Page 101 of Ramsay

“You better not be! If you are…”

The silence is so tense between us that my throbbing head ratchets to new heights while I tremble under his anger.

“You’re being selfish. Your mother doesn’t need this shit. I’ve never so much as spanked you, Willow, but if I find out you’ve been using, I’ll beat you with my belt.”

The bitter taste of regret coats my throat, beating at my heart on broken wings. I refrain from commenting because the words will only create more havoc.

But they pound at my skull. What about me? What about my pain? My grief?

Do you even see me? Instead, I look away and nurse my hand because I couldn’t even take painkillers at the hospital. Yeah, acetaminophen isn’t cutting it.

Chapter Twenty-One

Willow

On Monday morning, I roll out of bed grimly. I can’t do much more than brush my hair with my aching wrist, so I leave it loose and don comfy clothes.

After parking in the lot, I leave the sling on the seat and pull my hoodie down over my wrists. I’ve no desire to show the world my injury, and it would only mean allowing others to use it to their advantage.

Matt greets me at the tree, and I eye his cut lip uneasily but unfortunately, his injury could mean any number of things. Still, I’m wary. Who attacked me? What's the connection to the last time?

Despite my fatigue, I’m powering through. I crawled into bed at two am, and I’m exhausted and punchy as I wander up to Bone before class, glancing around with a frown, “Where’s Dixie?”

My throat hurts but luckily, I have no marks to hide and for now, I look like a clumsy oaf, which is insulting but the lesser of two evils.

Although I hid the truth for my mom's sake, I’m not sure they would’ve believed me anyway, judging by my dad’s attitude. I’m painfully on my own, as it always seems to be.

“You look like shit,” Bone says with a grin.

“Ha fucking ha,” I mutter.

On top of everything else, I’m a little jittery from the drugs laced in our blunts because the high was so fierce, that it calls to my animal just as brutally. Story of my damn life.

“Hey Willow,” Matt says, smiling at me shyly, and I curve my lip. The intensity behind his eyes is new, and I can’t help but wonder if it wasn’t him in the woods. But why?

“Hey. Where’s Dixie?”

Bone shrugs. “Haven't seen her around. Probably took off to sober up.”

Texting her again, I close out my phone with a frown as Maeve approaches with a small grin. “Hey, Will.”

“Hey,” I smile halfheartedly. “Have you spoken to Dixie?”

“No, not since the party,” she says, pulling out her phone.

“Okay, thanks,” I say, turning away.

Normally, we text almost constantly throughout the day. It’s weird that I haven’t seen nor heard from her. I’m worried, but I’m not her fucking keeper. I’ll deal with her later when she gets her lazy ass to school.

Thoughts of which fade as soon as I step through the doors, and I’m reminded, yet again of the Sinners betrayal. Everywhere I turn, students laugh and point, snickering behind their hands as they back away to watch me pass. If that isn’t enough, Sabrina steps into my face with a sneer.

Stopping, I look her over with a sigh. When will she ever fucking learn?

“Mm, well, if it isn’t the dick sucking whore herself,” she says triumphantly.

“Get dead,” I mutter, yawning behind my hand.

“Oh, I don’t think so. You see Willow, or should I call you Cherry? I thought the last little reveal was the ultimate, but I was wrong,” she says with a wide grin.

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