Page 69 of Diem

I’m just starting to relax into the cushions as a ridiculously fake looking zombie attacks a woman on the television when Matt says, “Mae?”

“Hm?” I say, grabbing another handful of popcorn.

“Is what they’re saying true?”

I pause with my hand halfway to my mouth. “Um, what are they saying?”

I guess I can’t escape what happened no matter where I go and with a silent sigh, I drop the popcorn back into the bowl.

“Did he…attack you?” He squirms and I look away because despite knowing I did nothing wrong; I also knew what he did to Dixie and walked into that room anyway.

Will Diem get in trouble? I hope not. If you ask me, Jaxon got what was coming to him. Period.

“I…it’s complicated,” I sigh.

Matt shifts on his cushion and I glance at him sideways, noting his frown. I want to tell him but at the same time, I don’t know how he’ll respond and I’m tired of thinking about it anyway.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?”

Rubbing my hands down my pants, I mumble, “It’s, I don’t know, embarrassing.”

Grabbing my hand, he says, “It’s not your fault.”

My heart warms at his earnest expression and with a smile I say, “Thanks Matt.”

His mouth quivers at the corner and he hesitates before saying, “Would you maybe go with me to prom?”

I can’t ignore his pleading eyes even though every particle of my being is screaming to politely decline. “Um, sure,” I say and look away. What did I just do?

Shit.

“Cool,” Matt says, and I smile although I think I'm dying inside.

Why can’t I say no? What the hell is wrong with me?

∞∞∞

The following few days, I obsess over what happened with Diem and when I can stand it no more, I find myself back at that damn trailer waiting for Frank to emerge. But he never does. Where is he?

I can’t shake the notion that somehow if I see Frank, I can find the answers I seek regarding Diem. Where did the rage come from? Is it related to his parents? Sadly, I don’t know how it couldn’t be but maybe, just maybe there’s a silver lining to this mess.

It’s a foolish thought, but I’d like to hope Frank cares enough about his son to do something.

An hour in, I’m contemplating leaving only to jump out of my skin when someone raps on the window and whipping around, I find Diem standing outside my car with a dangerous smirk, miming for me to open up.

Wide eyed, I stare at him and consider driving away but his face darkens in warning, and I flip the locks with a sigh. He wastes no time, opening the door and sliding into the seat, his body heat immediately warming the interior.

Shivering under the change, I wait while he closes the door before turning to me with a cold expression. “Are you following me?” he demands.

“What? No,” I say before thinking twice, because if I’m not following him…

“Then what are you doing here?” he sneers.

Shit. Glancing away, I consider every conceivable lie possible, but none of them are particularly good before he grabs my chin and pulls my head back. “Maeve.”

Sighing, I mutter, “Fine, I’m following you.”

His brows crease and he eyes me strangely. Laughing like a hyena, I avert my gaze. “It’s…you know. I just wanted…I thought maybe this would explain things.”

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