Page 2 of The Fate of Us

I grab us two more beers. I don’t give a shit how much I drink tonight. I just want Anna to call me back.

A knock on the door causes us both to jump. But I know it’s not her.

We hear Jessica answer it before she starts yelling.

“Fuck,” Connor and I say in unison.

We both bolt for the door as Jessica pushes Becca hard against the chest causing her to stumble down the front stoop.

“I told you to leave her alone. I’ve been telling you for years. Yet, you had to talk to her constantly, feed her lies, drive her away from her family. You are a bitch and you need to get out of this damn town. Everyone knows what you did. You know how quick news travels here. And there isn’t one goddamned person who wants to see your face again.”

“It wasn’t like that. We—”

“Stop with your bullshit excuses!”

Connor grabs Jess before she can throw another punch at Becca. But she pulls away, her anger fierce.

I step between her and Becca, Jess’ body presses against my chest, peering around my shoulder. “You should have told her.”

“Why didn’t you?” Becca hisses.

The one statement causes a sadness to fall over Jess’ face as she takes a step back.

“That’s right. You didn’t want to be the bad sister, the bad friend. Let her know the secrets you’ve known for years. Isn’t that right?”

Jess stumbles back into Conner’s arms.

“He told me,” Becca sneers. “He told me everything. How you caught him years ago with another woman. How you tried to tell Anna but she wouldn’t believe you. How he made a move on you.”

Jess shakes her head. “That’s not true.”

“Which part, Jessica? It’s all secrets and lies. Things you should have told your own blood. But Kyle told me everything. How that one night Anna was too busy to go to that party because she was writing music. But you were there, and Kyle said he always thought you were the pretty one. He told me how he dragged you into that room. How his fingers slid up your thigh under that pink dress you had on. How he fucked you with his fingers before you passed out on the bed.”

A shiver runs down Jess’ arms. “I was drunk.”

“You wanted it.”

“I didn’t—I didn’t know it was him. I was so drunk. I could barely stand.”

“All lies. You can pretend you didn’t know it was Kyle. But you and I both know you knew the truth. You are just as guilty as I am.”

Tears pour down Jessica’s face. “I didn’t know. I didn’t know.” She falls to the ground and Connor wraps his arms around her before picking her up.

“I think you need to leave, Becca,” Connor says before he carries a bawling Jess into the house.

I turn to Becca, shocked over her words. “Leave,” I command.

Becca crosses her arms over her chest. “Anna deserves to know the truth. And now you will be one more person she loves that will keep it from her. Such a pity.”

“Get out!” I shout, trying my best to maintain my composure as I tower over her.

She takes a step back before turning around and walking to her car. Before she gets in she says, “I would have told her, you know. Eventually. When I was sure she could handle it.”

“Then why did you show up today?”

She shrugs. “I don’t really know.”

I watch her as she backs out of the driveway and drives down the street. My hands clenched in fists. I need an outlet for all this anger. To break away the pain I know Anna is feeling and the revelations that will hurt her more. I just need her. And I know she needs me too.

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