All the Little Secrets

CHAPTER 20. MY MISTAKE

PART THREE.

Chapter 20. My Mistake

When Cage and I planned to pretend to be a couple, we didn't realize how convincing we really needed to be to everyone. Returning back from our "date" meant confronting my mom about my new "relationship". She went right for the Becca and Liam angle, and I reminded her harshly that she was the one who told me to let go of whatever I had with Liam.

"Cage is how I'm letting go, Mom. He's kind to me. He cares about me."

"And what about Becca?" she snapped.

I shrugged as if I didn't care, all the while falling apart inside.

"She cheated on him. She ruined it herself. That has nothing to do with me."

My mom scoffed as she shook her head. "I don't even recognize you anymore."

"That makes two of us," a voice from behind me said. Parker leaned up against my doorframe, a frown on his face. "You haven't been yourself for a while."

"PJ, that's not true -"

"You don't even know that I exist anymore," he folds his arms against his chest. "Do you even know what's going on in my life?"

"What do you mean? I know you exist -"

"Forget it," Parker walked out of my room. My mom followed him in a huff and slammed my doors.

That's not even the worst of it.

Becca returned to the mansion Sunday morning, completely ignoring my existence. My mom was on her side, both whispering in corners and stopping when I entered a room, so I didn't bother joining dinner that night. No one bothered coming to get me, either.

Liam still hasn't come home. My thoughts keep gnawing at me: is he ok? Is he with Morgan? Is he lying in a ditch somewhere? Is he dead?

Monday morning I wake in a pool of my own sweat. Regardless of how well we convinced Cage's parents, I still can't shake the fear of Liam's death. To distract myself from the lingering effects of my continuous nightmare, I shower and dress for school, not knowing how I'm actually getting there, or even if I want to go.

I walk into the foyer with my school bag as a familiar car revs up the driveway. Instead of facing so much disappointment in the kitchen, I meet Cage in the driveway.

"We need to talk." I buckle my seatbelt as Cage drives down the driveway. "I can't do this anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone hates me. My mom, Parker, Becca -" I then choke out, "Liam. And what for? We have no idea how to help him. We're in over our heads and losing everyone because of it."

"I hear you, but this is a good thing."

"In what way?"

"If everyone hates us, then we're convincing," Cage says. "They will be so distracted with our relationship that they won't even see what's really going on."

"This plan only works if it has anything to do with your father!"

We pull into the Senior's lot and park in Cage's spot next to Jason, who's still in his car, making out with Jasmine in the front seat. Both stop kissing to watch Cage open the car door for me and take my hand. I swear I saw their mouths fall open.

"Regardless if my dad's behind this or not," Cage whispers in my ear as we walk. "You are no longer attached to Liam, so at least we saved one life so far."

"I guess so," I whisper back.

We're not the only ones whispering. The entire school whispers, points, and congratulates us, the new hot couple at MHS. It makes me feel sick. It wasn't supposed to go this far, but here we are, in it now. There's no going back, not until we help Liam.