10. Daniel
Chapter ten
Daniel
God Complex
B ecca, with her deceivingly sweet smiles and fake laughs, sits across from me, taking advantage of my family's hospitality. Her slender throat taunts me as I resist the urge to wrap my hands around it. I can already feel the satisfying crunch of my grip as her eyes roll back in shock... and desire.
But then she'll beg for me…
I shake my head in frustration, trying to push away the conflicting emotions that Becca stirs within me. One second I want to throttle her, the next I can't stop picturing the curve of her body beneath mine. The way her hair falls over her face as she gasps and moans, driving me wild with need. It's a constant battle between hatred and lust whenever she's near.
My eyes dart between my father, mother, and sister as anger boils inside of me. They sit at the table, oblivious to the pain I am feeling. It's like they don't even care that Daisy is dead. A sharp pang of resentment shoots through me. How can they pretend like everything is normal? Like we're all just one big happy family? But we're not. Nothing has been the same since Daisy died.
I slam my fork down onto the plate, the loud clatter breaking the tense silence in the room. The anger spreads through me like a wildfire, consuming every ounce of my being. My father looks up from his meal, concern etched on his face. "Everything okay, Danny?"
I glare at him, gripping the fork so tightly that it leaves imprints on my palm. I wish it could dig into my skin and make me feel something other than this numbness.
"Seems to be with everybody else."
My dad’s eyes meet mine, a silent plea to not go down this road tonight. “Is it the food?”
I clench my jaw, trying not to lash out at him. "It has nothing to do with the goddamn food."
His glare intensifies, and he says my name in a warning tone. "Daniel..."
I glance over at Becca, who chews her food silently as she watches me. She nods in understanding, placing her fork down gently on her plate.
Becca stands up and announces, "Got it."
I follow her with my eyes as she walks out of the room, a faint sniffle escaping her before she disappears. My dad shakes his head while my mom starts to cry.
"Oh, here we go. Nobody can say goddamn shit because Mom will start crying," I spit out bitterly. "It's time for everyone to wake the fuck up! Daisy is dead. Dead! And Becca isn't some fucking replacement for her!"
My dad rises from his seat, hands planted firmly on the table, as he sneers at me. "That's enough, Daniel."
"Is it, Dad?" I challenge back. "Someone needs to say it! We can't tiptoe around Mom's fragile feelings forever. She needs to get some fucking help."
Del pushes her plate away in frustration. "Here comes the Danny show again, huh? What about Mom? What about her feelings?"
I let out an exasperated huff. "It's always about Mom's feelings. Always! But what about us? Don't our feelings matter?"
My mom is now sobbing uncontrollably as my dad takes a swig of whiskey. He stammers, trying to form a response but can't find the words.
"Yeah," I continue, anger coursing through me. "You never asked any of us if we wanted Becca here. It was all about YOUR feelings. Not mine, not Del's, not even fucking Becca's!"
With a violent push, I storm out of the house. My fists clench and unclench with each step, my mind racing with anger and betrayal.
How could they all sit there, pretending like everything is just... good?
Like Daisy isn't buried in the cold, hard ground, like my best friend's girl wasn't the one who killed her.
The thought makes bile rise in my throat.
I march towards the woods, following the well-worn path to the old treehouse my dad built for us when we were just kids. The familiar creaking of the ladder echoes through the quiet forest as I climb up to the worn wooden structure. Pushing open the squeaky door, I am greeted by memories of simpler times. A warm feeling washes over me as I sink onto the threadbare carpet, shutting out reality for just a moment.
I shut my eyes tightly, trying to block out the pain and confusion that threaten to consume me. All I want is to feel numb again, to escape this never-ending nightmare and live a normal life like everyone else.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out a pre-rolled blunt and a lighter, bringing it to my lips as I light it with shaky hands. The warm smoke fills my lungs, bringing a sense of temporary relief. I take another hit, closing my eyes once more.
But my solitude is interrupted by the sound of someone ascending the ladder. Opening my eyes in annoyance, I am met with Becca's irritatingly perfect face. With a sigh, I sit up and take another drag from the blunt in defiance.
“What the fuck do you want, Becca?” I growl as she saunters towards me, taking a seat on the treehouse floor next to me.
“Del told me you would be up here,” she says nonchalantly.
I narrow my eyes on her. “So?”
She shrugs. “I wanted to clear the air.”
“There's nothing too fucking clear,” I snap back.
Becca's expression hardens as she stares at me. “So that whole outburst at dinner is just a normal thing for the Rorke family? Just a little quirk?”
I scoff at her. “Fuck you, Becca.”
Ignoring my comment, she reaches over and takes the blunt from my hand, bringing it to her lips as she inhales deeply.
Jesus, fuck. How badly I wish it were my cock in her mouth instead of my blunt…
Turning to me, she offers it back and I take a long drag before handing it back to her.
“Listen,” she begins, exhaling a cloud of smoke. “I don't want to be here any more than you do. But I'm keeping my mouth shut and being nice so I can graduate and get the hell out of this place. It's only a few more months.”
I glare at her, taking another hit of the blunt. “Fine. But my family... will never be yours. Keep your mouth shut and stay in your goddamn room.”
Becca's eyes flash with anger as she snatches the blunt from me again. “You're so fucking nasty,” she mutters under her breath.
I grab it back from her, sneering. “You have no idea how nasty I truly can be.”
She laughs in defiance, a smug smile spreading across her face. It infuriates me to no end.
“Oooooh, big scary Danny,” she mocks. “You may be able to bully everyone at school, but I'm not one of your little minions.”
I feel a surge of anger and desire build up inside me. Without thinking, I wrap my hand around her throat and push her to the ground until I'm towering over her. Becca's breath hitches in her throat, her legs closing together as she looks up at me with an unsettling mix of fear and desire in her eyes.
“I'm not someone you want to mess with, Rebecca, ” I growl.
She sneers at me, her eyes turning cold again. “You're not even a real man, Daniel .”
For a split second, I freeze. Her words hit me harder than any punch ever could. And within that moment of shock, Becca takes her chance and shoves me off of her. She grabs the blunt and takes another drag before calmly heading down the ladder.
In that moment, I realize something about Becca that scares me more than anything else. She's not just cold and emotionless–she's calculating and cunning. And she could break me in half if she wanted to.
Stunned, I sit in the middle of the treehouse as Becca disappears from sight. I can't even find the words to process what just happened. No one has ever stood up to me like that before. No one has ever knocked me off my feet like Becca just did.
And for some strange reason... I'm turned on by it.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I force myself to stand up and climb down the ladder. I can't let this happen again. Becca is dangerous–she's a threat to everything I've worked hard to maintain. She's cold, soulless, and completely unpredictable.
But damn, is she intriguing...
H ours go by and I can’t close my eyes. I stare up at the ceiling of my bedroom, a million thoughts running through my head.
Pushing the blankets aside, I grab my rolling tray and roll up a joint. I need my mind to stop spinning so damn fast for just one second.
Walking outside onto the balcony, I lean over the railing, blowing smoke into the night air.
“Fuck you, Daisy. You left us here with a goddamn mess. Just like when we were little, you always made a fucking mess that I had to clean up.”
I look up at the stars and feel the prickling of a tear. “Mom is all fucked up because of you. She still thinks you’re so innocent in all of this. And to fix a goddamn void, she invited this bitch from school to come stay with us.”
“I fucking hate you, Daisy.” I sigh and look toward the doors leading to Becca’s room. “I mean… it’s the right thing to do. She is homeless. Everybody seems to be moving on except me. Maybe because I saw you die? I dunno, Dais. I just don't know how to release this... anger I have. I don’t think I really hate you. I miss you. I miss you so much.”
Turning back, I start to walk toward my bedroom when I hear Becca’s door squeak open. Rushing, I duck to sit in the shadows. I can’t handle it anymore today.
“I can see you, dumbass.”
Huffing, I stand and walk toward Becca. “Why are you out here?”
“Didn’t know there were forbidden areas. I have a door that leads out here. Figured I would check it out. Next time, I’ll be sure to run it by you, Sir Danny.”
“You got a fucking mouth on you.”
Becca smiles and I’m a goner. She is absolutely gorgeous and I can feel myself yearning for her.
“I’ve been told.” She takes a seat and leans back, eyes closed as she turns her face toward the night sky. “Go ahead, run along. I don’t need a watchdog.”
“Get the fuck back inside.”
Becca doesn’t move an inch. “Nah.”
“Becca. Get inside now. This balcony is off limits for you. My house. My goddamn rules.”
She sits up and shrugs. “You don’t pay the bills. If I wasn’t supposed to be out here, why would I have a door leading to this gorgeous balcony?”
“I swear to god, Becca. Don’t fuck with me tonight. I’m not in the mood.”
Becca turns to look at me. “Oh, poor Danny is in a bad mood, so nobody else can be happy. Get over it, loser. You’re not the only one with a fucked up life. But at least you have two parents who love you and a roof over your head.”
“God, you’re such a cunt. Get the fuck away from me.”
She laughs as she stands and walks toward me. “Or what? Gonna push me down like the little elementary bully you are?”
“ Rebecca… ”
“Oooh, full names, huh? You don’t scare me, Danny.”
“I fucking should.”
She shrugs and leans on the railing. “You’re a rich, entitled little prick. You have no idea what real fucking trauma is.”
I storm over and get right in Becca’s face. “I don’t know trauma? I watched my best friend's girl kill my sister to save my other friends. I watched her drown under that fucking prick’s thumb. Watched as the light slowly faded from her eyes as drugs took over. So try the fuck again.”
She shoves away from me, walking back toward her room. “Go back to bed, Danny.”
“Ha. That’s what I thought. Can’t handle the truth being thrown in your face.”
Becca turns and walks toward my room instead. “The truth? You’re still an entitled prick. Just look at everything you have.”
She rips open the door and I rush after her. “Get the fuck out of my room. You’re asking for trouble.”
Becca turns with a sly little grin. “You have no idea what trouble I’ve gotten into. This? This is fucking nothing.”
My hand wraps around her neck, and I watch as her eyes dilate. “You stay the fuck out of my spaces.”
“Or what?”
My lips are on hers before I can even process what is happening. That fucked up attraction has taken over my brain as I push her onto my bed.
All I can think about is sinking my cock into Becca. Putting my fucking mark on her. Taking her as all mine.
My hands rip at Becca’s clothes as the back of her knees hit my bed. She gazes up at me, the crisp night air sending a shiver across her naked body.
Becca bites down on her bottom up. My fingers slowly wrap around her throat, slightly squeezing as she mewls.
“You fucked up, Rebecca . Now, don’t move a single fucking inch.”