The Haunted (20 page)

An awkward silence followed, and I watched him work methodically, placing butterfly bandages over the cut. When he was finished, he stood and held his hand out to me. “Megan and Cassandra are downstairs.”

Honestly, I didn’t want to see anyone. I just wanted to lay in bed, and curl into the fetal position. “Tell them I’ll see them tomorrow.”

He nodded, and started for the door, but stopped short. “Things will get better, Riley. You’ll see. Don’t let this beat you.”

Easier said than done. What would he say if I told him the truth about everything? About Laria, and how she had her hooks into both of us.

C
hapter 23

The following morning it took everything within me to get out of bed. Of course, I knew Kade and Dana would be the talk of school. No doubt the video had gone viral and everyone knew that my boyfriend was a douche-bag.

“
Keep your chin up,” Shane said as we walked through the double doors. He’d kept a vigil on me through the night, and only left my side to get cleaned up this morning. I had tried to make an effort this morning to look good, and maybe remind Kade of what a mistake he had made, but my hair wouldn’t cooperate, so I’d thrown it into a high ponytail. I was pale, and I had circles under my eyes.

I pulled the sweater tighter around me, and took a deep, steadying breath. “Thanks, I’ll be fine.”

“
Good girl,” he said, nodding to one of his friends, who flashed a sympathetic smile my way.

And it begins…
I thought.

Megan and Cassandra rounded the corner, and seeing me, they rushed my way, concern on both their faces. I was glad they had stopped by last night, and in hindsight I wished I would have talked to them rather than crying myself to sleep.

“
See you later,” Shane said, leaving me in the company of my buddies.

“
Sorry, Ri. Honestly,” Megan said, giving me a hug.

Cassandra squeezed my hand in a rare show of affection. “We left the cabin before the porno action went down.”

“
Jesus, Cass—would it kill you to be a little sympathetic?” Megan said, shaking her head. “You know we would have called you had we seen or heard anything. And I came over last night right after Milo told me.”

“
You’re good friends,” I said, meaning it. I was grateful to have them both.

I straightened when I saw Dana standing by her locker, a triumphant smile on her face as she watched me walk by.

I wanted to jump her and rip her eyes out. Instead, I kept my spine straight, shoulders back, and told myself I was better than she was. I refused to play the victim.

“
Whore.” Cassandra mouthed the word, flashing Dana the one-finger salute as we walked by.

Just seeing Dana reminded me of the video.

God, I wanted to move back to Portland. Being invisible was better than being made a fool of. I felt stupid, used, and discarded…and I wished more than anything I hadn’t given my V-card to Kade MacKinnon.

Biggest.

Mistake.

Of.

My.

Life.

This weekend had been the worst on record. My new boyfriend had cheated on me, and my dad was seeing a woman and replacing my mom.

Could my life suck more?

I went to my locker, and as I approached I saw a picture taped to the outside.

As I came closer, my heart took a nosedive. A picture of a blonde cutting herself.

“
What’s that?” Megan asked.

I ripped the picture off the locker door and crushed it in my fist. What a vindictive bitch. First she’d screwed around with my boyfriend and now she was announcing to the school that I cut.

Megan and Cassandra looked at each other, and I could tell by their expressions that they had seen the picture. I could feel my world shattering into pieces…again.

“
Here comes Cait,” Cassandra said a second later.

Cait was alone, her skirts bouncing with each step. She walked with purpose, straight for me, and I knew what was coming even before she opened her mouth. “Riley, my brother needs to talk to you.”

“
I have nothing to say to him.”

She was disappointed. “Riley, I know you’re mad…but please hear him out.”

“
Leave her alone, Cait. Christ, you weren’t even there,” Cassandra said, sounding irritated. “Hasn’t she been through enough?”

Turning to Cait, she opened her mouth, then snapped it shut just as quickly. “You’re right—I wasn’t there, but I do believe my brother when he says he thought Dana was Riley.”

Cassandra snorted. “Really? You’re buying that?”

“
I’ve seen the video,” I said, brushing a hand through my hair. “I don’t need any more evidence to know it happened.”

“
Just please let him explain.”

“
What would you do, Cait? What would you do if you were in my shoes?”

“
I know it looks bad…but he honestly said he thought it was you.”

In the dream I remembered his reaction when I’d first seen him. Kind of like he was blowing me off. And when I’d touched his face, he’d blinked a few times and reacted completely different. Hadn’t he also asked, ‘What are you doing here?’ like he hadn’t expected me to be there?

I shook my head. What was I thinking? He could have been saying that to Dana, who had a tendency to always show up where she wasn’t invited.

“
Cait, I appreciate you trying to make things better, but honestly, right now I don’t care if I ever see him again.”

Cait opened her mouth, but Megan shook her head. “Let it go, Cait. I know he’s your brother and all, but he’s a bloody wanker.”

Johan walked by, and his expression was difficult to read. I remembered him in the dream, the way he’d laughed. Since he figured I’d blown him off this summer, he was probably happy to see me get hurt by Kade.

“
I’ll see you guys later,” I said, grabbing my textbook and slamming the locker.

Unfortunately, Dana beat me to first period. She sat in the front row, hands folded on the desk, back arched, cleavage on display for all to see.

“
Cutter,” she said as I walked by.

I could feel the blood drain from my face.

I glanced at her friend, the virgin. She wasn’t making eye contact.

I tried to block out the image of Kade and Dana all over each other while laughing their asses off about him taking my virginity. The
cutter’s
virginity.

Why should I be so surprised? Secrets never did stay buried for very long. I knew that.

Aaron sat down, and he turned to me, caramel-colored eyes intense. He reached out, touched my hand. “Don’t listen to her, Riley. She’s trash.”

I forced a smile I didn’t feel, my gaze shifting to his hand. I saw the tiny scars on the inside of his wrist.

My gaze skipped to his and he abruptly turned back around.

Dana watched our exchange and shook her head, like she thought I was pathetic.

I would show them all that I could survive this. I was stronger than they would ever guess, and the last thing I would do is let them see me crumble.

***

That strength started to waver as the afternoon wore on. I stayed in the library during lunch, unable to handle seeing Kade. People could call me weak or whatever. I had turned my phone off after seeing the pictures, and with the way I was feeling, I could crush the phone into a thousand pieces.

I had hoped to talk to Peter, but all day my efforts to connect had been unsuccessful. Damn, I could use his help. I needed answers and it was time to pick his brain.

Through the small rectangular window in the library door, I saw Kade approach. I scrambled up from my spot. There was only one other person in the library, a student who worked the front desk. I put a finger to my lips. She nodded as I walked behind a shelf of books.

I could hear Kade asking about me. I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the library aide reply, “Sorry, haven’t seen her.”

I kept my head down the rest of the day, ignoring everyone and everything. I heard the whispers about Kade and Dana, though.

After school, I waited for Megan, who had to stay after to speak to a teacher about extra credit for an assignment she’d failed. By the time we walked into the parking lot, I was relieved to see the busses had left and the parking lot had emptied out, except for the athletes and kids in detention. Milo’s van was among those cars.

“
Riley!”

It was Kade, yelling for me from near the field.

“
Bloody hell,” Megan said, sliding her hand around my arm and picking up her pace.

From the corner of my eye, I saw him walking toward me in long strides.

“
Riley, please…I need to talk to you.” I could hear the desperation in his voice.

I nearly broke into a run, but stopped myself short. Why should I run? I hadn’t done anything wrong. I stopped, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. “I’ll be right there.”

“
I’ll be at the car,” Megan said reluctantly.

I nodded. Before I could change my mind, I turned.

He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. Wearing navy track pants and a white wife-beater that formed to his chiseled body, I forced myself to meet his gaze. Deep, dark purple half-circles bracketed his beautiful blue eyes.

I loved him.

I hated him.

I wanted to disappear.

His gaze shifted over me, like he hadn’t seen me for years. “I know it sounds crazy, but I swear to God I thought it was you, Riley. Half the night is a blur. I can’t remember much of anything, but I do remember seeing you.”

My heart was beating so loud; it was a roar in my ears. “You might want to look at the video circulating around school. Maybe that will refresh your memory.”

He flinched like I’d slapped him. “You were there,” he said, almost to himself. “It was you.”

My mind was jumbled with images of the video, but also of the dream I’d had. I’d seen myself in the mirror’s reflection…but then I had turned into Dana in the blink of an eye.

He reached out, grabbed my hand, his fingers holding me tight. “I would never hurt you. You know that—” The words died on his lips.

“
I can’t do this.” I pulled my hand away.

Running a hand down his face, he stared at me, his gaze imploring me to understand. He was actually trembling.

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him how Dana knew about my cutting, but I couldn’t ask. Maybe I didn’t want to hear the answer. I’m sure he would say he didn’t remember that part of the night either.

“
I have to go,” I said, turning on my heel and heading for Megan’s car.

“
Please.” He reached out, grabbed my arm. “I wish I wouldn’t have gone to that party. Riley, I want you. I don’t want anyone else. I swear to God.”

I could see the desperation in his eyes. He wanted—no—he
needed
me to understand.

“
Drop her fuckin’ hand, MacKinnon.”

It was Shane. Dressed for practice, he stepped between us and Kade had no choice but to drop my arm.

“
I’m just trying to explain the other night,” Kade said, sounding defeated.

“
Dude, she doesn’t want to hear your excuses.”

A nerve in Kade’s jaw twitched.

“
MacKinnon, Williams, get over here!” Coach Everson stood by the fence, hands on hips, watching our every move. I was sure he wasn’t about to let his star player get into a fight. The star player who would have a long line of girls waiting to take my place.

Shane glanced back at Kade. He took a step toward him and lowered his voice. “You’re an asshole, and if you ever come near my sister again, I’ll knock your fuckin’ head off your shoulders.”

Kade glanced from Shane to me. “Please Riley. We need to talk.”

“
Dude, she has nothing to say to you!” Shane turned toward me. “Ri, go home. I’ll see you at dinner.”

I nodded and walked toward Megan. I didn’t even look at Kade. I couldn’t. I was over it. I was over hurting.

Chapter
24

I’m sorry.

It was the tenth text of the day from Kade. I promptly hit
Delete
and went back to attempting to read the chapter for history. I don’t know why I bothered trying to focus on homework; it was no use. I couldn’t get Kade out of my mind or the conversation we’d had.

What if Laria had done something to make Kade believe I was there? She had masqueraded as my mom before, and it had taken some heavy convincing on Ian’s part before I realized I’d been duped and it had been Laria masquerading as my mom.

I replayed the dream from the other night in my mind, and the conversation with Kade where he’d insisted it was me at the party. Once again I thought of what he’d said in the dream, the surprise on his face when he’d seen me, where he’d had no interest in me seconds before.

The surprise on his face would have been the same surprise he would have had if I’d shown up at the party unannounced.