Chapter 10 #2
Just as I approach the vending machine at the end of the hall, I hear a whistle from the cafeteria doors.
It’s him.
He walks over to me, and before I know it, he's cornering me against the cold glass of the machine.
“We upheld our half of the bargain,” he says, right in my face. “You mention a word about what you saw this morning, and we’ll make sure you don’t survive another day.”
“Sweet Jesus,” I moan, my mouth full of chocolate eclair.
Letting myself sink into the driver’s seat of my Porsche, I savour the buttery sweetness of the pastry. The hotel lights shine into my car, lighting up my face in sheer bliss.
I needed this.
It was way embarrassing trying to rent a room at The Emerald alone. Not as embarrassing as having my card declined while doing it. My father cut me off. I don’t know how long it’ll last. I’m just happy he did it after I got these pastries.
Taking another bite of an eclair, a hyper-pop song fills the car. This usually helps, but it’s hard to shake this feeling. I’ve been the perfect daughter, keeping myself out of scandals and headlines since my family arrived. All it took was one fuck up and I’m ousted from my own home.
The hotel wasn’t my first choice. When I checked QuickGram, all my so-called friends tagged their posts with @CrimsonChamber once again.
Even Marisol made it there, which means getting her arrested hardly made a dent in her day.
Of course, her father got her out for something she didn't do, but she's not lying low like I thought.
Phone tight in my hand, I take a second to swallow my ego. The last thing I want to do, knowing my friends are at the enemy’s party, is to ask them for a favour. But with my accounts frozen, I don’t have much choice.
“Oh, Hi, Hannah,” Zurie answers with as much enthusiasm as going to The Valley.
I cut to the chase. “Can I stay over tonight? I’ve come into…” I stall, not trusting her with this information. If I’m in a war, I have to keep my cards close to my chest. “Some trouble.”
“Sorry, Hannah, I can’t. I have…” She trails off, like she’s dodging the truth, but I already know.
“Rye’s party.” I finish her sentence for her.
“I’m actually not going tonight.” Sitting up, a weight lifts. “I have to finish a project and I need Dad’s yacht next weekend.”
“So, I can come over?”
“Hannah, I can’t be seen with you.”
Her words slam into my chest. I’m so stunned I don’t know what to say besides, “I’m Hannah Alfonso. Everyone wants to be seen with me.”
“Well, not quite.” God, she sounds as cunty as Marisol.
“Did you forget I’ve had The Hill in a chokehold since ninth grade?”
“You had The Hill in a chokehold. Hannah, things are different now.”
“It’s not like anyone will see me in your house.”
“I can’t risk it. Unlike you, I still have status.” The call ends. My chest tightens.
She can’t be seen with me?
I dial Ember’s number next, but it goes straight to voicemail. Checking QuickGram, Ember’s story shows her already at Rye’s party at my lake house.
My hands slam against my steering wheel, the sting in my palms startling me. With a deep inhale, I close my eyes. “You can figure this out,” I mutter to myself, but taking another deep breath doesn’t settle the fire in my chest.
Or you can blow it all up.
The fury in my father’s eyes flashes in my head. Then the disdain in Rye’s.
Moving to my email, my finger hovers over the file hidden in my drafts.
Subject: Social Suicide
Everyone in Paradise has a secret, and my father is no different.
He’s just better at hiding it. I have this suicide bomb for drastic times.
I’ve considered dropping it once or twice, but kicking your daughter out of her own home with nowhere to go is worth it.
Isn’t it? If I do this, there’s no coming back.
A notification appears at the top of my screen, a headache seeping in.
Vince H: Coming to the Crimson party tonight?
Leaving my email, I tap back to QuickGram to get another glimpse at what's going on in my parents’ lake house. The lights are dim. The decor red and sultry. He’s even moved in some of that trashy equipment he had at the last party.
I scowl at the screen when I come across a clip of him. He has Marisol’s arms wrapped around him while they move to a slow, sexy song. My eyes lock on her earrings, ones I wore better last spring.
Throwing my phone on the passenger’s seat, my head falls back against the headrest. I’ve gone from top of the food chain to no one wanting me around. Not even my own parents.
That thought brings me back to my email.
Grabbing my phone, I stare at my draft again, my skin burning as my chipped nail hovers over the ‘send’ button.
Think about this. Where will you stay? Where will you go?
I don’t even have any clothes with me, no skincare products, and no money to change that.
Vince H: I’ll save you a dance
The throb in my head strikes again.
How do I fix this? How do I get through this night?
It’s easy, really. I have clothes at the lake house. Not only that, but the lake house has everything I need to get through the night.
So why am I letting a Crown make this more complicated than it needs to be?
Starting the car, I tap in the lake house on my GPS and move towards the main road.
Why should I blow up my life when I can take it back?
I no longer give a fuck that Rye is hosting. I don’t give a fuck that my friends are there. I need a place to stay. So as far as I know, our deal is officially over.