The Secrets We Keep

Chapter 43

Three weeks later

Becca tried out for the talent show and didn't get a role as a presenter. It went to Avery and a cheerleader. I wasn't surprised, but Becca was extremely salty about it. On the plus side, she gave up being upset that I didn't try out.

It's Thanksgiving break starting tomorrow, meaning I'd be at home or work 24/7. Becca and her family are traveling out of town to visit relatives, so I won't have to come up with excuses as to why we can't hang out.

Ryder has been keeping his distance. We will make the occasional eye contact, but I always break it before he has the chance to say or do anything.

Darren has actually been nice to me. I mean he still yells at me, but he hasn't touched me. Which is really weird! He hasn't mentioned anything about that strange man since that day and I'm starting to think it was just another weird Darren thing. Ash is still not talking to me, which is the longest we've ever gone without some form of communication. We usually spend Thanksgiving together, but this year I don't think we will. Not that Darren would let me anyways.

Becca gave me a huge hug after school today as she said goodbye. She was being a little dramatic if you ask me. It's only a week off, not forever.

It was my day off from work, so I went home straight after school. I was excited to not have to do homework for a while, but I'd rather go to school than stay home with Darren, mom, and Avery.

When I pulled up to the house, I saw an unfamiliar car in the driveway. It's probably just one of Avery's friends. Great. Another person to torment me. I walked in with every intention of heading straight to my room but was stopped in my tracks by running into someone.

"Sorry," I yelped stepping back to look into the eyes of the man who took my pictures.

He didn't acknowledge me in the least except for giving me a disgusted look. I moved out of the way for him to exit the house and shut the door behind me. Darren was standing in the entryway with a smile on his face. Okay, this is officially really weird? What is with him?

I stepped past him and went into my room closing the door behind me. I throw my backpack onto the floor and began to strip out of my clothes. I stepped into a pair of sweats and pulled an old t-shirt over my head.

I sighed with relief as I tossed my bra across the room and climbed onto my bed. He didn't take my phone, as usual, so I unlocked it and scrolled through Pinterest and Tumblr until my mom opened my door and told me to make dinner.

I groaned before making my way to the kitchen. I opened the fridge to find something to make. There wasn't really any groceries besides beer, eggs, and milk. I opened the freezer to find one of those pre-made pasta and chicken bags from Barilla. I prepared it quickly and as usual, took my food to my room.

I came out to clean up the kitchen half an hour later and Avery was sat on the sofa watching some tv show. I noticed the light on outside and found my mom and Darren talking in the backyard. I could see cigarette smoke in the air and I was grateful that the door was shut. I brushed my teeth and washed my face in the bathroom and climbed into bed to eventually fall asleep while scrolling through social media.

I was startled by someone covering my mouth silencing my scream.

"Shut up," Darren said. "Put on your shoes and meet me in the living room."

He releases my mouth and walked out of my room into the living room. I grabbed my phone from my bedside table reading the time. 10:47 pm.

My mom was leaned against the back of the sofa with a sour expression and her arms hugging her chest.

"What's going on?"

"Shh," Darren hushed, "you'll wake up your sister."

I looked at my mom for answers but she avoided making eye contact with me. Darren slipped his wallet into his back pocket and pulled the keys off of the hook by the door.

"Bye baby," he kissed my mother on her forehead, "I'll be back soon."

Darren gripped my arm and dragged me out of the house.

"Darren," my heart is pounding in my chest, "where are you taking me?"

He opens the passenger door of his car and pushes my head down inside the car. He slams the door and rushes to climb into the driver seat.

I'm scared out of my mind and my teeth are chattering from the cold. Hot air blows out of the vents when the car starts and he reverses out of our driveway. I try to pay attention to where he's taking me to decipher what the hell is going on.

"Darren," I say timidly, "please, where are you taking me?"

"Shut your f*cking mouth. You better learn to behave."