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I know better than to believe that people can change. Most people never do; they are too stuck in their own little worlds to pay attention to the destruction they leave behind. They hurt people. They take what they want, thinking it belongs to them just because they are rich or beautiful or popular without even caring if it’s right or wrong. And Derek King is no exception.

No, he’s the worst of them all.

I don’t remember how I got to my house. I’m just grateful I did it in one piece. At least physically. Getting out, I shut the door with too much force, the sound ringing in the otherwise silent night. I run to the house and up the stairs.

Mom is calling me from the living room, but I don’t stay down to give her an explanation. “I want to be alone!” I yell from the stairs before going to my room, shutting and locking the door behind me.

I hear her hurried footsteps on the stairs, and I can almost feel her shadow looming over me from the other side of the door.

My breathing is hard and shallow. I lean against the door, tilt my head back and try to get some control over it. Slowly, I breathe in through my nose and then out through my mouth.

Slow and controlled.

In and out.

I slide down the door and pull my legs close. Hugging them to my chest, I let my forehead touch my knees. That broken, struggled sound comes out again, and I let tears fall and soak my jeans.

“Lia?” Mom whispers on the other side. My body shudders at the sound of her soft words and I start crying even harder. “Are you okay, honey?”

I want to tell her I’m fine and not to worry, but the words don’t want to come out. How can I lie when she can clearly hear me sob on the other side of the door? The words are stuck in my throat and my voice hitches every time I attempt to say anything.

The doorbell rings and I freeze. It rings a few more times, and it’s followed by the series of hard knocks.

I hear him call my name.

“Make him go away, Mom.” My whisper is broken by another sob.

Why did he have to come to my house? Why couldn’t he simply leave me alone?

“Okay.”

I hear her soft steps move further away from the door and down the stairs. There is a soft scratching sound on my door. I move away a little and open the door just enough so that Lola can wiggle inside.

She nudges me with her nose, so I give her space to climb in my lap. Lola starts licking my tear-stained face, tickling me and making me giggle, but even that doesn’t stop the tears from coming.

There is harsh whispering downstairs.

“I need to see her!” Derek’s frantic voice is loud and raspy.

I get up on my feet and close the door so that I don’t have to hear another word from him. With Lola still safely in my hands, I climb to my bed, my clothes, shoes and all still on.

Lying on my side, I pull my legs as close to my chest as I can while still leaving enough space for Lola to curl into her soft, comforting furry-ball next to me.

I lay there, with my eyes closed, but all I can see is an almost naked Derek kissing that girl on his front porch.

Over and over again, my mind plays the same clip until I’m not even sure is it a dream or reality.

The last thing I feel is Mom’s soft hands brushing my hair and hear her whispered words, “It’ll all be okay, baby girl. It’ll all be okay.”

Derek

“You owe me an explanation!” I hiss in her ear.

My hand curls around her wrist, and I turn her around to look at me.

Diamond has been standing with a group of her friends, but it didn’t stop me from confronting her. I’m done playing nice. I’m done waiting and trying to figure out what the hell happened. I need answers, and I need them now. Nothing in this world comes easily, so I don’t think this is an exception.

She owes me, and today I plan on collecting.

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