er's

n a maid came and said Richard o

she says, pushing open a do

Like I'm som

e and my bre

my room. Thi

with a white comforter that looks like clouds, floor-to-ceiling windows overlookin

et in a daze and p

jeans and sweaters and shoes lined up like a boutique. I run my fingers over soft fa

hell?" I

all belo

," the maid says from the doorway, smiling.

at a closet full of clothes that cos

the bed. The mattress is so soft

things in the hallway, since I walked into my apartment to f

s bigger than

t whatever was on sale at the dollar stor

mperature exactly right, and I stand under the spray until my

owel that's softer than anything I've

mo

evening hiding in my room. I don't want to see Crew. Don't want

I venture ou

has approximately seventeen hallways...and the door is open. She's

you enjoyin

frame. "Mom, this house

"I told you Richard w

y quietly. "

lk before I heade

e useless brick Crew turned it into. I need it for schoo

itchen and ask abou

says, waving a hand. "He said he'

whose son destroyed i

rf

that's silent except for the sound of my own breathi

*

lackwood Prep uniform laid

ear the door open or close. But there it is the burgundy blaz

brand new phone

ng moment before getti

rror and barely recognize the girl staring back. I loo

ear voices. Raised voices, coming fr

Crew. This isn'

need he

two classes. If you get kicked off the hockey team, you lose everything. Yo

le

ontinues. "And you're going to be civ

upstairs and pretend I didn't h

mme

chard's voic

h

ome in her

eather, expensive and intimidating. Richard sits behind a massiv

pression twists into so

d asks, gesturing for me to sit.

rtable," Crew mutters.

ung man." Richard's voice sh

jaw c

Summer, I heard about what happened at school. The way

omach

tart for all of us," he continues

ntedly. "Remember wh

ays no

ool this morning," Richard says.

fast. "No, that's not necessa

there's no room for argument. "Bot

is briefcase, and leave

ce is suf

e," Crew says final

*

's a garage, and of course it has five cars in it-

to school

ally

hreaten me, to say something cruel. But he just drives, jaw tig

each for the door handle immediately. I need to

ai

my hand on

er. W

s staring straight ah

is voice is different. Strained. "You don

it

here's no humor in it. "My father threatened to cut me off from everyth

me. However you want to do it, whatever schedule works, I don't

t makes you think I'

re. A gold digger. That your mom trapped him into this marriage for his money. I'll make sure

curl in

, voice dropping to something cold and cruel. "You don

e the deal, protect my mom,

tead...

not have a