They’re slowly putting the case together to prove I had an accomplice, a man. The accomplice took the picture as a trophy for me. And I hired the accomplice to also be responsible for taking care of Heath’s body.
Since they can’t charge me, they want to charge him. But there is no accomplice!
Finally, they leave me alone, long enough for me to call my parents.
Neither of them answer the phone the first time. The second time I call, Father answers the phone. “Mera? We’re just waking up. How’s everything?”
“I’m at the police station.”
“What? Why?” he asks. On the other end I can hear my mother saying something in the background, and he responds, “She’s at the police station.”
I hear a gasp and sigh. Please don’t let her take the phone away from him.
“They found my hoodie with Heath’s blood on it. Someone tipped them off anonymously. And there’s a photo of me in the hoodie the night he disappeared, in front of Heath’s car, and it looks like Heath’s in it.”
“Mera, how do you know the blood on your hoodie is his? Maybe it’s–” he starts.
The person who did this? Unlikely they’d give me a hoodie with their DNA on it that would lead me right to them. “Give me the phone,” I hear Mother say, slightly muffled.
There’s the sound of silence, and then crystal clear, she says, “Why is that boy’s blood on your hoodie?”
“It was taken that night. They must have used it when they did whatever they did to him.”
She sighs. “Maybe it’d be best if you came home. This sounds like a lot for you to deal with, and I think this way we could keep a better eye on you. This might’ve been a mistake on our part.”
Leave? When I’ve finally found friends? Not to mention I’ve worked so fucking hard to keep my grades up. College isn’t easy. Now it’ll have been for nothing. I guess I shouldn’t tell them about the notes. They’d really make me leave then.
“No. I don’t want to leave.”
“One more thing and you are, Wilhelmera. Someone is playing a dangerous game and you need not stay involved.”
She hangs up, and I put my phone away. Right away, a cop comes in the room. Clearly he was listening in.
“I’d like to go back to my sorority now.”
He doesn’t look too happy, but he opens the door and walks me to the front.
It’s just past midnight when I step outside in the night air. I pull my phone out to call Callan, but pause and remember what he did to me earlier. If I call him, I’m basically crawling back and saying it’s okay.
I can’t do that anymore.
I call Scar. She doesn’t pick up the phone. Peyton answers on the third ring in a sleepy voice, “Mera? Oh shit, Mera! What’s going on? We saw the picture and we were worried about you. There were rumors that you’d been arrested, but that can’t be, right? They can’t arrest you.”
“No, they didn't arrest me. I came voluntarily to try and help with the case. Scar didn’t answer her phone, do you think you could ask if she’d come pick me up?”
“Um, Scar isn’t here. When I went to sleep she was, but she must have gone out for something.”
“That’s weird. She has class early tomorrow morning, right?” Unless it was canceled.
“Yep. But she does it often. Right, you wouldn’t know since you only roomed with us for a week.” He clears his throat and a little of the gruffness disappears. “I’ll wake up randomly during the night and she won’t be here. I asked her about it once and she told me it’s her mother. Always asking her to run errands for her. One time I waited up and she didn’t come back for hours. Always comes back smelling kind of funky, don’t tell her that.”
So she could be gone for who knows how long. I guess I need to find another ride. Only, there’s no one else. Brandie’s anal about her sleep and I think Jamie’s the same way. Gemma doesn’t have a car. Luella and Ashlynn do, but I don’t know how they’ll feel after Collette’s talked to them about what was found in my nightstand. “Well, it sounds like I might be shit out of luck. Talk to you later, Pey.”
I hang up, and walk down the parking lot to the sidewalks and start walking. It’s still cold. It’s not quite spring yet. With each car that goes by, I feel more pathetic. What did this trip to the police station even do? They treated me, once again, like I was a criminal. Like there was no other explanation except that I’m guilty.
By the time I reach campus, I’m freezing, and by the time I walk into ZDB, I’m exhausted and tired. The police station didn’t seem like it was that far away.
No one’s downstairs when I get inside, thankfully. When I get in my room, Brandie is fast asleep. There’s an empty spot where my nightstand is. That’ll be a nice reminder in the morning of what a shit day this was.
Maybe, I should go home.
Despite my tiredness, I get myself in the tub and wash the dried cum from my legs. I lean back and fall asleep.
In my dreams, I see Cate, and she looks completely disappointed in me. “Who told you to give up so easily? Keep fighting to prove your innocence.”
But all I want to do is hug her. I miss her.
When I wake up from my dream, the tub water is cold with a slightly dirty tinge to it. I wipe the tears from my eyes, and get myself out of the tub.
Hearing her voice in my dream made me realize how long it’s been since I’ve heard it. The only thing that would prove my innocence is if I had an alibi, and I don’t.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Callan
After Wil’s gone, I’m walking toward the end of Sorority Row when I spot my sister, stomping angrily down the sidewalk.
She shakes the paper with the picture on it in the air. “Have you seen this?” she yells.
People on both sides of the street turn to look at us.
When she finally gets to me, she asks, “Why do you look like that? Where’s that anger, Callan? Shouldn’t you be fucking furious? Any other time you’d be flying off the handle.”
I snatch the paper from her hand and rip it to pieces, letting them fall to the ground. “This isn’t her.”
Coll yells, “What the fuck. I needed that!” She glares up at me, narrowing her eyes. “What happened to searching for answers about Heath? That picture proves we were fooled. How can you deny the truth that’s right in front of you? That’s her fucking hoodie. Didn’t you see the ‘Princess M’ all glittery on the back, shining in the photo?”
She’s right, but it’s time I start doing something. Trusting the woman that’s captured my heart and soul. She’s been dealing with those notes on her own for so long. It’s no wonder she tried to kill herself during Thanksgiving break. People may think I’m a fool for believing her words. It does look like her in the picture, but something I should have about is things aren’t always what they seem.
This person didn’t just take Heath away. They’re trying to take her away too. “If you can’t trust her, then you need to trust me.” I stare down into Coll’s frustrated eyes and sigh. I wish I could tell her about the notes. It’s not my place to. “Coll, you know I wouldn’t say this if there was even a shadow of a doubt that it’s her. I wouldn’t lie to you. I’m going to keep looking for answers.”
She glances away. “Fine. Just keep me updated, okay? You must really be in love with her. Who’d have thought, my twin brother, in love with that klutz? Just what is it about her that you love so much?”
Love. There it is again.
She said it on the roof and it’s been echoing in my head ever since. It has to be what I feel. There’s no other word to describe the need I feel to keep her by my side forever. The yearning I feel to see her smile and laugh. The rage I feel when someone wrongs her. I would’ve killed Josh that night if she hadn’t stopped me. She shines like the brightest light, brighter than the sun, breaking the shadows that cover me.
“I do. I love her.”
She nods. “Then you should know, I overheard Dad talking and someone
is trying to get her deported back to Kardenia.
My stomach drops, picturing her getting onto her plane and never coming back. “What the fuck? Who?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. All I heard were the words princess and deported.”
Fire explodes behind my eyelids. No. He’s not going to get away with that. I’d burn this whole school to the fucking ground before I let him get her deported.
I move past her and I distantly hear her say, “Don’t forget, keep me updated. I don’t think Dad is on campus today, by the way.”
Fucking hell. I need to get to my Lanbo.
As I turn into Fraternity Row, a red blur stops right in front of me, making me run right into her.
“I’ve been calling your name the last few minutes and you ignored me.”
I stare down at her miffed expression. “This isn’t the time, Red.” I need to find my dad wherever the hell he is.
“Scarlett. My name is Scarlett. I’m your girlfriend’s best friend, remember?”
Girlfriend. I’ve never used that word before when it comes to Wil. I’ve never used that term with anyone else either.
“I know who you are,” I bark. “What do you want?”
She crosses her arms. “I just want to make sure you know, that’s not Mera in that picture.”
“I’m aware of that,” I respond with a grunt. “But how are you so sure of that?”
Anger flashes in her eyes. “Because I trust my best friend.”
“Right. So what did you need?”
“You’ve slept in the same bed as Mera.”
I rub the bridge of my nose and feel my anger surge. “Yes. What of it?”
“So you know that she snores. Sometimes, she snores pretty loud. How come not one person in her sorority could tell the police that they heard her snoring the night he disappeared? It’s not like her room is at the end of the hall either.”
The wheels start turning in my head. She’s right. Even if one person heard, that would give Wil an alibi. But no one ever came forth to say they heard her sleeping.
“They’re all hateful bitches in that sorority. Someone had to have heard her, they had to. I just wanted to put that on your mind. I’m going there right now to kick some asses until someone tells the fucking truth.” She smiles widely with a look of determination in her eyes. “See you later.”
She walks past me and a wave of admiration flows through me. I’m glad Wil has friends who believe in her as much as I do.
I walk down the street and get to the parking lot, sliding into my car quickly, and turning it on.
First, I find where he is. When I unlock my phone, I notice the massive amount of messages from Vin, Ty, and Noel. And even more inside our shared group chat. I don’t have time to answer those now.
I call my mom, and hope she isn’t off having drinks again with her friends. When she does that, she never answers the phone.
The phone rings for a while, and just when I know it’s going to go to voicemail, she picks up. “Callan? Is everything okay? Listen, I know you saw that photo–”
“Where’s Dad?” I snap, interrupting her.
“Callan, there’s no need to bother him right now. He’s busy today, dealing with business somewhere. He’ll be home late today.”
Son of a bitch. “Busy trying to get her deported, huh?” I yell.
“Wh-what are you talking about?” Mom asks, an air of confusion in her tone.
“Of course. You never know shit about what he’s doing.” I hang up the phone and slam my fist against the wheel. Anger and fear start a war inside me. Leaning my head on my arm against the wheel, I breathe deeply and think.
He must be trying to talk to his judge buddies to find a way to get her deported. Going to my parents’ house now won’t do a fucking thing.
There’s a click as the passenger door opens. Turning my head to the right, I watch the last person I want to see right now sit in my passenger seat.
I lean back and run my hand over my hair. “Get the fuck out of my car, Ginger.”
She frowns and crosses her arms over her chest. “You’re so mean to me.”
“I mean it,” I murmur in a low tone. “I don’t have the patience to deal with you today.”
She pokes her bottom lip out. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay after seeing what that snake did to Heath. You saw the picture right?”
“Wil isn’t a snake. Of course I saw the fucking picture.”
She scoffs. “And you’re okay with it?”
“It isn’t her, okay? Now get the fuck away from me.”
She shakes her head. “That’s her hair. It’s as long as it was when she got here. That’s her hoodie. You have to believe that, Callan. Don’t let her brainwash you. You’re so much smarter than that.” Her hand reaches forward to touch my shoulder and I push it away.
“Don’t touch me,” I snap. “Now get out of my fucking car. If I have to tell you one more time, I’m dragging you out.”
Her lips flatten. “She deserves all of this, Callan. Why can’t you see that?”
I stare right into her eyes and slowly say, “That is the woman I love. It’s way past fucking time you realize it’ll never be you. No matter how much you beg, no matter how much you flaunt yourself in front of me, I’ll never love you.”
Her lips quiver and she yells, “We’ll see about that!” And to my utter relief, she throws the door open and gets out. Ginger stomps away, and I watch her walk away in my mirrors.
I shut my car off and inhale deeply. While I wait for it to be night, I need to be alone. There’s too many fucking people around to bother me. I get out of my car and lock it.
Where can I go to be alone? If I go to AAA, everyone will have questions for me. Questions I don’t feel like answering right now. I know Ty, Vin, and Noel are wondering about me. I’ll send off a short text in the group chat so they don’t worry. Without reading any of the messages, I type a reply quickly that I’m fine and I’ll talk to them later. I shove the phone back in my pocket, feeling vibrations hit my leg. That’s them responding.
I know I owe them more of an explanation, but the only person I want to talk to on the phone is at the police station.
Mindlessly, I keep walking, ignoring the stares and the people who try to stop and talk to me. Somehow I end up somewhere I don’t enjoy being. In the woods surrounding the lake.
I walk around the perimeter, watching the ground to make sure I don’t stumble over any tree roots.
When I’ve made it around fully once, I start walking again, kicking at the dirt. The stupid fucking dirt.
I should be with Wil right now. Talking to the fucking police.
Flopping down onto the ground, I let myself slump against a tree in the woods on the east side of the lake.
A bird squawks above my head and I see it fly down across from me and stop in front of a tree a feet away. It starts pecking away at the ground.
Wil would find that bird cute. When it stops, its head pops up and the sun overhead hits the ground. Something shiny catches my eye. What is that?
I move off the ground and walk closer. The bird squawks and hops away a few feet before taking off into the air when I get there.
I bend down, moving the dirt and leaves off the object and my heart drops. What is this doing here?
This has to be it. I’ve seen it thousands of times. Bringing it up slowly, I hold it up to the sunlight. My grandfather’s watch.
The gold circular clock face, the silver band with the gold strip down the middle. I turn it over to find the engraving. ‘To my husband, I love you forever.’
A birthday present from my grandma who died a few years ago. My grandpa was heartbroken and the light in his eyes was never the same after she died. There was only a glimmer of it whenever he looked down at this watch.
How did it end up here?
I dig in the ground where I found it, searching for something, anything to point me toward Heath. But I don’t find even a scrap of
paper. So then, how did it get here?
Fuck, Heath. What the hell happened to you? Who helped you in the car? Who’s in the picture and who took it?
I glance up at the sky and stare as the clouds in the distance start rolling in to cover the sun. I hope to hell they aren’t an omen of something to come.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Mera
I can’t believe I allowed myself to skip class the rest of the week. But each time I wanted to get out of bed and get ready, I couldn’t. So I emailed every one of my professors hoping they’d point me in the direction of what I missed in the books and tell me what the homework was.
Every professor responded professionally. Even Professor Harper. For some reason she enjoys my work and let me know that class wouldn’t be the same without me. But the more I’ve thought about my parents’ words, the more they ring true.
Maybe I should go home.
After I find a way to tell my friends that is. I silenced all notifications on my phone so I wouldn’t get bombarded. Brandie and Jamie are the only ones that have seen me since I got back here to the sorority. I’ve kept the door locked otherwise. Gemma, Ashlynn, and Luella have all come to talk to me together and separately. Peyton and Scarlett have both tried to talk to me, even through the door. I’m lucky that none of them believe it’s me in that picture. It doesn’t stop me from feeling miserable.
Since I’ve been anchored to my pillow 24/7, I haven’t gotten a single note. But I know this isn’t the end. They’ll keep slowly torturing me somehow.
But above all, I can’t stop thinking about Callan. I didn’t call him that night to pick me up and I haven’t heard from him since. Maybe he’s tried to call or text, but I can’t find the desire to check those yet.
Deep inside though, I know, if he really wanted to see me, he’d be at my door threatening to kick it in if I didn’t open it.
Maybe he really is done with me. Why did I tell him I was done with him? I’ll never be able to quit him. He’s burrowed in so deep, I can’t think of how my life would be without him.
The Princess and the Bully (Goldsworthy University Book 1) Page 27
