The Bullies Who Loved Me Read online

  She nods slowly. “I should get a job, too.”

  “Phoebe…”

  “It’s not fair for you to give up something you love because our asshole dad can’t stay away from alcohol.”

  I rest my hand on her arm. “You’re a kid and you shouldn’t have to worry about that kind of stuff. Be…normal.”

  She gives me a look. “As if that’s possible. You think I’m not messed up because of what happened?” She shrugs my hand off. “It’s bad enough we lost Mom and Blake. Now we have to deal with Dad? I wish…I just wish he’d…” She shakes her head.

  “Die?” I finish for her.

  She tugs at her backpack straps. “I just wish Mom were here instead of him.” She turns her back to me. “Guess I’m off to the mall. When are you done with work?”

  “Late.”

  She lets out a heavy breath. “So I’ll be stuck with him alone.” She faces me. “Bet he expects me to make dinner again, huh?” She laughs sarcastically. “Maybe he’ll yell at me for burning the food like last time.”

  My hand is back on her arm. “Phoebe. What do you want me to say? To do?” Placing my hands on her shoulders, I look into her eyes. “If we call someone, they’ll put us in foster care. Split us up. And we know the foster system sucks. I won’t be able to protect you.”

  She looks away as tears enter her eyes. “I know.”

  My hands gently squeeze her shoulders. “Hang out at the mall. Maybe stop off at Arielle’s house once she’s done with her appointment. I’ll pick you up after I’m done with work.”

  “Okay. Eric? How long do you think we can keep this a secret? I mean, I’m over at Arielle’s all the time, and she and her parents might get suspicious.”

  I sigh. “I know. Stay strong and positive, okay? It’s only two years until I turn eighteen and we can leave that hellhole.”

  She forces a smile. “Okay. I’m still really sorry you quit swimming.”

  “That’s okay. It’s more important for me to take care of us.”

  She gives me a small wave and walks off in the direction of the mall. I make my way to the city bus stop and plop down on a bench at the waiting area.

  I can’t help mulling over my sister’s words. Of course I miss swimming. It used to mean the world to me and Blake. I’d look up to him, wish to be just like him. And when he got a scholarship to swim for one of the top colleges in America, Dukan University, I was proud.

  The bus pulls up and I climb on with all the other people. It’s packed, since it’s the only line we have in our town. I press my forehead to the pole and shut my eyes. I can’t have any regrets. Giving up swimming and getting a job will take care of my sister. She won’t have to starve. Dad’s nearly blown through all the money we had saved. I need to take care of her. We’ve been through so much the past three months and I want to make her life as good as possible.

  The ride takes an hour. I purposely chose the mall on the other side of town because I don’t want anyone to see me. No one can find out that the top King of Leighton High works in some department store. No one can know about my home life.

  ***

  Phoebe’s close to my side as we enter our house. My sneaker knocks into a beer bottle, sending it rolling to the opposite side of the living room. Looks like Dad’s at it again, not that it surprises me.

  Loud sounds come from the TV. He’s watching some sport, maybe wrestling. Even when he’s drunk he knows to stay away from water-related sports.

  As soon as the door closes behind us, his head whips in our direction. His eyes are bloodshot, and his fingers are latched around a beer bottle.

  “Where you two been?” he demands, those red eyes narrowing like he wants to grab us by the throat and squeeze.

  “Go to your room.” I gently shove my sister toward the stairs. She gallops up the first two, then presses herself to the wall, eyes on me. I wish she’d just leave me alone to deal with him.

  Dad wobbles to his feet, grabbing onto his chair’s armrest. “Well, boy?”

  “School,” I mutter.

  He moves closer. “School ended hours ago. Where you been?”

  “Out.”

  “Where’s my food? You go out having fun while I’m waiting here for my damn dinner.” He chucks the bottle against the wall, shattering it to pieces. Phoebe lets out a small whimper from the stairs.

  I turn toward the fridge. “I’ll make something.”

  Dad’s gaze snaps toward the stairs. “Where are you, girl? Didn’t I tell you to make dinner as soon as you come home? You been eating somewhere else?”

  Phoebe’s eyes widen as they fasten on me. I subtly shake my head, telling her to stay where she is.

  Blake died three months ago, but Dad’s gotten worse this month. The first two, he was mourning—we all were. Then his pain shifted into anger and I have no idea who he is anymore. He always drank, especially after Mom died ten years ago, but now he’s completely gone. He even lost his job two weeks ago and spends his hours sitting in front of the TV drinking beer.

  My hands fist at my sides. Everything would be completely different if not for that bitch Daphne Pickett. My brother would still be alive. My little sister wouldn’t constantly live in fear. I’ve been telling myself this is better than calling child services. At least this way I can protect her.

  “Well, girl?” Dad demands. Phoebes flinches.

  “I’ll take care of dinner,” I tell him.

  His hollow eyes move to me. “Good. That girl isn’t good for anything.” He wobbles back to his chair and drops down. He’s a big guy—used to wrestle in his younger days.

  Once he’s out of sight, Phoebe peeks from the stairs. “Eric, let me take care of dinner.”

  “I’ve got it,” I tell her as I grab whatever I can from the fridge and dump them into a pot. Maybe I’ll make soup. Or a stew? I really have no clue what I’m doing here. The weeks following Blake’s death are a blur. We ate take-out all the time. But then Dad got sick of it and demanded more. Blake was the cook in the family after Mom died. Just another thing he was great at.

  Phoebe ambles toward me. “It’s not right for you to take on so much. First the job and now this? I’m not a little kid. I can help out.”

  I put the pot on the stove and turn the knob. “I said I’ve got it.”

  She doesn’t say anything as she watches me peel and cut the vegetables. For the most part, Dad kind of leaves us alone. Unless he wants something. Still, we walk on eggshells around him because we never know when he’ll yell or smash something. I need to be on alert at all times. I can’t bear anything happening to my little sister.

  “Let me help,” Phoebe offers.

  I wave my hand. “Go to your room.”

  She opens her mouth like she wants to argue, but must see the look on my face and decides against it. She quietly climbs the stairs, careful not to disturb the drunken asshole from his wrestling match.

  As the soup cooks, my phone beeps. Someone took a video of Daphne Pickett tripping and created a GIF. I chuckle as I watch her crash to the floor over and over.

  I make sure to share it with as many people as I can. She needs to pay for making my life a living hell. For making my sister’s life a living hell.

  Chapter Three

  Daphne

  I’m lying on my bed, playing a game on my phone, when a message pops up with a link to a social media post. As soon as I click it, I watch myself crash to the floor, over and over and over again. I toss my phone across the bed, crossing my arms over my chest. I don’t need to read the comments—I already know what they’re saying about me.

  “Daphne!” Mom calls from downstairs.

  Has she seen the GIF? Mom’s not really into that sort of thing, but she knows her way around social media.

  “You have a guest,” Mom continues.

  I sit up straight. A guest? Some kid from school has come to torment me? Maybe Eric and his buddies or Avery. She hangs onto the Kings’ words like they’re gold.

  “
Boo!”

  A blur jumps onto my bed and arms wrap tightly around me.

  “Zoe,” I say, relief washing over me. “I thought you didn’t get out until later.”

  Drawing back, my best friend grins at me, her green eyes sparkling from the sun striking my bedroom window. “They let us out half an hour early. First day and everything.” She rolls her eyes as she scoots toward the headboard, resting her back against it. “So tell me how your first day as a junior was. Did any of the boys get cuter? Ooh, what about the Kings?” She frowns. “It sucks what happened to Eric’s brother, though. Was he in school? Is he okay?”

  Like most girls at Leighton High, Zoe has had a crush on Eric since forever. Well, she mostly had a crush on his brother Blake, but she knew she never had a shot with him. Eric is just as hot and talented, an awesome swimmer. But I learned today he’s an ass, too.

  “Daphne?” Zoe’s face nearly kisses mine. “Where did you go?” Her eyes widen. “Something did happen.”

  No kidding. But I’m not about to tell her that. “No, not really. Eric was fine. He has his buddies and the whole female student body crawling all over him. You don’t have to worry about him.”

  Sighing, she rests her head on the headboard. “Good. He deserves hugs. Lots and lots of hugs. Too bad I can’t be there to give him any.”

  “Yeah, what’s up with your mom pulling you out of Leighton High, anyway? Did she finally give you a reason?”

  Puffing out her cheeks, Zoe twirls some curly chestnut hair around her finger. “No, but she doesn’t have to. It’s obvious why.”

  I lift a brow.

  “Come on, Daph. One kid was arrested last year. Another killed himself. Mom’s worried there’s something in the cafeteria food or whatever.”

  “So she pulled you out because she thinks the kids at my school are screwed up.”

  Zoe throws her hands up. “You know how paranoid she gets. Being an only child sucks, doesn’t it? I mean, you know she’s like that because of my older sister.”

  Zoe’s parents had a daughter before Zoe was born. Her name was Zara and she died when she was only two years old. Ever since then, her mom has gotten so overprotective of Zoe it’s insane. At any sign of trouble, her mom swoops in, being all mama bear to her little-not-so-little cub.

  Zoe crosses her arms. “So unfair. What happened between Blake and that other guy—forgot his name—was an accident.”

  “Jackson. His name’s Jackson and he’s serving time for no reason. He’s innocent.”

  Zoe’s eyes search mine. “I’m not going to refute you like everyone else. But are you sure about what you saw that night? It was dark and noisy and you were probably confused.”

  I give her a look. “We talked about this already.”

  She sighs, brushing her hand down her face. “I know, but…it got so bad you had to run away over the summer.”

  “I didn’t run. Mom just felt like we needed to get away. I have nothing to run from. I know the truth.”

  She doesn’t say anything and my room grows silent. A few minutes later, she reaches for my hand and clasps it in hers. “It sucks we can’t go through it together. I mean, everyone’s probably giving you nasty looks, huh?”

  Nasty looks? I wish that’s all it is. And something tells me they’ll continue their quest to get rid of me. But you know what? No one and nothing can make me leave.

  “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

  She holds my gaze. “Daph, you’d tell me if something happened right? We’ve been besties forever and have never kept secrets from one another.”

  I force a smile, hoping she hasn’t seen the GIF. “Everything is fine. Don’t worry about me. I’m made of steel.”

  She encloses me in her arms. “You’re so much stronger and braver than me. I would have never fought for the truth like you did.”

  “But what good did it do? Jackson is still in jail and…” My voice trails off.

  “Blake is dead,” Zoe finishes in a low voice.

  I pull my hand out of hers. “Can we talk about something else? I feel like I’m going back to three months ago.”

  “You’re right. Jackson’s arrest shook the town, but that doesn’t compare to his best friend’s suicide.”

  “Zoe, can we please drop the subject?”

  Her lips press shut. “Sure. I’ll tell you about my first day.”

  She does so in so much detail that I feel like I was actually there. Mom comes in a little while later with a plate of cookies and cakes. She always does this when Zoe comes over. It’s like she’s worried we don’t eat enough.

  “Thanks, Mrs. Pickett,” Zoe says as she grabs two cookies and bites off a chunk. I’ve always been a little jealous of my best friend. She’s practically a giant, so no matter how much she eats, she never gains weight. Me, I need to watch myself.

  Mom drops down on the bed, causing it to sink deeply due to her weight. “Did you girls have a good day? It must have been hard being apart after going to school together for so long.”

  Zoe and I exchange a solemn glance. “It was,” Zoe says. “Too bad my mom is so hell bent on keeping me away from those…” She makes air quotes. “‘Troubled kids.’” She shrugs. “But whatever.” She gets to her feet. “She wants me home early. My awesome new school has this crazy tough curriculum and I need to stay on top of my game if I want to be a doctor like my dad.” There’s no hiding the sarcasm in her voice. Zoe does want to be a doctor, but she hates when her mother constantly pushes her.

  She bends to give me a hug, then does the same to Mom, before blowing us kisses and leaping out the door, snatching some more cookies on the way.

  Mom smiles at me, then frowns at the plate. “You haven’t eaten any cookies, sweetie. Are you feeling well?”

  “I’m fine. I’m just not hungry.”

  Mom nods in understanding as she scans herself. “You’re worried you’ll end up like me, aren’t you?” She takes my hands. “Daphne, I told you that you have nothing to worry about.”

  “I have the genes,” I say before I can stop myself. “Maybe I am destined to…” I look away, dragging my hands out of hers.

  Mom gets to her feet. “The difference between you and me is that you’re taking care of yourself at a young age. You won’t end up like me.” She gives me an encouraging smile before exiting my room.

  I watch her go. Her being overweight never affected me when I was little. My mom was my mom, no matter how she looked. But going into high school changed everything. Suddenly, I cared too much about how she looked, how I looked. And when the kids at school started whispering behind her back whenever they came to the diner, I couldn’t take it.

  One time in ninth grade, I slapped a girl for twisting up her nose in disgust at my mom. We got into a fight, and Mom had to throw her out of the diner and sent me home. Later that night, she begged me not to fight because of her weight again, which is why I hold back whenever someone makes a comment or a disgusted face.

  The truth is, Mom loves herself. She’s happy. Why can’t I be, too?

  ***

  As soon as I open my locker the next day, mountains of small toy pigs collapse on me. They’re as hard as rocks and cause different areas on my body to vibrate in pain.

  Laughter explodes all over, echoing off the walls. I pluck the toys off me, taking in the Kings and their worshippers headed my way.

  Ryder bends to sweep a handful of pigs and launches them at me. I cower to the side, wrapping my arms over myself for protection.

  “That’s what you deserve, Pigget!” Avery says as another pig smacks my hands. I bet she threw that one.

  The other kids chant “Pigget!” over and over.

  Strong, rough hands grab me by my arms and swing me into the wall. Oxygen is knocked out of me as Eric pushes his face in mine. Ryder and Caden glare at me.

  “Told you to leave,” Eric mutters between gritted teeth.

  “And I told you I’m not going anywhere,” I retort.

  His g
rip on my arms tightens as he looks from one friend to the other. The posse behind him snickers at the show. Seriously, it’s like they have no entertainment in their pathetic lives.

  Ryder steps forward, running the tip of his finger along my jawline. “Shame,” he mumbles, a strand of his perfectly-styled light brown hair falling into his eye. “You would have been pretty if you weren’t such a bitch.”

  I whip my head away, ignoring the burning sensation where he touched me.

  “Ryder,” Avery whines. “You promised you’d walk me to my locker.”

  Ryder stares into my eyes. “Should have thought twice before you destroyed my best friend’s life.” His voice is rough, but there’s a smoothness to it, like an animal trapping its prey. It sends a few shivers up and down my spine.

  He turns around and slings his arm over Avery’s shoulder. As I watch them go, there’s something weird about his body language. He’s hunched over, almost like he doesn’t want to be near Avery, but for some reason is forced to.

  Eric and Caden continue to glare at me. Eric is still clutching my arms, and doesn’t seem to want to let go any time soon. Caden’s eyes are heavy with anger, but I notice kindness mixed in there, too. I’m not sure exactly who it’s aimed at. Maybe at everyone. Everyone who is not me.

  “If you don’t leave—” Eric starts, only to be tugged back by Caden as Vice Principal Henson turns the corner. His hands drop from me as he steps back, his eyes still holding nothing but rage.

  As soon as the VP takes in the mess of pigs on the floor, her eyes widen to the size of Earth.

  “What happened here?” In one swift motion, she stands before us. “Whose locker is this?”

  One of Avery’s friends gestures toward me. “It’s Daphne Pickett’s. She thought it was funny to disgrace our school with such a mess.” She shakes her head at me, as though saying, “Shame on you.”

  I’m about to tell the VP the truth, when Eric says. “Looks like she deserves detention, don’t you think, Vice Principal Henson?”

  He gives her his usual girl-melting smile, the one his brother used on teachers all the time.

  Miss Henson is young for a vice principal and even she can’t ignore Eric’s charm. Her face flushes hot pink and her hand shoots to her hair. “Of course,” she says, voice heavy. “Daphne Pickett, clean this mess up and you have detention for a week.”