Parker turns to what has me planted in my steps. Even through the grime of the windows, I can feel the heat from Nina’s seething glare. And beside her, Tori is shaking her head in utter disgust.
“Fuck.”
The truth will forever be the truth. Denying it, won’t make it false. Dying words forced me to accept this reality.
Nina is up and moving before I take a step. Tori follows. They’re headed toward the back entrance. I sprint to the other side of the diner, wanting to intercept them without getting Parker involved. I know what Nina thought she saw. Now I need to convince her she didn’t. And having Parker try to argue the point alongside me will only make him … or us … look guilty.
“Hey,” I say as she storms down the metal stairs, her heels clanging loudly with each step.
“What the fuck, Lana?!” Her voice carries across the parking lot. Nina steps in front of me, her arm raised and bent at the elbow, a finger thrusting in emphasis. “You don’t even tell us you’re in town, and I have to find out by watching my boyfriend kiss you! Who the hell do you think you are?!”
“Uh, boyfriend?” The word stuns me more than the screaming and the glittery two-inch nail waving in front of my face.
Tori stands behind her with her arms crossed and her head tilted as if daring me to say the wrong thing.
“He didn’t say … forget it. It’s not like that. You know I’m not interested in him. And I only arrived this morning because my mother’s in the hospital.”
Tori rolls her eyes dramatically.
“What was that for?” I spread my arms at the affront. “What do you have against my mother, Tori? She could have died last night.”
“That woman has issues,” Tori scoffs, circling a finger in the air.
“Who gives a fuck about your mother? I want to know why the hell you’re all up on Parker like he’s yours! He’s not. I can’t believe you disrespected me like that. You’re supposed to be my best friend.”
“I am,” I protest adamantly, “which is why I’d never touch him, no matter if you were together or not. You know my rule.”
“I don’t think I know you at all,” Nina barks, hands on her hips.
“I could say the same about the two of you.” I eye them in abhorrent disbelief. “You say you’re my friends, and so I ask you to look out for the only family I have—you can’t even do that.”
“The only family you have? Are you serious right now?” Tori steps forward, a sharpened fingernail waving back and forth in front of me. “I’ve been there for you every fucking time you needed me. Got you out of some serious shit. And you’re going to go and tell me she’s family? We were your family. She did nothing for you but bring you down.”
“You were my family?” I repeat, my brows raised.
“That’s right,” Nina inserts. “We were.”
“You’re seriously going to choose a guy, who doesn’t even acknowledge you as his girl, over me?” I shake my head at Nina with a scoff, then bat Tori’s nail away. “And I’ve had your back as many times as you’ve had mine, so don’t be acting all crazy and wave your fricken finger in my face when I say she’s my only family. You know exactly what I mean.”
“You did not just call me crazy, bitch!” Tori yells, her hand flying toward my cheek.
I duck away, and her nails graze the side of my face.
“What the fuck was that?!” I shove her shoulder, causing her to stumble back.
“Don’t you dare touch her!” Nina hollers, spinning me by my shoulder just as her fist slams into my jaw.
My head jerks back, and my teeth slam shut. When she swings again, I block her with my forearm and follow it up with a punch to her stomach. She chokes out, bending over as I bring a knee to her face.
She staggers, blood seeping from her mouth. “Oh, you’re fucking over, whore.” Her hand emerges from her pocket with a blade in hand. The pink switchblade she gave to me.
“You’re really going to cut me right now?!” My eyes go wide with shock. “What the hell is wrong with you? You’ve completely lost it. Stop overreacting and put down the fricken knife, Nina. You’re acting like a stupid bitch.”
“Stupid bitch, huh? You seriously just say that to me? Oh, you’re asking to get cut.”
She swings. I jump back but not before the tip draws a line on my forearm.
Tori’s talons grab for my hair. I slap her hand away and lean into a sidekick to her ribs, sending her to the ground. Nina lunges with the knife again. I sidestep, grab her wrist and attempt to twist it, so she’ll be forced to drop the blade. But she spins with me, her elbow bending, and the knife goes into … her.
I let go as soon as I feel the blade puncture the flesh to the hilt. She stares, disbelieving, at the blood-slicked switchblade, having pulled it back out. Her hand goes to the wound. Blood seeps into the fabric of her yellow blouse and spreads quickly.
“Omigod, Nina. I didn’t mean for that to happen.” I gape in horror.
“Cops are coming!” someone yells out the back door.
I step back, looking between the two girls, silently pleading. Nina staggers unsteadily, blood dripping between her fingers. Tori supports her and carefully lowers her on the step. The switchblade is abandoned on the ground.
“You have to know I never wanted this to happen. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“But you did,” Nina snarls, tears streaming down her face. “So just get the fuck out of here.”
“Tori,” I beg, “you know this got out of control.”
“You crossed a line, Lana. No coming back.” Her face is hard, and her words are barbs, penetrating deep. “Now go.”
I swipe the switchblade from the gravel just as I hear sirens in the distance. Running to the other side of the lot, I fold the blade and stuff it into my front pocket. Parker is sitting in the Rover, completely oblivious to what just happened on the other side of the building.
Jumping into the passenger side, I order, “Drive! Now!”
Parker looks down at the blood on my hand. “What the hell just happened?”
“Go, Parker! Right now!”
The sirens are getting closer. My heart is pounding out of my chest.
Parker puts the car in drive and spins out of the lot, dust flying behind us.
“Don’t speed,” I tell him. “We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.”
“A little late for that, don’t you think?” he says, shooting a side-glance at me. “What the hell happened back there? Did Tori or Nina do this?”
My hands shake. I’m still reeling with adrenaline.
“I thought you were friends! What the—”
I bang my fist against the seat. “I don’t know! I have no idea what the fuck just went down!” I press a hand to my forehead, flashes of the confrontation hitting me over and over again. “It’s like she couldn’t even hear me. And then Tori was on her side … neither of them would listen. They were convinced I’d wronged them even before they stepped outside.” I turn to face him, my rage boiling over. “All because of you, Parker. All for a fucking guy who played with her head. Made her think she loved him. And for what? To turn on her best friend because I didn’t respect her? Are you fucking kidding me?!”