Because of You (32 page)

A shower helps. I change into sweats and a tank, but I’m freezing. Kyle’s red sweatshirt is still on the floor with the rest of my clothes. I pick it up and throw it on. Gina hands me two small, cream-colored pills.

“What are these?”

“Pain medication. They’ll help you feel a million times better.”

I pop them both and fluff up my pillows. Gina lies next to me.

“Tell me about Collin,” I say. Anything to take my mind off the recurring scene playing in my head—the one of Evan hurting me, telling lies.

I feel her face light up. “You’ve seen that he’s hot. I’ve already told you he’s a god in bed. But it’s more. I like talking to him. He’s hilarious.” She rolls onto her side. “I actually like spending time with him when I’m sober. Even kissing him.”

My eyes widen in mock surprise. “Wow! That’s awesome. He must be great.”

“Exactly,” she begins, tucking her hands behind her head. “And the feeling seems to be mutual. I mean sure we get high together sometimes…” She picks at a thread. “We’re having fun together.”

The idea of her doing drugs freaks me out, but I console myself that at least Collin is keeping her safe. I hope. “What about Thanksgiving break? Are you going to spend time with his family?”

She gives me a hateful glare. “No way. I met his mother once already, and she’s a total hag. Snooty. Pompous. You should’ve seen her shoes.”

I let out a soft chuckle. If she only knew how much stock I put into a person’s shoes. “So what are you going to do?”

She swallows, clears her throat. “Probably hang around here. Collin still has to go home for a few days.”

I turn to her. “Want to come to my aunt and uncle’s? It’ll probably be boring, but my aunt makes the best stuffing ever. We watch TV. Hopefully it’ll snow. If it does, we can go snowmobiling.”

Gina sniffles. “I would love to,” she says, and wipes at the edges of her eyes.

“Then it’s settled.”

Someone pounds on the door. My first thought is to be afraid. What if it’s Evan? I sit up and feel woozy. Whatever Gina gave me has made my head light, like it’s floating above my body. “Whoa,” I say, climbing off the bed.

Gina laughs and pushes me so I fall into my cozy comforter. “Stay. I’ll get it.”

I lay back, fluff my pillow, and close my eyes. Everything feels so wonderful. The pillow feels better than it’s ever felt. And the covers. And my body? If only I could feel like this every moment of every day.

Evan and his stupid threats seem less scary. Less impressive. If he thinks he can hurt my family he has another thing coming. And there’s no way he can keep me from Kyle.

I’m bulletproof
, I think, rolling to the edge of the bed so I can get up. But it’s too hard. I don’t want to stand, don’t want to move, breathe… if I hold super still, maybe life will realize how unimportant I am and go quietly on.

“What the hell happened to her? Did she get into a fight?” I feel him touch my face, my lips, and my hands.

It’s Kyle. I’d recognize that voice anywhere. “Kyle. Hi.” I try to open my eyes, but I can’t. My lids are too heavy. There’s pressure. He scoots my body toward the middle of the bed and sits.

“She told me she fell. I thought maybe you did it.”

“Me?” he asks, incredulous.

“Hey, I trust guys about as far as I can throw them. And I know her past, what happened. What she saw. I was worried she might have told you and maybe you got mad. I could understand, even if I’d have to kick your ass if you hurt her.”

“She told you?” he asks softly.

“Yeah.”

There’s quiet for a few minutes, and I try to open my eyes. He’s still sitting beside me. I can feel him. Hear the beat of his heart. He’s so close.

I reach out to him. Feel his perfect arms. “You’re so warm. I love you, Kyle. Always have.”

I hear Gina giggle.

Kyle’s heart speeds up. “So why can’t we practice our duet together?”

I knead his fingers between mine. “
Because
I love you, love my aunt and uncle… I have to keep you safe.”

“What does she mean?” Kyle asks.

“I have no idea, but maybe you should leave her be. I gave her two painkillers, which was obviously one too many.”

“Take care of her. I won’t be long.” I feel his lips gently press against mine. Then I feel his body leave the bed, and I let out a moan.

“Don’t go. I-I need you.”

He presses a hand to my cheek. “I’ll be back.” He rifles around on the bed. “And keep your damn phone on.” I hear the frustration in his voice.

Maddie

hen I wake the next morning, my head is pounding like pots and pans on New Year’s Day. I throw off the covers and climb out of bed. Today I’ll make it to all my classes.

Gina is still in bed. I’m not sure whether to wake her or not. She rolls over and says, “I’m up. I’ve been up all night. You wouldn’t stop snoring. I almost choked you to death in your sleep.”

I smirk. “Sorry, Gina.” I grab a water bottle, twist it open, and chug it down.

“Hey, that’s my water. Crook. You owe me a dollar.” She jumps out of bed and grabs her shower bag. “You gonna make it? You look like hell.”

“Gee. Thanks.” I touch my lip. It’s sore. “I have to.”

“You sure? Maybe I should take you to the hospital.”

“Not if you want to continue to be my fried,” I say, only half-kidding.

She sighs, making it obvious she’s irritated. “Fine. I’ll see ya in class.” She takes off to the bathroom.

I finish the water and toss the bottle in the trash. My head still feels like it’s going to split in two. I touch the back of my head where it hit the pavement and flinch. There’s a large goose egg.

My whole body is tender. When I change out of my sweats, I notice bruises on both knees. My hands feel swollen. In the bathroom I see my lip is split and puffy.

The idea that Evan did this to me is irritating. Frustrating. Pull-my-hair-out aggravating. I never would’ve guessed he could be such a jerk. And that’s not even the proper word. He’s worse than that. He’s the epitome of evil. Maybe the trait comes from the roots of the family tree. It’s part of his DNA, as unchangeable as the sun crossing the sky. There’s something off about Evan’s dad. I noticed it right away. Kyle and Evan’s dad were brothers. I wonder how they were raised.

Except Kyle
, I think, and sigh. He seems really good.

I whip my hair into a ponytail, brush my teeth, and apply lip-gloss, hoping the sheen will mask some of the puffiness. It doesn’t, but it’s the best I can do. My goal is to get through this week. Finish all of my assignments, or as many as possible.

Four more days. Then my aunt and uncle will come and get me, and I can talk to them about Evan. Tell them the threats he made and the things he said about my mom and dad. I hope my aunt and uncle will tell me the truth. Then I remember I invited Gina to stay with us. If she comes, a family discussion might be tricky.

Four more days
, I tell myself, and head to class.

In English, Ms. Spears gives me a knowing sneer. I want to rip her lips off. Gina notices and raises an eyebrow.

“What’s up with Bitchy Spears?” Gina winks. I shake my head as though I have no idea.

But I do have an idea. She’s rubbing it in my face that she and Kyle slept together, and I don’t like it. As if on cue, Kyle stands. He’s passing back our assignment from last week. What if my grade sucks? I think back on what I wrote and cringe.

Bitchy Spears speaks. “Mr. Hadley is passing out the information for your final paper. This is the only copy you’ll receive, so keep it safe. The final will be a third of your grade, so made it great. Wow me, people.” She proceeds to spend the next hour discussing the different thematic elements in some movie I’ve never heard of. All I want to do is fall asleep. But I don’t. I stay awake and focus. Until my phone vibrates against my leg. For once I’m grateful for stadium seating, and for being in the back row. I casually hide behind Troy, the tall guy with the basketball, the one who ran me over the first day of school. He’s on scholarship for the basketball team, and it’s obvious he’s into the sport. He seems nice. Hails from Las Vegas.

I check my cell. The text is from Kyle.

Glad to see you’re okay. Want to talk?

I do want to talk to him, more than anything, but I can’t. Not with Evan lurking about. He said he would hurt my aunt and uncle, and after the way he pushed me around last night, I’m inclined to believe him.

I text back.
I’m fine.

You say that, but I don’t believe you. Besides, it isn’t nice to lie to the guy you love.

I’m shocked. Why would he say that?

What?
I text.

Yeah, don’t deny it. You love me, and you want me. Accept it, Freckles.

??????
I remember saying the words to him. I realize they’re true. So true. Damn Gina and her stupid pain pills.

I look over at her and frown. She lifts her shoulders. “What?” she mouths.

I shake my head.

My phone vibrates.
I’m watching you, Pudgy.

I gasp. I know exactly who sent me the text, and it sure as hell wasn’t Kyle. The screen says Blocked. Trying to be casual I glance around the room, but I don’t see him.

Kyle texts me.
Please practice with me tonight. It’s important
. Then he types a semi-colon with a parenthesis—a winking face.