Chapter Three
Madeline
Sky: For fucks’ sake, Madeline. 2418 East Corbin St. Alpha Phi frat house tonight at 9pm. He goes by Atticus. He’ll be waiting for you. I took off after Tank got arrested. I’m not selling anymore. Cops have been snooping around. Don’t text me anymore.
Relief. Instant relief. That text couldn’t have come at a better time, either. As soon as I got home from school, I rushed upstairs, thankful there were no new vehicles parked out front, and I stripped out of my uniform. I kicked my navy blazer and skirt halfway across my room and ran over to my closet, pulling on my black mini and fishnet tights. I pulled my oversized cream sweater down off the hanger, tucking it into the front of my skirt, and slipped on my black Doc Martens. Hair spray coated the top of my head and washed down to my shoulders as I fluffed my hair up. My red lipstick went on smooth, and my concealer hid the dark-gray color underneath my eyes.
There.
I looked hot. I looked the part of a college girl instead of some loser high schooler walking into a frat party to score some drugs that weren’t even the good kind.
All I needed was some sleep, and I’d feel better. All I needed was one good night’s worth of blissful shuteye, and my head wouldn’t be so fuzzy. I wouldn’t feel so anxious.
r /> I pulled my phone up and reread the message again before typing the address in my phone. It was going to take at least an hour to get there, especially with the afternoon rush from work as I traveled through Pike Valley and the city. UCLA wasn’t too far in terms of miles, but with traffic, I’d better leave soon.
I shoved my phone and keys into my cross-body purse and checked out my window once more to make sure no creepy guys were making their way to our front door.
One in particular.
Two, if you counted my own father who hadn’t been home in months.
The tightly coiled nerves in my belly loosened as I saw that the coast was clear. I quickly glanced at Eric’s Range Rover parked in his driveway. Why did I glance at Eric’s car? I had no idea. I just couldn’t help wondering what he was doing and if he was home.
It was a sickness, thinking about the guy who hated me the most, but whatever.
The second my Doc Martens stepped foot on the landing below the last step, my mom’s voice called out, “Madeline? Is that you? Where are you headed? Christian’s?”
I rolled my eyes. When are you going to tell her you’re not dating Christian anymore? In fact, when are you going to tell her you’re the school loser instead of the school queen?
I put on my best smile. “Yep. I’ll be back later tonight. Bye, Mom.”
“Hey. Wait a second.”
My back went stiff as my mom came around from behind and ran her fingers through my hair. “We could probably get your hair done again. Your dad likes it when it’s light like this.”
I spun around slowly. “Does that mean he’s coming home?”
I wasn’t sure what was worse: my dad or my mother’s random one-night-stand boyfriends. Both had fear prickling my neck for two very different reasons.
My mom brushed her hand through her own platinum locks. They fell down to her hips with their shiny sleekness as she pushed them over her shoulder. Despite her behavior, my mom was actually a very pretty woman, even without all the makeup she wore. But she was also a broken woman. A woman who was lost and believed every word every man had ever told her.
Beautiful.
Sexy.
Slut.
Trash.
She didn’t know who she was or what she was. She let whatever she was feeling in the moment drive her to her actions.
You’re supposed to look up to your mother, want to become half the woman she is. But I wanted to be the complete opposite of mine. I just wasn’t sure if I ever would be. Because from where I was standing, we were two peas in a pod.
Fear and dread. We both felt it, and we were both trapped by it.
“I’m not sure when he’ll be home next, but it’s always best to be prepared.” She winked at me with a warm smile, but it lacked any real emotion.
“And how prepared are you to explain to Dad why another man is in your bed every night?”