Bitter Heart √

Seventeen

Still, I blew out a sigh and looked over at Jesse and Adrian. "It was nice meeting you all." I smiled at them, taking a small step back.

Adrian grinned. "Likewise."

"See you later, new girl," Jesse said.

"If your life's been spared." Shane, who had finally gotten over his broken phone and had sprawled himself on the couch beside Seth, added.

Jesse nodded solemnly. "If your life's been spared."

I gave them all a funny look before taking another step towards the front doors. All of these people were odd. Oddly amusing. I think I already liked them. "What do you mean?"

Adrian came beside me and opened the door. "I'll show you the way out."

All I did was frown before following him outside, the familiar spooky trees coming into view. I wanted to ask him why they'd dodge my question, but I didn't get the chance.

"It'd be better if you don't tell anyone about this," Adrian spoke up once I stepped beside him, both of us walking outside along the yard. "About the house or the gang, I mean."

I raised my brows. "Or else I'll die?" I wish saying that had been hilarious. But it wasn't. Whatever this was, this whole gang thing, it wasn't a joke. That guy who'd broken into my house earlier had made it pretty clear to me. This wasn't an act. This was real. People got hurt.

"There might be a few consequences." And even though he passed me a smile, I knew he was talking serious at that moment.

I told myself to ponder over those words later, looking up at the bright full moon. Adrian stopped a few feet away from Caden's familiar motorcycle and turned towards me.

"Are you--Is this like the mafia? You know, where they kill people?" I blurted out the question before he could've left.

He raised his brows and I realized how much his eyes matched the night sky.

"No." He replied, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "That was his dad." My eyes widened when Adrian jerked his chin towards Caden's silhouette.

"Caden's dad is in the mafia?"

"No. Well, not really." His brows furrowed. "We aren't allowed to talk about that. But, for you to know, this is just a small alliance. We have sources, yes. And we do come across people who need to be silenced sometimes."

I kept staring at him. What about the police? Did they never get in trouble with the police? Was that because of Caden's dad? Who was he even?

Didn't gangs have like, old cranky men?

"That's why you should keep it a secret. The fewer people who know about this, the better it'll be." He gave me another kind smile before glancing over at Caden. "You can ask the rest from him."

I had a feeling that was his way of escaping my endless questions. Because he and I both knew Caden won't be telling me shit.

"All right, I guess," I added in a polite smile, even though my heart was beating a little wildly. "Thanks for walking me out."

Next time, you'd be dead.

"See you later, Skylar." He winked at me with a charming grin. It wasn't until he'd left that I realized he'd addressed me by my name.

My name that he wasn't supposed to know.

•••••

When Caden stopped his motorcycle in a familiar street, I was a bit relieved to see my house at last, glad that we were out of those creepy woods. I stepped down from behind him and took in a deep breath, noticing the noises still coming from my house. That probably meant the guests hadn't left yet and maybe Mom wouldn't be so angry with me then.

"You won't be getting killed, Anderson," Caden said, passing me a disapproving look as I handed him the helmet. I didn't exactly know whether he was talking about my mom, or what Adrian had said back there.

I really wasn't looking forward to dying so early either way.

"I hope so," I whispered before walking off towards my front door. Turning around once again, I noticed that Caden was still at the same spot, eyeing me. I gave him a small wave, opened the door and went inside.

Just as I had expected, the lounge was still crowded with people. All I had to do now was creep up to my room without getting noticed. That was the only thing I was looking forward to, honestly.

But before I could've taken another step towards the stairs, Mom came right in front of me. And she did not look happy.

"One hour, Skylar! We agreed on one hour!" She asked me angrily, trying to keep her voice low at the same time.

I let out a small, nervous laugh in response and that was the worst thing I could've done.

"If it weren't for Alex's, I wouldn't have let you go." She added.

That meant Alex hadn't told her. I owed him my life.

"I won't do it again, Mom. I'm really sorry." I apologized sincerely--as much sincerely as I could've at that moment.

She just shook her head at me, clearly not buying it. But to my surprise, she didn't press onto it either. "We'll talk about this later. Right now, I want you to...yes, meet somebody."

I opened my mouth to say something, but she took my arm the next instant, dragging me towards one of her guests. That wasn't odd. Mom did that a lot. And I truly hated it when she did that--forced me to awkwardly meet total strangers.

Wasn't she aware that I had no social life?

She stopped in front of a man and a woman standing along the couch, seemingly indulged in some talk until they saw Mom and me making our way towards them. Like I had expected, they were nowhere near familiar to me.

"This is Mr and Mrs Matthews." Mom introduced them with a polite smile towards the man and the woman. "And their son, Blake."

I froze at my spot then, because I really couldn't believe what I was seeing right now. Standing in front of me was a blond boy. The blond guy who had almost killed Caden on our school grounds.

How could he be here?

My eyes widened in response as I looked at him. And a chill ran down my spine when he stared back at me with those icy blue eyes, a small smirk curling on his lips.

Things had just gotten messier.

________

Make sure to click the ★ below ↓ if you liked this chapter.

Xoxo,
Crystal 🌿