Page 13 of Snitches and Serpents

ELLE

The sound of the doorbell echoes from downstairs. I glance towards the open door of my bedroom, but I know that there are several people down in the kitchen and living room, so I don’t need to rush down the stairs to open the front door. And besides, whoever is ringing the doorbell won’t be here for me anyway.

So instead, I simply reach for my purse. Since I’m only wearing a chic black dress and a pair of thin black pantyhose, I don’t have any pockets to put my phone and keys into, so I slip them into my small purse and then sling it over my shoulder. Then I check to make sure that the buttons on the white lace collar of the dress are properly fastened and that no stray strands of hair are sticking out of my braid.

Satisfied, I take one step towards the door.

“Elle!” Brandi calls from downstairs.

My heart jerks and ice spreads through my veins.

I can tell by the tone of her voice that she’s annoyed.

A pulse of panic ripples through me. Is she annoyed with me? Why is she annoyed with me? Have I done something wrong? Oh God, I’m already off to a terrible start with forgetting to buy groceries and then arriving home late, without any groceries, because Tristan kidnapped me and threw my car keys into the forest. I can’t afford to make any more mistakes right now.

After putting on a pair of black flats, I hurry down the stairs and towards the sound of Brandi’s voice.

Stunned disbelief hits me like a blow to the chest when I find her standing in the front door, facing Tristan.

Brandi turns towards me when she hears me coming. She has her arms crossed over her chest, and her mouth is pressed into a thin line. Her entire posture radiates irritation and disappointment.

Nausea rolls through my stomach. I open my mouth to explain myself and to apologize, but Tristan beats me to it.

Standing there right on the other side of the threshold, he leans slightly to the side so that he can meet my gaze from behind Brandi, and flashes me a grin. “Hey, sweetheart.”

My heart stops.

My brain malfunctions.

Every single cohesive thought evaporates from my head.

For a few seconds, all I can do is stare at him, my mouth open. Sweetheart? Did he just call me sweetheart?

“Ready to go?” he asks casually. As if this bizarre conversation is somehow supposed to make sense.

“Elle,” Brandi says. Her voice is practically dripping with disappointment. “You do remember that I told you that no boys are allowed in or outside the house, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course,” I assure her.

Shock still clangs inside my skull, so I give my head a quick shake to clear it. Then I tear my stunned gaze from Tristan and meet Brandi’s annoyed stare.

“I don’t know what he’s doing here,” I explain, a pleading note creeping into my voice. “I didn’t ask him to come.” My gaze flicks to Tristan. “And why are you calling me sweetheart?”

“What do you mean?” he asks while frowning so convincingly that even I almost believe him. “You asked me to come by and walk you to school.”

Brandi’s expression sours even more.

“What?” I blurt out. Panic spikes through my spine as I glance desperately between Tristan and Brandi. “No, I didn’t. I?—”

“Perhaps you should just get going,” Brandi interrupts.

“But I?—”

“Some of the other girls are still getting dressed. And having a boy standing here in our doorway is making them uncomfortable.”

She takes a step to the side and makes a sharp gesture with her hand, motioning for me to go outside. Embarrassment sears my cheeks. I swallow and then awkwardly walk past her and out onto the porch.

“We’ll see you at lunch,” Brandi says, her tone clipped.

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