The Darkest Note: Dark High School Bully Romance, page 19
Sol’s pajama top lifts at the corners and exposes his skin. I catch sight of weird jagged scratches tearing into his lower stomach.
My eyebrows tighten.
Sol glances down and quickly drops his shirt. “You should leave. I don’t want you to get caught. Dusty’s gonna ban you for life.”
“Come on.” Finn tugs me when I don’t move. “Someone’s coming.”
I hurry behind my brothers.
The footsteps get louder and we jump around the bend, holding our breaths while the sound of a door creaks open.
“I heard talking,” someone says.
Sol’s voice answers back. “I was talking to myself, Pete. It gets lonely in here at night.”
There’s a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach and I don’t know if it’s out of guilt for what I’ve already done or for what I’m about to do.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CADENCE
My phone’s been quiet since the dance last night.
I stumble out of bed, groggy and confused. Normally, Dutch is blowing up my cell with instructions.
Get coffee.
Buy strings for my guitar.
Print my homework.
He’s like a deranged eighteen-year-old boss from hell.
Today, nothing.
Instead of feeling overjoyed at getting a break, I feel uneasy.
What is wrong with me? Why do I care that my biggest tormentor is choosing to take a day off?
I take out the ironing board and set it up near my bed. Yesterday, I forgot to wash my uniform and had to do it when Hunter dropped me and Viola back home late after the dance. Now, the fabric’s still damp. I’m hoping that steaming it will help it dry faster.
“Knock, knock!” Viola sings from the door.
“Hey.” I smile when she dances into my bedroom. Her hair, as usual, is a mess. “Vi, I’ve told you a million times to braid your hair at night so it’s not a hassle to comb it later.”
“Who has time for that?” she squeaks. When she sees me with the iron, she runs straight to me. “Let me help.”
I eye her suspiciously. “What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
I frown. “If you’re trying to get out of school today, it’s not happening.”
“I’m not.” She scrunches her nose. “Although I think it’s totally ridiculous to host a dance on a Thursday. After partying all night, they really expect us to get up and go to school? Idiots!”
“I think that’s exactly what they want, yes.”
When I was at the dance yesterday, I noticed the way teachers were keeping the girls from flocking to Dutch, Zane and Finn.
Since the teenaged pregnancy rate is so high in our neighborhood and young girls are constantly dropping out of school, the board must be doing everything they can to keep the kids on the straight and narrow.
“So…” Viola looks up with a wickedly mischievous grin.
“So what?” I shoo her away to continue ironing.
She plops on my bed and props her hip up in a sexy pose. “How does it feel to have not one, but two boys chasing you?”
“What are you talking about?” I laugh.
“Hunter is so much cuter and nicer in person. Admit it. He was into you.”
I think back to our short conversation at the dance yesterday. Hunter’s brown eyes were warm as we both laughed over how I’d DM’d him the day he took a detox from social media.
“He was not,” I insist.
“Then why did he offer to drop us home?” Viola undoes her bun and runs her fingers through her dark hair.
“Because it’s on the way,” I tell her.
“I know for a fact that it is not on the way,” Viola argues. “And he barely spoke a word to either me or his brother. He was just staring at you the entire ride.” She nudges my hip with her foot. “And you liked it.”
“It’s called being polite.”
“You didn’t have to accept his ride,” my sister shoots back.
“Yes, I did.”
There was no way I could get back in a vehicle with Dutch after playing together.
“Well, if you don’t like Hunter… do you like Dutch?”
I almost burn my hand with the iron. It’s only my quick reflexes that cause me to jump out of the way when the hot plate teeters off the board.
Viola shrieks. “Cadey, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I brush my hair behind my ear and stoop to pick up the iron. Thankfully, it’s not broken.
“Breeze thought you two were dating.”
“I talked to Breeze and cleared that up.” Before we left the dance, I took my best friend aside and explained as much of the situation as I could. She swore she wouldn’t forgive me for not telling her I was ‘friends’ with The Kings, but eventually we hugged it out.
Breeze still has no clue about Dutch tormenting me. And she doesn’t know about me toying with him as my alter ego either. I’m not telling her all that until I have to.
“No, I don’t like Dutch.”
At least not the Dutch that got Mulliez kicked out.
Or insinuated that I was sleeping with a teacher.
Or ruined my locker, destroyed my keyboard, and treated me like absolute crap.
But the Dutch that stood up for me in the cafeteria and pushed me to face my fears is… well, a different story.
I’m not against that Dutch.
I’d actually like to see more of that Dutch around.
“Oooh. Are you thinking about him right now?” my sister teases.
“You’re distracting me.” I shoo Viola out of the room. “Go get ready for school.”
“Fine. But for what it’s worth, I’m Team Dutch.”
My eyes bug. “You don’t even know him.”
“I know he kept looking at you when he was playing yesterday. And you were looking at him too.”
My mouth opens and falls shut.
“I know he’s the one who helped you get over your stage fright.”
“That’s… it’s not what you think.”
“I like him,” Viola says again. “But what matters more is that you like him too.” She smiles at me and then starts singing, “Dutch and Cadey sitting in a tree…”
I grab a pillow and aim it at her head.
The door squeezes shut before it can get to her and my sister’s maniacal laughter rings through the house.
Still no message from Dutch.
I open my locker and reach for my textbooks. Glancing over my shoulder, I check both ways, wondering if Dutch has gotten to school yet.
“What are you looking for?”
“Ah!” I yelp and turn to face a smiling Serena. “You scared me.”
“Sorry.” She tosses her black hair. Today, her face makeup’s a little lighter than usual, but she smeared her thin lips in black. The motorcycle jacket’s back along with the school blouse and skirt.
“You look nice.” Serena bumps me with her hip.
“Uh, thanks.” Before I left this morning, Viola insisted on doing my make up.
‘You’ve got two guys trying to get with you. You’re popular now. You can’t be running around without eyeliner.’
I forced her to keep it light, but I do kind of look nice.
“I heard you shredded it with The Kings yesterday.”
“Let me guess. Someone texted Jinx for information?” I sigh.
“No.” She snorts. “It was all over social media. The Kings have their own hashtag you know.”
“Oh.”
“How does it feel to be the newest member of the band?”
“I’m not the newest member.”
“Aren’t you?” She drops an arm around my shoulder. “I thought you were Sol’s replacement.”
“Sol? Who’s Sol?”
“The only guy allowed to sit with the Cross brothers during lunch. He quit Redwood at the end of junior year though. No one knows why, although some say it’s because he got kicked out the Cross brothers’ good graces for not being rich enough.” She lifts a hand and says, “And before you ask, no. I haven’t asked Jinx. That was just a rumor too.”
“What’s up with that Jinx thing anyway,” I ask, thinking of all the texts she’s sent. She hasn’t let up at all.
“No one really knows. She buys and sells secrets. Sometimes, if she’s feeling nice, she gives out secrets for free.” Serena’s eyes sparkle. “But we all know one thing for sure. If Jinx gets in touch with you, it means your life is about to be insane.”
I frown at her explanation.
Just then, I see Dutch entering the hallway. As usual, Zane and Finn flank him on either side. Today, he’s wearing a hoodie up over his face.
Immediately, I sense that something’s wrong. His eyes are darker than usual—less amber suns and more of a solar eclipse. His steps aren’t measured. They’re heavier, more urgent. Like he’s a mercenary, marching to eliminate his next target.
I can’t put a melody to it.
The crowd makes way for them, but I remain in place.
Dutch catches sight of me and, for a second, it feels like I can’t breathe. Then he drags his gaze away and keeps walking right past me as if I don’t even exist.
Zane and Finn give me pitying glances, but they don’t talk to me either.
My heart cracks, but I force the hurt off my face. After last night, it felt like we’d come to some sort of understanding but, obviously, I was wrong.
“I guess you’re not Sol’s replacement after all,” Serena says woodenly.
A melody blasts from the speakers in the hallway.
It’s time to get to class.
“You okay?” Serena asks.
I nod absently. “Yeah, I’ll see you later.”
I wrap my fingers more tightly around my books and put one foot in front of the other. Dutch can pull a cold-shoulder all he wants. I mean nothing to him. And from now on, I’m going to make it clear that the feeling is mutual.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CADENCE
My goal to get over whatever weird thing was happening between me and Dutch is tested at lunch.
“You want me to come to your party?” I gawk, staring at the invitation.
“People actually give out paper invitations these days?” Serena asks.
We’re seated around our usual tree on the Redwood Prep lawn. The guy in front of me is a football jock with a nice smile, dark skin and bright hazel eyes.
“It’s a retro party.” He nods at the typewriter script on the page. “It should be fun.”
“Uh… I’m not really the party type,” I admit.
“Anyone who hangs with The Kings is the party type.” He winks. “Besides, I think you’re cool and I’d like to see you there.”
“Oh.”
With another camera-ready smile, he walks off.
I blink in confusion. “What just happened?”
“You got flirted with, for one. Second, you got your first official invite to a Babe Gordon party.” Serena actually sounds excited. Which is rare for her since she views everything with a pessimistic lens.
“Okay, but why?”
“Probably because Dutch dissed you this morning.” She points at the leftovers that I packed this morning. I stole some finger food from the dance so I could save money on my meal card.
“You gonna eat that?” she asks.
“No…” Before I can finish, Serena snatches my plate from me and inhales it.
I laugh. “Slow down.”
“Sorry.” She sets the dish down and licks her lips. “Why do you think Jinx has so much power? Our school runs on secrets and scandal. Ever since that tension-filled moment in the hallway, people have been whispering that you and Dutch broke up. You’re free game now.”
“We were never together,” I grumble.
“Doesn’t matter. In their minds, you were with the god of Redwood Prep. And since he was close enough with you to let you play in their band yesterday, people are assuming you’re the one who rejected him.”
“Do people have nothing better to do than gossip?”
“Rich people? No.” She shakes her head.
I slide the invitation toward her. “You want it?”
“Only if you come with me.” She pouts. “I have a pair of vintage pilot pants that I got at a thrift store and I haven’t found a place to wear it yet.”
I look over her dark eyeliner and black lips. “You’d really go to a party? Voluntarily.”
“You think I can’t?”
“No, I mean…” I frown. “I don’t mean to offend.”
“You didn’t.” She laughs. “I go for free food and drinks. Duh.”
I laugh.
Serena grins at me. “Have you ever been to a rich people party?”
“Not really.” Breeze was always hopping from one rager to another, but I doubt our neighborhood parties are anything like a Redwood Prep bash.
“I’ve been to a few. I always take plastic containers and empty water bottles. If I organize well, I can have bomb lunches for an entire week.”
“Serena…”
“Hm?” She licks her fingers.
I want to ask her why she never has food for lunch, but I decide not to go there. We’re friends who hang out, but we haven’t gone that deep yet.
“Nothing.”
She grabs my hand. “You’ll come with me, right?”
“Just to get some food and go?”
“Absolutely. Did you think I’d actually spend time there?” She sticks out her tongue as if it’s a disgusting thought. “I’ve been with these snobs for four years. They only get more obnoxious when they’re drunk.”
I think about it. I have the night off anyway and I was planning to spend it with Breeze. But I know my best friend would kill me if I didn’t take an opportunity like this.
“Okay.”
“Yay!”
“Just in and out, right?” I clarify.
“Just in and out.”
I regret it the moment Serena slows her beat-up motorcycle in front of a mansion. Lights are on in every window. Music’s blasting. People are spilling out of the front lawn holding red cups.
They’re all dressed beautifully in retro hairstyles and dresses. The guys are in oversized tuxedo jackets. The girls are wearing boa feathers and long gloves.
“I’m starting to regret not putting more into my costume.” I look down at the silver dress that Dutch bought me. I’m wearing it because I have literally nothing better in my closet. I paired it with a fake ostrich feather coat that I borrowed from Viola’s closet. I’m also wearing a headband across my forehead.
“Oh, no one will notice.” Serena waves me off. “We’re not here to stay anyway.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” I mumble. “You look incredible.”
She’s wearing a fluttery pirate shirt with her vintage pants. Her hair’s in a bob and long pearl necklaces fall to her chest.
“Thanks.” She fluffs her hair. “Now let’s go.”
She drags me into the house.
It’s surprisingly chill given the volume of the music. Most of the students are either dancing, standing around talking or drinking in the kitchen.
We walk deeper in. My eyes jump from the vaulted ceilings to the expensive paintings to the lit up pool through the glass balcony. The only thing more dazzling than the decor are the costumes. I have to give it to the rich kids, they know how to dress for a themed party.
“You ready?” Serena grins and holds up her giant purse. Inside are empty food containers.
I start to nod but freeze when I spot Christa and her dance minions in the kitchen. We haven’t crossed paths since she crowded me in the hallway. She’s been out of school ‘recovering’ from her split lip.
If she sees me tonight, I know she’ll make trouble. Her minions have been snarling at me every time we pass in the hallway.
I have a feeling they’ve been holding off on their retribution because of Dutch. Since he told off that jock in the cafeteria, people have been keeping their distance. But now that everyone thinks I dumped him, I’m free game.
“What’s wrong?” Serena asks.
“I think I’m going to wait outside,” I tell her.
“Outside? Why?” she yells to be heard over the music.
I jut my chin in the cheerleaders’ direction.
“Oh.” She bobs her head in understanding. “I’ll come find you.”
While I’m weaving through the dancers in the living room to get as far away from Christa as possible, I feel a hand on my arm.
It’s Babe.
“Hey, you look great,” he says in my ear.
“Thanks.” My first instinct is to brush his hands off me, but I stop myself. I’m squarely in the ‘try something new’ mindset tonight. It’s step two of my plan to burn whatever stupid bridge I thought I’d built with Dutch.
“You look good too,” I add, leaning in close.
He really does. His hair’s combed out into a big afro and he’s wearing shiny disco clothes.
“Thanks.” He does a little turn and shows of his sparkly jacket.
I smile because his grin is infectious. He really is cute.
“Wanna dance?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I don’t really…”
But he’s already leading me to the dance floor. “Come on. You know you wanna dance.”
What the hell. We only live once, right?
I follow him without protest, glad that he takes me into the middle of the crowd so it doesn’t feel like everyone is watching me.
The music has a funky beat and the singer croons about ‘good loving’. It’s not what I usually listen to, but I appreciate music in all its forms.
Bobbing my head, I let my body move to the beat.
“That’s it, girl.” Babe encourages me when I start to feel a little stupid.
He does a Micheal Jackson move, complete with a leg kick.
I laugh and we come together again. Babe places his hand on my hips and it doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
I sway my body from side to side and he dances right against me, matching me rhythm for rhythm. When the beat gets faster, I move my fingers, mimicking the notes as if a piano’s in front of me.
