And why? To help him? I didn’t even like him, and how did I know what he was telling me was the truth? Maybe his mom was the nicest person in the world.
I’d gambled everything on his word. And for what?
I shook my head, trying to clear it. “There’s a…” I swallowed, raising my hand to my head. “There’s a tear in the membrane today. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
He stared back at me, silent.
I dropped my eyes, remembering how it felt. How I watched him and imagined what it would be like to kill someone you hated.
“I wanted to see you throw her away,” I whispered.
He stood there, quiet, as if studying me or trying to figure something out, and then he sighed, rubbing the water all over his face.
He cleared his throat. “I have a sister,” he told me. “Her name is Nik, but everyone calls her Banks.” He met my eyes again. “If something happens, and I can’t be there for her—if they arrest me for this—you need to go to my house and help her. She doesn’t have anyone else. You understand?”
Huh?
“You’re asking me?” I looked at him, confused. “Why?”
He had tons of people he could count on.
But he just turned around, shut off the water, and raised his arms, smoothing his hands over his hair. “I’m not sure anyone else would’ve helped me bury a body,” he murmured.
Water poured over me as he stood there, and I looked up, noticing small scars on the underside of his arms.
Not even his friends?
“She’s your age,” he told me. “No one knows about her, and don’t ask why. She’s doesn’t have anyone but me. Promise me.”
It took a moment, but I finally nodded. “A sister. Nik. My age. Got it.”
He smiled, small but genuine, and he grabbed the towels, walking over and shutting off my shower, handing me one.
“A tear in the membrane…” he mused to himself, putting his arm around me and pulling me out of the shower. “Come on. Let’s go find Will.”
Will
Present
Of course.
Of course, she wanted to run, because that’s all she ever wanted to do.
But rather than be hurt about it, I was pissed now. I made excuses years ago—I wasn’t good enough for her or she had too many hang-ups to let herself want me, but now, there was no doubt. She was the selfish, heartless, waste of time Damon always said she was for rejecting me, and she could fuck right off.
I didn’t need anyone to save me, and I didn’t need her for anything.
Reaching down, I pulled her off Alex, hearing her shirt tear as I threw her back and out of the way. If she was actually going to leave without me, then she could stay here without me, too. Goddammit.
She lunged again, diving down for her bag of food, but I grabbed her by the collar, scowling down at her.
“You must be high if you think you’re going anywhere,” I said.
She shoved me, her glasses somewhere on the floor as Alex climbed to her feet.
“Didn’t you ever wonder what Damon and I were doing together that night you found us at the school?”