Page 10 of Diem

Dad? Why would Dad be speaking about Dixie?

When I shift on the hard ass seat, Diem stiffens beside me, tension vibrating from his limbs, and I fold into myself fighting back a wave of sadness. Why did he sit next to me if he’s so damn uncomfortable?

Dad approaches the podium and sets down a sheath of papers, clearing his throat. The sound reverberates through the speaker as he looks up and gazes over the crowd once more.

“Dixiewas my student a year ago. She was lively, happy, and extremely intelligent. Where others shied away from the work, she loved every part of the experiments and went out of her way to help others who struggled. It’s a terrible tragedy and a horrible loss for she would have done great things. The person responsible will be caught and I know this will bring closure to her loved ones. Please keep them in your prayers on this dark day.”

Despite my confusion, tears fill my eyes because the ache of her loss is pressing at my lungs once again. She was so bright and vivacious. Now the world is a little darker without her in it.

“Shit,” Diem swears, and I startle glancing at him. His dark eyes meet mine with a grimness that makes me shiver and without thought, I break away from Matt to touch his arm.

“What is it?” I whisper and he dips his head, staring at my hand. Stung, I pause before pulling back, my stomach in my throat.

Why can’t I ignore him as easily as he seems to do with me?

“Thank you,” Dad says, and Diem turns away.

Broken from the weird moment, I stand as soon as we’re released. My heart feels heavy, and I push thoughts of my friend aside because here is not where I want to mourn her.

At the bottom of the bleachers, I look back, but Diem’s gone, and when I search for him in the crowd, I shake my head to find him at the bottom of the bleachers surrounded by his sycophants.

My heart burns when Hailey appears before him with a wide smile. His lips twist into a smirk but thankfully he doesn’t stop to speak to her. Hailey trails behind laughing at something Landon says while Maxie grins at Diesel.

I guess Dixie’s death will be mourned for the length of time it took my dad to read a weird eulogy. Go figure.

∞∞∞

The rest of the day, I’m consumed by thoughts of Dixie’s death and after school, I head home with a heavy heart.

I still can’t reconcile that she’s dead, at the hands of a serial killer, no less. Where is the man who stole such an amazing person? Does he care that he left heartache behind?

Once home, I close the door behind me and pause in the kitchen when the distinct sound of a headboard slamming against the wall brings me around.

Why god, why?

Slumping against the counter, I tap my forehead against the granite with a sigh.

Four months ago, I came home early with a stomachache and got a rather wretched surprise.

A man who was not my father emerged from my parent’s room, half dressed and sporting a hard-on. It ranks right up there on the things I never needed to see or know for that matter.

The first time I was speechless and escaped to my room where I hid until dinner time and sat across from my smiling father with burning cheeks.

Mom sat equally stiffly beside him and refused to meet my eyes. The second time, I screamed at her about Dad, and she grabbed my arm, her nails cutting into my skin and proceeded to inform me in great detail about Dad’s sexual escapades.

I don’t know what’s fact or fiction, but I can’t help wondering if this is why Ollie barely comes home anymore.

Unfortunately, the last time I caught them, I realized that she’s been fucking Hailey’s father, which makes me wonder if this is why Hailey hates me so much.

To make matters worse, he’s a skeevy fucker who looked me over like a side of meat, unashamed to be caught out by a teenage girl.

What happened to the family I once adored?

Since the last thing I need is another sighting of the asshole’s dick, I lock myself in my room and plug in my headphones before doodling in my notebook. With any luck, the bumps and squeals in the next room will die down soon.

Chapter Three

Maeve

---