by Ruby Vincent
“Yes, absolutely. First stop: my dorm.”
TO SAY I WAS HAVING a great day with Mom and Adam was putting it lightly. It was like the last week had never happened. I took her all over campus as she oohed and ahhed over the facilities. After showing off my still bare dorm and dodging questions about where my things were, we got back in her car and headed to town.
Mom helped me pick out a new laptop and camera, then we ran all over the place taking goofy pictures with Adam. By the time we got to lunch, I had laughed more that morning that I did for the last few days.
We were sitting down to a carb-attack of bread and pasta when Olivia flicked me on the forehead.
“Hey,” I moaned. “What’s that for?”
“Tell me what I don’t know already.”
“What do you mean?”
She leveled me with that mom look and I shifted in my seat. “You’ve been overly peppy all morning and you sounded strange on the phone Friday night.”
My eyes fell to my plate. I hated how well she knew me sometimes, but what could I say? Olivia had a right to know about the video, but if she thought I was being bullied, she’d pull me out of school. I came home from Joe Young Middle with a split lip once and she was in the principal’s office the next day threatening to beat the ass of the kid who hit me and the principal for allowing me to get hurt under his watch. She was almost forcibly removed from school grounds.
Having a mom that would do anything to protect me wasn’t something I took for granted, but it was a trait I didn’t need right now. I couldn’t leave Evergreen.
So she couldn’t know the truth.
I cast about for something to say. “Sofia and I got into a fight,” I finally said.
“You did? What about?”
My grip tightened on my fork. “She was one of the kids who... just sat there when that girl was being bullied. She even joined in. I can’t be friends with someone like that.”
Olivia shook her head. “I’m sorry, kid. Situations like this can show you a different side of people. Not everyone is strong enough to face up to a bully.” She lifted her hand and stroked my cheek. “But my kid is, and that makes me so proud.”
I leaned into her touch. “Thanks, Mom,” I whispered.
Her expression changed. “But no one better be coming for you now. Are those bullies harassing you?”
I shook my head without hesitation. “No. I’m fine. No one is messing with me.”
She studied me. I held still as she scanned my face, looking for a hint I wasn’t telling the truth.
“Okay, but you tell me if anyone does.”
“I will.”
THAT NIGHT, I KISSED Adam and Olivia goodbye before waving them off in her car. Mom wasn’t staying for the parents’ gala. She had work in the morning and no money to donate anyway. She wasn’t who the school was after.
I tramped back through the school gates for my room. I needed today. Seeing them reminded me why I was putting up with everything they threw at me. My family was depending on me, and they were too wonderful to let down.
I went inside the dorms and took a step toward the elevator until I saw the sign. Figures.
Veering off, I headed for the stairs and started my six-flight climb to the top. I was huffing and puffing when I burst through the doors.
Sofia jumped and spun to face me.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing. I—” She glanced at the lock. “You changed your passcode.”
“Of course I changed my passcode.” I stomped up to her. “A person I thought was my friend passed it on to a tribe of vicious harpies.”
Sofia pressed her lips together, not replying.
“What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean? Ryder told me to take you to the party.”
I snorted. “You can’t possibly think I would go to that or go anywhere with you?”
She frowned. “But you have to go.”
“Incorrect.”
“If I don’t bring you, he’ll think I disobeyed him.”
“Too bad.”
I brushed past her and stepped up to the keypad.
“But no one is going to mess with you today. There’s no reason not to go.”
“There are a million reasons not to go and all of them start with you all being assholes. I don’t want to be around any of you.”
The lock chimed and I shoved the door open.
“Don’t you want your present?”
I froze.
“Ryder has something for you,” she continued. “Don’t you want to know what it is?”
“It’s a trick is what it is.”
“It’s not. I’m telling you, if the Knights say you’re off-limits, then you’re off-limits. Not even Ryder will go against it.”
“Ryder is the scorpion on the frog’s back that stings him even though they’ll both drown. The guy is rotten to his core. He’s not keeping any promises when it comes to me.”
I took a step inside.
“Fine. Hide in your room like a little bitch.”
“What did you just say?” I whipped around, eyes blazing.
“I get it. You’re beaten and now you want to cower in your room. But if it were me, I’d show them they hadn’t won. That they wouldn’t stop me from having fun.” She shrugged. “If you’re so afraid of Ryder—”
“I’m not afraid of Ryder!”
Then she leaned forward, getting in my face. “Then get dressed and let’s go.”
I thought about telling her to shove it, but I could picture Ryder strutting about his party laughing about me being too scared to come out. I wouldn’t give him—or any of them—the satisfaction of thinking they drove me to hiding in my room. “Wait here.”
I slammed the door in her face. I was still rebuilding my wardrobe so it didn’t take me long to choose a tight pink sweater and skinny jeans. I finished the look with a pair of cute leather boots I bought that morning with Olivia, and then a light touch of makeup. My hair I let fall around my shoulders in soft waves.
Sofia was waiting in the same spot when I came out. We didn’t talk this time as we made for the staircase. The stairwell echoed with our footsteps, the only sound to break our deafening silence. There was a lot I needed to say to her, but the words wouldn’t come. It wasn’t like they would change anything.
Together we left the building and made for the woods. The grass whispered on our shoes as we passed through the tree line. The chorus of cicadas sounded through the night—unseen but surrounding us.
I had never been to the cliffs although I had heard it mentioned a few times. Through the trees was the very edge of the Evergreen property, and by edge I meant a steep drop to the ground below. But that aside was apparently a gorgeous clearing that was perfect for parties. The upperclassmen had more freedom so they used this spot all the time. Now it was the freshmen’s turn.
Sofia and I didn’t utter a single word to each other as she led me deeper through the woods, which was fine with me. My thoughts were consumed by the night of the Halloween ball, and the fight that changed everything.
Why was I being punished for what I saw? Why did Ryder want me quiet so badly that he would resort to this?
But it’s working, a traitorous voice piped up. You haven’t told anyone about the night of the party.
Because I don’t know what to tell. All students are present and accounted for, no one has been found stabbed in the woods. Neither Ryder nor the mystery person has come forward for the same reason I’ve been marked. No one was supposed to see anything, and if I say something, it’s my word against his.
A low thumping broke through my thoughts. I spotted a soft glow in the distance and knew we were getting close.
Finally, we broke through the trees and the party was laid before me in all its glory. I saw at once the glow was from a roaring fire that was the center of the dance floor. Kids dipped, skipped, and gyrated around it while Jaxson worked the music. My head started bobbing without my
permission. I couldn’t help it; the guy knew good music.
Sofia broke off and joined a group hanging close to the food table. Paisley, Claire, Eric, and Ciara smiled at her when she joined them. They scowled at me when they saw me over her shoulder.
I turned my back on them and drifted closer to the fire. If I was here to party, then that’s what I was going to do.
Jaxson switched up the song to one I didn’t know, but I soon picked up the beat. I threw myself into the dance—spinning and tossing my head until the party blurred.
My heart pounded against my chest. My lungs began to ache, but I didn’t slow down or ease up. I planted my foot and spun, then I slammed into a hard body.
“Whoa, easy, Moon.”
Ezra grabbed me to steady me, but I ripped myself out of his grasp. He chuckled. “Wow, you just got here and you’re drunk already?”
“I’m not drunk.”
He didn’t look like he believed me. “Here.” Ezra held out his solo cup. “It’s water. Have some.”
I eyed it like he scraped it off his shoe. “Why? Did you roofie it?”
Ezra’s reply was to put the cup to his own lips and take a long sip. He offered it to me again. “Go ahead.”
I wrapped my fingers around the cup and tipped its contents onto the ground. The cup followed right after. “Go away.”
He sighed. “Let me guess, you’re pissed at me for broadcasting your mom’s spring break adventures.”
I balled my fists. “How could you do something like that, Ezra? Even for you that’s low.”
“Even for me?” Ezra lifted a brow. “What do you know about me?”
“I know your smile is as fake as your pretty words when you’re tricking a girl into liking you. I know you put on a show to prove to Mommy you’re worth taking over her empire, but the thing is, Ezra, you’re not.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.” I stepped closer, leaving only centimeters between us. “Because your mom has class and integrity. She’d never do what you did, and that’s how she got to where she is, and why you’ll always be hoping she’ll pass on her success... because you’ll never be able to get it for yourself.”
His jaw tightened visibly. The firelight glinted in Ezra’s obsidian eyes, belying the tightly controlled anger I sensed simmering beneath the surface.
“The only mistake your mom made,” I went on, flinging the last dagger, “was you. She must be ashamed of you every single day. There isn’t a part of you that’s real.”
I knew the instant I went too far. The fire came to life in Ezra’s eyes. A growl burst from his chest as he lunged forward and grabbed me. I didn’t give him the satisfaction of crying out as he wrapped one hand around the back of my neck and the other around my waist. To anyone watching we were embracing, but they couldn’t see the expression on his face.
“Be very careful, Moon,” Ezra hissed. “Right now, I’m doing this because I have to. You won’t like it if I do it because I want to.”
“You don’t scare me.”
“I should.” Ezra pressed his forehead against mine. “It’s like you said, Moon. Nothing about me is real. From the smile to the charming personality.” His grip tightened. “How badly do you want to meet the real me?”
I gritted my teeth. “You shouldn’t have gone after my mom.”
“It took me two seconds to find that video. If she didn’t want anyone to know, she shouldn’t have fucking doused herself on camera.”
“Get off me, Ezra.” I pushed against his chest. “Now. It won’t look good for your image if I start screaming.” I shoved harder and this time he let me go. The second I was free, I sidestepped him and walked off.
The music didn’t sound so great now. It was grating on me, pounding in my skull. There was too much noise. Too many people. I needed a spot to sit and cool off.
I slipped through the party and drifted closer to the cliff. As I freed myself from the crush of bodies, the world opened up to me. The sky was infinite in its darkness and its beauty. A soft breeze blew off the canyon, tickling my cheek as I stepped closer to the edge and looked down. My gaze went down, down, down until pitch-black stopped me from seeing anymore. It was amazing that I hadn’t known this place existed. It was perfect in its loneliness.
“You’re not thinking of jumping, are you?”
I spoke without turning around. “Jumping, no. Pushing, yes.”
Chuckling, Ryder stepped to my side. “Anyone in particular?”
“You need to ask?”
He laughed again. “Well, here’s your chance.”
Suddenly, my view of the cliff was cut off. Ryder stepped in front of me, so close the tip of my nose brushed the button on his shirt. “Go ahead. Do it.”
“What?” I breathed.
I jumped when his hands closed over mine. Slowly, he placed them on his chest, resting my palms flat over his heart. I could feel it beating against my fingers—steady, strong, alive within that icy shell.
“Do it.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “Push.”
Ryder’s heart was calm; the same couldn’t be said for mine. I swallowed hard as it tried to bang its way up my throat. “What happened to you?” I whispered. “Why are you like this?”
There was no answer.
“What is it you want from me?”
Ryder put his finger under my chin. He tilted my head up until we were looking into each other’s eyes. “I want you... to push.”
My fingers curled, tangling his shirt in my fists. The words were pulled out of me unbidden. “What happened in the woods that night, Ryder?”
He straightened until his face was covered by shadows.
“I have a right to know. I heard the screams. I thought someone needed help, and then I find you. What happened? What were you fighting about?”
Ryder’s hands came up and grabbed mine. He tore them off of him. “Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
“I don’t,” I cried, lurching back. “I didn’t see who the other person was, and I couldn’t hear what you were fighting about. All I know is you were there and... the knife.”
Ryder sidestepped me and made to walk away.
“No.” I darted into his path, pulling him up short. “You don’t get to storm off. My fucking life has been turned upside down. My friends all ditched me in seconds and the school has made it their mission to drive me out. All because I thought your stupid, malicious ass was worth saving!”
This time I did push. I lashed out and shoved him. Then I shoved him again.
“How could you do that to me?” I raged. Ryder stood before me—immovable and silent. “How could you mark me?”
“I didn’t.”
“Then who did? Was it the person you were fighting with? Tell me.”
“Out of the way.”
He made to get around me again, but I jumped in front of him. “Tell me who it was. Tell me who had the knife. Were they trying to hurt you? Are you afraid of them?”
“Move, Val,” he growled.
“Or was it you?” I flung. “Did you have the knife? Were you completing your descent into sociopath and going for murder? Is that why you’re so desperate I keep quiet?”
Ryder grabbed my shoulders in a grip like iron. I fought to escape him as he pushed me to the side. “If I was a sociopath,” he began, “I wouldn’t have gotten you a present. I’m sure you’re dying to know what it is. Come with me.”
Ryder marched off leaving me no choice but to follow. I ran on his heels. “Ryder, talk to me. Just tell me what happened that night.”
“What night?”
“Ryder!” I burst out. “What happened to you in that woods?”
Ryder didn’t turn around. He didn’t stop walking. “I didn’t go into the woods. I was at the masquerade ball all night. Ask anyone.”
The breath whooshed out of my chest with the force of a sucker punch. “Ryder, you can’t be serious.” The music got louder as we approached the clearing. Shrieks of joy and laughte
r pierced the night, so far removed from the nightmare I was stuck in with Ryder. “You can’t pretend this isn’t happening.”
“I can’t pretend what’s happening?”
“Ry—”
“Jaxson!” I jumped at his shout. “Cut the music!”
In a beat, the music was off and the clearing was plunged into silence.
“Let’s go, Moon.”
“Wha— Hey!”
Ryder had snagged my wrist, dragging me after him. He walked us up to the fire and planted us in front of everyone. People drifted away from the food table and their not-so-private make-out spots to form a crowd before us. The Diamonds were right at the front.
Ryder gestured at me. “Everyone knows Val, right?”
Nods and murmurs of agreement went around the clearing.
“Did you also know how we’ve known each other?” Ryder’s voice was smooth, almost pleasant. “Ever since her mom started working for my dad. Val was there for parties, birthdays, and when... my dad disappeared.”
I glanced at him. Ryder’s face gave nothing away. Where was this going?
“It wasn’t until then that I understood what Val was going through.”
What I was going through?
“Not knowing where your father is. In her case, not knowing who he is.”
I went rigid. “Ryder, what are you doing?”
He kept going like I hadn’t spoken. “We’ve searched for my dad for over a year, and with every day we don’t find him it feels like we never will. There isn’t much more I can do to find my father, but I could do something for Val.”
Ryder turned to me and leveled me with that smile. I flinched. “What is this? What are you talking about?”
“Val, I found him. I found your father.”
“What?” I stumbled away from him. “No, you didn’t!”
“Yes, I did.” Ryder reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope folded in half. My eyes latched on to it. “I hired a private investigator and had him tracked down. He doesn’t live that far from Wakefield—”
“Stop.”
“He’s actually doing alright for himself—”
“Stop!” Ryder closed his mouth. The clearing was deadly silent. I couldn’t even hear the chirp of cicadas. “You had no right to do that,” I whispered. My whole body shook.
