Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 46881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“Go Jace I’ll be fine.” He had a death grip on my shoulder and looked like he was giving serious thought to dragging me back home. “Fine.” I saw him nod to someone over my shoulder and had a pretty good idea what he was up to. He’s in the habit of having his friends and their friends be on the lookout for me. I’m not quite sure what’s the point at which they’re supposed to alert him though. Knowing him, it could be something as simple as if I sneeze too hard.
***
I don’t know if it was because I was going to see the doctor again for the first time, or what it was, but that nagging memory kept playing at the edges of my mind all day. I wish there was some way they could drag it out of me, maybe hypnosis or something like that. Maybe I could bring it up with the doctor and see what he says.
“Cassie, just the girl I wanna see. We’re going over to Valerie’s this weekend for a sleepover, you’re coming right?” Lately she’s been avoiding me, or so it seems. I wasn’t sure if it was because she was freaked out by the attack, or if she was afraid that if she hung out with me she might be next.
“Um, sure, I guess, if mom and dad don’t need me for something.”
“How’s your mom doing by the way?”
“Oh you know; she’s getting better. Her and dad are getting along a lot better these days.” I bet, with Mandy out of the way no more midnight trysts for him. That is so not nice Sian.
It had been some time since I thought of that night. With everything else that had been going on with me, I’d pretty much blocked it out of my mind. Now with the cobwebs clearing I was pretty sure of what I’d seen that night, there was no longer any doubt.
Right on the heels of that thought was the nagging memory of the phone call again, and I wondered how they were connected. I tried to keep Cassie close as the others straggled into the cafeteria for lunch but she slipped away under some pretense.
If Jace wouldn’t have my head I would go after her, but I wasn’t about to bring his wrath down on me. I made a note to have a serious talk with her at the sleepover. I didn’t want her going back into that shell I’d only just dragged her out of.
I noticed that Belle and my brother kept giving each other secret smiles when they thought no one was looking and made a note to find out what that was about. It seems I’d been missing a lot since my time as an invalid.
I’d made it to the cafeteria on my own because Jace had to go see coach about something which he texted me about before sending my brother to get me. I wish he would lighten up before he gave himself a coronary, but there was no talking to him.
Chapter 4
JACE
***
Coming here serves a twofold purpose. Of course I needed to be here for Sian, but I wanted to find out what I could if anything about Mandy’s attack. I didn’t even have to be obvious; from my last experience here I knew that people talked. I was betting on things being the same today.
I left Si with her mom getting poked and prodded and made my way from one wing of the building to the next after she questioned me like the Gestapo with that knowing look in her eyes. She’s so suspicious, damn.
A few well placed questions was all I would need to get me what I wanted I was sure and I could be in and out no problem. I had to be back in time for the quack’s diagnosis and so I would know what to do to take care of her. If left on her own she’d lie her ass off just to keep me out of her hair.
She was still worried about the cops questioning me, but I wasn’t even on that shit anymore. I knew I wasn’t guilty so I pretty much didn’t care. Plus my dad had my flank so there were no worries.
Track was up to some shit, but he wasn’t talking. Intense little fuck was bound to get his self in trouble again. Now I have to worry about his ass on top of everything else. Maybe I can tell dad to have a talk with his old man. I’m tired of my boy being shipped off to who the fuck knows where every time he fucks up, and that’s a lot.
I turned the corner to the nurse’s station and tried my best to blend in with the atmosphere. This place gives me the creeps, but it was a necessary evil. If Sian knew where I was she’d skin my ass. The girl’s been ornery ever since the attack and her shit’s only been worse since the cops pulled their little stunt yesterday.
Her parents had taken her home last night but I knew from the way she clung to me this morning when I went to get her that that shit wasn’t about to happen again. I’m taking her ass home with me and there is where she’ll stay if I have anything to say about it. I just have to figure out a way to convince her dad of that shit. Later, right now I have a bitch to expose.
***
MANDY
***
“So, Ms. Taylor you still maintain, that you have no recollection of your attack?” Why are cops so stupid? Does he really think that asking me the same question over and over again is going to change anything?
Good help is so hard to find. I couldn’t use my usual wiles on them to get my way. Not yet anyway. I’m still testing the waters to see what moves to make. I have no doubt that I could sway one or both of them my way, but not while I’m playing the wounded virgin.