Chosen, p.10
Vicious Little Snakes: Hillcrest Prep, Book 2 (A Prep Series 3), page 10
Leave it to Kai to pull the first smile out of me today.
“Oh, wait,” I say, clapping my hands together. “These beauties are the best part.” I tiptoe with dainty hops over to my bed, lifting my toe-to-heel crystal pumps. “I’m like Cinderella.”
“Except tonight, you’re a queen, not a princess.”
I’m smiling as the shoe brushes my hip, igniting a tiny sting from the bandaged wound. I half blink, turning to set the heels back on my bed and sit, my happiness replaced with shame. I’ve never felt less like a queen in my life. Queens don’t bleed on their gowns.
Kai’s weight sinks the mattress as he sits too. “Hey.” When I don’t answer, he pulls my face to his. “What’s got my beauty so down?”
I stare into his eyes, not even knowing where to start.
“Is this because your prince isn’t coming tonight?”
I blink once before catching myself. Liam isn’t coming. I shake my head, turning back to my heels.
“No. I don’t care about Liam. I’m tired. I think I’m finally feeling the exhaustion over planning and school.”
I know Liam’s angry and holding a grudge, but I never entertained the thought that he’d skip tonight. Missing my birthday is tantamount to saying, “I don’t want to know you anymore.”
Does he really never want to know me again?
Kai grabs my hand, bringing the back of it to his lips. “Well then, I have the perfect gift.”
I roll my eyes. “Your dick is not a gift. You take it back with you. How many times do I have to say that?”
“Shut your pretty mouth. It’s something pink.”
I’m about to say pussy, but his finger shushes me.
“It’s not that either, you little whore.” His grin is contagious. “Now you can’t have it.”
I take his finger in my mouth and suck, letting it go with a pop. Kai groans and wags the wet finger at me. “Not fair.”
He reaches into the breast pocket of his jacket, pulling out a small clear bag and shaking it in front of my face.
My eyes shoot open. “It’s pink!”
“Like I said.”
I grab the lapels of his jacket and bring my lips to his. “It’s the perfect present.”
Since I’d like to forget the night before it even starts.
He gives me a wink. “But you know the rules. You only do this with me, and you stay by my side for the night.”
“Of course. Done.”
Kai stands, walking over to my mirrored vanity, and sprinkles out some of the contents before looking back at me.
“I need something to cut with. Give me your credit card.”
Before I can say anything, he’s opening the drawer, rifling through, pulling out my hidden case.
“Hold on—”
Kai’s holding the cigarette case in his hand, “Is this your wallet? Why is it all the way back there?”
“No. That’s not—”
His brows furrow as he opens it, then looks over to me, “Care, what is this?”
My heart stops. It’s exactly what you think, Kai. I’ve never told him any of my history with cutting myself, and I’m not starting tonight.
“Oh my God. I forgot that it was even in there. It’s been a hundred years since I’ve seen that. I was so emo when I was thirteen.”
He’s staring at me, wanting to believe me, so he does. Manipulation is always the most effortless when a person cares about you—because the alternative is that they think you’re a monster.
“Caroline the emo cutter—it’s almost unfathomable.”
I stand looking down at my crystal princess shoes, glimmering in the light and wishing that today weren’t my birthday because then maybe my life wouldn’t feel so shitty.
“Everyone’s a caterpillar once,” I tease.
Kai growls at me, giving me a once-over and spreading his muscular thighs so I can perch.
“Come here, baby.”
I hesitate, only for a moment—maybe to grieve the girl I could be if life hadn’t made me fight back so hard. But my smile is firmly in place as I sit on his leg, taking the rolled bill from his fingers, and lean down, inhaling the powder, pinching my nose closed as I come up.
“Pink coke,” I laugh. “What a ridiculous invention.”
Kai’s mouth descends on my neck as I stare at myself in the mirror, wiping away any evidence of my sadness and hating myself just a little bit more.
Liam
Past—twelve years old
Grey’s been gone since Monday morning, and now it’s Wednesday. He was suspended for the week over what he did, but it’s better that way because when his dad found out about what he did, Grey took a beating. Sometimes I think his father looks for reasons.
I, however, didn’t get into any trouble. My dad patted my shoulder and said, “Sometimes moments shape us, and sometimes we shape the moment. I’m proud of you, son.”
I didn’t really get it, but I was happy to not be in trouble.
The bell rings, so I shove my book inside my desk, looking out the windows, wondering how hot it’ll be. It’s October. It’s supposed to be cold—but mother nature didn’t get the memo. I hate doing P.E. outside when it’s hot.
“Boys, please line up for lacrosse,” Mr. Green calls out. “And girls, I believe you will have dance in the gymnasium.”
So unfair. I groan, looking around the room as I stand from my desk, noticing Caroline doing the same. Kids are standing up around me, getting ready to line up, but I’m chewing the inside of my cheek, trying another glance at Caroline without her noticing.
The day after the shit hit the fan, she acted like I was invisible, completely ignoring me. But I still see her.
My feet shuffle behind the kids in my row, taking quick looks as we move toward the front. I survey the boy’s line, doing fast math, and grab the kid in front of me.
“Switch places with me,” I whisper to the back of his head.
“Why?”
“Because I fucking said.”
I tug him back, making him switch, falling into line right next to Caroline. My hands shove into my khakis as I look over and pretend to not care about anything. We come to a stop in the line, and I give myself an internal high five for planning correctly. She’s picking at her nail polish. I let my eyes dart over again—light pink nail polish.
“This is stupid,” she mumbles, looking up.
“Huh?” I answer, my face darting to her profile—too eager, dipshit.
Her scowl remains fixed on her pretty features as she answers.
“I was talking to myself.”
“That’s weird.” Dude…why’d just you say that?
She glares at me, one hand on her hip.
“No, sorry. I meant, why are you talking to yourself?”
Oh yeah. That’s better. I’m an idiot.
“Because, clearly, it’s the best company.”
Ouch. I deserved that. I run my hands through my unruly hair—that’s too long according to my mom—and let out a breath. Fuck. I’m nervous—Caroline’s scary.
I itch my chin. “Are you always so harsh?”
“Are you always so”—she pauses, motioning up and down—“this?”
A smile grows over my face. She said, “always.” That means Caroline notices me too.
I nod. “If you were going to say awesome. Then yeah. I am always this awesome.”
Her grin doesn’t stay hidden, even though it tries.
The line begins to move, and we walk through the double doors, not speaking, but she breaks the silence, whispering, “It’s ridiculous they break up the girls and boys. As if girls can’t play lacrosse. It’s so antiquated.”
Antiquated? I remind myself to look it up to make sure it means what I think it does.
“I know. So dumb. But at least you don’t have to be outside in the heat.” I’m rambling, feeling the words all sticking in my throat. “It’s the worst, it makes your balls all—”
I catch myself, wrinkling my forehead. “I mean, it makes all the balls deflate. It ruins all the soccer balls. And the footballs.” I cringe on the inside. “All the balls.”
My eyes stare straight ahead because I’m mortified. Why am I like this? But she laughs, and it’s a melody. Sweet and pure. Making me do the same.
Mr. Green gives a sharp “Shhh,” and we both cover our mouths, unable to hold it in.
Her eyes meet mine as I look over, and she points to our teacher, rolling her eyes at him. I wipe my middle finger under my eye discreetly, keeping her amused, but it only serves to garner another shush.
We jerk our faces forward, trying harder not to laugh, but I wish I could look at her again. I like her, like really like her, which is weird because she’s been ordered off-limits. I don’t get it, though. The other day she was decent. Why would Donovan hate her so much?
The line slows as Mr. Green stops to speak with another teacher, so I seize the moment and brush Caroline’s hand to get her attention.
“Hey,” I whisper. “How come you helped us the other day? Because you and Van—I mean, you guys aren’t really friends. Right?”
Caroline stares at me for a moment as if she’s debating answering, then says, “She hates me. I don’t think about her.”
I don’t know what to say to that. So I shrug, saying, “Cool,” and look away, chewing on the inside of my cheek. I’ve never felt more out of my league in my life. Nobody is like Caroline. Not even Van.
A tap on my arm draws my eyes back to hers. “But to be clear, I wasn’t helping Grey. He can take care of himself.”
Oh.
“Okay, but why help me?” I question, noticing that she still has her finger on my arm.
“Because,” she huffs.
Heat rises in my cheeks as she notices her finger too and pulls it away. “Because what you did was brave. And bravery deserves defending. I read that somewhere once.”
She thinks I’m brave. My stomach flips, so I let something dumb fly out of my mouth to distract from the moment.
“So what? You’re like a slayer of dragons?”
Just let me die. I laugh—at myself because I’m so embarrassing, but also hoping that she’ll join in.
Caroline shakes her head. The line starts to move again, taking her in the opposite direction, so she looks over her shoulder.
“No, Liam. I am the dragon.”
My mouth is open, staring stupidly in her direction as she walks away. Now I finally get what my father meant—this girl shapes moments.
“All right, guys, go get water.”
The heat is beating down on me. I officially hate October. The lacrosse coach claps his hands together, ushering us off the field, expecting us to jog, but I wipe my sweaty forehead walking toward the water fountains thinking the same thought I’ve had in my mind the whole time—Caroline Whitmore.
Boy after boy lines up, anxious for their chance to drown themselves in the fountain, but I’m still in no hurry. Bloody-nose Paul is in front of me, waiting for his turn, and I roll my eyes at his back. He pivots, looking at me, but I cut him off.
“Fuck off, dick.”
He flips me off. “It’s Paul.”
“I don’t care. Nice bruise. Want another one?”
He spins back around, pissed off, but like I said, I don’t care. The kid’s an asshole.
Everyone takes a step up as a kid peels off from the line, wiping his arm across his mouth. My focus shifts to the building he walks past as classical music filters out from the cracked gym door. Girl’s P.E.—damn, it’s beckoning me to look.
I glance over my shoulder, not seeing any coaches, so I step out of the line, closing the distance quickly. My hands press against the metal gym door, opening it just enough so I can slip past. I’m immediately hit with the air conditioning, so I close my eyes, appreciating the reprieve, almost forgetting why I snuck in.
When I open them, I see girls from a bunch of different classes dancing together. They’re twirling around in their gym clothes and sneakers as giggles keep erupting between them. I look around, searching the gym for Caroline, but I don’t see her, making my brows knit together.
She should be here. Maybe she’s in the bathroom.
From behind me, I hear a “Psst. Brooks. Come on. Coach’s calling.”
I turn and nod at a kid who sits a few seats behind me in class. Slipping back out of the door, I squint at the sun.
“Thanks.”
“No problem, dude,” he says as we walk. “What were you doing in there anyway?”
“Nothing. Just getting cool. It’s too hot outside.”
He nods enthusiastically. “Agreed, and the coaches are dicks for making us run around today too.”
I give a much less spirited agreement than he did because I’m thinking about the fact that I’m probably going to stink after this. Damn. Turning my head to sniff my armpit, I see Caroline coming from the office. It looks like she’s heading back to the gym. Her arms are wrapped around her waist, hugging herself as she looks at the ground.
What the? My eyes follow her, watching her walk. Without a well-thought-out plan, I tap the kid’s shoulder. “Hey, tell the coach I felt sick and went to the office.”
He looks at me, surprised. “Are you going to puke?”
My eyes lock to his. “No. Dude, just tell him. Okay?”
He nods, mouthing “Ohh,” finally getting it as I jog away. I cut around the building to intercept Caroline in the outdoor hallway. Her back is to me as I slow up, walking next to her, leaning down to bump her shoulder. “Hey. Aren’t you supposed to be dancing? Cutter.”
She looks up, eyes rimmed in red—confusion melding into hate.
“Go away.”
Whoa.
“What’s wrong?”
“None of your business. Go sweat somewhere else.”
She spits the words at me. Viciously. But it doesn’t make me mad or scare me away. I don’t know why. It just doesn’t. I look down at my dirty hands before wiping them on my gym shorts and reach across her body, taking her hand.
My fingers close around her hand and tug it down as Caroline’s gaze darts to mine again.
“What are you doing?”
I shake my head and shrug because I don’t really know, but it feels right. Like she needs someone to hold her hand.
“Come on,” I say, pointing to a walkway that leads out to the lower school community garden. Caroline doesn’t try to take her hand away, but she keeps the suspicion on her face. I lead her over to the garden gate and through until we’re hidden. Raised beds full of vegetables and weeds surround us, and the crunching of the pea gravel is all that can be heard until we stop in the middle of the garden. She looks around, hand in mine, finally landing on my face.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
Everything about her says no, but she says, “I’m fine.”
I want to speak, but I don’t know what to say, so I opt for, “Do you want to go back?”
Caroline frowns. “Why did you bring me here?”
I open my mouth to answer, but I close it just as quickly. Her frown grows. But I stand there, like an idiot. She wipes her eyes with her free hand and smiles—but it’s cold.
“Why do you do that? It’s so stupid.”
I wrinkle my forehead. “Do what?”
“You never say what you really want to say. You lie.”
I guess she has been paying attention to me. Suddenly I don’t like it as much as I did before.
“Well? Are you a mute? Or a coward?”
I thought I was brave.
“Neither,” I snap back, letting go of her hand, but she holds it tighter.
“Then, speak, Liam.”
“I’m not a dog, Caroline. God, you’re such a—”
Her brows rise, but I don’t finish saying the curse word I was thinking. Caroline’s voice is so level and intentional that it instantly makes me angry.
“Then, if you aren’t a dog, Liam, say what you were going to and quit acting like a little bitch.”
My eyes grow wide as she smirks. Caroline Whitmore is a viper. A vicious little snake, and right now, I realize why Van hated her.
“No.” And you can’t make me.
She nods as if she’s read my thoughts.
“I’m leaving. It smells like dirt, and I don’t want to hang out with a liar.”
She tugs her hand away, but this time I don’t let go because, for whatever reason, I want to hold her hand even more. Maybe to make sure she doesn’t run away.
“I’m not a liar,” I exhale harshly. “You want the truth? I was going to say you look sad, so I thought you’d want to be somewhere nobody could see that. Sorry for being so nice.”
Her nails dig into my hand.
“Liar. You aren’t nice—you pretend to be. Just be yourself, Liam. God, I’m so tired of people being fake. We aren’t friends. Right? Nobody will even know we were out here. Go ahead, you baby. Use your big girl voice.”
God, she’s the worst. My chest feels tight, like I can’t breathe. I try to swallow, but my throat is dry. The longer she stares at me, the angrier I feel. Until all the words I hid away erupt. Because she’s right, I did lie.
“Fine. I thought you needed to come out here because you don’t look regular sad. You look, like, broken-sad. And I felt sorry for you. But when Grey comes back, I’ll never speak to you again. You’ll go back to being a girl I don’t know. So I wanted to steal this moment and try to do something nice for you while I could.”
Her eyes swell with tears, but this time, she doesn’t say anything, just keeps her hand in mine without her nails digging into me. Regret hits me like a rock to the face, and I feel bad for telling her all of that. But I also feel like my chest is lighter, and I can breathe again.
Caroline looks down, bringing her fingertips to the ends of her hair, rubbing the strands between her fingers.
“My birthday is tomorrow.”
I don’t say anything because she speaks it like a confession.
“I hate my birthday. Weird, right?”
My shoulders lift as her hand finally drifts away from mine. She looks around at all the raised beds, labeled with colorful signs, shielding her eyes from the sun.
“Thank you for bringing me out here. I’d say you’re a good friend, but that’s only for today.”
