Kristen's pov

"Kristen, you need to see this!" Kyle shouted from across the room.

"What is it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

We were gathered at my house, brainstorming a plan to protect Anna from Maria. We had stumbled upon some disturbing information about Maria, and it was clear that she was not someone to be taken lightly.

"I think you need to take a look at this," he said, his attention fixed on his computer screen.

Intrigued, I made my way over to him, eager to see what had caught his attention. What I saw on the screen left me speechless.

"Dude, what are you going to do about this?" he asked, as stunned as I was.

"When was this article posted?" I inquired, trying to process the shocking revelation.

"The most surprising part is that it was posted just six months ago," he replied, his confusion evident.

"And you'd think Anna would have some idea about this," he added, seemingly perplexed.

The article before us was chilling, titled "Bizarre Encounters: Middleton School Student Sets Couple on Fire During Date." It detailed how a student from Middleton School had allegedly set a couple ablaze while they were on a date. The student was reportedly sent to a psychiatric facility for treatment, while the victims were in critical condition.

What caught my attention the most was the photo of Maria included in the article.

"Could this really be her? Maybe she has a twin or something," Marco suggested, grasping for an explanation. But Bella had previously told me that Maria was an only child, so that theory didn't hold.

"Do you think she might be on medication? She hasn't shown any signs of being unstable... well, up until now. It's possible she's good at hiding it," Maurice speculated, his concern evident.

"No way. She reeks of jealousy, and going to such lengths just to separate Anna from you. Clearly, she's off her medication," Kyle chimed in, voicing his opinion.

"How does a teenager manage to commit such an act and cover it up without leaving a trace?" Maurice wondered aloud, raising an important question. It made me consider the possibility that someone else could be involved.

"I don't think Anna should be in the same house as Maria. And if this is indeed Maria, she's far too dangerous to be around Anna," Steff interjected, his voice filled with concern.

The revelation of Maria's potential involvement in such a horrific incident left us all on edge, searching for a way to ensure Anna's safety.

"That makes two of us," Kyle agreed, voicing his concern. I understood why they were all so worried and protective of Bella.

"But it's not going to be that easy now that we know we're dealing with a psychopath. She could retaliate in ways we can't even imagine. We need to proceed with caution," I cautioned, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"Definitely. After hearing about the sick and twisted things she did to Scott and Regina, and let's not forget Regina is no pushover, we're going to need some help with this one," Maurice added, acknowledging the need for additional support.

"It's a good thing that Regina and Scott came forward and shared everything they knew about her. Without their information, your girlfriend would probably be... well, it's better not to think about it," Maurice continued without realizing the impact of his words.

"I have something to confess too... the first time we went to that football party and Anna got drunk... Maria convinced me to get her drunk so she could have fun," Steff confessed nervously, taking a step back, clearly aware of the gravity of his actions.

"You were the one who got my Bella drunk at some stupid party?" I asked, my voice quiet but seething with anger. It was impossible not to lose my temper after hearing what Steff had just admitted.

"Well, it was just a little joke to help her loosen up," he tried to explain, taking another step back as I took a step forward.

"Just a little joke, huh?" I laughed bitterly. "You got my woman drunk at some fucking party. You know what's funny? When I showed up and saw her about to be attacked by Regina, you weren't there. Anything could have happened," I seethed.

"W-well, I was there, but I had gone to get Anna a paper towel. When I came back, you were already there. But when you put it that way, I... I'm sorry," Steff confessed, looking defeated.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the other three guys standing nearby, ready to intervene if necessary.

"Sorry isn't going to cut it," I replied coldly.

In an instant, I was in front of him, throwing punches. Two pairs of hands quickly pulled me away, preventing me from doing any further harm. Steff was my own flesh and blood, and despite our rocky relationship, I still loved him as if he were my own brother. Our strained dynamic went back a long way.

Steff stood before me, his face bloodied and bruised, tears streaming down his cheeks. He looked defeated, but I didn't care. All I could think about was protecting Bella and ensuring her safety in every possible way.

"You got your best friend drunk. A lot of things could have happened that night. They could have taken advantage of her. And most of all, you betrayed her trust and her family in the blink of an eye, all for what? A worthless girl like McCollum?!" I spat, seething with anger.

"What the hell is going on, Steff? And what happened to your face?" his girlfriend, Ariel, who had just entered the room, shrieked in shock.

"It's nothing, Ariel. There's something I need to deal with here. Could you wait outside, please?" he pleaded with her.

"No, if this involves you and some girl, I want to know. You promised you wouldn't keep any secrets from me, remember?" she demanded, searching for supplies to tend to his injuries.

"Yes, Steff, why don't you tell her?" I smirked. "I'm sure she'd love to hear all about it," I taunted.

I knew I was being cruel, but that was who I was in that moment, and it was what Steff deserved for putting Bella in danger.

"Kristen, I don't think it's a good idea for you to get involved in their personal matters," Maurice cautioned, but I shot him a glare.

"Why did you get Anna drunk? And is there something you're not telling me?" Ariel questioned, her voice filled with concern.

"Can't you just do as I say?!" Steff yelled at her, caught off guard by her persistence. She quickly left the room, realizing the severity of the situation, and Steff hurriedly followed to apologize, I assumed.

"Dude, that was harsh. He's been looking out for her since she was a baby. It was one mistake," Marco interjected.

"Yes, one colossal mistake that could have harmed Bella in unimaginable ways. It should have never happened!" I shouted, my anger still burning.

"I think he's learned his lesson, so there's no need to keep berating him, bro. Take it easy. Right now, we need to focus on Bella's safety," Kyle advised, trying to calm the situation.

"But seriously, are you really planning on letting her stay there, knowing what Maria is capable of? To hell with maintaining your cover if it means I have to let her stay in the same house as Maria!" Kyle yelled, clearly as frustrated as I was.

"Stop being irrational. Bella isn't the only one in danger. I need more information about this situation," I replied, trying to regain my composure as I reached for a bottle of whiskey to calm my nerves. Luckily, my parents were out on a date.

"Her parents know most of this. Why would they have sent her here if she's sick? Do you think there's some connection behind all of this?" Marco questioned, his mind racing with possibilities.

"It seems likely," I acknowledged, taking a sip of whiskey to steady myself.

"So, you're saying she managed to do all this, manipulate Regina, manipulate Scott, and now she's going after Anna, all because of you. She must be really obsessed with you," Marco chimed in with an unwelcome opinion.

Kyle's voice trembled with concern as he spoke, "Don't you think that even if Anna stays there, there's a possibility that something might happen? She'd be in more danger."

Marco's retort was laced with cynicism, his words dripping with disdain, "Dude, why can't you just have a normal love life and not a Halloween for a relationship?"

Ignoring Marco's negativity, I turned to Maurice, my voice filled with urgency, "Maurice, what insights did you uncover about Maria?"

Maurice's response was tinged with unease, "Not much, just that she makes a lot of unknown calls from multiple numbers just outside of town." My nod conveyed a shared sense of apprehension.

"Try to retrieve any recordings," I commanded, a hint of desperation creeping into my voice.

"Surprisingly, there are no recordings of any of her calls, which leads me to believe she's not alone," Maurice admitted, his tone betraying a mix of shock and suspicion.

My inquiries continued, each word laden with growing worry, "Do you have any insight on where her parents might be?"

Maurice's response was disheartening, "No, not yet."

Hope flickered within me as I voiced my thoughts, "Hopefully, Bella's parents have some sort of idea about this. They need to be prepared for anything."

Interrupting our conversation, Marco's curiosity interjected, "Where is Anna, by the way?"

"She's out with Antonio and Vicky. I currently have a spy tracking all of Maria's movements," I replied, my words carrying a mixture of determination and anxiety.

"Okay, good," their responses conveyed a sense of relief, albeit tinged with lingering worry.

As I settled into my chair, contemplating my next move, fate intervened, thrusting urgency upon me. Steff burst into the room, his face etched with urgency, extending his phone toward me. Without a moment's hesitation, I reached for it, my heart pounding in anticipation.

A surge of adrenaline coursed through me, uncertain of the impending news. Steff's teary eyes hinted at the severity of the situation, intensifying the rapid beats of my heart.

"Hello?!" I exclaimed anxiously, my voice echoing through the phone, only to be met with the heart-wrenching sound of Bella's sobbing.

"Princess, what is it?" My chest tightened as her cries pierced through the line. I glanced at Steff, his restless pacing reflecting the turmoil within.

"Bella, baby, where are you? What happened? Please, answer me," I implored, my voice tinged with fear, struggling to maintain a semblance of composure.

"K... Kristen... An... Antonio's... gone missing," Bella choked out between sobs, her words striking my heart like a thunderbolt.