Stacy struts over to sit on his lap, he doesn’t push her off like I expect, in fact he puts his hand round her back to grab her ass. Hot angry tears flow down my cheeks as I watch what’s happening “What did I do? Why are you doing this to me!” chocking on my sobs I hold onto Brady’s arm for support, it feels like I’m bleeding.
Reid doesn’t answer although I think I see some remorse flash across his face, but he schools it with a bored expression “What your doing isn’t fair man” Brady says holding me up, I would be a crumpled mess right now if it wasn’t for him clinging onto me “Come on babe. I’ll take you home” he says as he leads me out of my nightmare. I watch Reid the entire time as we back away from the room, he looks like he couldn’t care less right now.
This isn’t the boy I know.
This isn’t who I fell in love with.
Pushing away from Brady, I stumble towards my car letting the tears fall. Unlocking it without thinking, I climb in locking it from the inside before Brady opens my door “Come on Beck’s. You can’t drive like this” he says as he knocks on my window and pulls at the handle. With blurry eyes it takes me two attempts to get my key into the ignition. Blasting my playlist to block out Brady’s pleas, I shift into reverse and on auto pilot, back out of his drive.
Driving home my phone is blowing up, I ignore it all. I can’t speak to anyone right now, I just need some quiet. Seeing the sign for the nature reserve 2 miles up, I shift up a gear, I know exactly where to get it.
Me and Reid had our first picnic here, our first proper date. I make a start and I walk the familiar path that leads to our tree, I’ve walked this path so many times with him in the past, this is the first time I’m alone.
Sitting down under the oak tree I try to think of anything that could have caused this, but I come up with nothing. It was only yesterday at the Halloween party that we’d locked ourselves away in an empty room and got lost in each other. Everything was fine, We’d laughed, we kissed… We loved. How can that all change in one night.
Pulling out my phone I delete the messages from Brady and Sherri noticing there are none from Reid, not that I expected anything from him. Pulling up a number I didn’t think I would ever need, I hit call.
“Dad. Can…can I come live with you, at least until school ends?” Trying my hardest not to choke on sobs. I can’t believe I’m calling him, but I need to get out of here “Becca?, what’s happened?” he doesn’t even sound like he really cares, I can hear him talking with someone in the background “I just need a fresh start dad. Can I move to Suffolk with you, please” I don’t even care if he’s not bothered about me, I just need somewhere to lay low…. And try to put myself back together.
“Of course you can honey. I’m working full time so I’m not around much, but you are always welcome” That doesn’t surprise me, work has always come first when it comes to my dad, It just means I get the house to myself “Thank you. I’ll text you once I’ve packed and when I’ll be coming up” A normal parent would be distraught at their child being upset, unfortunately though… I have no normal parents.
Ending the call, I drive home and start packing, needing to get out of here as fast as possible. Feeling numb I look around to see so many things that remind me of Reid. I’m so confused and angry, angry he could do this to us. We’ve known each other forever, loved each other for years.
I thought he was my best friend.
I thought wrong.
Chapter One
Present Day
I really want to hate my friend right now.
She’s the reason I’m sitting in my beat-up BMW outside a party I really don’t want to be at. But being my oldest friend, Sherri knew exactly how to get me to give in and go with her. I’ve only been back on the estate a week and she already managed to put me in a situation I’ve tried so hard not to be in. Being here is giving me some horrible reminders of why I left in the first place, making me wonder why I ever came back.
“Come on becks! You know you want to see everyone. Maybe even a certain someone” my so-called best friend says waggling her eyebrows “Shez I really don’t think this is a good idea, maybe we should just go to yours and watch movies or something” I plead with her although I know I’m talking to a brick wall. “No can-do missy, you’ve been gone long enough, time to stand tall and face your fears!” I know she’s right, but I’m scared out of my mind. The reason I left is behind that door and I don’t think I’m ready to face it.
This is the house where my life fell apart, looking up at it I tell myself I will not let him me chase me away again. Steeling my spine, I open the car door earning a hoot from an exited Sherri, “Let’s do this girl! Time to show them you’re back!”
I’m so going to regret this.
Walking up the path to the door, I can see that the party is in full swing. Plastic cups and rubbish litter the front garden along with some bodies either passed out drunk or making out. Sherri runs ahead and pushes through
