Good Girls Stay Quiet

by Jo Cassidy

  I'd never been in a boy's room. It would be in the middle of the night. The thought scared me. "Okay." I hated what the blackmailer was making me do. Too many uncomfortable things and situations.

  "Where's the drop off for the money?"

  "In my locker in the locker room."

  "Maybe I could hide out," he said. "I’ll wait around to see who comes and gets it. I tried to watch the flagpole at the last drop off, but there were way too many students around for me to get a good look. Any one of them could have grabbed the bag as they walked by."

  A smirk appeared on my lips. "You just want to hang out in the girl's locker room."

  Brendon shrugged like he didn’t care, but laughter danced in his eyes. "Minor benefit."

  "I think they'd notice a guy hiding out in the locker room. Whoever's doing this to me is clever."

  "We could ask Jenna to do it. She'd have more of a reason to be in the girl's locker room than me."

  I sighed. "I'm starting to suspect Jenna."

  "Really? Why?"

  I told him all my suspicions about the exchange between her and Dalton.

  Brendon rubbed his eyelid. "Yeah, that was a little weird, but I just don't think Jenna's capable of something like this. She's your friend. My money’s still on Dalton. I don't trust him."

  "I can stand watch. I'll stay in the locker room to see who comes and gets the money."

  "You can't be late. Your dad wouldn't like that. It has to be someone who can stay after school." He smiled brightly, his blue eyes lighting up. "Just let me do it. I promise I won't spy on any girls in there. I'll only watch your locker."

  His smile was contagious. A big one landed on my lips. "Okay. But it's not my fault if you get caught by a teacher."

  "I won't get caught," he said, rubbing my arms.

  The bell rang, breaking us apart. I had no idea how I'd gotten so lucky with meeting Brendon, but he was starting to be the best thing that ever happened to me.

  Chapter 26

  We were sitting at the dinner table, almost done with our meal. Daddy had started speaking to me again, his current mood calm as an ocean breeze. He hadn’t brought up what happened in the basement, and I certainly didn’t want to bring it up and give him a reason to do it again.

  "Is everything okay, angel?" Daddy asked.

  I'd barely spoken. My mind was buzzing with theories and worry. I had five hundred dollars to somehow obtain in only a few days.

  The thing that worried me most, though, was sneaking out of my bedroom again. If Daddy found out, I'd be in serious trouble.

  But I couldn't come up with the money myself. I didn't have all the supplies to make the cell phone bands. I wasn't involved with the school to know there was an important basketball game where I could sell them.

  I twirled the spaghetti around my fork. It was a meal we both loved. "Just thinking about school."

  "Are you having problems?" He took a bite of his spaghetti, his eyes on me the entire time. He had that way of reading into your soul and knowing things about myself that I didn't even know.

  I hated lying to Daddy, but I had no other choice. If I didn't lie, didn't take care of the blackmailer, we’d be exposed, and he’d be thrown in jail. I wasn’t quite sure if he deserved that harsh of a punishment. Although, after what had happened the night before, maybe he did.

  But then I'd be left all alone, tossed back into the system and placed with some random family probably far away from where I currently lived. They would never love me like Daddy did. No one could.

  "I'm not doing so well in P.E." There was truth behind that. My physical abilities were terrible.

  He patted my hand. "It's okay, angel. It's one class. And not even an important one at that."

  My hand tensed under his. If he was relaxed about it, he wouldn't buy into my lie. "It's worse than you think. I could fail."

  His hand tightened around mine as a small flame of anger lit behind his eyes. "Are you trying, angel?"

  My bones ached, begging for relief. "Yes, Daddy. But there's an opportunity to earn some extra credit."

  His rough grip loosened ever so slightly. "How?"

  I wished the storms in his eyes would calm, but they brewed, ready to shower down. If he didn't agree to it, there was no other chance to get to the game. I put on the sincerest smile I could muster. "Go to a sports game at the school."

  His hand squeezed mine hard, and the storms flew in. "What game?"

  I forced my smile to stay where it was, even though I wanted to cry from the pain in my hand. "A basketball game on Tuesday night."

  "It's at the school?"

  I nodded.

  "What time?"

  I wanted to lick my lips to wet them, try and work moisture in my mouth, but I couldn't show signs of anxiety. "Seven."

  He stared at his plate of half-eaten spaghetti. His hand stayed tightly wrapped around mine. His fingers on his other hand drummed along the table. "I have an appointment Tuesday night. I can't go with you."

  It hadn't crossed my mind that he would try to go with me. That would have ruined everything.

  "I could ask Jenna to go with me."

  His eyes shot toward mine, and the storm thundered.

  "She's the one you met at the store," I hurried on. "She's very nice. I'd be safe with her. We'd go straight to the game and then straight home."

  The silence stretched on. I'd blown it. He would never agree to let me go to a basketball game with Jenna. I wasn't allowed friends, to have fun, or be out in the world without Daddy. He was supposed to be my world.

  He was my world. All I had. I hated that the blackmailer was making me break my trust with him. Making me lie to him and deceive him. They were turning me into someone I wasn't and someone I never wanted to be.

  "Straight there and straight home," he finally said.

  I was so lost in thought, it took me a moment to process what he said. I nodded. "Yes. Of course, Daddy."

  "And this will help your grade?" The thunder-storm bounced around in his dark gray eyes, and I worried it would never die down.

  "Yes."

  "This will help get you off your teacher's radar? I don't like them paying too much attention to you." The clouds in his eyes broke apart, and the storm calmed.

  I couldn't believe what was happening. Was he going to let me go to a school function? Without him and with a friend? I forced myself to nod. "Yes."

  He took a bite of his food, chewing slowly and staring at his plate. Each second that ticked by was agonizing. If he didn't agree, I'd have to find another way to sell all the cell phone bands. I needed that money, and I didn't have much time.

  "Only Jenna would go with you?"

  "Yes, Daddy."

  "Not that boy from the pizza place?" he asked, his hand holding his fork frozen above his plate.

  Brendon. I thought back to our hug and how his arms burned against my back. I’d barely been able to conceal the pain. He was getting too close to the truth. I didn't want him wrapped up in all my problems. "Who?"

  Something flashed in his eyes, but it was so quick that I couldn't pin it down. "The one in your class. In your French group."

  "Oh, him?" I scrunched my eyebrows. "Why would he go?"

  He stared at me. I worried he could see right through me and know that I'd been hanging out with Brendon. Know that I liked him. That I'd kissed him. That I'd be sneaking into his bedroom later that night.

  "Just making sure," Daddy said. "You can't trust teenage boys. They only have one thing on their mind." He finally lowered his hand.

  "What?" I asked, twirling the same piece of spaghetti around my fork.

  His jaw tightened. "Doesn't matter. Just stay away from them."

  "Okay, Daddy." I smiled at him before I forced myself to eat. My appetite had completely gone, but I’d somehow convinced him to let me go to the game. He didn’t know it, but it was helping save our family. In the end, it would be worth it.

  Chapter 27

  Daddy stayed
up late. For hours, he clomped up and down the basement stairs, mumbling to himself the whole time. He’d pass by my room, toss something heavy in the entry, then make his way back down the hall and into the basement. Maybe he was cleaning it out. He didn’t like clutter, and he’d made a mess down there.

  I almost fell asleep a few times, but luckily Noah kept me awake. He wouldn't stop talking. I bet Jenna would be the same way if we’d ever had a sleepover.

  Suddenly, something slammed into my bedroom door, rattling it. I pushed back against my headboard and clutched Noah in my arms.

  “We wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for you!” Daddy bellowed. He threw another heavy object at my door. “Be a good little girl, that’s all I ask.” What sounded like his fist punched the door before he went back to cleaning.

  I stayed safe on my bed, surrounded by my canopy, working hard to control my breathing. My body tensed every time his footsteps came close to my door.

  It was almost midnight when the hallway light turned off. I picked up the phone Brendon had given me and turned it over in my hand. Was it too late to text him? I had no idea when he went to bed.

  My thumb hovered over the buttons. The thought of Brendon coming to break me out of my room in the middle of the night sent my stomach whirling. What if Daddy caught him? What if he was secretly outside my door, waiting for me to step out of line?

  My heart pounded, my blood rushing through my body like it couldn’t get to its destination fast enough. It suddenly felt hot in the room.

  "Are you sweating?" Noah asked.

  I wiped my forehead, the moisture absorbing into my hand. "It's hot."

  "No, it's not."

  "Hush." I glared at him. I wasn't in the mood for his attitude.

  I tiptoed over to the door and pressed my ear against it. After a few minutes, Daddy’s snores echoed down the hall, releasing some of the tension in me.

  Before I could talk myself out of it, I texted Brendon. It's safe.

  I didn't know what else to say or how much I could send in a text. I didn't even know if I'd done it right. Did it get to Brendon? Or someone else? My shaking hand dropped the phone when it buzzed.

  See you soon, Brendon wrote.

  My hands shot up to my hair. Did I look okay? Scrambling off the bed, I rushed to the mirror. My pale skin was unusually red. Heat erupted all over my body. Sweat glistened on my forehead, and I did my best to wipe it off. I didn't own makeup or anything to do my hair. Just a brush . . . that was in the bathroom.

  But I was locked in my room. I undid my braid and did a fishtail braid instead. It was the only thing I could think of. I could change it back when I got home.

  My window rattled, causing me to jump. I hadn’t expected Brendon to come so fast. Smoothing out my hair and clothes, I took a few deep breaths before I went to the window and pulled back the curtain. I'd already taken out the loose bar so I could escape.

  A smile spread on my face when I saw Brendon standing there, grinning at me. But then my smile slipped off, falling to the ground with an obvious thud. Jenna stood next to him. She was dressed in black, completely clashing with her personality. She’d even put on black eye shadow. Her hair hung loosely around her shoulders.

  I creased my forehead, confused. Brendon shrugged, his happy smile switching to an apologetic one. I opened the window.

  “Like my look?” Jenna somehow whisper shouted. “I was going for a criminal feel.” Her gaze settled on the bars on my window. "What's with the prison style window?"

  "It was here when we bought the place." The words tumbled out of my mouth. I took a breath to calm myself. "Daddy never got around to removing them."

  Brendon held out his hand to me. "Let's get this party started."

  I handed Jenna my backpack and then let Brendon help me through the window.

  "Isn't that a fire hazard or something?" Jenna asked, pointing at the bars.

  "That's why I removed one," I said. "So I could escape."

  Brendon leaned in close, whispering in my ear. "Sorry. When I went to get the fabric, she insisted on coming along."

  "It's okay," I whispered. Only, it wasn't. It was one more person I had to worry about getting hurt.

  Brendon took my hand, and the three of us walked over to his house. A few houses had their porch lights on, but the others were dark and uninviting, making me want to hurry on by.

  When we arrived, I was surprised how close he lived to me. Only a couple blocks away. His house looked like all the others in the quaint neighborhood. Daddy had driven by Brendon's house every day on the way to school, and I'd never known. It was one of the houses I imagined knowing the people who lived inside, and now I truly did.

  Brendon opened the front door and walked in, pulling me in with him. The TV in the front room was on. A guy who looked a couple years older and had the same red hair as Brendon sat on the couch in a T-shirt and boxers. Nothing else. Was that normal? Why didn't he have on pants? I blushed, doing my best not to look. The thought of Brendon in the same thing lit a fire inside and my blood practically boiled. Stupid hormones.

  The guy looked up, smiling wide at me and Jenna. "Two girls?" He looked at the clock. "After midnight. I'm proud of you, bro."

  Brendon rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Dylan."

  Jenna tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled shyly, making sure her braces didn’t show. "Hi." Her eyes were on Dylan.

  Dylan had his eyes on the TV, though. "Hey."

  "You don't need to know my brother," Brendon said. He squeezed my hand and then took us toward the stairs.

  I stopped and stared at a picture on the wall. Brendon, Dylan, and their mom and dad smiled back at me. They all wore green. It was the first time I’d seen Brendon in a button-down shirt – and I liked it.

  They looked like the happy family I’d always imagined. Was it real? Or forced? The pictures next to it were the four of them goofing around, all laughing and making funny faces for the camera. Definitely real.

  Their mom had red hair and freckles, just like Brendon’s. She looked so friendly and kind. When my focus landed on his dad, all I could see was Daddy. I shivered and looked away.

  “Mom makes us do these pictures every year,” Brendon said. “And we happily oblige since she’s the best cook in the world.”

  He tugged on my arm and guided us upstairs. I’d expected to sneak up there, walk quietly and carefully, but Brendon just went up like it was no big deal to be bringing two girls into his room in the middle of the night. A light came from a room down the hall, and I could hear the faint sound of a TV.

  "Here we are." Brendon let go of my hand and plopped down on his bed, landing on the side of his arm. The bed was much bigger than my own. He wasn’t a big guy, so I wasn’t sure why he needed so much room while he slept.

  Brendon’s bedroom walls were covered in posters, filled with people I didn't know. I moved in close to one and noticed the spider logo he once wore on a shirt. The guy was completely covered in a red and blue costume, hanging upside down from a building. It said Spiderman on the bottom.

  "Nice room," Jenna said, sitting down on the carpeted floor. She placed some Velcro and her bag of fabric next to her and began pulling it out, arranging them by colors.

  I sat down next to Jenna and took the paint out of my backpack. Brendon turned on the radio and then grabbed a soda from a mini fridge next to his bed.

  “You ladies want a drink?”

  We both shook our heads no, so Brendon sat down close to me, popped open the can of Dr Pepper, and gave me a small smile. He already had the plastic bottles ready on the floor.

  "This is kinda cool," Jenna said. "It feels so mysterious, like we're in some sort of secret club." She held up a piece of pink argyle fabric. "I love this one. You have to use it."

  I took it from her and set it in front of me. I’d started to sweat from being in a guy’s room, so I undid my top button and rolled up my sleeves, making sure to stop at the elbows. Anything above that would expose
my bruises.

  Jenna whistled. “Look at you, showing some skin.” She leaned toward me. “You should seriously do it more often. I’ve never wanted to say anything because you have your look set in stone, but a little variety wouldn’t hurt. I could let you borrow some of my shirts if you want.”

  We had a lot to do in a very limited window of time, so I just smiled politely at her and went to work. Jenna kept up the conversation, pretty much talking the whole time. Brendon and I stayed quiet, me intently working, Brendon keeping his focus mostly on me.

  The heat in my cheeks wouldn't go away. Any time I glanced at him, he smiled in a way that melted me.

  But boys were bad – Daddy said so all the time.

  So why didn't Brendon seem bad?

  "How many times have you been in here, Cora?" Jenna's gaze passed back and forth between me and Brendon.

  The heat flared all over my face and neck. I wanted to undo another button. When I stole a glance at Brendon, even he had the smallest blush on his face. That never happened to him.

  "I've lost count," Brendon said, replacing his blush with a smirk.

  "Five times," I said, gluing down a piece of fabric against the plastic. Making the bands became easier with each one. Only silence answered me, so I looked up to find both Brendon and Jenna staring at me. I'd said something wrong again.

  "You've seriously counted?" Jenna finally asked.

  I raised my eyebrows at her. "Wouldn't you?"

  A small laugh escaped her mouth, and she didn’t bother hiding her braces. "You know I would."

  Just like that, Brendon covered up his mouth to hold back a laugh, and the tension in the room disappeared.

  "You going to the game Tuesday night?" Jenna asked. Her eyes told me she was waiting for me to say no.

  "I was hoping we could go together."

  Jenna’s jaw dropped in surprise, and then a smile burst across her face.

  Brendon pulled back in surprise. "You're going?"