Page 4 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

While I desperately wanted to punch her, my father just raised a brow.

“My son is dead.”

Those words hit hard. Much harder than they should’ve. I felt them deep in my bones. Suddenly I was reliving that night all over again. Three hours before I got the news I was playing a video game with Atlas. He was right there, then he was gone. And how did my father tell me? With the exact same flat tone he just used with Novalee.

“Your brother is dead.”

That was it. That was all he said before walking out. And now I couldn’t get Atlas’s last words out of my head.

“I’ll always be here for you Gio.”

How was that for irony?

“Why the hell should I listen to you?” Novalee hissed. “This is all your fault.”

My father tipped his head and simply said, “I’m the victim here, young lady.”

Something flashed across her face, and for a brief moment I thought Novalee might sit back down. But the spark was gone as quick as it came.

“Where was your sympathy for my sister? Do you even know her name?”

I knew her name. I’d never forget her name, or the way she looked laying in that hospital bed. I was ten seconds away from smothering her when the doctor walked in the room.

“Her name is Veda,” Novalee spat out. “She’s twenty-one and fighting for her life because of what your son did.”

“Nova!” Kato slammed his hand down on the table. “That’s enough. You’re not helping.”

“Don’t you see, Kato,” tears welled up in her eyes as she looked over at her brother. “Nothing will help. This was rigged from the get go.”

Well, she wasn’t stupid. But she wasn’t smart either. She didn’t notice my father nod at the bailiff.

“It's done, Nova,” Kato’s eyes pleaded with his sister. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not okay.” Her foot stomped down on the ground. “This isn’t–”

That was all she got out before the bailiff grabbed her arm and started dragging her away.

Unsurprisingly she fought his hold, but that was meager at best. I doubt any of her strikes hurt the guy. She was a tiny little thing, but she had spunk. I’d give her that.

“No,” Novalee yelled. “Let me go. I’m not done.”

Yes, she was.

The last thing she said before being hauled out of the courtroom was, “Fuck Atlas Mancini. I’m glad he’s dead.”

NOVALEE

Misconceptions were assumptions based on things that people heard. When in reality those things weren’t factual, they were merely gossip.

That guy wasn’t nice, he just pretended to be polite in public. That company didn’t have excellent customer service, something quickly discovered when a problem arose. And there was the supposed safe park to walk through at night, but no one bothered to mention the three girls that got raped last week. Misconceptions would fuck you over each and every time.

I was a prime example of that. When I started school, I assumed certain things would happen. Like typical new kid treatment, and maybe some run ins with a certain someone.

It wouldn’t be that bad because I didn’t do anything to Gio. Therefore, he wouldn’t take it out on me. After all, I didn’t hold him responsible for his brother’s actions. Did I like him? No. But I didn’t blame him. So, I should be able to complete my senior year without too much of a hassle.

Not only was I completely wrong, but now I was sitting in my truck outside Gio Mancini’s house, getting ready to trade my life for my brother’s. If there was an award for misconception of the year, I’d definitely be the front runner.

Sighing, I leaned over and eyed the house through my cracked windshield.

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