Page 41 of Mayhem

“There is something about the dawning light that brings about a positive attitude.”

“It just pisses me off.”

I pull open the fridge, spotting a jug of the apple juice I drink at lunch.

I glance over my shoulder, raising an eyebrow at Nate. He smirks and gives me a shrug as he continues to eat the bowl of cereal in front of him.

I sigh. It’s too early for this shit.

I grab the juice and take it over to the counter. Grabbing a glass, I pour myself some before meeting Nate’s eye.

“How much of that did you hear last night?”

“As much as you wanted me to.”

“So none of it. Perfect.”

He chuckles. “One of these days you’re going to figure out that not everyone is out to get you, Willow. Some people actually care about you.”

“I’d prefer not to buy into the fairy tales.”

He gets up, putting his bowl in the sink before coming to wrap an arm around my shoulder. “It doesn’t have to be a fairy tale. What is it they say? You just have to believe.”

Then he does something that surprises me. He leans in, pressing a chaste kiss to my cheek.

“I’m going for a run. Catch you later.”

I nod, watching him as he goes.

What the fuck was that?

As soon as the front door closes, I lean against the counter.

I sip on my juice as I look around. Chase is nowhere to be seen, so he must be out too.

What to do today?

I glance at the clock. It’s seven in the morning. Too early to be awake, but I had a nightmare that woke me up. I tried to fall back to sleep, but all I could see were those guns pointed at me.

A shiver crawls up my spine.

I might live in a trailer park with a trashy mom, but that was the first time a gun had ever been pulled on me. Sure, I’ve seen them before. Drug deals are always going down in the park, but it’s never pointed in my direction.

Hell, when I was younger I even witnessed a drive-by. Still, this was scarier.

Those men would have shot without a second thought. They didn’t care who I was.

My mortality flashed before my eyes. Ironic considering Hailee and I had just been talking about death, but I never thought I would face it so soon.

Is this what she meant? I made the decision to go to the rave last night. Was I making my ladder shorter by doing so?

When I was younger, a school counselor used to come see me. She would tell me all about risky behavior. That’s what she called it.

Doing drugs? That’s risky behavior.

My mom’s business? That was even riskier.

Is that what I’m doing?

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