Page 44 of Wicked Sins

“Don’t try and point the finger.” My gaze darts up to my mom. She’s nursing a wine glass to her chest, her eyes narrowed. “You’ve barely been in that school a month. Why on earth would someone want to burn your stuff?”

And this is what it all comes down to.

To defend myself, I’ll have to tell them it was Sean.

Then they’d want to know why he’d want to destroy my stuff.

So I’d have to tell them about the party.

Detention, expulsion, perhaps being grounded for the rest of my life might actually be easier and less humiliating. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to be punished for this.

My voice is thick when I finally manage to speak. “Iknowwho did it. And I know why.”

This is met with silence. I look at my mom, and then at Wayne. Not a sympathetic face in sight.

“Well?” Mom snaps. “Tell us then.”

“It’s a boy that…he hates me.”

“Hate is a strong word,” Wayne says, and my mom starts speaking before he’s even done. “What did you do to him?”

I’m on my feet. “Why are you blaming me?” I yell.

“You say he hates you. You must have done something to upset him.”

Good God, I can’t stand how patronizing Mr. Bale is being right now. Talking to me like I’m a psycho. Like I’m losing my freaking mind. I pound my fists into the granite counter and snarl at both of them.

“He tried to—” I cut off, choking on the word. “He wanted to…sleep with me.” My cheeks are blood red, my chest so tight it feels like I can’t breathe. I look at the table rather than trying to look at either of them. I wave a hand. “This is what happens when you say no.”

“Why didn’t you tell the principal this?” Mr. Bale stands and comes around the table to me.

“They wouldn’t listen.” As soon as he lays an arm over my shoulder, the walls I’d built up inside collapse. I let out a sob, and turn into his chest. “I swear, Mr. Bale, I didn’t do it.”

“Shh.” A warm hand strokes my head.

“Do you have proof?” I turn my head a little, and blink away my tears so I can focus on my mom.

“What?”

She waves a hand, eyebrows cocking up. “Do you expect us just to take your word?”

“Enough of that,” my stepdad says, his voice low in warning. “Go fetch Josiah.”

A vicious hand squeezes my heart. I tilt my head up. “What for?”

“He’s been with you the whole morning, hasn’t he? He can clear this up.”

I push away from Mr. Bale. “You don’t believe me?”

“I believe in getting both sides of the story,” he says, shrugging a little.

I’m still gaping at him when Josiah steps into the kitchen. My mother’s behind him, eyes slit like she’s ready for a fight.

What the actual fuck is going on here?

Why will no one believe me?

“Son, Candy says she didn’t set the fire in her locker.”

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