Unwritten Rules (Rules 1)

The Point Of No Return

“Where the hell were you?” Kendrick throws a million questions at me the very second I get into his car. I don’t have it in me to answer. Not after everything I’ve been through.

As soon as I got far enough from Haze and his psycho brother’s house, I found myself on a hunt for a good citizen willing to let me use their phone. The nice cashier at the convenience store turned out to be my savior. Kendrick picked up on the first ring, and I’ll admit, when I heard his voice, I almost cried in joy.

“Winter, answer me. Where were you?”

I don’t speak, completely drained from the rush of adrenaline I previously had.

“What happened to you? Are you okay?”

“I’m alive, aren’t I?” I let out, not bothering to look at him.

“Gee, Winter. Do you have any idea how scared we were? I had to tell my mom you were sleeping at a friend’s place, and she wasn’t easy to convince. I thought something horrible happened to you. You could’ve called—I was worried sick.”

“I lost my phone,” I mutter.

“Oh please, cut the crap. You treat that thing like it’s your child. Someone stole it or something?”

“Something like that.”

Haze just had to take my phone. Asshat.

“I’m going to ask again. Where the hell were you?”

“You really want to know? Fine. I was at Haze’s.”

Color drains from his face. “What?” he shouts. “What did you just say?”

“I slept at Haze’s place, and if you really want to know, he’s the one who took my phone.”

“How could you let that happen?” Kendrick’s accusing eyes are pointed right at me.

“I didn’t let anything happen. I didn’t have a choice. He saved me when

you guys left me to fend for myself. Thank you for that by the way. A heads-up about the gangs coming after me would’ve been appreciated.” I can’t stop the resentment from growing.

“He…” He pauses, in disbelief. “He saved you?”

“Seriously? That’s the only part of my sentence you remembered?”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. We have no idea how it happened. No one was supposed to know about you. Haze might be a piece of trash, but he usually keeps his word.”

“It wasn’t him,” I whisper.

“Is that what he told you?”

I nod faintly.

“And you believe him? For all we know, he’s the one who set this whole thing up.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Gee, I don’t know. Let me see—to get you killed?”

“Is that why he helped me escape? Or maybe that’s why he found me a place to sleep? Because he wants me dead. Are you even listening to yourself?” I rest my head against the car window. The headache is officially here to stay.

“I don’t know why he did it, Winter. All I know is, no matter what he did for you last night, you can’t trust him. Ever. It’s all a game for him. Nothing he does is out of the kindness of his heart.”