Reaching over, I grab it off the stand and disconnect the charger. Swiping my finger across the screen, everything around me falls away. I get tunnel vision and hurriedly scoot up the bed until my back presses tightly into the headboard.
It’s a text of a newspaper clipping with a pretty damning headline.
“Disgruntled Daughter Slaughter’s Mother”
“Oh, my God.” My whisper is barely audible as I skim over the article.
Horror coats my throat, making it hard to swallow the lump growing. The more I read, the more damning it is. There is proof of altercations between Debra and I. Pictures of my body the last time she beat me, with my girly bits blurred out. Even I can see the seething hatred in my eyes. I can also tell that whoever took this picture had to be sitting in the treehouse in the backyard. There’s no way, through my window, that this picture could be taken, otherwise.
Next, my eyes fall onto the link at the bottom of the text. It produces a fierce case of unease to settle into my stomach. Something tells me not to open it, but I can’t help the curiosity that nags at the back of my mind. There are so many secrets involving me, that even just the thought this might give me a little insight, finally has me pushing the link in my text.
Only, it doesn’t take me where I thought it would. Instead, it takes me to a chatroom of sorts. And even worse, every person in here seems to know who exactly I am, and most of them I go to school with. There are plenty that didn’t even bother hiding their true identity. That is clear when I see a familiar name pop up on the screen.
QueenBeeLennox: She probably killed her mom, then pretended she was attacked. A little whore like her will do anything to get into my man’s pants.
MyDarlingG: You don’t know that, Lenn. From what E and Q’s told me, she’s pretty banged up.
From what E and Q’s told her? Is she talking about …?
QueenBeeLennox: Ellis Malone and Quinn Tannenbay will tell you anything to get into your pants. Just like all the others will. Lucky for Callum, I don’t care. I didn’t care last night when he came over, either. ;)
Callum went to her last night? My thoughts run amuck with themselves, adding more gasoline to the fire. So, that’s the reason he went all mute on me in the shower. That’s the reason Quinn and I stopped when Asher left the room.
Usually, when something like this happens, I push it to the back of my mind until everything comes to light.
Not this time.
I’m through with the lies, secrets, and half ass excuses. If they want to be with me, then they will be with me. If they want to be with someone else, then I will not stop them from doing that. I refuse to be anyone’s second choice, least of all the guys that fought so hard to gain my affections.
Then again, there’s also a part of me that whispers I shouldn’t believe her. She’s been nothing but a pure bitch to me since middle school, and I have no reason to believe her lies now. Yet that doesn’t mean I’m not going to. Because there’s a small part inside that pesters me, claiming that what she’s saying is the truth.
If it is, he better have one hell of an excuse.
Gathering myself, I stalk to the door with my phone nearly crushing in my grip. I swing the door open and startle as I come face-to-face with a sullen looking Callum. He breaks eye contact and his gaze falls to my phone, then shoots back up to mine.
He must put two and two together, because the next second he’s stepping closer and reaching for me. I step out of his hold, staring at him like he’s grown a second head.
“I can explain.”
That right there is what seals his fate. He could have said anything other than that, and I would have given it a lot of thought, thinking about the why’s, how’s, and what does this mean for us.
“No need,” I grit out.
Everyone must think I’m ignorant, because I keep falling into the vast waste of my own doing. But I can assure you, nothing about me is ignorant. Yes, people can push and trample, but it takes a lot to break down my barriers, which I will say, with disdain coloring my voice, that Callum and his friends did easily.
“It’s not what it looks like, Jessalyn.” He sweeps his hands into his hair, frustration lining his features. “I didn’t want to; I was forced into it.”
I scoff. “You’re nearly six and a half feet tall, Lockridge. No one can force you into anything you don’t want to do. Besides, if you were innocent, you wouldn’t feel the need to explain shit to me.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“The fuck it isn’t,” I seethe, then spot my tennis shoes.
Again, I’m tired of all the lies and secrets. The only person that seems to tell me what I need to know is Quinn, and even then, he’s on my shit list, too. But that doesn’t negate the fact that he could shed some light on the subject. And I need all the light I can get, because if it keeps going the way it is, the darkness will swallow me the fuck whole.
“Where are you going?”
I ignore him while I grab my shoes and slip them on. Walking over to my dresser, I grab my keys, wallet, and pull what hair I can into a ponytail. I’m literally shaking with anger, my hands trembling as I tuck an errant curl behind my ear and bulldoze my way through my bedroom door. His boots slap the floor behind me, but I don’t let that dissuade me from my mission.
“You’re not leaving this house, Jessalyn!” his voice booms from behind me.
Rounding on him, he comes to a complete stop. Fire shines in his eyes, and his hands clench by his sides. Staring up at him, I let all the anger I can muster show on my face.
Pointing a lone finger into his chest, I grind out, “You don’t get to tell me what to do. Your ‘explanation’ is no longer necessary. You wouldn’t tell me the truth even if someone was threatening your life. You keep secrets. You lie. When are you going to tell me the truth, huh?” I push him backward with all my might, growing angrier when he barely moves an inch. “When? I deserve to know because this is my life. It affects not only you, but all of us.”
“Jess …”
“Did you go to her house last night, Callum?”
“Little …”
“Did you?!” I interrupt him, shaking in my shoes.
The sigh he releases is all the answer I need. It doesn’t matter what he has to say now, because it won’t make a bit of difference. All that matters is the fact that after he left here, he went to see her. I don’t care about his reasoning. Here, actions speak louder than words ever could.
Returning to my earlier plight, I take the stairs two at a time. I disregard the sound of his feet hitting the stairs right behind me. Disregard the sound of him chasing after me. Disregard the pain radiating through my side and head.
I even disregard that he slides into the passenger seat just as I’m starting the engine and putting the car in drive.
Good. It’ll be easier for me to leave him on the side of the road, than to come back home and find him pilfering through my things. I need him as far away from me as possible, and my set destination will make that easier.
CHAPTER 10
Callum wears a mask of confusion when we pull into the parking lot of Silver Creek High. I know he wants to say something, but it’ll do him well not to say a damn word. My anger is flying high, and I’d rather not say anything I’ll come to regret.
Getting out of the car, I pull my phone out and text Quinn. Callum tries to peek over my shoulder, but I pull away from him, ignoring the look of hurt that washes over his face.
He doesn’t get to look that way. He did this to himself, and he needs to suffer the consequences. If he had just told me what all went on during the year, then it would be different. Instead, he’s been closed off regarding what went down between him and Alessandra, even when he knew I’d want to know the specifics. That I deserved to know.
Within minutes, the side door of the school pushes open. Quinn’s features are hard, impenetrable. His gaze flicks between Callum and I, but he doesn’t say a word, even when he gets to me and pu
lls me into a bone-crushing hug.
“Missed you today,” he says, planting a kiss on my lips. Then, he turns his attention to Callum. “Did you tell her?”
The horrified look on his face must be answer enough, because Quinn huffs in exasperation.
“If by ‘telling me’ you mean he tried the whole ‘I can explain thing,’ then no. I don’t want excuses, I want the truth.” I cross my arms over my chest, showing them both I’m closed off, emotionally and physically, until they talk.
Quinn notices immediately, his stare turning hard. “You said you needed to see me.”
“Yes, I’m trading babysitters,” I say it like the word leaves a foul taste in my mouth, and actually, it kind of does. But regardless of the way I’m feeling about people watching over me, I can’t help that it doesn’t warm the smallest part inside me because it means they care that much.
It’s not that I hate Callum, I’m just sick and tired of everything. If it directly affects my life and the people in it, then I deserve to know. We’re not in elementary school anymore. We can’t just hope that things will blow over and it’ll be all right. If we want something to change, then we have to do it ourselves.
“No.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s the same thing he’s been saying since this morning. Quinn, make him leave.”
“You heard the girl. Beat feet, Lockridge. I’m taking over.”
Callum’s nostrils flare in outrage, but he says nothing. Instead, he lets his anger fester like an open wound. His chest rises and falls heavily, almost to the point of panting.
Then, he goes off. So far out of this atmosphere, I think the outer galaxy can hear his tirade.
“You want to know everything, huh?” he furiously swipes at an errant piece of hair dangling in front of his eyes. “Fine. I went to Alessandra’s house last night because my mother forced me. It’s either make nice with queen bitch or I lose my inheritance. Yes, by the ignorant look on your face, I’d wager you knew nothing about that.
“My mother is holding my inheritance over my head like a fucking piece of meat tied to a string. If I don’t do what she says, she will convince my father into cutting me out of the will completely.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” Now I feel bad; terrible, actually.
“No—” he shakes his head, a wildness entering his eyes I’ve never seen before. “You wanted to know what was happening. No more secrets, right?”
“Y-Yes,” I stammer, glancing toward Quinn before returning my gaze to Callum.
“My mother,” he says the endearment with such disgust it makes me shiver, “has my father by the balls. If she says jump, he says how high. It doesn’t matter what he wants or what he needs—the only thing we’re allowed to care about in my house is what she wants, what she needs. Her family's money helped start the Empire, and now she holds that over his head. And me?”
He forces a bark of laughter. “I’m only a ticket to a well-rounded, burden free future. She doesn’t care about me, nor my father. The only thing she cares about is image, money, and power. The only thing she didn’t do to me what your mother did to you, Jessalyn, is physically beat me. But that’s because I’m twice her size.”
“Cal …”
“What else do you want to know?” he disregards my half-hearted attempt.
My heart breaks for him, because I know exactly how it feels to mean nothing to someone that’s supposed to love you more than life. We’re peas in a fucked-up pod.
However, that doesn’t change the fact he’s been holding this back from me for months. That I had to sit and watch him with her, truly believing that he chose her. I know this isn’t a fight over who is the better girl, because, let’s face it, I’m the better choice—but it’s the fact that he went along with what his mother said and kept me in the dark. Even all the progress we made; he still chose his silence.
“The only thing I want is the truth,” I answer honestly.
“Cal, man, you should have told her instead of putting us all on a gag order.” Quinn’s right. Keeping the truth from me is lying out of omission.
“Regardless,” Callum says. “She’s not going anywhere without me, so where you two go, I’m following.”
Tears dance in my eyes. No matter what he wants, he has to see he can’t. With what his mother piled on top of him, he has to keep up appearances. As bad as I hate to say it, if he messes around anymore, she will yank his inheritance out from under him. I know ascending to the top of the Empire has been something they have groomed all four boys for since birth. Even if I want a different outcome, it will not be today, and that pains me more than anything.
I sigh. “You have to see how that is a terrible idea. Your mother went as far as forcing you and Alessandra together. If she even gets wind over you fraternizing with me, she’ll put her plan in motion.”
I can steadily feel the bile rising in my throat. I don’t want this. Never have, never will. But if he wants to stay in his mother’s good graces until he finally gets his inheritance, he has to make this sacrifice. We all have to make a sacrifice.
“What are you saying, Jess?”
My voice wobbles slightly when I reply, which has Quinn instantly at my side. “You need to make things work until you get your mother out of the picture. Talk to your father about it, make him see what she’s doing. Until then, there is no doubt in my mind Alessandra won’t use this to her advantage. You have to see that, too, right?”
He gulps. “Fuck what she wants. I want you.”
What we want and what we get are two very different things. At least, that’s something I can successfully claim Debra taught me a long time ago.
“But you can’t have me, though. Not how you want to. Your mother will never allow that to happen. Neither will Alessandra. Last night proves just how much the Empire and your inheritance mean to you. Until you get things straightened out, this is how it will have to be.”
“Jess,” he pleads.
“Go settle things with Alessandra.” My voice cracks as tears swim in my eyes. “I know you don’t want this, but there really is no other option.”
He shakes his head adamantly. I know he’s completely against the idea, but I also know how persistent parents like his mother and Debra can be. They will do anything, go to any lengths, to get what they want. Nothing else matters. And what she wants is Callum dating Alessandra. For what reason, I have no idea. But I’m sure it has something to do with the Lennox family’s public standing in our society. It has to be.
Quinn sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She’s right, man. To keep your mom off your tracks, you will have to play the part.”
Which means, we’ll all have a part to play in this fucked up fiasco. Callum will have to distance himself from us, or we must accept Alessandra into our circle. Honestly, I don’t know which is worse.
“That doesn’t mean you have to touch her. Frankly, I’d be pretty pissed to find out you have, so try to not do that.”
Callum releases a pent-up breath, his entire body deflating as he realizes we’re right. “You have my word, Jess. I will never touch anyone else. You’re it for me, little mouse. It’s you and us forever.”
It’s not something we are joyous about, but it is something we know is a necessary evil. At least, this way I can keep my enemies close and watch all of their moves. I refuse to be a pawn in their vicious game of chess.
I will be the queen, and I don’t care if I have to stand in the background, hiding in the shadows like some pauper. I will protect my kings, even if that means giving up a part of myself in the process. And that means figuring out a way to get Callum out of this predicament. I just wish he’d have told me this sooner, instead of allowing me to believe he would do something like that to me. So much hatred toward each other could have been bypassed completely.
CHAPTER 11
Cal: There’s still enough time to forget about this.
As much as we want to, there’s just no other way. I bite down
on my lip as I respond.
Me: I wish it were that easy.
Quinn: Quit being a bitch and get it over with.
Ellis: What Quinn said. We all know you don’t want to do this, but you have to.
Asher: Ditto, my man. He makes sense. Why is he texting us when …? You know what, never mind.
I wait, and wait, and wait for another text to come through on my phone, but one never does. Huffing, I toss it to the side, then shoot my newest babysitter a blank look.
I’m stuck with Asher today, which isn’t a bad thing, per se. But the looks he’s been giving me since everyone left this morning are kind of getting to me. It makes my body feel hot and my cheeks flush. And I don’t need a distraction like that right now. Especially, when Callum is taking one for the team by aligning himself with the Wicked Witch of the West.
I need to stay focused. Make sure my eyes are on the prize. I need to get better, return to school, so hopefully, I can graduate on time. I’ve been out for almost two weeks, and I know my grade will suffer if I stay out anymore. But those four protective bears won’t even bring my homework here to complete, so they can return it for me the next day.
They say I need to rest, but what I really need is to quit being handled with kid gloves. I’m not as fragile as they think I am, and I’m nowhere close to gaining my memory back of that night, so what can it hurt? Nothing. That’s exactly what.
I wasted my entire winter break by being hooked up to machines and in a coma. In Silver Creek, we only get off for the last week of December and a week at the beginning of January. School just started back this past week. Even with all that, that’s not what has me the most upset. What has me upset is the fact I missed Christmas, my favorite holiday, and was in the hospital on my birthday, trying to heal more so I could go home.
I missed everything, and the doctors still think I have a week, maybe two, before I can carefully return. By that time, I’ll be three weeks behind in studies. My grades will slip, and I’ll have to work three times as hard to bring it back up. All because they don’t want to help me out and bring my coursework home with them. Assholes.
Love Me, Baby: A High School Bully Romance (Silver Creek High Book 3) Page 7
