“The things I would do…”
Turning, my eyes go large, my heartrate picks up, and my breathing stops.
It’s the guy from the party.
A smoke dangles from his lips as he looks at me. Quinn.
“What’s wrong, pretty girl? You look nervous to be around me.”
Shaking my head is my only answer. I lie because he intimidates and terrifies me. The only problem is he knows it’s a lie.
“Tell me… Ryken, not driving you home today?” he asks with a cocky smirk and a conceited leer.
“Do you follow him?”
Quinn blows out a puff of smoke, and it forms a ring and then floats away while I watch it in fascination. “I do. It’s part of my job description to protect the future boss.”
“Boss…” I whisper, leaving the word on my tongue, but he hears me anyway.
“Yes, Boss. But I notice he can’t make up his mind… between you and the pretty little brunette. He’s like a yo-yo bouncing back and forth. She’ll win, though, pretty girl, and you’ll become a memory once he’s had his fill. She’ll fit perfectly into his world by molding into the type of woman he needs to have by his side. She’ll live blindly to it all, and not have a care in the world about who he is or what he’s doing as long as she has the prestige of his name. I have a feeling you’d want more than he can give you.”
“What are you talking about?”
Quinn shakes his head, putting the smoke out with a quick twist under his foot then sliding his sunglasses on as he looks up at me. “If you knew what was safe, you’d stay away from him. Otherwise, you may be collected. Trust me, pretty girl, you don’t want me to collect you.” Quinn turns, walking away as though he didn’t just say those words, and I stay where I am, watching him disappear out of my sight. Even then, I continue to stand in the same spot until I’m touched on the shoulder.
“Sass…” Livia says.
Turning to face her, I hope I’ve wiped the look of confusion and intimidation off my face.
“You didn’t wait for a lift.”
I shake my head at her words. “You forgot last week. Sorry, couldn’t risk this week, too.”
Her lip pouts at my words. “I’m sorry. I totally forgot. I’m the worst cousin in the world. Will you forgive me, if I help you shop for your date outfit?”
I want to say no. Then I remember how absolute shit at this shopping I am. And even though I really want to shop on my own so I can choose what I want, I realize I really do need her. That’s what happens when you have no money and only hand-me-downs. So instead, I nod my head agreeing to let her help me.
I’ll probably regret it, but to hell with it.
“Nothing too pricey… or overly sexy,” I add the last bit quickly.
She rolls her eyes, pulling me by my arm into the closest dress store and starts sifting through the racks.
“What are you shopping for?” I ask as she pulls some clothes out for herself.
Livia’s lips pucker as she looks around then back to me. “Ryken. I really, really, like him, Sass. More than any of the others.”
“Why?” The word sounds so harsh, much harsher than I meant it to. She doesn’t seem to care, though.
“He’s different. He’s not like the other boys I’ve been with.”
I nod my head. She’s right, he isn’t. He’s more… well, he’s just more.
“Did he ask you out?”
She shakes her head. “It kind of just happened. But I don’t see this one ending anytime soon.” Livia goes on and on for the whole afternoon.
Once we finally finish, she drives me home and pulls up to my trailer. She passes me the clothes. Then she fishes around in her purse and finally produces a condom. “Use it, okay?”
Looking down at it like it might bite me, I ask her something that’s been on my mind since she told me they were a thing. “Have you slept with him?”
Livia’s cheeks blush, and her eyes go wide. “Maybe.” She follows it with a little giggle.
Not wanting to hear anymore, I get the fuck out of her car as fast as I can.
AVOIDANCE IS WHAT I am good at. I’ve mastered it, thanks to my mother. So for the rest of the week at school, I stayed back in my classes, missed everyone at lunch by finding a quiet spot, and took the last school bus home so I didn’t have to deal with anyone.
I spotted Ryken and his red car a few times not too far away, watching me, as I ran for the bus right at the last minute.
Tonight, though, I’m standing out front of an Asian restaurant in the city, waiting for Stiles to turn up. I’m early. I’m always early. That’s never changed.