Burn

Thirteen

Skeletons

My hands are shaking so I hide them under the table as Aunt Lauren crowds close to me, overwhelming with her fruity perfume.

"How are you? Are they nice? Oh, you looks so—" She's babbling a million miles per hour and it's giving me a headache.

I put a hand up, ignoring my trembling and close my eyes.

"Rae's here," I whisper, remembering the feel of her wet curls touching my cheeks, her cold mouth. The shaking gets stronger and my teeth start to chatter. "She came in last night," I continue, my tongue feeling thick as I struggle to talk.

It's like there's a brick being forced down my throat, trying to dam the words that want to rise out of my mouth.

"She's going to end me."

Derek grabs my hand tightly and I realize his hand is shaking too; his green eyes are cloudy but the thin line that's his mouth tells me he's angry and a little afraid.

Panic lights a fire inside my chest. Tears fill my eyes.

"She did something to me…forced something down my throat last night. She walked right passed you on your way in."

"Why don't we call the poli—" Simon begins to suggest but the hysteric wall rises up and slams.

I think of how she slipped into my room, probably charming the pants off the receptionist, and snuck into my room, hiding the blood somewhere.

"That won't help." My voice cracks. "She's untraceable, plus she's with Royce. Was. Was with Royce. She learned from the best on how to avoid police."

Something hot and wet drips down my face. I watch the rain fall from my eyes and drip onto Derek's hand.

He's holding mine fiercely, his fingers swallowing mine, his sweaty palm pressed up against mine. He gets down on one knee and all the breath in my lungs stops, frozen with shards of ice.

"Chloe," he says softly, his deep voice making something primal curl inside me, "I swear to you she won't lay a hand on you."

A maniacal laugh bubbles out.

Aunt Lauren's staring at me in horror.

"She already has. How can you protect when you aren't here?" I say and my voice sounds far away to my ears. Wincing, I try to pull my hands out of his but he tightens his grip.

"I will," he growls and I smile sadly.

"I know," I whisper softly, closing my eyes and he rests his forehead against mine. "I know."

His hands are damp and hot as he holds mine; it comforts me to know that he doesn't care but it makes me angry to know that he'd be so reckless, thinking he can take her on.

He doesn't know Rae like I do.

The summer of middle school, Rae moved in next door. For the longest time, it had been just myself, Beth and Kari so having another girl our age move in had been the highlight of our summer. While Kari's stepmom and Beth's aunt talked with Rae's mom and dad, we introduced ourselves.

"I'm Kari." Kari stepped forward and smiled, waving her arms around while Beth rolled her eyes, standing taller than the energetic redhead.

"Beth," offered the black-haired girl.

"And this is Chloe!"

Kari reached behind her and dragged me forward.

I stared up at the new girl, hands on her hips.

Rae was a bombshell to be. She was tall and a few pounds heavier than Kari; her coppery hair was hanging around her face in curls and clashed against her caramel skin. She was wearing a bikini and big, blocky sunglasses covered half of her face. She pouted her lips at us and then broke out into a smile.

That hot summer, there was one more Coke to carry back when we swam, one more hand to deal cards, another person to invite to sleepovers.

Beth moved before school started, to Nevada, because her aunt got offered a new job.

Kari got shipped off to boarding school.

That just left me and Rae.

Without Kari and Beth, Rae was my only friend.

I put up with her frightening mood swings, snippy attitude, and mean comments because I didn't want o be alone and being with her was better than having no one.

Middle school came.

While she took to the popular crowd, the kids that everyone knew and crowded around magnetically, I chose the shadows, staying in the background and out of the light.

But Rae insisted that I hang out with her and because of that, I was in the spotlight, grabbing all sorts of attention and absolutely hating it.

Guys leered and the girls sneered and I wanted to disappear.

The guys at my high school never really made a move, except a few.

Royce Banks was one of them, speaking to me quietly at a theatre party as we sat on the steps.

The music was loud and I felt sick, a push-pull in my stomach from too much heat and the sickly smell of his too sweet Axe.

"I have to go," I told him hurriedly as I tried not to heave. I swayed and he caught me, gently. I felt dizzy as the heat of his hands seeped through my jeans, where he gripped my hips a little too tightly.

He was smiling, charming me without me even realizing it.

"I'll drive you," he offered, smiling wider. His teeth were very white.

I managed a weak smile and stood on my tip toes to look for Rae.

I couldn't see her.

"Have you seen Rae?" I asked, leaning closer to him to be heard over the music.

His hand touched my back as he leaned into me, his lips touching my ear. He was so near that it made me a bit nervous.

"No, I haven't all night. I'm sure if you left a voicemail on her phone that she'd understand," he said.

I wasn't so sure but I went with it anyway. As I weaved my way through the throng of people, people whispered behind their hands. I ignored it.

Looking back on it, going with Royce was the worst mistake I'd ever made.

He fucking ruined me.

"Stay with me, Derek," I beg as he turns to leave.

His green eyes look at me, a sad smile playing on his lips.

"I hope it's okay," he says shyly, smiling at me as he takes off his sneakers and lays down next to me.

I fall asleep to the sound of his breathing.