Chapter 2
Six Years Earlier
In my seventeen years of life, I’ve learned that most things stressed about beforehand never turn out as bad as you think. Except for right now, as ten more Chad-bros barrel into my backyard, each of them with a pack of beer in hand.
It wasn't surprising that my parents ditched me on my birthday weekend, but it didn’t make it sting any less.
Throwing a small pool party with my friends seemed like a justified course of action, but now I regret my decision as nearly fifty strangers scramble in and out of the sliding glass door, puke on the lawn, or roll into cannonballs before splaying into our pool.
Of course, this would happen. Anytime Derek is home, things have a way of turning to shit.
If only my birthday didn’t fall on spring break this year, he’d be away at boarding school and not here, leading a game of flip cup.
I glare at him from across the yard, wishing the tree next to him would suddenly fall over and crush him.
I’ve debated just leaving and hiding out at Chrishell’s house, except all my friends are here, currently too drunk to pay attention to my escape plan.
Derek catches my stare, nodding and winking at me before taking a sip from his red solo cup.
I want to smash his face in. A kid walks by, and I take the cup out of his hand, chugging the nearly full foamy beer.
What’s the point in stressing? I’ve already tried kicking people out, and that led to nothing productive. I might as well get drunk.
The stress washes away as the alcohol swims through my veins, and I gaze out at the partygoers bobbing in my pool, most of them fully clothed. For the first time tonight, I smile.
“Hey, cool party,” Tristian from biology class says, appearing in my line of vision. Thank God the alcohol is already affecting me because I’d probably start giggling and snorting without it.
“Oh, hey. I didn’t know you were here. Not that you’re not noticeable.
There are just so many random people here, I don't know. Not because I’m like so popular or whatever.
It’s just this party kind of got out of control, and I don’t really know how everyone found out about it.
Well actually, I do, but never mind.” I clamp my lips shut. God, do I wish I were more drunk.
Tristian laughs, holding his red Solo cup up in front of me and squinting one eye. “You’re funny.”
“You’re funny,” I respond, my cheeks heating.
“I’ve always been intimidated by you,” he says, shaking his mop of wavy, dirty blond hair and rubbing the back of his neck.
I snort. “Intimidated? By me? But why?”
“Because you’ve got this like whole mysterious hottie vibe going on. You’ve got this wild hair, huge tits, you seem like you’d be a party girl, but you’re always like punctual and shit, and I never see you out.”
The alcohol can’t mask the cringiness of his words, but I smile anyway.
I know my tits are fantastic, but it’s a lot for a guy to come right out and say it within the first five minutes of our conversation.
But he’s hot, and maybe he’s a little drunk and saying things he doesn’t mean.
Regardless, I need another drink. “Well, no need to be intimidated by me.” I stand on my tiptoes scanning around the party.
“Do you know where I can get more beer around here?”
He laughs. “Isn’t this your party?”
I roll my eyes. “It was, but then my stupid stepbrother took over. I don’t know half these people here, and no one even knows it’s my birthday.”
“Shit, it’s your birthday. Happy birthday, dude.” He pushes my shoulder.
“Thanks.” I smile.
“Alright, let me get you a beer, birthday girl.” He swings an arm over my shoulder and takes a step to lead me away from the pool, but before he can move, someone yells close by. “Birthday girl in the pool!” Derek barrels toward me.
I cling to Tristian, but he pushes me away, leaving me defenseless as Derek slams into me, shoving me into the pool behind me.
It takes a second for the shock to wear off as I come to the surface.
Everyone around me cheers, pumping their fist, smiling down as I gulp for air in my favorite jeans and white t-shirt.
My lacey bralette doesn’t stand a chance.
I cross my arms over my chest, searching for my attacker through the chaos.
Derek must have retreated after pushing me in.
He stands with his dumbass friends near a folding table, laughing as he watches me and sipping from his drink.
My previous buzz is gone. Tristian is nowhere in sight, and I must pull myself out of the pool on my own.
Perhaps another, more carefree girl might laugh it off and join in the cheering, and maybe, if anyone else pushed me into the pool, I might feel that way, but no.
It was Derek. He didn’t do it because he was drunk or thought it would be funny.
He did it because he hates me and wants to make sure my life is miserable.
We’ve never gotten along. He used to just ignore me while he was home from boarding school, but since freshman year, he’s been especially eager to torment me during the few chances he’s home.
I pull myself out of the water, my soaked clothes and sneakers heavy as I heave myself over the side.
No one pays attention to me now. I glance around the yard, catching Chrishell talking to some guy I don’t know, giggling as she wobbles.
Rachel stands a few feet away from her, seemingly pissed off, but not looking my way.
My other friends are nowhere to be seen.
I can’t even find Derek in the crowd now, not that I want to.
That’s it. I’m locking myself in my room and giving up on this waste of a night.
As I head toward the house, someone bumps into me before speeding past and attempting to jump the large privacy fence, yelling, “The cops are here!”
The entire yard erupts in chaos. Nothing sobers up a group of underage drinkers like the threat of police.
Some partygoers run inside, but most attempt to jump over the fence.
I might have sobered up some, but I still can’t think straight.
I swivel around, staring at the blue and red lights illuminating the night sky in the distance.
Someone yanks my arm, and I tumble forward, righting myself before I smash into the pool deck.
“Come on, let’s go,” Derek yells as he pulls me through the frantic teens.
I should resist, fight for my arm back, and go absolutely anywhere he is not, but I don’t have a plan, and everything is too chaotic.
Derek heads for the pool closet at the side of the house, far away from the rest of the party.
He opens the door and shoves me in before shutting the door behind us.
It’s dark, and my eyes take a second to adjust. Pumps, pool floats, long-forgotten lawn chairs, and umbrellas crowd us into the middle of the space, giving us just enough room for our chests to expand under our heavy breaths.
I’ve never been so close to him before, and once the adrenaline wears off, I’m completely repulsed.
“Why are we in here? There’s probably spiders everywhere!
” I move to the door, deciding I would rather face juvie than be trapped against Derek.
He yanks my arm, staring down at me with dark eyes. “Shut up! You’re not leaving. They find you, and they’ll find me.”
I whisper, “Good. Maybe it’s worth getting in trouble for you to be sent back early.” I fight against him, but his grip tightens. He wraps his other hand around my other wrist and spreads his legs so I’m boxed in.
“What if I scream?” My metaphorical threat can’t be too frightening when it’s posed with a hushed tone. I don’t hear anyone outside the pool house, but I’m not ready to blow our cover yet.
“Then I’ll cover your mouth until you pass out.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
“Why are you such a jerk?”
He scoffs. “Because I don’t want to get in trouble. It’s called self-preservation, sweetheart.”
“I mean, in general. This was supposed to be my birthday celebration, and you ruined it.”
“Ruined it? Your parents left you, and you were going to only have your three shitty friends over. I made it better.”
“Yeah, this feels so much better. And why do you call them "your" parents? They're your parents, too.”
“No. Janette is not my mother, and Darrell may share my DNA, but just because he knocked up my dead mom doesn’t mean he’s my father.”
“Oh, Jesus Christ.” I turn away from his intense stare.
He may have a point. My mom is not his mom in the slightest. She’s barely parented him since most of our upbringing; he didn’t live with us.
Darrell isn’t the worst stepdad. For the most part, he leaves me alone, but I’ve seen the way he treats Derek whenever he’s home. It’s harsh, even if I hate the kid.
I cross my arms over my chest, giving me a semblance of space. “My friends aren’t shitty.”
He laughs. “Yeah, and where were they when you were standing around pouting?”
His question annoys me, because he’s right.
They were all far too pleased to run off and fuck around once the randos started showing up.
“It doesn’t matter! You know what, I was actually starting to have a good time with Tristian, but then you pushed me into the pool. You’re set on making me miserable.”
“Tristian? Yeah, that guy is a fucking loser. I saved you a headache.”
“You don’t know him!”
“I know he was nowhere to be found once you had to pull yourself out of the pool.”
“Is that why you pushed me in then? You were jealous?”
He laughs, but it’s not convincing. “Yeah fucking right.”
“I can feel your tiny erection rubbing up against me right now. You pervert. I’m your sister.”
His grip tightens, and sharp nails poke into my flesh. Where did those come from? “You’re not my sister.” He nearly growls, almost like a wild animal possessed him.
I yank back. “Ouch. What the fuck?”