All the Little Secrets

CHAPTER 32. WICKED GAME

Chapter 32. Wicked Game

The week before Prom brings a different energy to the upperclassmen at Malibu High School. Everyone seems to be in happier spirits now that SATs are over and finals are ending this week. Once Prom comes and goes, the last two weeks of school are here, then summer break.

I spend a lot of time during the week wondering if I'll get to spend summer break with my friends. Will I get to lounge at the beach with Seth and Farrah, or go horseback riding with Cage, or shopping with Becca for her dorm room? Will I be able to go karaoke-ing with Jasmine, or build forts and stay up all night eating garbage and watching horror movies with Parker? Will I live long enough to see Liam free from the nightmare he is living, to hold him and taste his kiss in my mouth once again? Will I see my mom marry William and vow to spend the rest of her life with the man that she loves? Will I be able to wake up one morning without the fear of leaving everyone I love behind?

Saturday morning comes. My mom wakes me early, more excited than a child on Christmas that it's 'Prom Day!'. I push aside all of my anxieties and fears to make sure she has this moment with me. I put on a smile as I walk barefoot into the kitchen. Becca's sitting at the kitchen island with Parker, both laughing about something that Parker said.

Parker becomes very quiet when Byron walks into the kitchen. Byron's been gone to a friend's the last few days. He shoots a look at Parker but says nothing, grabbing a Gatorade from the fridge, then leaves. I want to go after him, want to strangle him, and demand he apologizes for everything he has done, but Parker gives me a look, this time to stay out of it, so I do. He excuses himself from the kitchen, and I squeeze his hand as he leaves.

"The dress you got me is perfect," Becca says as she eats her grapefruit.

I cringe at the sight of it as I grab a donut from the donut tower that Millie designed.

"Do you ever get tired of eating that?"

"I have to look good in my dress tonight." I glare at Becca, and she laughs. "Screw it! I hate this crap." She reaches out and grabs a donut, and we laugh as we stuff our faces with glaze. "I forgot how good this is," she says, her mouth full as Cage comes into the kitchen.

"Is that Becca Winters eating sugar?" he asks, surprised, leaning across from us on the island. "I never thought I'd see the day..."

"Me either," she says as she licks the glaze off her bottom lip. Cage smirks at her as I look down at my plate, suddenly losing my appetite. Becca looks around the room, then lowers her voice as she whispers, "You guys haven't spoken to me since the hospital."

"You just got home yesterday," Cage points out.

"What're you keeping from me?" she asks.

"Absolutely nothing," I lie, not looking at Cage. "We have no idea how to save Liam. He's decided to cut us out of everything. It's up to him when he wants us to help. I don't know what more we can do."

Cage watches me closely, but I ignore him. I remind Becca about our day of pampering at my mom's salon for her, me, and Jasmine, and then I quickly leave them in the kitchen. Instead of heading up to my room, I walk into the sunroom and sit at the piano, like I've done many sleepless nights the past few weeks. I rest my face on my arms as I think of Liam.

What I would give to hear his music again... oh wait, my life. That's what I will give.

Cage sits down next to me and plunks at a few keys. His smile is not playful, but sad.

"I have no idea how to do this," he says as he continues to pluck a few more.

I rest my hand on his to stop him from playing. "Then don't."