Chapter Two
For once, Dad strolled in from work right on time.
A hard crease was indented into his forehead, his lips drawn tight like he tasted something sour.
Hanging his coat on the hook near the door, he turned, his eyes falling on me instantly.
He glanced around the room, the confusion apparent in his facial expression.
“Where’s your mother?” he asked.
“Napping.” I shrugged, turning the page of the book I was currently invested in.
Reading was one of the only things I got to do for myself, so I took advantage of it when I could.
My parents didn’t understand that either, but they knew when to pick their battles.
That was part of the reason I got to dress the way I wanted to.
If it was up to them, I’d wear pink mini-skirts and halter tops, my hair would be blonde like Mom’s, and I’d be head cheerleader.
An internal scoff got lodged in my throat.
As if.
I was perfectly content with my ripped skinny jeans, fishnets, and black band Ts.
“Figures.” He scoffed, shaking his head like it was a crime for her to get some sleep after taking care of the baby all day and night by herself.
I narrowed my eyes at him, my molars grinding together as the anger within me surged to the forefront of my body. He was the definition of a man who had peaked in high school. Now, he was a miserable piece of shit who women would run from if they ever knew who he truly was.
Closing my book, I uncrossed my legs, trying my best to act like his callous response didn’t bothered me. “Isobella’s sleeping. I suggested she should take a nap. She seemed tired.” For the most part, my words came out casual, but there was a hint of an edge to them that I hoped he hadn’t noticed.
“From staying home all day?” he challenged with a raised eyebrow.
Before I could even think up a response, he was storming off to the kitchen.
He did that a lot, especially when he came home on time.
He’d go straight to the kitchen and drown himself in alcohol to make up for his lack of infidelity.
The night wasn’t over yet though. There was still time for him to head to the bar and get his fix there.
Rising, I made a beeline for the staircase. There was no way in Hell I was spending more time with this man than was necessary. As soon as I reached my room, I pulled the door closed behind me, my gaze finding the doll’s instantly. It was like a magnetic pull I couldn’t shake.
He was seated in the small rocking chair within the corner of my room.
It was my reading nook, the chair positioned right next to my bookcase.
I’d always been fascinated by creepy things, or by things most people would run away from.
Like horror movies for example, haunted houses, spiders, snakes, sharks, and poisonous plants.
Apparently, that included antique dolls now too.
Crossing my room, I lowered myself on the Queen-size bed, folding my legs beneath my weight before placing the book I’d been reading in my lap. I opened it up again and started from the place I left off.
I’d only managed to read a chapter before shouting sounded from down the hallway. Anger raced through me, followed by a hint of annoyance. I could never catch a damn break in this house. It was hard to make out what was being said, but it was probably nothing different than the usual.
Dad probably woke her up to complain about her laziness and whine about how unfair it was that she got to sit at home while he worked his ass off all day. If you counted his affair as him working his ass off. I rolled my eyes.
Closing the book again, I flopped backwards on my bed, sinking into the mattress.
I only had one year left in this house and then I could get away from it all. I just needed to stay strong for a little while longer. I could do that. Right?
***
My best friend slung an arm around my shoulders in greeting when she caught me walking down the hallway. Voices echoed through the school, the chatter of students amplifying due to the lockers on either side.
“Feix is throwing a party tomorrow night if you wanna crash.” She tightened her hold around me in a hopeful gesture, a grin splitting her face.
A scowl tugged at my lips due to the mere thought. “Pass,” I replied bitterly.
There was no way in Hell I was going to a party with a bunch of preps and jocks. Not when all they did was make my life more miserable than it already was.
Fuck that.
Lizzie released a loaded sigh. “Come on, Ember. It could be fun. Chances are, they’ll be too drunk to even want to fuck with you.”
I shrugged her arm off me when we reached our lockers and started to fumble with my combination. “Or they’ll be even more diabolical.” I shook my head. “I’m not taking any chances. I see enough of those bitches at school.”
She pouted in response, doing her best to make her brown eyes appear larger as if that would magically change my mind. She could give me the puppy dog look all she wanted; it wasn’t happening.
Just as I managed to get my locker door open, it slammed shut again. Frustration tore through me, followed by annoyance when I realized who’s manicured hand had done it. There was only one bitch basic enough to continue to get the French tip acrylics over and over again.
Whirling around, my eyes locked with Juliett’s blue ones. A vile smirk twisted the edges of her pink glossed lips, malice swimming through her expression.
“Can I help you?” I snapped, elbowing the Queen B out of the way to put more space between us.
These lockers were a pain in the ass, and it took a shit ton of effort just to get it open the first time. At this point, I was going to have blisters on my fingers.
“Sorry,” she said innocently, batting her thick, long lashes. “I just couldn’t help but overhear…” Her gaze drifted over to Lizzie before bouncing back to rest on me.
“Don’t worry, Queen of Muff. I have no intention of crashing your pathetic little party.” I rolled my eyes, turning back to my locker to mess with the combination again.
A girly giggle bubbled up from her throat, one that didn’t even sound all that malicious, just condescending. “Oh, on the contrary.” She smirked. “I think you should come.”
My hands faltered on the lock, unease slithering down my spine. “Why the fuck would I do that?” I countered.
Ignoring me, Juliett turned to my friend. “You’ll be there, won’t you?”
Lizzie opened and closed her mouth a few times, her gaze drifting over to me for assistance. But I couldn’t help her. If she wanted to go, she could go. That didn’t mean I had to.
“I don’t know,” Lizzie mumbled nervously. “I mean maybe. Probably?” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Yeah. I’ll be there.” Her shoulders slumped in defeat, her eyes dropping to the tiled floor.
Leave it to Lizette to cave under pressure. I knew she’d only go if I did—well … normally. She didn’t want to be stuck partying alone, which I couldn’t blame her for. Especially when Juliett and the rest of her pose would be attending.
“Great.” Juliett smiled. “Make sure this one comes, too.” She glanced over at me one final time before turning on her heels and stalking back to her group of friends on the other side of the hallway.
“That was weird,” Lizzie muttered under her breath.
I nodded in agreement. It was definitely fucking weird. “They’re up to something.”
“You don’t know that,” she defended. “I mean … yeah. They’re mean as hell, but that doesn’t mean they’re planning anything.”
I shot her a pointed look as I worked to get locker unlocked.
Finally, it clicked open again. Switching out my books for my next class, I turned to my friend again.
She knew how far these bitches would go just to make people suffer.
Hell, I wasn’t even their only target. That was how much time they spent bullying people who they deemed inferior.
“I just think it’s a stretch.” She shrugged. “It’s a party. Why would anyone waste their time when they could be hooking up or getting plastered?”
She did have a point.
If there was one thing those people liked more than hurting others, it was getting fucked and wasted.
I mulled that over for a few seconds, the wheels churning within my skull. “Fine,” I relented. “I’ll go. But you owe me.”