Page 651 of Hell Hath No Fury
“I –”
“It’s okay.” She doesn’t let me speak. “I know. I know what I did. To you. To A. I regret it every day. I can’t believe that I did that. Actually, I can. I can believe it. I always wanted to feel special and different and extraordinary. And when Mom died and we went to live with the Carlisles and they started to pay attention to me more than you, I just… I thought I was finally getting my due. And someone like Arrow was interested in me and I thought, why wouldn’t he be? I’m perfect for him. I thought we’d always stay together, and I guess I took that for granted. I tookhimfor granted, and I didn’t realize it until it was too late. And I’m alone now.”
Tears well up in my eyes.
I know she’s alone. I know that.
I know that Arrow has cut all ties with her, and Arrow’s mom—our guardian—who’s always been a champion of Sarah, has pulled back from her as well.
Over the past three years, I’ve tried to make contact with Sarah but she’s always been less than receptive.
But maybe this could be a new beginning for us.
Maybe we could be something to each other.
I reach out and grab her hand. “You’re not. You don’t have to be. We can talk. We can try to be friends. I’ve always wanted that.”
“You think so?” she asks hopefully.
I squeeze her hand. “Yes. And I’ll talk to Arrow too. I know he’s not angry about whatever… happened between you two but…”He’s mad at how you’ve treated me.“But he’ll understand. We’re sisters.”
“We are.”
“Yes.”
“You know, as afraid as I was to come see you, deep down I knew that you’d say that. You’re better than me, Salem.” I wave off her compliment, but she insists. “You are. And…”
She leaves her sentence hanging and I can’t help but ask, “And what?”
Sarah doesn’t reply right away. She adjusts herself in the chair first, sighs and swallows, appearing even more nervous and vulnerable than before.
I paste on what I think is a reassuring smile and say, “What is it, Sarah?”
“I… I need to ask you something,” she says.
“Anything.”
Finally, she stops her squirming and looks me in the eye. “I need a second chance, Salem.”
“Of course, you have it. You –”
“With him.”
“What?”
Up until now, it was me who was holding onto her hand, but now she wraps her fingers around mine and holds on really tight. As if afraid that I might disappear.
“I need a second chance with A,” she tells me, her eyes both pleading and determined somehow. “I… he was the only good thing in my life, Salem. He made me happy. He made me into a better person and I didn’t realize that until he left. At first, I was angry at him. I wasn’t ready to admit my mistake, my betrayal. God, I was so selfish, Salem. I was so mean and petty. And then he left and he got together with you and… I don’t know, I just… it felt like such a betrayal, your love. It wasn’t. I know that now. But I was so angry and I treated you horribly over it, only to realize that I was acting out because I was… I was lonely. I was blaming you for this emptiness and loneliness in my life and I wish I could take it all back. I really do. But the thing is, my loneliness isn’t going away, Salem. I still feel so isolatedand alone and I thought moving to a different city would help. I thought if I threw myself into work, I would forget about it all. But I can’t forget it. I can’t forget him. He was my first love. He was the first guy, theonlyguy, I’ve pictured my future with and without him I feel like I have no future anymore.
“I… I would never ask you this, Salem, if this wasn’t my last resort.” Her grip becomes even tighter as she leans forward. “I’m a bad sister but I’m not cruel. I’m not, and maybe this makes you think otherwise but I have no choice. I need this. I need him. I need another chance. I need to make this right with him. I need him back. Please, I’m begging you.”
“Begging me to do what?”
“Don’t go through with it. With the wedding.”
“What?”
Her grip is so strong now, her nails digging into my flesh.
