Fallen Crest High

My hands twisted together in front of my books and I looked down at my lap. "With Jessica. You remember her, right?"

There was silence.

I ploughed on, "For two years and Lydia knew. She helped them lie about it."

I waited and then after a minute, he asked in a quiet voice, "Why are you telling me this, Samantha?"

"What do you mean?" I looked up now. I needed something; I was looking for it in him. I didn't know quite what, though.

"I'm sorry that Jeffrey cheated on you. That's a horrible thing to find out."

"Like you and mom?" I swallowed thickly.

He froze again. His finger stopped tapping. And then a deep breath left him and he hung his head a moment. When he looked up again, I reeled back. The pain was so clear, so evident in his eyes. I was speechless for a moment.

He choked out, "I can't keep lying to you, Samantha."

Lying? "Dad?"

He closed his eyes and looked away. "I'm not your father."

I laughed.

"I mean it, Sam. I'm not your biological father." He caught my gaze again.

He was serious. I saw it in them and a flare of pain stabbed me in the gut. I almost bowled over, but my fingers caught my chair's sides and dug in. My books fell to the floor, one of them thumped on top of my toe. I didn't feel it. I was caught in his eyes and I felt seared by them and by his words.

Something cracked. I lifted my hand and saw blood trickling down from underneath my nails.

"Sam, let go of the chair."

"What?" I jerked my chin upright. I couldn't see him. He had blurred and there was two of him. They were starting to swim around.

"Let go."

I opened my mouth. No sound came out.

Then he got up and rounded my chair. He forcibly lifted my other hand and there was more blood from that one. Two of my nails were gone.

He cursed under his breath and left.

My head slammed to my lap and I gasped for breath. No way. There was no way…

Footsteps were heard coming back and hands lifted me in the air. There were more faces now, but I didn't pay them attention.

"Put her on the trainer's couch. Quinn, get the nurse."

I was placed on my back and both of my hands were lifted in the air. I felt some cool liquid poured on them as they poked and prodded. I looked at the ceiling. The white tiles above me looked like they were mocking me.

"Sam. I'm sorry." His voice was muffled close to me. His hand brushed some of my hair from my forehead. "She made me keep that secret all your life. I should've told you a long time ago. Analise didn't want—"

The footsteps were coming back. They were louder this time. My head rolled to the side and I saw a nurse and another man hurrying to me, they looked like they were moving through the air. Some guys were behind them.

"Get 'em all out, Quinn," my dad barked.

I frowned. Not my dad. David.

"What, honey?" He bent low to me.

"You're just David now."

He frowned and closed his eyes. He seemed to struggle with something and then when he opened them, they looked bleak. He looked how I did now. "Yes, Samantha. I guess I am."

CHAPTER SIX

Becky sat next to me where the sidewalk dipped to the parking lot. I'd been there after the school's nurse had tended to my hands and after my da—David took the football team to the field for practice. That'd been around four. It was six now.

"I don't understand why you won't let me drive you home," Becky grumbled.

I stared straight ahead.

"You want something to eat? Let's get something to eat. I'll drive."

I jerked my head in a nod and stood up. When we got to her car, I winced as I tried to open the door. Becky hissed and moved me out of the way. She opened the door for me, and then climbed on her side. As she started the car, she muttered, "And you expect to be able to drive home like that? You can't even open a door. You're crazy."

I grinned. "I thought you were going to be a good friend."

"I am and I'm telling the truth. You're crazy."

That shut me up.

Her voice took on a giddy note. "Did you see how Adam was hovering over you? It was so romantic."

I hadn't. I'd been distracted.

"You guys are going to make a great couple. I can already tell."

"How?"

"What?"

"How can you tell? You don't even know me."

"Well… Okay, I'm being honest here, but you weren't all fabulous before. I mean, I've always known who you are. We're lab partners, seriously, but I didn't care. But something changed with you this year. I have no idea what, but it's like you don't care anymore." When we pulled into a coffee shop, she laughed. "Then you showed up at that party in that outfit. It sounds stupid, I know, but there's just something about you, like you're a mystery or something. Everyone knew Jeff wanted you hardcore that night. And everyone knows he's been cheating on you. Then you showed up today and you told off those pathetic excuses for friends."

"Are you obsessed with me?" My hands were starting to throb. I sucked in a breath when I tried to flex one hand, but stopped right away. What the hell had I done?

She laughed another one of those high-pitched squeals and flipped the red curls over again.

I cringed.

"Um, no. Are you crazy? I mean, you are, but are you?" Her laugh weakened. She turned to face me in the car. "I've known Adam all my life. He's my neighbor and he's a good guy. He's one of the good guys. I was thrilled when he broke up with Ashley."

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