Page 81 of Diem

At school I drift through class, exhausted. Although it felt good to have Diem’s comfort, I still slept for shit. In the clear light of day, I’m also worried about Penny. I texted her this morning, but she hasn’t responded.

“Hey,” Matt says, bumping into my shoulder.

“Hey,” I say, hiding my yawn behind my hand.

“I’m sorry about last night I didn’t see your text. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

“Are you sure? First this whole Kenny stuff and now Penny? Mae, I’m—“

“Get lost,” Diem barks and Matt swings around.

“Fuck you,” Matt snarls.

“Whoa, Matt—“

Diem grabs Matt by the shirt and slams him against the wall. Matt scrambles in his hold but it’s like a mouse squaring off against a python.

“Stop,” I say, and Diem looks at me with eyes so black, I shiver. “Diem?”

He drops Matt and grabs my arm, pulling me down the hall and into the bathroom.

“Kenny? What the fuck, Mae? I told you to drop it!”

“What do you know about it?” I demand and he drops my arm, stepping back.

I see him gearing up to lie and I huff before pointing my finger. “Don’t bother.”

His brows slam over his eyes, and I go to walk around him, but he grabs my arm once again. “Maeve, you need to drop this.”

I stare at the door and contemplate lying, but maybe if I bare my soul, he’ll actually tell me what I need to hear.

“Penny is messaging some dude who was with Dixie.”

“Mae, I told you—“

Turning to him, I say softly, “He goes by the handle Charming Charlie.”

If possible, Diem’s face loses all color and he grabs my arms, shaking me like a rag doll. “What the fuck did you just say?”

My heart thumps and I search his expression. His wide eyes do not comfort me and with a kernel of fear, I say, “What? What are you not saying?”

Will he admit the connection to his dad?

His eyes shutter. He shakes his head and I twist away. Here it comes, another fucking lie.

“All I know is that it’s pretty fucking stupid to pursue some dick if you think he killed Dixie. Fuck, he’s a serial killer, Mae!”

“Whatever,” I snap, grabbing the door and swinging it open. “You’re a horrible fucking liar.”

“Oh?“ he sneers. “I convinced you that you were a good fuck, didn’t I?”

Sucking in a breath, I blink back tears and manage to say, “At least you came, you selfish prick.”

After that, I rush away, and I don’t stop until I’m in my car.

∞∞∞

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