Page 30 of Wicked Nasty

The shrill sound of the bell interrupts our conversation and Becca grabs her bag, heading towards the door without another word. I watch her go, feeling like a complete idiot. Kaiden turns to me, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“Well...” he starts, unsure of what to say.

“I fucked up,” I admit, my shoulders slumping in defeat.

Cat nods in agreement. “Yeah, yeah you did.”

I let out a heavy sigh and sink into the chair. The weight of my mistakes hangs heavy on my shoulders as I replay the conversation with my dad in my mind. Little did I know that my mom was within earshot, ready to pounce on me for venting about her.

Kaiden shrugs nonchalantly. “Don’t beat yourself up, man. You didn’t know she was there.”

Cat’s eyes narrow as she pipes up. “Actually, it kind of is Danny’s fault.”

Kaiden groans. “Come on, Kitty cat...”

“No.” Her voice holds a hint of anger and frustration. “You guys need to start taking responsibility for your actions. Sure, you’ve come a long way, babe. And so has Xander, but turning a blind eye to your friends’ mistakes is not okay. It makes you just as bad, Kaiden.”

Standing up, I face them both, knowing that Cat is right. “She’s right, Kaiden. I messed up. I messed up with my sister, with how I treated Cat, and with what I just did to Becca.”

Kaiden gives me an encouraging pat on the back. “You’re good bro, I promise.”

“Are you going to apologize to Becca?” Cat asks pointedly.

I glance at her before answering. “I’ll try. She’s just so cold towards me...”

Kaiden laughs lightly. “Well, look who raised her. Can’t say I’m surprised.”

Cat raises an eyebrow in curiosity. “Is her mom really that bad?”

I shake my head and plop back down in the chair. “Her mom is shitty, but never really raised her. It was her au pair.”

“Yeah,” Kaiden chimes in with a nod. “Back then, it was all the rage for our community to have Eastern European nannies. They were tough, raised quiet and obedient kids, and didn’t say a word about the family’s dirty little secrets. Becca got really close to hers and then poof, she was gone. That’s when Becca changed.”

“I can understand that,” I say, fiddling with my phone. “Losing someone who was like a mother would be pretty traumatic.”

Cat nods in agreement. “Exactly. You have to remember, Danny. What if your mom suddenly disappeared? How would you feel?”

“Shitty,” I answer honestly.

She gestures towards Kaiden, too. “Same goes for you. Give that girl some understanding. She’s dealing with her own emotions.”

“We all are,” I counter defensively. “Becca isn’t special.”

Cat’s expression softens, but there is still a touch of sadness in her eyes - a sadness that I know I’m responsible for. Without saying another word, I grab my bag and head to the locker room to change. As I toss in my headphones and make my way outside to the track, I realize that what I need most right now is some time alone with my thoughts.

Staring up at the cloudy sky, I take a moment to stretch before starting to run.

Fuck you, Daisy.

Chapter nine

Rebecca

Never Felt So Alone

ThisisnotwhereI want to be.

This sterile, cookie-cutter neighborhood was never part of my plan. A knot forms in my stomach as I look up at Danny's home; the manicured lawn dotted with rounded rose bushes, the perfectly placed candles illuminating the windows, all tied together with the American flag flying proudly in the breeze.

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