Then again, I also didn’t want to understand.With my clothes and my phone charger in a bag, I made my way into the kitchen. I heard D.J. race out of our driveway, peeling out like he thought he was hot shit. I knew announcing to my mother I was going away for the weekend could go one of two ways. She’d either wave me out the door while she nursed her hangover with another beer, or she’d chew me out until I got fed up enough to slip out the door myself.But after an entire week of detention, I didn't care if the woman tried strapping me down to keep me home. I was fucking going to this sleepover.I peeked around the corner. “I’m going to spend the weekend at Allison’s.”Mom sighed. “That’s fine, honey. You’ll be home Sunday?”“Yep.”“All right. Well, maybe next week you and I can have an old-fashioned girls’ night? Like how we used to?”I studied my mother and how rough she looked. The hickeys on her neck. Her knotted, disheveled hair. The way her shoulders slouched as she sat at the
She pouted. “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun. Your hair can match your toes, and you can take some of my shirts that probably match, too.”I grinned. “You mean you have shirts that aren’t pastel colors?”Allison’s face fell. “Ha. Ha. Ha. Jerk.”Michael chuckled. “Maybe just some under-the-hair highlights, then? You know, so when you wear it down, you can’t see them. But when you wear your ponytails, you can?”I furrowed my brow. “How do you know so much about all this shit?”He groaned. “Mom.”Allison giggled. “Well, if you don’t want to you don’t have to. But you’d look hot with them.”I sighed. “Why don’t we dye your hair, then?”Allison’s eyes widened. “And deal with the wrath of my mother? Not a chance. You know how she feels about hair dye. Ever since she had that reaction a few years back, she’s been on that all-natural healthy-everything kick. If she came back to me with dyed hair, she’d probably disown me.”Michael scoffed. “I hate to admit I even know this, but there are all-natura
Everyone cheered as the three of them scampered off. But her words cut deep. I watched them rush off as someone tugged at my arm, trying to get me inside the school. Girls kept looking on, smiling and cheering my victory. I shook myself away from whoever the hell had a grip on my elbow before I scurried into school. The last fucking thing I needed to be caught doing after seeing my father yesterday was fighting. Because I knew damn good and well that selfish asshole would toss me out on my ass the second he got the chance. The second he found any reason to deem me a threat to his new wife, or to him, or to him, or to that bullshit prison I called home.But I couldn't shake the way Rae handled herself. The way she handled me. It was reminiscent of her putting me into that damn stairwell wall.And for a split second, I wondered where she learned how to handle herself like that.9RaelynnThe second I heard Clint’s words, I saw Michael snap. I saw it in his eyes, and his fist flew like w
Why the hell was Rae on my mind so much lately? I mean, she was a pain in the ass. Nothing more than that, either. She came from a shitty family. From a shitty part of town. She was nothing more than mere entertainment during these boring-ass school days. And her snark made me want to spit in her general direction. Her snarky remarks every time I said something to her got underneath my skin.Who the hell did she think she was anyway?While she might be the only chick in this school who didn’t turn red in the cheeks and get all tongue-tied around me, that didn’t make her special. It only made me work harder to make sure she understood she really wasn’t all that different after all. She wasn’t as strong as she thought she was. She wasn’t as ‘neat-o’ as her mother probably told her she was. In the end, she was exactly like us. Exactly like the rich bitches she snubbed her nose at every time she walked into the damn school.I mean, we even let her walk into this school. With her ratty clo
I paused. “What do you mean?”She shrugged. “I was hoping to celebrate this weekend. But since my parents are on their way back from the airport…”Michael paused. “You got in somewhere, didn’t you?”Allison smiled softly. “I got into UCLA. My first pick. I just got the acceptance letter a couple days ago. I’m officially in their architecture program.”“Oh. My. Gosh!”I squealed with delight as I rushed toward my best friend. I picked her up, swinging her around as laughter fell from her lips. Michael pulled her away from me and hugged her close. The two of them shared a long embrace as I watched, smiling from ear to ear. I walked up behind Allison and rubbed her back. Michael tucked her head underneath his chin while he held her close.And for a split second, I was jealous of the relationship blooming between them.Michael murmured. “I’m so proud of you.”I smiled. “So am I, Allison. Really.”She sighed. “That really takes a load off my shoulders, you know?”“So what does that mean fo
“You aren’t taking that from me again.”Dad charged from around the kitchen table and I puffed out my chest. Cecilia stood up, hollering for him to stop as he barreled directly into me. I winced as the pain in my neck grew. He shoved me against the wall, then pinned me with his hands wrapped up in my shirt. Apparently, all he heard was I’d been in a fight. He didn’t give a shit about the injuries I’d suffered during the event.Typical, for my father.Cecilia slammed her hand on the table. “You know that nurse said he’s only a few steps away from a concussion. Let him go.”Dad growled. “You’re so full of shit. Thinking you can walk around here like you own the place. Don't forget who bought you that bike.”I grinned. “You bought my first bike. I dipped into my trust fund with your permission to buy the second one.”“And don’t you dare forget who can take that away from you.”I snickered. “If you did, you’d be stuck with me. Which is something I know you don’t want.”“Not when you’re a
“So what are you doing out on a night like this?”I closed my eyes. “You aren’t going to leave me alone, are you?”He scoffed. “I mean, I figured you’d be with goody two shoes Allison or some shit like that.”“I was, until our plans got canceled.”“Ah, she busy kissing Michael’s booboos?”I bit down on the inside of my cheek. “If you don't leave, I’m leaving.”“Have a safe trip home.”I crossed my arms over my chest, irate at his ability to completely spoil whatever moment of happiness I found for myself. But I wasn’t leaving. I had been here first, and he was the one that wasn’t wanted in this scenario. If he wanted to be rid of me, then he could leave the same way he came. And if he didn’t want to leave, then I’d annoy the hell out of him until he did.Clint chuckled. “Stubborn, I see.”I shrugged. “You’re the one making this more difficult than it needs to be.”“Not really. You don’t want to be around me, then leave.”“I’m not the one who obliterated the moment with my presence in
“So we’re at your house? Where your father is right now?”“Nah. Dad goes to the casino to blow off steam after we fight. He won’t be back until tomorrow night at the earliest.”“And your stepmom?”He scoffed. “She’s always at his side. If he’s not here, she’s not either.”He helped me off the bike, catching me as I stumbled. I felt myself blushing underneath the strength of his arms, but I tried not to show it. I tried not to give in to it. This was madness. This was Clint Clarke, for fuck’s sake. The boy that had swung on Michael this morning! There was no way the butterflies in my gut were for him. There was no way on God’s green earth I felt the way I did because of him.And yet, when he took my hand to lead me inside, I felt my stomach jump.Turn around. Go home while you still can.I watched Clint type in a password on a keypad that opened the garage. And with the bag of pastries in one hand, he led me straight through a door and into his kitchen. I gawked as I walked inside, too