Page 3 of Dare To Take

I’m the same age as when my mother got pregnant with me. I don’t want to be like her. I don’t want history to repeat itself.

I have officially hit the rock bottom equivalent of sheer humiliation.

A soft knock sounds on the door. “Arabella, dear, why don’t you come down and have some lunch? Do you want to call Amanda and see if she wants to join us?”

My best friend.

I’ve barely seen her since I arrived. She’s too busy with her boyfriend and new friends to spend time with me. I tried to tell her what happened, but it became clear that she is no longer interested in my problems.

So much for best friends forever.

Mrs. Goldmann’s voice calling my name again drags me out of my dark and melancholy thoughts.

“I’m coming. I think Amanda was going to the mall with Darren.” It’s easier than telling her that I don’t think Amanda is interested in spending time with me.

I throw the blanket back, crawl out of bed, and tug on my hoodie. I find my sneakers, stuff my feet into them, then head for the door.

She’s waiting right outside with a kind smile on her wrinkled face, blue eyes sharp and curious. “It’s so nice to have you visiting, but shouldn’t you be getting back to that fancy school Elena sent you off to?”

“I explained before. I’m taking a break for a while,” I lie.

“Oh, that’s right. You did say that.”

She leads the way down the stairs, then through the house to the tidy kitchen. A glass of milk and a plate of chocolate chip cookies is waiting for me on the table. I can’t help but smile, my mood lightening at the memories of all the times Mrs. Goldmann watched over me when I was little.

I drop down into my seat, and take a sip of the milk, my thoughts heavy with fears and doubts. The envelope of cash I kept hidden for emergencies is running out.

I’m going to have to find a job. Somewhere to live. And if I’m pregnant … what then?

Mrs. Goldmann lowers herself into the chair beside me. “You know you can stay here as long as you like.”

I offer her a weak smile, wishing that was possible. “That’s kind of you, but I can’t stay forever.”

“Did you fight with your mom?”

The look of compassion and understanding in her expression wreaks havoc on my fragile control. “I—”

She pats my hand. “It’s okay if you have. I practically raised you while Elena was off gallivanting, and I hope you know you can confide in me. I’ve been waiting for you to say something since you got here.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her the truth, but the words die before they can spill out. What would she think of me if she knew what I had done. What I let happen. I bow my head under the weight of shame and guilt.

“Yeah, we argued,” I tell her, my eyes stinging with tears.

Mrs. Goldmann sighs. “That woman has always been reckless and selfish. Running off with whatever man flashed her a smile. Thank God you’re nothing like her. You have your head screwed on right.”

The tears break free to roll down my cheeks, and I scrub at them with my trembling hands. I’m more like my mother than I realized.

I let myself get caught up in excitement. In dark and dangerous pleasure. Now I’m paying for that mistake.

All my dreams and plans for the future are in tatters. All my bright hopes burnt to ash.

Eli Travers and Churchill Bradley Academy have taught me some cruel truths about life.

Fairy tales don’t exist.

Prince Charming is dead, and the world is ruled by villains instead.

Chapter 3

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