Chapter 9
Will you be okay?” I asked as the girl got into the cab on the corner of the sidewalk just in front of the danceclub.
She cast a sad smile back at me. “I’ll befine.”
Whether it was the truth or not, I couldn’t say. But what else could I do? I couldn’t stop her from leaving. I didn’t have the right. She paused before closing the door and looked back at me. “Thank you,” she said, “forlistening.”
I nodded. “I still think you should talk to someone. The police or a therapist or both. They can’t get away withthis.”
“Blackmail,” she said with a hollow laugh. “Who knew a freaking teenager could be blackmailed? Thanks for the advice, but I probably won’t takeit.”
With that she closed the door and the cab pulled away from the curb. I stood there on the sidewalk with the warm, summer night air brushing over my calves and arms. Inside of me, though, a fire burned hot. Overwhelming in its anger, the blaze shook me to my very core. It could not be a coincidence that I had met her...whoever she was. I realized I didn’t even know her name. For all I knew, she could have been Mr. Spencer’s step-daughter, Sarah. It was like I told Grayson, I didn’t believe incoincidences.
I went back inside in search of Erika, surprised she hadn’t noticed that I was missing for so long. I found her at a different bar this time. There were three in the entire club and she, of course, was at the furthest one. When I reached her, and touched her arm to gain her attention, she whipped around and stumbled on her feet, obviouslydrunk.
“Hey!” she yelled. “Harlow where’ve ya been, girl?” She smiled and draped an arm around myshoulders.
“I’ve been in the bathroom,” I replied shortly as I noticed one of the guys from earlier sidle up close toher.
“Who’s your friend, Baby?” I narrowed my gaze as the guy slid his hand around Erika’smiddle.
She shifted, uncomfortable, but tried to laugh. “This is my friend.” She enunciated each word, obviously drunk but wanting him to think that she was sober. “I came here withher.”
“Yea.” I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from him. “We should really be going. I texted Knix, he’s sending Texas back to getus.”
The guy frowned. “Hey, what’s the rush?” he asked. “We were having fun. Stay. I’ll buy your friend a drink if she wantsone.”
Erika shook her head and I had to catch her as she stumbled again. So much for trying to keep her inebriation under wraps. “Thank you for the offer,” I said, “but no thanks, we’releaving.”
“Fucking teasing bitch,” he muttered before turningaway.
Erika sighed and slumped against me. “I’m so glad you came when ya did, girl,” she slurred. “He’s a pushy pusher that one.” She paused. “Oh shhiiiittt, I wasn’t watching you.” Her eyes met mine and started to water. “I’m a bad fwend-fire-end. FRIEND!” Her eyes lost their misty sheen as she finally managed to get the word out correctly and she looked at metriumphantly.
I rolled my eyes and hefted her against me, letting her use me as a walking crutch while we made our way towards the front of the club and back out onto the sidewalk. We only waited for a few minutes before Texas pulled up in the SUV. He got out, his wide eyes following Erika as she tried, and failed, to open the back door by herself. I sighed again and leaned around her, popping the handle and pushing her butt into the backseat of the vehicle. She fell, face down, and lay sprawled across the entire back. I left her like that, only reaching under her to wrap the middle seat belt around her waist for extra protection before I crawled back out and closed thedoor.
“I got out to see if you needed any help,” Texas said with a frown. “But it looks like you’ve got it handled.” When I didn’t reply, his frown deepened. “How did she get drunk?” he asked. His eyes trailed down to the backs of my hands. I raised them, so he’d have a betterview.
“I think you know how,” I said, showing off my X-less hands before turning to climb into the front passengerseat.
Texas looked at me for a moment, confusion plain on his face, but I was feeling too much. I couldn't say anything more when he climbed into the driver's seat next to me. Thankfully, he didn't force me to. We drove in silence – no talking, no radio – to Erika's parents' house and I gently helped her stumble in. Her father was dead asleep in his room and her mother was apparently working another overnightshift.
When I got back into the SUV, Texas finally turned on the radio. The soft lilting sound of classic rock filled the silence between us. I thought about how I would convince Knix to let me – the entire team, hopefully – go to this camp. I was angry right now, I knew. I was furious. I wanted to hurt someone, punch something, break something. I couldn't breathe right if I thought about the girl's face and tears and pain. It was a heavy weight in my chest that I knew I couldn't keep bottled for long. If I tried, I wouldexplode.
We pulled up to the house and all of the lights were on. Knix was standing out front with his arms crossed and a stormy expression on his face. I looked at Texas. "You told him?" How could he have – while I had been inside, putting Erika to bed, I realized. All he would have had to do was send him a quick text. Texas glanced at me, an apology clear in his eyes. I frowned at him. "Thanks a lot," Isnapped.
"I'm sorry, Harlow, but it's my responsibility to tell him everything that involves theteam."
I didn't reply as we ascended the front steps. "Inside." Knix said. I trudged by him into the house with my fists curledtightly.
Marv and Bellamy were already sitting in the living room. Marv, dressed the same as he was before, in his classically semi-formal attire. The only difference was that his top buttons were undone, and his sleeves were rolled up. Bellamy wore sweats and a t-shirt. I sat down on a chair separate from the others, though there were open spaces next to the guys. My anger was building and though I knew it wasn’t good, I didn't want to sit near them because they could easily diffuse it. It was harder to be mad at them or mad in general when they made mesmile.
Knix and Texas walked in behind me and Texas took a seat while Knix remained standing. "Would you like to tell us what happened tonight?" heasked.
I gritted my teeth and cracked my neck as I looked at him before directing my gaze to Marv. "I met one of the girls that went to Ms. Enders' EtiquetteCamp."
All four of them started, confused. That had obviously not been what they expected me to say. Marv sat forward, a frown marring his handsomeface.
"What–" hebegan.