Becca

 

Everything was perfect.

Well, as perfect as it could be when your mom didn’t want you to date the guy you’d fallen head over heels for, and his mom wasn’t keen on the idea either. But for two blissful days, life continued without any drama. We went to classes, Evan came by the diner with Eli in tow yesterday, and we had the whole day planned Sunday for the little guy’s birthday.

It was almost too good to be true.

“So we’ll definitely see you tomorrow night, and you’re coming tonight still, right?” Lilly called as Jay dragged her down the hallway as if he couldn’t wait another second for them to be alone.

“Yes, I think so. Text me.”

She grinned, giggling when Jay leaned down and whispered something to her. I rolled my eyes; they were so crazy for one another it was a little sickening. But when an arm curved around my waist, and Evan’s lips pressed to the skin along the nape of my neck, a shudder worked its way through me, and I grinned. God, were we as bad as Lilly and Jay now?

“Hi.” His voice was low and smooth and had a direct line to my body.

“Hi,” I replied. Leaning into his kiss, I tilted my head to the side, giving him more access.

“I can’t wait to ge—” His jean pocket started vibrating, and he sighed against my skin. “I need to take this.”

“Go, go. I’ll be out in second.” I didn’t need to hear his mom on another one of her crusades to drive a wedge between us.

Evan nodded as he walked down the hallway. I watched him for a couple of seconds and then opened my locker. My jaw clenched at the sight of another note. I grabbed it and started to crumple it up, but something stopped me, and I found myself opening it.

 

I balled up the paper and dumped it in the nearest trashcan, telling myself that it was just another empty threat.

When I exited the building, Evan was waiting next to his Impala. He pushed off the car and came over to me. “Everything okay?”

“Fine.” I smiled. Everything was fine. Kendall was just trying to spook me, probably pissed that Evan and I were parading around school together, but eventually, she would get bored and move onto her next target. That was how bullies like her worked. I just needed to ride it out. Weather the storm.

“Mom wants me home to help with birthday preparations, but I’ll see you tomorrow after the party, right?”

“Of course.”

Evan tapped the hood of the car and went around to the driver’s side. I climbed inside, ignoring the sinking feeling in my stomach. Nothing had changed. Evan and I were okay. Better than okay, we were good. Things between us were great.

“He’s going to be so excited on Sunday.” The car roared to life. “He thinks the world of you, you know?”

“He’s a cute kid. I enjoy spending time with him.”

“I’m not sure I like sharing, though.” He glanced sideways at me, a smirk tugging at his mouth, and heat pooled in my stomach. Part of me wanted to ask him to blow off his mom and take me somewhere. Just the two of us. But I could never do that to Eli. And I would never ask Evan to choose.

Evan dropped me off at my house, leaving me breathless with a searing kiss. Mom saw it, the scowl on her face told me as much as I stalked past her.

“You have some mail. I put it in your room.”

Mail?

“Thanks,” I said, helping myself to a glass of water before heading upstairs. Sure enough, on my desk was a white envelope addressed to me. I ran my thumb underneath the fold and ripped the paper open. My fingers trembled, panic clawing up my throat, and when my eyes landed on the contents, I stumbled back onto my bed. The backs of my knees hit the edge, and I landed with a soft thud.

It couldn’t be.

It couldn’t.

But it was. Staring back at me in all its sickening glory were images of me and Kane. Him kissing my neck, his hands over my half-naked body. Lust oozed off the prints, and I had to fight the bile rushing up my throat.

No.

No.

How was this possible? How did she have these? I remembered the night—it was forever imprinted in my brain. The night I gave myself to a guy seven years my senior. A guy so much more experienced than I was; a guy who pushed my boundaries and took my virginity and then used it against me. The photos fluttered to the floor as I bolted into the small bathroom and threw up. Heaving and retching memories of that night into the bowl.

How?

How was it possible?

I flushed and rinsed my face, dashing back into my room. My fingers trembled as I fumbled with the photographs, six in total. Grainy images of his room in the small apartment he and his father rented on the outskirts on Montecito. Skin on skin. My head tipped back, desire and lust and nerves written all over my face.

My stomach churned again, and I closed my eyes. Dropping my head, I dragged long calming breaths into my lung. The vibrating beside me hurtled me back to reality. This was real. This wasn’t some sick, cruel prank.

Grabbing the cell phone, I stared at the message as my world fell from under me.

 

Ready to play?

 

~

“You seem on edge. Is everything okay?” Lilly whispered, craning her head around to me as we sat with Mischa and Scarlett, watching the guys goof around.

“Fine. I’m fine.” My voice was clipped. I glanced around our little corner of Rogues. I hadn’t wanted to come, but when Scarlett and Lilly turned up outside my house like old times, I found myself saying bye to Mom and Dad and promising not to be late.

Being holed up alone in my room wasn’t doing me any good. My thoughts were a dangerous thing. At least here, surrounded by Lilly and the others, I could try to ignore the urge to run. To get as far away from Credence as I possibly could.

My eyes widened at the sight of Kendall and her friends over by the derelict arcade.

“Oh, shit,” Lilly hissed, causing the guys’ heads to whip up.

“Ignore her, Becca. We got you.” Vin stretched his arms out in front of him as if I had nothing to worry about.

“I’ll be right back.” I leaped up, adrenaline pumping through me. I didn’t know what I intended on doing, but I couldn’t run. It wasn’t an option. I needed to stand up to her once and for all—to find out how the hell she got her hands on the photos. They didn’t show anything other than me getting it on with a guy, but if they got out—if Evan found out—it would open a can of worms I wasn’t prepared to deal with. Couldn’t deal with.

Those photos jeopardized everything.

“Becca, don’t give her the satisfaction,” someone called from behind me, but it was too late. I was already moving.

“You.” I jabbed my finger in her direction. “We need to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you.” She sounded bored. Her two friends stepped closer, amusement sparkling in their eyes.

“Well, I have something to say to you.”

Kendall nibbled her thumb, widening her eyes. Waiting.

“How’d you get them?”

“Am I supposed to know what you’re talking about?”

My gaze hardened. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“You see, honey”—she inched forward—“you think because you rolled into town and went shopping at the thrift store and got your nose pierced that you’ve escaped who you really are?” Her voice was low, meant only for me, and I caught the flash of confusion in her friends’ eyes.

“How. Did. You. Get. The. Photos?” I ground out in a hushed voice, rage rippling out of me like a wave. If my question surprised her, Kendall didn’t let on as her lip quirked up. As if the whole thing amused her. “The internet is a big place, Becca. Nothing stays hidden for long.”

Why did that sound like another threat? What was her end game?

I was aware of people behind me. Lilly and Scarlett and probably the guys too. But this wasn’t a conversation I wanted everyone to hear. Maybe they thought I was referring to the other photos, the ones anyone could have discovered on the internet if they Googled me. I might have deactivated my Facebook profile long before moving here, but I couldn’t get rid of the digital footprint charting my life at Montecito Prep.

“Why can’t you just leave me alone? I haven’t done anything to you.” My voice was desperate, and I hated it, but deep down, underneath all the hostility and mega-bitch, she was still a person.

Kendall leaned in, her proximity disarming me. “I will destroy you. Play the game, Becca. Play the game, or I’ll make sure everyone in this town knows just what a dirty little bitch you really are.”

My face paled, the color draining away until I felt naked before her. She knew; the sincerity in her voice told me as much. And even though she couldn’t know all the details, somehow, someway, Kendall knew enough to leverage me into her game.

Realization slapped me in the face.

Kane had taken the photos. There was a film too. All of which were handed over as part of the deal made to silence his father. To protect me. My reputation … my future.

“Thought so. You want to keep Evan and your friends and any hopes of surviving the year, then be ready. It’s about to get interesting.” With that, she swished away, her friends hurrying after her.

“Becca?” A hand landed on my shoulder, and I flinched. “What was all that about?”

“Nothing.” I turned slowly, schooling my features and forcing down the tears. “It was nothing. Everything’s fine.”

But everything was not fine.

Not by a long shot.