

I took his soft little hands into mine and held them in assurance. "I'm gonna bring Devon here to visit you."

"You will?" he asked, a ray of hope shone in his sad eyes.

"I will. That's a promise," I said.

Jackson's baby lips curled up into a bright smile. And I didn't want it to wither away anymore.

I got back to the neighborhood in a disturbed state. I still couldn't believe what I heard. The only question that was making me restless and anxious was 'Why?'. Why wasn't Devon reaching out to Jackson? This was so unlike Devon. There has to be some reason behind him keeping away from the brother he loved the most. I couldn't help but feel hurt that Devon didn't feel like sharing his apprehensions with me. But then again, I didn't have the right to feel hurt....

I was walking down the lane when suddenly, I found myself face to face with Devon. He caught hold of my hand and tugged me along with him.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked. At the same time, he took me behind a wall and started kissing my neck and shoulders. I gasped as he bit all the sensitive spots on my neck before wetting them with his hot tongue. Sensing my weakening knees, Devon pushed me against the brick wall with his hips and continued kissing me wildly leaving me in a state of daze and hysteria....

"Look at the amazing weather tonight. Let's go on a long drive, baby..." he whispered huskily against my ear, pressing his body further to mine.

Devon was too much of a temptation to resist. But I needed to hold on tight to the threads of my sanity. This wasn't the time to give in to desires.

"I don't wanna go anywhere with you," I finally managed to refuse, struggling to sound firm.

"Liar Lair, Sanchez on fire," smiled Devon smugly.

"Stop saying that," I snapped.

He raised his hands in surrender, albeit with a lopsided smile lazing around on his lips. Argg, this boy!!

But he is so fucking hot....

Focus, Eleanor!

"Why do I have this feeling that you're seducing me so as to divert my attention from something serious?" I asked, narrowing my eyes into slits.

"Why do I feel like disagreeing with you?" he countered nonchalantly.

I rolled my eyes.

"Devon," I said grimly. "You told me you were visiting Jackson everyday but I got to know that you never did."

"Good."

"Devon, what's wrong with you? Why are you behaving as if you don't give a damn? I know you were in pieces when Jackson was lying unconscious for three whole days so don't even try to deny that. I know you love him to bits. You miss him. Then why aren't you checking on him?!"

His reaction wasn't what I expected. I saw his jaw harden and his eyes turn emotionless....

"I'm not missing him," he said quietly, looking away from me.

"Don't you want to meet him, speak to him?" I asked, unable to make any head or tail of his cold behavior.

"No," Devon responded flatly.

"That kid was crying on the hospital bed because he was missing you!! I promised him that I would get you to him and you're showing me that you're not even bothered about him??!!"

"Firstly, I'm showing you the truth. Secondly, you shouldn't promise anyone something that is not practically possible," he looked at me, our gazes clashing.

I was fed up. I don't understand why he was so hell bent into proving that he was bad.

"What do you want, Devon?" I asked in frustration.

"I want to go on a long drive with you, Eleanor," said Devon, his pupils dilating, as he slammed his palms on the wall on either side of my head. "We should talk about that rather than anything else."

I snorted. "Funny that you think I would even agree to go anywhere with you after witnessing your cold hearted attitude."

"Funny that you think I'm gonna let you refuse."

Devon was gonna press his lips onto my neck but I jerked his hands down. "No, Devon," I said firmly. "I am refusing you. I have no clue what's going on in that head of yours but I do not like the fact that you haven't spoken to Jackson."

I left from there in extreme disappointment.

I was pacing to and fro in my room after dinner that night. I was basically trying to decode Devon's cold behaviour. But I wasn't getting anywhere. Why did he have to be an enigma always? Just when I thought I had started to understand how his mind works, he did something that dragged me down to square one.

Understanding Devon was like playing snakes and ladders and losing more number of times than winning. And it was damn frustrating.

Right then my phone buzzed.

"Hey, Stef, what's up?" I greeted over the phone.

"Hey, " she responded.

She sounded odd. "Is everything ok? You're sounding reluctant or hesitant, I don't know what it is," I said.

"It's about Devon...." she trailed off.

"What about him?" I asked, finding myself turning alert at his mention.

"El, I don't know how to tell you this...I mean it's so strange....but there's something not right with Devon these days...He gives out strange vibes...I've seen him around and it-it feels weird..."

The uneasy knot in my chest just grew after hearing her out.

"Stef, you're the one who told me to go for Devon. That he was the right guy for me. And you're contradicting your own words right now," I said anxiously.

"I know and that's what makes it more terrible. Don't get me wrong but just be careful."

A tensed silence hung between us after that.

"Hey, why don't you come over for a sleepover tomorrow?" Stef proposed. "It's been quite a while since we had one. We could even watch episodes of 'Friends'! What say?"

"That's a great idea!" I said brightly, instantly liking it. "I'm in!".

"Amazing! We are gonna have a gala time tomorrow."