The Good Girls (6 page)

CHAPTER TEN

Cara

A
fter lying in the dark silence for a few moments, I got up from my bed and flipped open the laptop on my dresser as I hummed my favorite song. I typed “paper crane” into the search engine and pulled up an instructional video on origami.

Taking a piece of paper from my notebook, I ripped it from the binding and began to drunkenly fold the paper over and over until I was left with something that resembled a throwing star, far from a magical bird that could grant wishes.
Fuck.

I crumbled the paper and tossed it on the floor before typing Ellie’s name into the search engine. I clicked on recent stories and covered my mouth with my palm when I saw the link that explained the tragic death of her mother, a shooting victim of a convenience store robbery.

My eyes danced over the screen as I struggled with the morality of learning of her past from the Internet instead of just having the guts to ask her. David didn’t want to talk about what had happened to his ex, like if he didn’t explain the past, then it never happened. That’s why we never discussed how I had come to live with them.

Sighing, I closed my laptop and padded back to my bed, stripping off my clothes along the way so by the time I fell onto my bed, I was wearing nothing but yellow panties.

I crawled under my quilt and stared up at the dark ceiling as I struggled to get my mind to shut off. Nighttime was always hard for me when I was alone.

When I couldn’t hold my eyes open any longer, I drifted off in a restless sleep, plagued by images of the party. I pictured Ellie, looking horrified as I kissed her, her hand coming down hard across my face. The sound of her slap caused everyone to stop and look at us, and we were now in the center of the room as they pointed and laughed at me.

I could actually feel the painful burn on my cheek all the way down into my chest, where my heart ached with humiliation and regret.

I shoved my way through the crowd of people and pulled open the front door, but I was not met with the freedom of being able to run away again. Instead I was face-to-face with my mother, her tearstained face only inches from mine.
Please don’t cry.

“I regret you,” she whispered, venom in her tone.

I shoved her to the side and slipped out into the cold night air, running barefoot down the road as the stones bit into the flesh of my heels. My sob echoed in the trees around me, and I was now lost in a forest, afraid and cold in the middle of the night. I could no longer hear the yells of those who disapproved, but my own sobs mocked me as they played back in my ears. It was myself that I was most afraid of.

I dropped to my knees, sinking into the moist soil, slowly letting it encapsulate me. I didn’t begin to struggle until it reached my chest, and the suppression of breathing sparked a panic inside of me. But I had no one left to hear my screams. I was fighting alone, against myself.

My pleas for help slowly turned into a melodic song, but the sound was muffled, and I struggled to hear my own voice amid the rustling of the leaves.

My eyes shot open, and I wiped them, still able to hear the song in my head. I sat up, wiping the sleep from my eyes as I realized the sound was actually coming from the other side of my bedroom wall.

Tiptoeing over next to my headboard, I pressed my ear against the cold wall and listened to the music that Ellie was using to lull her to sleep.

“Hey,” I whispered loudly and tapped against the wall. After a moment, I tapped again.

“Sorry,” Ellie whispered back, and I smiled.

“No, don’t be. It’s nice. Good night,” I whispered before crawling back under my covers and drifting off to sleep.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Ellie

M
orning came too soon, and for once I didn’t want to get out of bed. My head felt like it had been stomped on, and when there was a knock at my door, it felt like someone was driving a nail through my skull.

“I don’t feel well,” I called out. The door popped open. Cara stepped inside the room with a bottle of water and closed it behind her. Her face was flawless, even without any makeup, and she was grinning from ear to ear. “How is it you are not suffering as much as I am?”
How can you look so beautiful so effortlessly?

“I made sure to hydrate throughout the night,” she chirped as she held out the bottle and two small aspirin.

“Ugh. I hate you right now.” I groaned but took the pills, dropping them into my mouth before guzzling the water.

“Oh, come on. It’s not that bad. I’ll make you some scrambled eggs, and you’ll feel better in no time.”

I pulled my quilt over my head, knowing I must look like I just crawled out of a sewer. “Go away, Cara.” The image of her mouth pressed against mine played over in my head.
Now that we’re both sober, does she regret what happened? Does she even remember?

The blanket was yanked off, and I curled up, trying to hide my nearly naked body. “Get your lazy little ass up and come downstairs. I’m going to cook eggs, and you’re going to tell me what you think of Brody.”

“I don’t think we can be friends anymore.”

Cara rolled her eyes, her hands on her hips, and she groaned loudly. “Too bad you don’t have a choice.” She wrapped her fingers around my ankle and began to drag me down to the foot of the bed. I clawed desperately at my pillow, hugging it to my chest in hopes it would break my fall when I hit the floor.

“Cara, I’m going to kick you,” I called out, but my voice wavered as I struggled not to laugh.

“Bring it,” she yelled as she jerked me again and clawed at my blanket.

“What the hell is going on in here?”

Both of our heads snapped to my father, who was standing in my doorway with a look of disapproval.

“I was just trying to get El out of bed,” Cara replied, and I had to bite my bottom lip to keep from laughing at how innocent she was trying to appear.

“I’m sure there are more effective methods than assault.”

“But none more fun,” she shot back with her eyebrow cocked.

“Get downstairs for breakfast.
Now
.” My dad shook his head and disappeared down the hall, muttering to himself. As soon as I heard his footsteps began to descend the stairs, I took my pillow and swung, smacking Cara across the face.

“Oh, now I’m going to have to kick your ass,” Cara yelled as my father’s voice bellowed from the floor below.

“Girls! Come down for breakfast.” I was shocked by the anger in his voice.

Cara’s shoulders slumped as I rolled out of bed and pulled on my jeans.

“Payback is coming,” she threatened, her finger pointed at my nose as I walked around her, sticking out my tongue. Her eyes dropped to my mouth and for a second I was certain she was thinking of our kiss.

I followed her downstairs, unable to wipe the stupid grin from my face, even though my body ached.

Dawn was standing in front of the stove in a fluffy yellow robe, spatula in hand. My dad poured himself a cup of coffee in a plastic to-go cup.

“I’m off.” He kissed Dawn on the cheek as she called out for him to drive safely. He nodded to me and Cara as he stalked off toward the front door.

“What’s with him?” I asked as I sat down at the table.

“Oh, you know your father,” Dawn said before we all fell silent.

“Actually, I don’t.”

“Oh, honey. I didn’t mean…” She turned to face us as she cringed.

“It’s fine. It will take some time,” I replied, and she seemed to relax. She turned back to the stove, dished scrambled eggs onto our plates, and set them on the table in front of us.

“Thanks.” I took a large bite as Dawn made her way to the stairs.

“I have to get ready for work. You girls be good today.” Her eyes landed on Cara for an extra minute, and I couldn’t suppress my smile.
Why was everyone so concerned with Cara’s behavior?

“What are you laughing at?” Cara asked as I took another bite. “Just eat your dead baby chicken.”

I placed my hand over my mouth as my stomach turned. “It’s not a dead baby chicken.”

“Sure, keep telling yourself that.” She grinned as she took a bite. “Peep. Peep.”

“Cara…” My stomach rolled again, and I knew if I didn’t start thinking of something else, I was going to heave all over the table.

“Oh…that bite was crunchy. Must have been his beak or maybe his little dirty birdy feet.”

I felt the bile rise up my throat, and I had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep from launching last night’s alcohol all over her, even though it would have served her right. I lurched from the table and ran for the back door, fumbling with the lock before yanking it open. I’d drunk some of my mom’s wine before, but hard liquor was something new, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to drink it again.

The alarm blasted, causing my head to thump rhythmically. Cara was at my side, gathering my hair and holding it behind me as I heaved my stomach contents off the edge of the deck.

“Jesus, El. I didn’t think you’d really throw up. I’m such a bitch. I’m so sorry.”

I continued to hurl, completely embarrassed as I tried to wave her away, but she refused to move. I was thankful, since my hair would’ve been covered in my own vomit had she left. She began to hum, and I rolled my eyes as I dry heaved one last time.

“You…are…a bitch.” I groaned as I wiped the back of my hand over my mouth.

“Agreed.”

The alarm cut off, and Dawn was now glaring at us, wrapped in a towel with shampoo still slicked in her hair.

“What is going on? Did you not hear the alarm?”

“Sorry, Dawn. El doesn’t handle eggs very well, and she didn’t want to say anything and hurt your feelings.”

Dawn’s face softened as a voice called out over the alarm system asking if we needed assistance. She stalked off to speak into the box on the wall as Cara smiled sheepishly at me.

“Forgive me?”

“Never,” I growled. I headed back inside with Cara on my heels.

“Why was the alarm set? We never use that thing,” Cara asked as she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and held it out for me.

“David just thought it would be a good idea. Ellie is new to this town, and he thought it would make her feel safer.” Her eyes flashed to me before narrowing on Cara.

Cara’s faced hardened. I wondered if this meant that they knew we had snuck out, but neither of them had mentioned it.

“I’m going to go brush my teeth.” I hurried up the stairs and into the bathroom. A few minutes later I heard Dawn head into her bedroom, and the sound of water rushing through pipes broke the silence as she continued her shower in the master bathroom.

I scrubbed my tongue with my toothbrush, gagging as the door flew open and Cara stepped inside, her arms crossed over her chest.

“Still mad at me?”

I glanced at her and spit in the sink but didn’t respond.

“Still?”

My eyes narrowed as her voice rose another octave.

“How about now?”

I groaned, turning on the water and rinsing my mouth. “No, I’m not mad.”

“Good, because I want to do something fun today.”

“Oh, God. I don’t think I can handle any more of your fun.”

“Don’t be such a chicken. Sorry. Bad choice of words.”

I cupped water from the sink and flung it at her, causing her to scream. “You’re not a good person.”

“You just figured that out? Get ready. As soon as Dawn leaves we’re going out.”

“Ugh,” I groaned as I looked myself over in the mirror. This was going to be a long day. I ran a brush through my hair as Cara headed off down the hall to her room. I made my way back to my room and looked over my boxes. I didn’t have the energy to even change my clothing, but I knew I had to make myself look a little better if I was going to be in public next to Cara.

I grabbed another pair of jean shorts and a navy-blue tank top. Pulling off my bra, I decided not to torture myself by wearing one today. I kicked my panties off and grabbed a clean pair of white boy-shorts.

I shimmied into them and pulled my tank top over my head before slipping into my shorts. As I pulled open my door I jumped, grabbing my chest when Cara was standing right outside with a pair of sunglasses held out in her hand for me. She had another pair propped on top of her head, holding back her hair.

“Thanks.”

“It’s the least I could do, El.” Cara draped her arm over my shoulders as we made our way downstairs and to the front door.

“What about the alarm?”

“I have the code. I’m guessing David just wants to be able to check when it’s been turned off so he knows if we left the house. Not a big deal. We’re going to the library and will have our books as proof.”

“Why doesn’t he trust you?” I asked, pulling back from her as I folded my arms.

“Maybe it’s
you
he doesn’t trust,” she countered as she entered the code. I watched her type 4739 into the keypad before averting my gaze so she didn’t notice.

“I saw the way he looked at you—like he knows you’re up to no good.”

Cara pulled open the door and made a sweeping gesture with her arm so I would walk out in front of her. She pulled the door closed behind us before flipping her shades down on her face.

“Well, David has trust issues.”

“Mm-hmm.”

It was sunny and warm out, perfect for an afternoon stroll, although I half expected to see Tristan parked at the end of the driveway, but the street was practically vacant. Cara pulled her hair from her neck, twisting it into a messy bun and securing it with a hair tie from her wrist. Her large oval sunglasses covered half her face, but you could still tell she was beautiful. No one would have ever guessed she’d spent half the night partying. I, on the other hand, felt like a train wreck, and I was certain my appearance reflected that feeling.

We walked down Main Street for several blocks as my eyes danced over the small storefronts.

“So I figured we can do a little bit of shopping and maybe get lunch while we’re out.”

“What about the library?” I looked over to Cara who had her chin pointed up toward the sun.

“We’ll get you some books, nerd. You already finish that porn?” A smile spread across her face, causing her cheeks to dimple.

“It is
your
book.”

“Semantics,” she mumbled with a sigh as we walked under a large tree that jutted out of the sidewalk, cloaking her in shade. She stopped abruptly, looking over the glass front of Nifty Thrifty.

“That dress would look killer on you,” I said as I looked over the baby-blue knee-length dress on the mannequin.

“Not really my thing.” She scrunched up her nose. “But let’s see what else they have.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me through the door. A bell dinged above our heads as we stepped inside. The air smelled stale, and I had to breathe through my mouth not to spill the contents of my stomach once again.

Cara’s fingers slid along the racks of clothing as she walked toward the back of the store, waiting for something to catch her eye. I grabbed a green T-shirt that said “Getting lucky in Kentucky” across the front.

Cara smiled, shaking her head as she let out a small laugh. “I can’t picture you wearing something like that.”

“Whatever.” I hung it back on the rack. “I thought you might like it.”

“When I think of someone getting lucky in Kentucky, I’d imagine it was two cousins,” she said with a laugh, and the older woman behind the cash register glanced up from behind her glasses, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Cara glanced over at me with a look of embarrassment, and I couldn’t help but giggle.
She’s adorable.

“What about these?” She stopped, holding up a pair of silver sparkly heels that were dangerously tall.

“That’s a great way of saying ‘I charge by the hour,’” I joked, and Cara snorted as she smacked my arm.

“You’re not nearly as uptight as you pretend to be, you know that?”

“Thanks…I guess.” I took the shoes from her hands and placed them back on the shelf as I shook my head. “Friends don’t let friends look like hookers.”

Cara pulled her phone from her back pocket as it chimed and read over her message before quickly tapping out a response.

“Tristan and some of the guys are heading over to the Duct Tape Carnival later. You want them to swing by and get us?”

“Duct Tape Carnival? That doesn’t sound very fun.”

“That’s just what the guys call it. They come to town once a year for a few days. The rides are all falling apart and there is duct tape on the seats,” she explained with a laugh. “We mostly just go for the games and to eat cotton candy. It will be fun.”