Page 13 of Vulnerate

I’m going to throw up. I can’t move from the tree though, the rough bark digs into my palms as they remain flat against its surface and footsteps move closer.

A twig snaps behind me as Zoe’s grating voice comes out. “You know I don’t pollute my body.”

Curiosity gets the better of me and I turn my head to see Val grab her jaw and bring the glowing red cherry towards her face. Her little minions move away from her as he barks, “Did I say you could move?!”

They freeze, as do I, and he continues inching the joint closer to her face as she bends backwards trying to escape him. He’s a dick, but this is worse and it’s my name on his lips.

“Are you going to go near Dani again?”

Her voice is muffled from how hard he’s holding her jaw and she shows how forgettable I am.

“I don’t know him. I wouldn’t cheat on you.”

Fuck this, I’m not standing here and listening to their weird foreplay. I make it one step when my shoulders hunch forward at the deathly voice behind me.

“Daniela.”

He never calls me by my full name, no one does, and I slowly turn expecting all that rage to be directed at me. But Val is still stood over Zoe and issuing threats.

“From now on you don’t look at her, if she walks into a room you walk the fuck out, even if it’s your own fucking house.”

She falls as he lets go of her face and walks over to their clothes piled together on a stump. The items are kicked together, and he takes a flask out of his pocket, drenching them before flicking his joint off his thumb directly onto their clothes.

Their shouting stops me being heard as I run through the trees and find Vitali. He’s stood closer to the fire, and I grab his arm as someone steals his attention. His smile dips filling me with regret, and he turns up his protectiveness as he pulls me closer.

“Did one of them fucks recognize you?” he asks while scanning me.

I’m about to tell him his brother is a psychopath when everyone around us starts laughing. Tali does it too and I turn my head to look around the flames. Val walks out from the trees, pulling his zipper up with a shit eating grin on his face, and he speaks loud enough for everyone to pick up the insinuation as he stops beside his friends.

“Thirsty bitches will drink anything.”

He wouldn’t piss on someone, that’s going too far even for someone like him. Tali keeps me against his chest and turns us to walk out. At least it hasn’t ended in a fight for once.

FIVE

Daniela

Istand in the bathroom staring at my features to see if my lie is believable as I wait for Val to pick me up

“It was nice, my parents had to leave early in the morning, so we just stayed home.”

My smile looks as fake as the story I’m perfecting. Four years they’ve forgotten, it’s petty and immature considering the literal life and death situation, but my parents haven’t remembered my birthday in four years. Carly only remembered because Tali asked her to get me out of school, but she didn’t remember the actual day. I didn’t have time to wallow with him taking my mind off it last night, now I do.

I’m the youngest member of my family, the person who always sends messages and gets them gifts, but they can’t remember I exist. I wasn’t even a thought when they were born but the dates are forever imprinted intomymemory. Considering all three members of my family were alive when I was born they should remember.

Val’s message comes through, and I blow out a breath to steady myself. He’s cruel with everyone other than me, the person he was lastnight doesn’t match the same one who’s waiting for me. I do a final check before leaving and push the memory of the asshole version of Valentin away. My usual wardrobe has changed with me not touching any paint today and it’s like my armor has been stripped away. I can’t hide behind creativity and I have to be me.

There’s no one home and I don’t bother telling Carly where I’m going, she won’t check on me especially since Val beat the shit out of her boyfriend and she decided to take her bad mood out on me. She always has to hang around losers, people who only want to use her and she can use back. If she isn’t the center of everyone’s universe she’ll discard them and find another galaxy to take over.

Val does a double take as I get into the car, and I pause with the seatbelt in my hand as I look down to make sure I haven’t missed something, then point over my shoulder, dumbly offering, “Should I change? Just the ticket said there’s a dress code.”

It said smart dress only. He clearly read the ticket because he’s in a shirt instead of his usual jeans and t-shirt. The outfit I’d planned for my birthday meal has a use and it’s not even anything special. A normal cream skirt with a knit but now I’m questioning everything.If he tries to set them on fire I’ll scream. Part of me doesn’t think he’s capable of it, a very stupid and naïve part, but it exists, and he gives it more life as he smiles.

There’s mischief in it as his hand comes up to cup my cheek, he strokes across my bottom lip and inspects his thumb. Whatever he sees there has his smile widening and he relaxes.

“You don’t need to change.”

Dropping his hand to my knee, he makes circles on my skin as he drives towards our favorite pizza place. It’s our secret hiding spot when we don’t want Tali to steal our food.

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