One arm lies over my bare chest, and her light, irregular breaths tell me she’s entering the dream stage of sleep. I wish I could crawl inside of her head and watch it play out like a movie. Hear the thoughts that only she has, see the world in her eyes.
Instead, I’m stuck in my own head. Looking at this place as dark and empty, with no end of the craziness in sight. No way out of the mess I’m in. No one to save me. No one to care.
At least I have this—for now, anyways.
It won’t be long until she realizes that I’m broken and beyond repair. She’s a rich girl with a bright future, and I’m the slum dog of Cutler Creek. Her family would never approve, and I don’t blame them.
Doesn’t matter. All that matters right now is the present. She’s here, and she’s safe.
The sunlight breaks through the window, burning the side of my head, but I don’t move. I just hold her tighter and savor these last few minutes.
Soon, she’ll wake up and probably regret everything, even if she swears she doesn’t.
Regrets—I know all about them. Spending months of your life planning revenge on the wrong person. Uncle Jay lied. He lied to all of us, just to try and save his own ass. I should have seen through it. I was so fucking stupid. I read the messages. He was texting her constantly, practically begging her to come see him, still. After everything, he still hasn’t given up on her. I wonder if she’s really moved on from him. It wasn’t just a fling. They had a relationship. Probably laid in bed just like this. The thought makes my skin crawl.
Nadia begins rustling around. Her eyes flicker open and I tuck my chin to look at her face. “Good morning,” I tell her.
She smiles back at me before shifting into a sitting position. “What time is it?”
I grab my phone lying next to me and check then time, at least it’s still good for that. “Eleven o’clock.”
I’ve gotta be at the shop in an hour and I seriously contemplated missing my first day if she didn't wake up. But, now that she is awake, I need to bring her home, so I can go. “I have to get to work. I can drop you off on the way.”
Surprise washes over her face. “You have a job?”
“It’s new. Today’s my first day, but yeah.” I don’t tell her that it’s only one day a week and won’t even buy me a week's worth of food, but I also don’t want pity, so I just leave it at that.
She goes to crawl out of the bed, but something has me reaching out and pulling her back. “Five more minutes?”
She giggles. “But, you’ll be late.”
“Nah,” I tug her closer, “it’s a short drive. Besides, it’ll be worth it.”
Flipping over on her side, she faces me and talks with a hand over her mouth. “I should really go home and brush my teeth. I smell like vodka and fruit punch.”
I chuckle. “I happen to like fruit punch.”
“And vodka?
“Don’t drink. I’m not real big on making an ass of myself. I do that enough when I’m sober.” Shifting gears, I talk about something more important. “So, when will I see you again?”
“Well, we go to the same school so I’d say definitely Monday morning.”
“Too far away. How about tonight when I get out of work?”
“I don’t know. I should probably catch up on my missed schoolwork. My parents will probably want me home tonight anyways. Tomorrow?”
Biting the corner of my lip, I nod. “Tomorrow works.” I start getting off the bed and pull her with me. “As you can see, I’m broke and can’t take you on a real date. But, there’s this spot that I like to go to at the end of the creek. It gives you the best view you’ll ever see in this town.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Once we’re both up, I grab a pair of old jeans and a tee shirt then go into the bathroom to get ready. Five minutes later, we’re out the door and getting in my car.
It’s crazy how much has changed since we were in here last. Nadia was passed out in the passenger seat and I was a ball of fury after what Lacey and Jonas did to her.
Resting an arm on the passenger headrest, I look over my shoulder and back down the driveway. “So, I’ll pick you up around two o’clock tomorrow?”
Nadia begins kicking her foot around at something on the floorboard at her feet. She bends down with a wry expression on her face.
“What are you doing?”
When she comes back up, I’d swear my heart stops beating.
“What the fuck is this?” She holds up a mask.
I don’t know what to say. My hand starts trembling on the steering wheel and I feel like all of the blood has drained from my head. “That’s not mine,” I spit out. And it’s the truth. It’s not mine. That’s Jonas’ mask.
“Don’t lie to me!” she screams while shaking the mask in my face. “Where did this come from?”
Pulling over to the side of the road, I lay on the brake and shift in park. “Nadia, I can explain.”
“Oh yeah? You can explain how this mask got in your car? The same mask that was outside of my house twice? The same mask that broke into my house and assaulted me?”
“Woah, wait a damn minute. Broke into your house? Assaulted you? Nadia, that’s—”
“Unbelievable!” she shouts before throwing the mask back at her feet. “Take me home, Zack. And I never want to see you again.”
The night that we had to split up because security came to her house, Jonas went MIA. Only, he didn’t make a run for it. He went back. “I’ll fucking kill him!” I say out loud, but it’s only for myself. Nadia has no idea what I’m talking about. She thinks it was me. “It wasn’t me. I mean, I have one of those, but I didn’t break into your house. That mask is Jonas’”
Her arms cross tightly over her chest as she stares out the side window. “Why would I believe anything you say to me? All of this was just part of your plan to get back at me for what I did.”
“I’m not lying to you. You have to believe me.” I lean over the seat and place my hand on her cheek to turn her head to face me. She has to believe me. I just got her; I can’t lose her.
To my surprise, she looks at me, before swatting my hand away from her. “Even if it was Jonas, you still came to my house to scare me. The spiders...oh my god, the spiders. It was you!” Her eyes widen and tears slide down her cheeks. Once again, tears I caused. “You asked me what my biggest fear was. I told you it was spiders.” In a rapid movement, she turns and tries to open the door, but I grab a hold of her.
“Nadia, please. Just let me explain.”
“No! I’m done listening.” The door swings open and she jumps out. We’re still miles from her house and there is no way I’m leaving her out here.
Opening my door, I hop out and slam it shut behind me. She walks swiftly, but I catch up to her. “Would you stop!” I attempt to spin her around but lose my footing and stumble.
“I can’t believe you, Zack! I was actually starting to fall for you. All this time you were playing me.” More tears fall, one after another.
“I know. I was fucking stupid. I thought you were lying and I wanted to make you pay for what I thought you took from me. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”