Page 153 of As the Rain Falls
My stomach twists as I start to get more nervous. I need to find a way to de-escalate this fast before it spirals even further.
“Just a…” Beckett’s gaze drops to me. His voice sounds so full of pain. “Why is he doing this?”
Because he can.
I stare at Beckett, feeling helpless. “I…”
“Are you going to let him?” his voice wavers, betrayal creeping in. “Really, Cassandra?”
“I’m so—” I start to apologize, because really, I do feel bad for him. But I don’t even know what I’m apologizing for. I don’t know why Nathaniel decided to pull this move on him, on us. My brother likes to find ways to get under people’s skin. It’s what he does best.I turn to him, my voice almost cracking.“What is wrong with you?”
“Oh, I see how it is.” Nathaniel takes a step forward, then another. His expression twists in mockery. “You’re trying to turn my sister against me, aren’t you?”
“What the fuck are you even talking about?” Beckett refuses to back down, standing his ground.
They’re facing off now, words they won’t be able to take back looming between them.
“You’re the one messing with my sister, with my job. I should have your face on the ground for this, man. But I care about her.”He is talking about me. “I respect her too damn much to stoop down to your level.”
Nathaniel smirks, trying to bait him. “Oh, yeah? Is that how you really feel?”
Kayla reaches out for me, right as I try to grab Beckett’s arm, pulling me back.
“What is it, Evans? You want to beat me up?”
Beckett’s hands are now clenched into fists, his eyes darkening as he speaks, “I’m going to if you don’t start explaining yourself!”
“Go ahead, Evans. Hit me.” Nathaniel touches his own chin, tilting his head, acting nonchalantly. “You’ve been provoking me all night. I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
Beckett grits his teeth, trembling with fury. “Stay away from my sister, you fucking piece of shit!”
Nathaniel answers without missing a beat.
“I thought your sister was dead, man,” his voice is emotionless, uncaring, as he utters each word. “I’m as far from her as one can be.”
Everything happens at once.
Beckett lunges forward.
I step forward to stop him.
Kayla reaches out to me again, but I’m faster. And Nathaniel…
Nathaniel yanks me towards him, trying to use me as a shield.
A fist flies. It’s towards my brother.
A body hits the ground. It’s mine.
“Cassie!”
My friend’s scream rings in my ears, but all I can see is Beckett’s face right before I fall. My right side slams against the cement, pain ripping through me. Nathaniel is on top of me, but not for long. My neighbor grabs him by the collar, hauling him back up to get him away from me.
Kayla hooks her arms around my waist, trying to get me away from them.
“Are you okay?” She steadies me as I pull down my dress. When I try to step forward, pain shoots through my leg. “Oh my god, your foot!”
I blink through the tears, looking down. My heel is broken.
