Page 49 of Devil's Bargain

EIGHT

The blinds are drawn in the living room, and my mom is asleep on the couch. I walk over and pull the thin blanket over her. She doesn’t stir.

She arrived home drunk late last night after Rick left. I only know because of the male laughter that accompanied her. Once the moaning and grunting started up, I knew to stay in my room.

The living room is a mess again. Empty beer bottles lie discarded on the floor, and the ashtray is overturned on the coffee table. There’s no sign of the man, thank god.

I get my things and drive to school. I messaged Nina earlier to tell her that I would take my own car. It’s been too long since I had a moment to myself.

It’s a foggy morning. We’ve had a good summer this year, but recently it seems to have taken a turn.

When I finally pull up in the parking lot outside school, I spot my friends waiting for me. I reach for my bag and exit the car but stop short when I look up at the building and see Scott watching me from a classroom window on the second floor. Dread trickles down my spine.

I swallow thickly and hike my bag up higher onto my shoulder as I make my way over to my friends. I refuse to let him see that I’m intimidated.

“Girl, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Steph laughs, popping a piece of gum in her mouth. She offers the packet to Dallas by her side, who shakes her head.

I glance at the window again, but he’s gone. “I’m fine. Just tired. My mom had some guy over last night.”

Dallas pretends to bork, and Nina turns green. “That’s disgusting. I’ve heard your mother fuck. She’s vocal.”

“Vocal?” I laugh. “She sounds like she’s auditioning for a part in a porno. It’s disturbing!”

Matt winks as he puts his arm around my shoulder. “We all know someone else like that too.”

I hit him on the chest. “Dick!”

Josh scratches the back of his head as we start walking. “He’s right, though. You could be in a separate part of town, and I would still hear you.” He mimics a girl moaning, which has us all in stitches.

“I don’t sound like that!”

Ben laughs this time. “You do. You really fucking do!”

We ascend the steps. Students crowd around us on their way into the building. “Who did she fuck this time? That clerk in the supermarket again?”

I shrug. “I never left my room, so I don’t know.”

“Probably some drunk from the bar?”

I step through the door as Matt holds it open for me. “Plenty of sleaze bags to pick from there.”

The corridors are cramped with students gossiping by their lockers. We find ours. While I collect the books I need for history, Nina leans her shoulder on the locker next to mine. “What’s that?”

“What’s what?” I ask, closing my locker.

“The bruise on your cheek.”

I pale and duck my head as I zip up my bag. “It’s nothing.”

“Stop bullshitting me!”

Nina’s eyes blaze as she leans in close. “Don’t lie to me! Who hit you?”

I look around for listening ears. “No one.”

“This is the part where you tell me that you walked into a door.”

“Leave it alone, Nina!” I walk off, but she hurries after me.

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