The Bullies Who Loved Me

by Mia Belle

  Daphne doesn’t want to talk to us, but Eric isn’t giving up. He wants to be her bodyguard, watch over her in case the kids decide to pull some more shit. Which they did after school today. I have no clue where Eric disappeared to, probably home to be with Phoebe.

  Grandma squeezes my shoulder. “Caden?”

  I snap out of it, giving her a weak smile. “Sorry. I guess I’m not really hungry.”

  Alarm bells go off in her eyes. She’s on her feet in less than a second and at my side. She grabs my cheeks, examining me like I’m under a microscope. “You’re a little pale. Are you feeling okay?”

  I pull free. “Just a little tired from practice. And you don’t have to worry about the cancer returning. My doctors said I’m fine.”

  She nods absentmindedly.

  Grandpa leans forward. “Well, something’s bothering you, kid. Want to tell your old grandparents about it?”

  Some light has returned to Grandma’s eyes. “A girl?”

  I roll my eyes. “Again?”

  She holds up her hands helplessly. “I just want to see you happy. Sure you’re busy with your swimming, but nothing will make a sweet boy like yourself happier than a sweet girl. Or a boy, whichever you prefer.”

  I lean back in my seat. “Can I ask you guys something?”

  Their ears perk up.

  I hesitate before saying, “Have you ever hurt someone so badly you’re not sure they’ll ever forgive you?”

  Grandpa locks his fingers together, eyebrows furrowed. “Well, sure. I once accidentally ran over our old neighbor’s front garden and destroyed her vegetables. She didn’t speak to me for weeks. Eventually we started talking again.”

  Grandma smiles at him. “Because I baked my grandmother’s apple pie and we invited her for dinner.”

  I frown. “I’m not talking about killing vegetables. How do I get this person to forgive me?”

  Grandma thinks for a second. “Who have you hurt?”

  “It’s hypothetical,” I quickly say. “How do I do it?”

  “There’s just so much you can do,” Grandpa says. “If you apologize and he or she sees how sincere you are and chooses not to forgive you, then it’s their loss.”

  “Caden, is there something you’re not telling us?” Grandma asks. “You’re entitled to your privacy, but if you’re in some sort of trouble, we want to know.”

  “Trouble? Him?” Grandpa chuckles. “He’s as perfect as they come.”

  Perfect? Me? Hell no. If I was so perfect, I would have stopped Eric and Ryder from taking things too far. Why was it so hard for me to stand up to them?

  Because I wanted to stay by my best friend’s side. He was in so much pain—still is. This thing with Daphne only makes us all feel like crap.

  But is Grandpa right? No matter how many times we apologize, Daphne might never forgive us. Not that I blame her. What we did was cruel. We were monsters.

  At least Eric’s trying to do the right thing by calling off the attacks. And we’re going to watch over Daphne, even if she doesn’t like it. We’re not going to let anyone harm her again.

  I don’t know why it took Blake’s video to open our eyes. We should never have gone after Daphne that way. My parents would be embarrassed to have a son like me. I’ve shamed us all.

  “Caden, are you sure you’re okay?”

  I force myself to nod and to shove more food down my throat.

  After dinner, I’m at my desk trying to get some homework done, when all I think about is Daphne. I wonder what she’s doing right now. If she’s thinking about us—but that’s stupid. I bet she’s cursing us under her breath. She has every right.

  I grab my phone off the desk and tap out a text to her.

  Hey, are you okay?

  She doesn’t respond, probably deleted it.

  Grandpa said there’s just so much I could do. If Daphne doesn’t want to forgive us, then she doesn’t want to. But I’m not about to let it go. We ostracized her. She’s an outsider because of us. We can’t just let her be all alone. School’s tough as it is, and without friends by your side, it’s hard to pull through.

  Is it too much to want to be that friend?

  Probably, but I’m not going to give up.

  Caden: I know I’m the last person you want texting you, but I was just…I was thinking about you.

  Still nothing.

  Caden: I know I apologized for everything I did, but I want to apologize again and again and gain. It never seems to be enough.

  Nothing.

  Caden: I have no right to ask forgiveness. What we did to you was terrible. We acted like monsters.

  Caden: Daphne, we’re not like that. We’d never hurt anyone. I don’t know what we were thinking.

  I’m in the middle of typing another text when my phone pings.

  Daphne: You never did anything.

  Caden: What?

  I stare at the screen as I wait for her to send the next one.

  Daphne: You never hurt me. Your friends did.

  Caden: But I didn’t stop them. I stood by and watched and did nothing. That’s just as bad.

  She doesn’t respond. A few minutes pass with me tapping my foot on the floor. I try to attack my homework, but I’m not really concentrating. I’ll never continue my parents’ legacy and be a great lawyer.

  I nearly bolt to the ceiling when my phone pings.

  Daphne: Why are you texting me? Why can’t you leave me alone?

  Caden: Because I feel horrible about what happened and want to apologize.

  Daphne: You did that, more than once. What else do you want?

  Caden: To talk.

  Quiet on her end.

  One minute passes.

  Two minutes pass.

  Three, four, five, ten, twenty. Clearly, she plans on ignoring me. I try to focus on homework, but my eyes keep wandering to my phone. Damn it. Why can’t I let this go? I apologized, I tried talking to her.

  Daphne: I don’t want to talk to you. Don’t text me again.

  Feels like an iron fist to my stomach, but I understand. Still, I won’t leave her alone. Like I said, she doesn’t have friends because we isolated her from the other kids. It’s up to us to be there for her. She probably won’t want our friendship, but we’ve got to try.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Daphne

  The first thing that enters my head when I wake up the next morning is Caden Murray texting me last night. The second is that I’m an idiot to suspect this is anything but a joke.

  Rolling onto my side, I shut my eyes and replay the events of yesterday in my head. For some reason, a part of me—deep, deep inside—feels a bit of…warmth at what they did. That’s crazy. I’m crazy. I’m starting to lower my guard and that’s not good at all.

  They think their plan will work? Well, they can think again.

  I clutch my pillow in my arms. Caden is a little confusing. I mean, he never hurt me, never really laughed in my face. He never touched me or tore up my homework. I can’t remember if he glared at me like his friends. He must have. He’s a King after all.

  But why can’t I remember if he looked as evil as the others?

  Why hadn’t he ever touched me? Why was he always standing on the side? And I can’t forget he freed me when I was locked in the basement.

  No. No, no, no. I’m not letting him get to me. It’s what they want. Him texting me last night? All part of their master plan.

  There’s a knock on my door before Mom peeks her head in. “Hey, sweetie. You’re still in bed?” She steps into the room. “You don’t look like you slept much last night. Are you feeling well?” She touches my forehead. “Hmm, no fever. Have you been eating?” Worry flashes in her eyes. She’s concerned I’ll develop some sort of eating disorder by trying not to end up like her.

  I draw away from her. “I’m fine. And I have been eating. Just have a lot on my mind, it’s no big deal.”

  I don’t want to go to school today, but staying home isn’t an option.
I could skip, but I’m sure Mom will find out. The school is very strict with attendance.

  She smiles. “Okay, then. Get ready for school. I’m making your favorite chocolate and blueberry pancakes.”

  I give her a weak smile. I have no appetite whatsoever, but I need food to get me through the day. Who even knows if I’ll be allowed to enter the cafeteria today? Who knows what the Kings and their loyal subjects have planned?

  Mom leaves me to get dressed. I tug on a T-shirt and jeans, pull my hair into a ponytail and join my parents in the kitchen. Dad leaves for work early, but he makes sure to wish me a good morning before he flies out the door. Even today, when I’m a little late, he still waits.

  He bends close to kiss me lightly on the forehead. “Have a good day at school, honey.”

  My stomach twists. A good day? Doubt it.

  I push a grin on my face. “You too, Dad.”

  He nods. “Thank you. The case I’m working on is a little difficult. The children have many relatives they can stay by, but no one wants them. I’m trying to do everything I can to find a good home for them.” He sighs, forcing a smile. “I’ll see you later.” He kisses Mom, waves at me, then leaves.

  I sit down at the table, where Mom places two pancakes on a plate. One chocolate and one blueberry.

  She watches me stare at them. “You don’t have to eat both, of course. I just gave you both options.” She reaches for my hand. “I was thinking about my weight and how it’s affecting you.”

  “Mom—”

  She shakes her head. “No, you don’t have to try to make me feel better. I know people stare at me on the streets or in the diner. I want to get healthier. Maybe we can work out together? I’ll cook healthier foods. My lifestyle could kill me one day. I want to live long enough to have grandchildren.”

  I nearly choke on my chocolate pancake. “Grandchildren?”

  She laughs, patting my hand. “Not for a very, very long time.”

  I continue eating, conscious of my mom’s gaze on me. When I look up, she smiles.

  “What?” I ask before swallowing.

  “I’m just so proud of you and love you, that’s all.” She scoots closer to me. “You’ve been locked in your room a lot lately. Everything okay? Is it Zoe? Do you miss her? Have you made any new friends?”

  New friends? Sure. More like enemies.

  I shrug. “I have friends. Kind of.” I get to my feet. “I need to go.”

  Swinging my backpack over my shoulder, I give her a quick kiss on the cheek, then tornado out of the house.

  This is insane, but it feels like someone is following me. When I turn right and left, I don’t see anyone. Is this part of their master plan? To terrorize me emotionally? I knew it. It’s easier to get away with the emotional and mental bullying than the physical.

  I walk to school as fast as I can. When I reach the entrance, I’m stopped yet again by another blockade. Avery, her friends, and a few other kids. But I don’t see the Kings behind them. They must be inside, cooking up whatever.

  I ram into two girls whose hands are practically fused, but they hurl me back. I narrow my eyes at Avery in the center. “Again with this bullshit?”

  Her lips curl into an evil grin. “No pigs allowed.” She nods behind her, where a picture of a fat version of me with a pig head is taped to the wall. Glancing deeper inside, I spot more papers.

  “I’m so sick of this crap, Avery,” I nearly bark at her. “You had your fun, now leave me the hell alone.”

  She narrows her eyes. “Or what?”

  “Or you’ll wish you were never born,” a voice says behind me. Whirling around, I find Eric there with his arms crossed over his chest. His two friends flank him on either side.

  His eyes are hard with rage, but this time they’re not aimed at me. But at Avery?

  She doesn’t look one bit afraid of him like the other kids. This only solidifies my suspicion that this is all an act.

  Eric bends close to her. “I called off the damn hunt. So what the fuck is this shit?” He gestures to the blockade.

  Her evil grin widens. “No pigs allowed.” Her eyes flare with anger. “I don’t give a damn if you called off the hunt. This bitch needs to pay for what she did to Blake. He was your brother.”

  Eric’s eyes shut for a second. When they open, they’re searing with rage. He bends even closer to her. “You’re right. He was my brother. If I say Daphne is off limits, she’s off limits. Got it?”

  I just stare at him. Could it be…no, no. It’s all an act. It has to be.

  Avery crosses her arms. “I’m not stopping until she’s gone.”

  “Better watch it,” Ryder says, voice deep. “Or else you might be our next target.”

  She turns up her nose. “You’d never hurt your future wife.”

  Ryder grits his teeth, stepping closer to her. “Want to bet? I don’t give a damn about you.”

  She runs her finger across his chest. “What would your dad say about that?”

  He catches her wrist, eyes ablaze. “My dad doesn’t control me like your daddy does. Now get the hell out of the way.”

  He pulls her and Amber’s hands apart, forming a clear path.

  Caden motions with his hand for me to walk through. He stays at my side, tearing down those pictures of fat me as I make my way to my locker. The other two are busy yelling and threatening Avery some more.

  Is it possible I’ve been wrong? Would they go through so much trouble to put on an act? I was so sure they’d do anything to hurt me. But now…I don’t know.

  Caden leans against the locker next to mine, giving me a sweet but unsure smile. “You okay?”

  I tear my locker open and dump some things inside. “Why are you doing this?” I ask, my face hidden in my locker. I pull my head out to meet his gaze. “Just tell me the truth. Is this all an act?”

  His eyebrows furrow. “An act?”

  I roll my eyes. “This sweet, nice persona you’re wearing is an act, too. So asking you that question is stupid.”

  His eyebrows dip even more. “Daphne, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  I slam my locker shut. “Didn’t I tell you not to talk to me?”

  He shakes his head, leaning against the locker like he owns the world. All three Kings have that way about them. “I’m not leaving you alone. None of us are.”

  I clench my teeth. “Why? Where is this even coming from? Just on Friday you pelted me with eggs.”

  He flinches.

  “And now you’re being nice to me?” I narrow my eyes. “Bullshit.”

  He rubs the back of his neck. “We found out about something and it changed everything. That’s why we’re being nice to you now.” He frowns. “We never should have treated you like that. No matter what happened three months ago. No one should go through that. We were monsters.” His voice is so low I barely hear him.

  Eric and Ryder join us at my locker. The rest of the kids scatter to wherever they need to go. As Avery passes, she narrows her eyes at me. I glare back at her.

  “Avery won’t bother you again,” Ryder tells me.

  I just stare at him. “What?”

  “What did you threaten her with?” Caden asks him.

  He shrugs. “We all know her dad needs my dad more than my dad needs hers. I threatened to sever the bond between the Kensingtons and Pentecosts.”

  Caden’s eyes widen. “Can you do that without your dad’s permission?”

  “No. But she doesn’t have to know that.”

  I make a move to walk off, when Eric gently grabs my arm. “Daphne, please don’t run. Let us make it up to you.” He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out my phone and wallet. He hands them to me. “I’m sorry I took them. I didn’t tamper with your phone or anything.”

  I grab them from him, remembering that day in the hallway clearly. “You’re jerks. All three of you.”

  Eric winces, but nods. “You’re right. We are.”

  I throw my hands up. “I hav
e no idea what you want from me. Why you’re suddenly pretending to be nice—”

  “Pretending?” Ryder shakes his head. “We’re not pretending. We feel horrible for what we did. We turned the whole school against you.”

  I roll my eyes. “Right. Like I expect you to change over the weekend just like that? I’m not stupid.”

  The three of them exchange a glance.

  Eric plows his fingers through his hair. “It’s not…We didn’t just change. We learned something. Something we were wrong about.”

  “I was trying to tell her that,” Caden says. “But I don’t know how to explain without showing her.”

  Eric stares at him for a little bit, and it’s like they’re having some sort of secret exchange. Then he turns to me. “Caden’s right. The only way to prove to you that we’re sincere is if we show you what we found. Can you come to Ryder’s house after school?” He rubs his chin. “No, I can’t make it that early. Can you come around eight?”

  Caden turns to him. “Eight? What are you so busy with, man?”

  Eric’s jaw hardens. “Just am. Can you, Daphne? It’s important.”

  Me, alone with the three guys who bullied me? No way in hell. I push past them. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going anywhere with you.”

  Eric places his hand on my arm, stopping me. “Okay, you don’t have to come.” He glances at his phone for the time. “We have ten minutes before first class.” He scans around to make sure no one is watching us. Everyone is busy getting their things for class, or chatting. “Watch this.” He taps on his phone before handing it to me. It’s a video of Blake.

  He’s talking about the party and all the events that happened three months ago. When he mentions shoving the girl into the boulder, killing her, and Jackson taking the blame, my legs nearly cave.

  This is what the Kings learned. This is why they’ve suddenly become nice to me.

  It’s not an act. They sincerely feel bad for what they did to me. But so what? Am I supposed to forgive them for making my life a living hell? Bullying isn’t okay, no matter what the reason.

  I slam his phone in his palm. “Stay the hell away from me.”

  I turn to go, but Eric once again grabs my arm. “Daphne, please,” he pleads.