Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

“I guess, what I’m trying to say is… unless you’re willing to sit down and tell me everything, and I mean everything, I don’t think a second chance is possible for us.”

I bite my tongue and fight the urge to take it all back. Losing him once almost completely destroyed me. I can’t imagine what it’d do to me if I were to let him back into my life and get even more attached only for something like that to happen again.

I can’t keep falling for him unless I’m sure he’ll be there to catch me.

I’ll also be going back to Canada soon. I didn’t bring that up because I know it would make him feel pressured, and I wish he would come clean because he wants to, not because he has to.

“You asked for time and I gave it to you, but I need you to tell me everything now. Can you do that for me?” I beg. His eyes drop to the concrete, and I know from his stance and silence that he’s not going to give me the answer I desire.

I want nothing more than to see the pain leave his marvelous face, but I know what I’m about to do can only have the opposite effect.

I place a gentle kiss on his cheek, fighting tears that are hell-bent on paying us a visit, and walk away. I know to anyone watching the scene, this probably would’ve seemed like my way of forgiving him.

But it’s not.

Far from it.

It’s my way of saying goodbye.

Lying on Kass’s bed, I wonder if I should start working on my will since I’m obviously not getting out of here until I’m seventy. I’ve been waiting for her to finish getting ready for an hour now. It didn’t even take me half the time that it’s taking her. I chose to wear a very simple black dress and slapped on a bit of red lipstick. Pretty bold, I know. But I wanted to try something different.

I watch her straighten her already perfectly straight hair and absently scroll through social media. I’ve seen Rose’s party mentioned a few times already. Everybody’s going. I’m not stupid. I know Haze will probably be there, too.

I literally have to force Kass to drop the mascara when the boys threaten to leave without us for the third time. We get in Kendrick’s car, and Will turns up the radio. Will says something about Ryder, Alex, and his girlfriend meeting us there through the blaring AC/DC music.

Will’s the designated driver for tonight. As for Kendrick, he’s already started drinking. Will’s mouth opened so wide when he saw Kass earlier that he could’ve easily swallowed two families of flies. The reaction she got must be why she dressed up. I think she’s trying to get him to wake up. Or to torture him for not telling Kendrick about them. Now that I know about their secret, the chemistry is so obvious it seems impossible that I’m the only one noticing.

Twenty minutes later, the car stops in front of a two-story white house with way too many people standing on its front yard. I catch myself looking for Haze’s car in the full driveway. I don’t see it. Maybe he’s not coming. An unwanted mix of relief and disappointment shoots across me, and I never thought such a combo could exist.

We step inside the house without knocking, and the first thing I see when crossing the threshold are two girls dancing on top of the kitchen counter. I scan the crowd, recognizing many people from school and trying to stick names to the countless faces around me.

A few girls next to the minibar notice me and elbow each other. They shamelessly stare. I recognize the tallest one.

Natasha.

Bianca’s best friend.

I think I’ve seen the other two girls hang out with Bianca at school. Natasha runs a hand through her wavy ginger hair and raises an eyebrow at me. It looks like she’s thinking, “So, this is the girl who got Haze Adams to commit?”

She gets her phone out of her pocket and starts typing. I’d bet a hundred dollars that they’re alerting Bianca, their evil clan leader, of my presence. Luckily, I’m dragged out of the room when Kass pulls on my arm and goes up to the second floor where she says Ryder, Alex, and his girlfriend are waiting for us.

As promised, they’re standing by the pool table. We’re introduced to Mia, a short brunette with a bright smile. She keeps on cracking jokes, which instantly makes me like her. Once we get the introductions out of the way, the guys offer to go get us drinks. Kass, Mia, and I keep the conversation going until the first delicate question falls out of my cousin’s mouth.

“So, how well do you know Alex?” is the only way she can put it.

Mia chuckles. “If by that, you mean, do I know about the fights? Then, I know him very well.”

“Great. She’s one of us,” I say, and the girls laugh.

“How did you guys find out?” Mia asks.

“Well, as far as I’m concerned, I live with a dumbass who can’t keep a secret to save his life. Wasn’t too hard to put the pieces together,” Kass says.

“What about you?” She turns to me.

Kass scoffs and I know she’s wondering how I’m going to summarize such a long and messy story into a few sentences.

“Oh boy, I followed the guys when I thought they were lying about going to a party. News flash, I was right. It turns out they were going to some creepy meeting. I had no idea when I got into the car that night that it was the beginning of—”