Page 16 of Dirty Roulette
“I’m- I’m sorry.” The punk flips his hair back with a hand and leaps off the mattress.
I scoff. “You’re sorry?” I storm to him, fists tense. “That’s my sister!”
His hands fly up, backing away with a please-don’t-hurt-me expression plastered on his face. “We were playing a game.” He stumbles over a pile of clothes, glances down, and scoops up his shirt.
“Leave him alone!” The shock drains blood from Charlie’s face. She scrambles for clothes and pulls a shirt over her head in an angry fit. “I’m not sixteen anymore!”
“Wait! Wait! I’m sorry...” He throws the shirt over his head but doesn’t get another word in. A fog layers over my eyes as I seize him by the shirt, my eyes meeting his.
“Were you actually going to have sex with him?” My heart pounds inside my eardrums and every part of my body breaks out in a cold sweat.
“Don’t!” Payton wraps icy fingertips around one of my arms, tugging me back. When I glance at her, her big eyes plead with me. “Please... stop.” I’m huffing, my chest heaving in and out. “Please...” I bite the inside of my cheek and unfasten my grip on the guy withmy hands held up. Payton tugs on my arm, and I back away with three steps.
“I’m so sorry!” Charlie rushes over to him and cups his face. “Oh my god!” She turns blubbery and cries. I didn’t even get to hit him.
“I’m fine... I’m fine.” The guy holds up the palm of his hands.
“My brother is an asshole, I’m sorry!” Charlie’s cheeks redden, her eyes watering, as he shrugs her off. “No wait!” She grasps his hand, but he weasels out of her grip and disappears out the door. “Please, Noah!” Charlie scrambles to her feet, chasing him out into the hallway. “Stop!” She chokes with hands raking through her hair. She turns to me, her nostrils flaring, and tears brimming the edge of her eyes.
“I hate you!” She retorts, stomping over and shoving me in the chest. “God, I hate you!”
“You’re barely eighteen! Get your shit and let’s go!” I find her shorts and throw them at her face, but that seems to tick her off more. All I see is her nails flailing, she’s smacking and punching me in the face like the typical immature brat that she’s always been.
“Stop it!” I fight against her noodle arms and restrain both of her wrists.
“Then stop being such a control freak!”
“I kinda can’t if you’re crashing every goddamn party. I told you to lay off!” I shoot back.
“Charlie, let’s get out of here.” Payton attempts to intervene, but my sister and I are at each other’s necks. There isn’t a day my throat isn’t raw. We always fight, but if she isn’t telling me how shitty I am as a brother, then I’m doing something wrong.
“It’s just a game, and it’s not like you didn’t play it either!”
“That’s exactly why I don’t want you playing it. This is how guys get the wrong impression of you!”
“You don’t always have to protect me!” Charlie retorts.
“You have no idea who those guys are. You’re gonna get hurt, and you dragged Payton into it, out of all people!”
Charlie furrows her brows, darting her gaze to Payton, then to me. She looks me up and down, biting her bottom lip. There is no way she doesn’t spot the wet stain on my jeans.
“Who did you land on?” She scowls.
Payton runs a hand through her hair, and her eyes shimmer. She stares at the ceiling as she shakes her head.
“No-no one.” The tone in her voice cracks. “I didn’t land on anyone.”
“You’re lying?” Charlie tilts her head to the side, with the distinct look of knowing something’s up. “Did you land on Brody!”
“NO!” Payton shouts.
“I broke the game up!” I cut the conversation before it goes any further. “Are you happy now?”
“Screw you!” Charlie storms out to the crowded hallway with her shorts not even buttoned. I roll my eyes as her tantrum burns like a raging wildfire out of control.
“Wait!” Payton rushes after her.
There is no other choice but to chase them down. My brain is leaking into my spine at this point. I can’t keep up with Payton stomping down the stairwell. People shove and jostle me in the crowd. I squeeze through the tightly packed stairway. The air is thick with sweat and the aftertaste of vomit. Everyone here is sloppy. I catch Brody storming behind my sister, grabbing her shoulder to swivel her around.
