The Lies That Define Us Part 11

If she was me, what was it I didn't know?

From the moment I set foot in Mo's, I didn't slow down. There was a constant stream of orders to take, drinks to refill, and food to carry out.

Little pieces of hair fluttered around my face, and I batted them away. It was time to re-do my ponytail for the fifth time. I could never get my hair to stay back for long; it demanded to be set free.

I finished taking an order and breezed over to the computer to enter it.

I'd picked up on things fairly easily and Rebecca had long since stopped helping. If I had a question I sought her out, but it was rare.

While I was entering the order, she came over to me and leaned against the counter. "I'm exhausted, and I have two more hours on my s.h.i.+ft."

"Me too," I groaned.

"We should do something Monday. You're off, right?" she asked, scrubbing a hand over her tired face.

"Yeah. What do you have in mind?" I asked nervously.

"The mall?" she suggested. "It's not like either of us really has the money to buy anything, but it would be fun to do something different."

"Sure," I agreed with a shrug.

"Yay!" She clapped her hands together. Glancing up, she muttered, "I gotta go. Table three is waving for me."

I laughed and finished entering the order.

I stuffed my notebook back in my pocket and headed into the kitchen to see if one of my orders was ready. One was, so I grabbed a tray and began piling the plates on. When I first started, I'd stared in wonder at the waiters and waitresses effortlessly carrying the heavily-loaded trays. I'd believed there was no way I could ever master that, but I had.

I carried the tray out and placed the plates on the table.

"Is there anything else I can get you guys?" I asked.

"Nope." The man shook his head. "I think we're good for now."

"I'll be by to check on you in a few minutes."

I went to one of my other tables and grabbed gla.s.ses for refills. I found that keeping myself busy helped the time go faster. Some of my colleagues preferred to only make a few trips out to tables and then busy themselves in the back on their phone. That wasn't for me, though. Granted, I didn't have a phone, but even then I couldn't imagine myself being that way. I was there to work, and I wanted to provide the best service I could so I could make big tips.

I returned the refilled drinks with a smile and checked on my other tables, bringing people extra napkins and ketchup when they asked.

When my s.h.i.+ft finally ended all I wanted to do was go home and sleep.

Home.

d.a.m.n. I hadn't realized I'd already begun thinking of Liam's house as home.

That wasn't good.

With a sigh, I clocked out and went through the back door to where I'd left my bike. Biking to and from work wasn't ideal, but it sure as h.e.l.l beat walking. I piled my things in the little basket in the front and climbed on. I hadn't ridden a bike in years before I got on that one, but it was one of those things you never seemed to forget how to do.

It was after eight in the evening, but the sun still shone in the sky, and I was grateful for that fact. It would suck riding home in the dark.

When I got to the house, I slipped off the bike and put the code in to open the garage door. I was surprised to find that Liam's Jeep was still gone.

I leaned my bike against the wall and headed inside, removing my crossbody bag and dragging it behind me. I hadn't eaten dinner, but I did have a late lunch at Mo's, so I wasn't hungry. I'd probably shower and have a snack later. Then again, going to bed sounded like a mighty good idea.

I hadn't been paying attention, and I smacked into a wall.

"Ow," I cried, stumbling backwards.

"Hey, careful there." Mathias reached out to steady me. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just fine." I rubbed my forehead where it had collided with his hard bicep. "Is Liam still gone?" I looked around like maybe he was hiding behind the couch or something.

He chuckled. "Yeah, that's typical Liam, though. Fleeing an uncomfortable situation is his M.O. He'll show up later tonight or in the morning." He shrugged like it was no big deal.

"And that's normal?" I raised a brow as Remy came into the hallway from the area of the kitchen.

"Yeah," she replied with a sigh. "Unfortunately."

"Hmm," I hummed, moving around Mathias so I could head for the stairs. "Well, I'm going to go shower, and I'll see you guys in the morning, I guess."

Awkward level? On a scale of one to ten we were at a twelve point five.

"We made dinner if you want any," Remy called after me, her face turned down into a concerned frown.

"I'm not that hungry, but I'll grab some if I need to."

She nodded. "Goodnight."

"Night."

I hurried the rest of the way down the hall to my room and breathed a sigh of relief when the door closed behind me.

Sweet, sweet sanctuary.

I headed straight for the bathroom and rid myself of the grease-smelling clothes. By the time I got out of the shower I felt like a whole new person. I changed into pajamas and brushed out my wet hair.

Settling into bed I watched some TV before drifting off to sleep.

And when I slept, the truth masked as nightmares plagued me.

I walked along the sidewalk, kicking at random pebbles as I thought about the atrocious amount of math homework I had. It was seriously unfair.

School sucked.

And so did the other kids.

Particularly Anna Hendricks.

You could say she was the resident mean girl of my school, and for some reason she had it out for me. I didn't know what I could've possibly done to bring her wrath down upon me, but whatever it was must've been bad the way she tortured me.

Today, she'd told my crush, Jack Harrison, that I liked him.

But that wasn't all. She'd announced it in the middle of lunch in front of the whole eighth grade.

I'd never been more embarra.s.sed in all my life.

I'd run from the common area and straight to the bathroom. I'd sat there and cried until the bell rang when I finally had to compose myself and go to History cla.s.s.

At least the school day was over.

Mom and Dad were both working but my mom had told me that we could get pizza for dinner.

I loved pizza.

I wiped a stray tear away and silently scolded myself for still crying over Anna and the mean thing she'd done. My tears gave her power, even if she couldn't see them.

"Hey, darlin', are you okay?"

I glanced up, jolted from my thoughts, to see a dark SUV rolling to a stop beside me.

A man leaned out the pa.s.senger window looking concerned.

"I'm fine," I muttered, not making eye contact. I got a bad vibe from him and wanted to get away, so I started walking again and quickened my strides.

The SUV continued beside me at a slow pace.

"You need a ride home?"

I swallowed thickly.

"No, but thanks." I tried to sound polite and not let the fear show through my voice. "My mom is picking me up around the corner," I lied.

The SUV came to a stop and the man's voice turned sinister. "Now, darlin', we both know that's not true."

My eyes widened in surprise, and my fight or flight senses kicked in.

I took off running, and I heard the SUV doors open. Feet thumped behind me, but I didn't dare look back.

A steel band slammed around my abdomen, yanking me against a hard chest. I started to scream, but the moment I opened my mouth a hand was there covering it.

I kicked.

I bit.

I screamed.

But there was no one there to help.

No one there to save me.

"You're coming with us, Scarlett." The man who'd been in the pa.s.senger seat spoke near my ear as I was dragged back to the SUV. I was shoved inside the back, and my shoulder slammed into the seat.

"My name's not Scarlett!" I screamed back, fighting to get past him and to the safety of the outside.

"It is now." He grinned menacingly and then his fist slammed into my face.

Everything.

Went.

Black.

Liam.

"Can't sleep?"

"Jesus," Ari yelped, slamming a hand to her chest. Her blue eyes were wide with surprise.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but it's only me. Liam." I raised the mug of hot chocolate to my lips-yes, hot-f.u.c.king-chocolate. I didn't care if it was July and the middle of the night. I wanted some hot chocolate. "I still don't know how I can possibly scare you at this point. This happens practically every night...or morning." I glanced at the clock lit up on the TV, flas.h.i.+ng that it was two in the morning.

"Right." She lowered her hand, and I noticed how shaky it was by her side.

She'd been screaming again.

"You want some hot chocolate?" I asked her, lifting my mug.

Even from the distance between us I could see the sparkle in her eyes. "Hot chocolate?" She lit up, her smile wide.

I nodded from where I sat on the couch. "Yeah. Come sit down, and I'll make you some."

Surprisingly, she did sit down.

"I'll be right back," I said, standing up and brus.h.i.+ng past her. My leg b.u.mped into her knee, and I mumbled a quick apology. "Sorry."

She let out a small laugh.

"What's so funny?" I stopped beneath the archway and turned back to look at her.