I’m sat in a lecture. I know I could have gotten out of it but I need the distraction. After everything that happened yesterday the thought of sitting around the house, of dwelling on it, of even seeing the places that Timothy could have been lurking in, is enough to force me to college.
Only it feels like everyone keeps staring at me.
I’ve got a bruise across my face where Timothy hit me and then slammed my head into the desk. I’ve covered as best I can with makeup but it still shows through anyway. I guess I should be grateful those are the only injuries I sustained but I don’t feel all the grateful right now.
I’m half tempted to pull up the hoody I’ve got on and hide but I know my professor will only call me out because he hates people sat with beanies, baseball caps, anything like that. It’s unprofessional in his eyes. Disrespectful too.
When the lecture’s finally done I head out to find Katie. Normally we meet for a coffee on Thursdays as we both finish at the same time and by god could I use one now.
I head up through the library and more people are looking. I frown because I doubt my face is that bad. And anyway they’re being so blatant about it. So god damn obvious.
“Eden.” Katie says looking half like she’s seen a ghost when I sink down into the chair beside her.
“It’s a long story.” I mutter. And one I’m not quite ready to talk about.
“What is?” She says confused.
“The bruise.” I state. What else does she think I mean?
“Eden, have you checked your phone today? Or social media? Or anything?” She asks.
“No why?” I say pulling my phone from my bag. I’ve been too distracted to look at it but as I look at the screen there’s dozens of messages, missed calls, notifications. It’s like my phone’s been having a party for the entire day in my bag. God it’s a good thing I had it on silent or my professors would have lost their head at me.
“Eden, everyone knows.” She says.
“Knows what?” I ask.
She pushes a newspaper to me. “You’re fucking Dominic. You’re fucking your stepdad.”
My eyes nearly pop out of my head as I take in the headline and the photo of Dominic and my mother from last year’s Gala. ‘Mathers Brother In Family Sleaze Scandal.’ It’s a local paper. But it’s front page news. We are front page news.
I grab it scanning the paragraphs. It’s all about us. About me and Dominic. I wrench the paper open and inside there’s a blurred out photo of me, in my underwear, with Dominic and it’s more than obvious what we’re about to get up to.
Jesus fucking Christ.
“I…” I look up at Katie just as my phone rings.
“Dominic?” I say picking it up.
“I’ve been trying to get hold of you for hours. Where are you?” He asks.
“In, in the library.” I murmur.
“You need to go home. Right now. The papers have got the story. They’ve run with it.”
“I know.” I say. “It’s on the front page. There’s pictures of us.”
“I think Timothy did it. He must have done it while we were waiting for the Police to show. One final fuck you I guess.”
I can’t help it, I look up and it feels like everyone is staring. “Dominic everyone knows.” I half whisper.
“Get home Eden. Get a taxi if you have too. Just get home.” Dominic says.
“You’re fucking Dominic?” Katie says as soon as I put the phone down.
“Katie…”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She says looking hurt.
“I…” I shake my head. God I don’t think I can take anymore drama right now. “Do you have your car? Can you drive me home?”
“Yeah I can.” Katie says grabbing her bag. “Let’s go.”
We rush out the door and she half hisses at the people who are muttering, staring, half gawping at me.
When I get in the passenger side she’s already in, seat belt on, half grinning.
“What is so funny?” I ask.
“You’re fucking Dominic?” She says. “Dominic?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Sure it is.” She says turning the engine on. “You’re into older men.”
I burst out laughing. “Not exactly.”
“Tell me the details.”
“That’s your response?” I reply. I thought she was going to be angry. I thought she was going to tell me what an idiot I’ve been.
“Can you at least tell me what he’s like in bed? I mean does experience really make a difference or is it the same as being with someone our age?”
“I wouldn’t know.” I say meeting her eyes. “I’ve only ever been with Dominic.”
Her jaw drops. “You, you…” She starts giggling. “Jesus Eden that’s so wrong.”
“What is?” I say.
“You gave your virginity to your stepdad?”
I laugh, folding my arms as best I can with my wrist still in the cast, watching the traffic as we drive. Yeah it is wrong but even now, even when the world is crashing around me, I wouldn’t change it.
“Oh my god, that’s why he had you on a curfew, you were fucking while your mum was away.” She says and I blush then.
“Fuck Eden.” She says before laughing. “You made it sound like he was being a prick but really you were going home each day to ride his dick.”
“Oh my god can you stop?” I say half laughing as well.
We fall silent and she turns back to focusing on the road again.
“I love him Katie.” I say.
“Like a stepdad or a boyfriend?” She asks.
I look at her properly. “I love him.”
“Does he love you?”
“He says he does.” I state.
“God I wish I had your life.”
“Excuse me?”
“Come on you’ve got to admit how hot this is.”
I shake my head. “I’ll remind you of that when I’m a complete pariah.”
She smirks. “Nah you won’t be. You just need to make sure he kicks your mum out and upgrades you to his master suite.”
“Fucking hell.” I laugh as we pull up outside the gates.
“Keep me updated. I want to know everything. And I mean everything.”
“Goodbye Katie.” I say grinning as I shut the door. It’s not funny. It shouldn’t be funny. Christ this is the worst possible outcome from all of this and yet the fact my best friend is supporting me makes me feel a little better.
I unlock the side gate and make my way through to the main house.
And then my heart literally stops when I see my mum’s home. Jesus this is going to be one hell of a conversation now. I’m half tempted to turn around, to hide out somewhere until Dominic gets back but where can I go? It feels like the entire city knows what I’ve done. I can hardly sit in a café while I’m openly discussed as the whore of the century.
So I grit my teeth and pray to god I can sneak into my room unnoticed. Hide out with Milton until it’s safe.
Only she’s there, carrying a suitcase down the stairs. Her face falls slightly when she sees me.
“Eden.” She says.
“Mum.”
“Go get your things, get packing.”
“What?” I frown. The fuck is she talking about?
“Everyone knows Eden.”