Cheat Sheets

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

It took hours of nagging before Braeden relented and let me choose the movie we were going to watch, and now we’re watching one of my favourite classics; The Outsiders. We’re just at the part where Pony boy gets into the cigarette competition and is about to singe his finger pad off when my dad comes striding into the living room with a grim facial expression.

“What’s up Jacob?” Braeden asks as my dad snatches up the television remote and flips the channel off of the movie and onto the news.

My dad grunts and jerks his head in the direction of the television where they’ve got live coverage of a huge vehicle billowing smoke and flames as there’s a huge bumper to bumper queue of cars behind the wreckage.

“Whoa” Braeden remarks, suddenly sitting forwards in his seat to look at the car that’s nothing more than one large fire ball by now “man that looks brutal. Was anybody hurt?”

Dad merely shakes his head. “No, the kid got out just in time; it could have been a lot worse. But he swears that he took his car to the garage day before yesterday and it was fine, and now suddenly…” He makes the hand motions of an explosion as he shakes his head. “But the car looks familiar, and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the driver before but I’m not sure where. He’s about your age, that’s why I thought I’d ask you.”

And just then as we’re all curious to know who the unlucky owner of the car is, a familiar face of frazzled looking motorist pops up onto the television screen.

Besides me, Braeden gulps. “That’s Josh. His car set alight?”

With a shrug, my dad nods in agreement and switches the TV back to the movie. “That’s where I recognized him. Thanks. He was damn lucky he got out the minute he saw smoke from under the bonnet; that could have been fatal.” And with that he gives us a parting nod, picks up the keys to his patrol vehicle and leaves us to our movie.

The sound of the movie tins in the background as Braeden stares at the floor in concentration. But then quickly everything goes quiet, and I flick my gaze up to find Braeden’s hand on the remote, the movie on pause and his eyes on mine. “Keira, that car was in our garage day before last. And it was in brilliant condition. Keira…” His eyebrow furrows. “What did you do?”

Giving a nervous gulp I start chewing on my lower lip. “I’m sorry.” I apologise in a croaky voice. “I didn’t know this would happen! I swear. I thought it would just mess with the engine a little, not that much!”

“What did you do?” He repeats, nostrils flaring as he stresses each word of his question.

“I-I” I stutter, fluttering my hands around hopelessly. “I put Diesel in his tank.” The sudden curse word that leaves him makes me jump and quickly continue on. “I only did it because he was making me feel bad about my weight, and because he started bad mouthing you. Nobody bad mouths you and gets away with it; especially in front of me.”

Braeden leans forwards, elbows on knees as he exhales hard and slow. “He could have been killed in that car, Keira.”

My heart jerks with guilt and remorse for my petty actions. “I know that now!” I practically spit at him. “I didn’t know what it would do to the car. Don’t you think I feel guilty enough knowing that I could have murdered him? If he’d died that would’ve been on my conscience!”

 “You’ve taken this too far, Keira!” Braeden shouts at me, his hands fisting in his hair as he stares at me in shock, complete and utter astonishment covering his face. “This isn’t you! This is destroying you. I never meant for it to get this far. This need for revenge is consuming you! This isn’t the Keira I fell in love with; you’re destroying yourself Kee!”

Shaking with anger, I shake my head in denial. “You did this to me Brae! You made me into this, this, this monster! You made me rebel. You made me fight. You’re the reason why I’m like this! If you hadn’t walked into my life I’d be fine; heartbroken, maybe, but normal none the less! So don’t you dare tell me I took it too far when you’re the one that broke me!”

“I think it’s fair to say you took it too far; you could have killed him!”

Getting to my feet, I give his chest a sharp shove. “Yeah, well, I didn’t. So stop making me feel bad about it. This is all on you Braeden, you made me go after revenge, and hey you taught me so well that I just couldn’t stop myself!”

He shakes his head and harrumphs, glaring down at me in hurt. “I’m not responsible for your actions, Keira; you’ve got your own freewill. Nothing I ever do hurts anyone. What you did was beyond illegal! And Mick could get into serious trouble if they track it back to our garage, god, I just really can’t believe you’d do that…”

“Braeden…” I sob, wiping tears from my cheeks with my wrists. “I’m sorry.”

With a frustrated grunt, Braeden pulls me to him and starts thumbing my tears away. “Don’t cry, please Keira, don’t cry. You’re just so, impulsive sometimes. And foolish. God what the hell were you thinking?”

“I- I wasn’t. I was just so mad at him I wanted to mess with him a little more I guess. I swear I didn’t think all that would happen.” I sob, gesticulating wildly at the television.

Braeden shudders and releases me gently. “It’s over now. Okay? We’re finished with this whole revenge bullshit, ya hear? No more pranks or messing around with Josh’s head, we’re just going to come right out and tell him that we know about the cheating and that it was me who was fucking him about, alright?”

 My head shakes automatically and disagreement and I scowl up at Braeden. “No, I’ll own up to it. This all happened because of me so don’t you dare try and take the rap for me!”

“Keira, I’m not going to let you just”

I growl and twine my fingers with Braeden’s to stop him from going off on a rant. “Tough. I did this. It was all on me, and if he wants to call the cops on me and get me thrown in jail then fine. It’s not your fault that I’m an idiot, and I’m doing this my way, so stay out of it.”

“But I encouraged all that crap, I broke into his car and into his house; I did all that deliberately and dragged you into it. All you did was fill up his petrol tank with diesel in spite; an honest mistake that you didn’t know what would happen, and considering the fact that no one was hurt you’re pretty much Scott free.” Braeden pulls my face up to his and murmurs his lips above mine. “Just let me deal with Josh, I’m used to it by now, please…”