The Truth Is.

Chapter 16

SADIE

Alex hadn't spoken a word to me. The doctors only allowed family to be there, and he wouldn't really want to see me anyway. The guilt chewed at me.

Talk never stopped. Everywhere I turned, I heard a new rumor, a new reason. Each dragging Paige and the Scant boy who attacked him through the mud. None of them mentioned the rape, Father still had the accusation under wraps.

By the end of school it was the only thing on my mind. I accused my best friend of raping a girl I barely knew. And now he was in the hospital

The gravel from the lot lodged underneath my sandals, and I kicked it forward. it would skid across the lot, and I'd catch up to it. The gravel eventually hit a tire. The tire belonged to Alex, and currently sat collecting articles of pollen and dust.

I stared long and hard at the shiny metal. The empty numb feeling in my chest started to build up until I had to crack

I kicked the lonely piece of gravel as far as I could, and let it scuff the side of his car.

"So little miss perfect can get angry."

Paige stood, her hair blowing slightly and boots scuffing at the ground. She rubbed her shoulders, unused to the chill on her arms. She wouldn't look at me, but rather my foot that still hung in the air. I stepped back down.

"Why're you talking to me?" The demand came out harsh, and she flinched.

"I was hoping you'd believe me."

She was insane, absolutely bonkers. "Why'd you do it? Why're you lying to everyone."

Her jaw hardened and she glared at me. "I ain't a liar."

"Yes you are. Alex would never do something like that."

"Says you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She rolled her eyes, and scoffed. "Whatever, just. . . Just forget about it." She turned, ad started off towards the cheaper side of the lot.

Good, she was hurting my best friend. She deserved it. But then why was her walk so small, and so unsure? Why weren't her eyes shining? Why would she come to me of all people?

The curiosity tore at me, and I gave in. After all Alex hates me either way.

"Why'd you do it?!" I called out.

She stopped, unwilling to turn around. The stainless red shirt she wore poked at me, and I realized, she wasn't wearing her jacket.

"Do what?" She tried to fight the tremble in her voice, but I heard it. I felt the shake down in the core of my bones. It was the sound of hollow, empty hearts.

"Why did you come to me?" I expected her to explode again, or maybe cuss me out. Instead she turned back around, fighting the glimmer gathering in her lashes. She threw her hands up, and let them drop back down to her sides.

"You ain't gonna believe me no matter what I say."

She had a fair point there. Even if she looked broken, and sad, I couldn't believe Alex would do something like that. Yes, he cheated, he lied, and he stole, but Alex wasn't a rapist.

"You have to take this back. It's ruining his life."

"So what? He already screwed mine."

"He didn't."

Neither one of us wanted to move. I admired Paige, she was strong, and brave. Meanwhile I was pathetic, I could barely walk without breaking down. If she was raped, how did she continue?

"Let's find out." He shoes crunched in the gravel as she stepped closer. "Meet with the rest of us, we'll make a plan, and find out. If he's lying, you testify for me in court. If I'm lying, I'll drop the charges." She stuck out her hand.

I gulped, and twisted the skirt of my yellow sundress. Scants, The same dark and deadly kids responsible for everything cruel in Trillium. They tore down libraries, they murdered star students, they swallowed every inch of life we had.

The nerve in her never swayed, but the strength wasn't there. Her hand was nearly limp, hanging in the air. 

Dead, we were both lost little souls surrounded by people who breathe.

My phone rung from my backpack. The vibrations brought me back to reality, and back to the face staring at me with nothing. Absolutely nothing in her eyes.

"So will you?"

I ignored Melanie's phone call. "Yes."