Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
And why does it remind me of the day she jumped?
The image of her falling to her death off the cliff as I rush to grab her hand suddenly overtakes my mind, and I push back the diary and lean up, swallowing back the bile.
These words …
Someone’s responsible for her death. I just know someone pushed her to do it.
I just have to figure out who and why.
Suddenly, the door opens, and Kayla walks in without saying a word, casually throwing her bag onto her bed. I swiftly grab the diary and hold it close to my heart, worried she might see what’s inside.
She sits behind her mirror and starts rubbing the makeup off her face with cotton pads. The black skin underneath is pristine and flawless, unlike mine.
She reminds me of my sister.
Friendly. Sincere. Gorgeous in every way.
And it stings in my heart that I don’t know how to engage with that anymore.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “About today.”
She glances at me through the mirror.
“I didn’t mean to be an asshole.”
“No one does,” she replies, smiling. “Sometimes we just are.”
I nod and look away, feeling like I just can’t connect with people anymore. Not since …
“Hey.” Her voice makes me look up. “It’s okay.” She approaches me and sits down beside me on my bed. “You’re going through something, aren’t you?”
Oh God.
The waterworks begin, but I still push most of the tears back, allowing only a single one to roll down my cheek. Kayla doesn’t have to see this, and my sister definitely deserves more than just some tears.
“Oh no,” she murmurs as she pulls me close so I can lean on her shoulder. “Cry if you need to.”
“I’ve already cried enough tears,” I say, feeling the rage coil and twist its way into my heart.
“If you wanna talk about it, I’m here,” she replies. “I’ll be here waiting until you’re ready.”
I lean up and look at her. “Why are you so nice to me?”
She shrugs. “Everyone deserves kindness. Tell you what, how about we go get some takeout?” She puts her arm around me and shakes me a little. “Get your mind off things.”
My stomach growls just in time, making us both laugh. “I’d love that.” I put the diary underneath my pillow.
“C’mon,” she says with a smile while she hooks her arm through mine. “I know the perfect place around the corner.”
ALISTAIR
I wrap the bandages around his arm and tie them in a knot.
“Jesus, can you hurry up?” Felix barks.
I stare up at him. “You can go to the nurse’s office. Or do it yourself if you want to.”
His nostrils flare, and he looks out the window at the lavish gardens. The Skull & Serpent Society house provides the best view of the well-kept grounds of Spine Ridge University. That’s what you get when your parents donate tons of money.
“Whatever,” Felix says after a while. “I’m just antsy.”
“Because of that girl you mentioned?” I look up at him while putting on the tape.
“You weren’t there. You should’ve seen the fucking look on her face after she stabbed me,” Felix says.
“What … did it remind you of the view in the mirror?” Dylan casually spouts while leaning against the doorpost with his arms folded.
Felix throws him a glare. “You think this is funny?”
He snorts. “No, but you getting stabbed … that’s new.”
“So she’s a feisty one,” I reply. “I know you’ve got a thing for that.”
“Oh, she’s more than that.” Dylan walks toward one of the big red seats in the middle of the Society game room and flops down. “She’s Eve’s sister.”
My eyes widen.
Fuck.
I knew I recognized her from somewhere. She was that girl at Eve’s funeral.
“Why do you think I lost my shit when I found her snooping on my conversation with my father?” Dylan leans forward to poke the flames in the fireplace with a poker. “It can’t be random that she’s here.”
“No,” Felix snarls, clutching the seat’s armrest. “She’s here with a purpose.”
I get up and put away the box, then focus on him. “Stop using your muscles, it needs to heal.”
“I’ll do whatever the fuck I want,” he growls back.
I shrug. “Okay, fine, then tear through the wound I just stitched for you.”
“Not again, please.” Dylan sighs. “We’ve got enough on our plate as it is.”
Felix gets up and paces around the room. “Penelope …”
“That’s her name?” I grin. “Nice.”
Felix grinds his teeth. “No. Not nice. We need her gone before she starts poking her nose in places it doesn’t belong.”
Dylan leans back in his seat, twirling the fire poker. “Okay, what’s your plan?”
Felix punches his fist into his own hand. “Take care of it.”
I shake my head. “Another body? That’ll go over well with our pops.”
“You got any better ideas?” Felix quips, glaring at me from across the room.
I shrug. “Why not just leave her be? What’s she gonna do?”