Empire High Betrayal

by Ivy Smoak

  I jumped. I didn’t realize he was right in front of me. I couldn’t get the words out. I couldn’t breathe through my tears.

  “Brooklyn, what happened?” His hands were on my face, trying to get me to focus on him.

  “Don’t you dare touch her again, James,” Rachel said. “I swear to God.”

  He didn’t listen to her. He just stared at me, his hands still on my cheeks.

  And for some reason his kindness made me cry harder.

  “You’re safe, Brooklyn,” James said. “Talk to me.” His hands were too gentle on my face. It was such a contrast to everything I’d experienced in the last hour.

  I just wanted to go curl into a ball on the floor and sleep. I couldn’t speak. The words wouldn’t come. I tried to pull the map back up to cover my exposed bra. As if that would make this situation any better.

  He was staring at me so intensely. “Did Matt do this?”

  What? “No.” I finally found my voice. “Isabella. It was Isabella.”

  “Jesus.” He let go of my face. He stepped around me and grabbed the door handle.

  “What are you doing? You can’t leave. You can’t tell Isabella I’m here. She has Kennedy. She said she’d kill Kennedy if I didn’t leave town. She can’t know I’m still here. She had a gun. And a bomb.” It sounded so ridiculous that I thought he’d just laugh and tell me to leave and stop ruining his night. That he’d just ignore me like everyone else.

  Instead, he shook his head. “Isabella’s always been nuts, but she’s officially lost her mind.”

  Had she ever had it? “I don’t know what to do.” I wiped the tears from my cheeks, but it was no use. My eyes weren’t nearly as dehydrated as the rest of me. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go. I’m so sorry, James. I didn’t know that you’d be…” my voice trailed off.

  “It’s homecoming,” Rachel said. “Of course he’d be with his girlfriend.”

  He ran his hand through his hair so roughly that I was surprised he didn’t pull any out.

  “Mr. Pruitt…” He took a step back. “Mr. Pruitt was in the lobby causing a scene right before we came up here. I didn’t hear what he was yelling about. But he’s probably still here. Let me call downstairs.” He ran over to the hotel phone.

  “Where the heck is my dress?” Rachel said as she looked under the bed. Then she turned to me. “Can’t you wait outside?”

  I shook my head. “I can’t leave. I can’t risk Isabella finding out that I’m still in town.”

  “James, do you seriously believe her?” Rachel asked. “She’s probably just trying to get your attention. You led her on.”

  Oh come on. Like I’d do this to get James’ attention, when I already had it fully clothed earlier tonight.

  He was still on the phone and he held up his finger to her.

  She cursed under her breath. “This is the freaking worst night ever,” she said. She abandoned looking for her dress and walked over to the door. “Move.”

  I shook my head. “You can’t leave.”

  “You don’t get to tell me what to do,” Rachel said. “You don’t get to kiss my boyfriend at homecoming and then come in here demanding his attention. Haven’t you already done enough damage for one night?”

  Hadn’t she? And she was being awfully territorial when she was the one that had cheated on him.

  “Rachel, you can’t go,” James said. “This isn’t a joke. She said Isabella had a gun and a bomb.”

  Rachel laughed and lifted her hands in the air. “A bomb? Seriously? Where would a prissy high school girl get a bomb? It doesn’t even make any sense. I don’t know Isabella very well, but she doesn’t seem like some insane evil villain to me. I only hate her because your mother loves her and is always trying to gently nudge you two together. But that doesn’t mean Isabella is a monster. It means your mom is. God, why are we even talking about this right now?”

  I had no idea why we were talking about James’ mother right now. This felt like a private conversation. Could tonight be any more awkward?

  “You brought it up,” James said. “You know I don’t like Isabella. We’ve talked about this a million times.”

  Rachel glared at him. “All I know is that Brooklyn kissed you. And either she goes, or I do.”

  “Brooklyn isn’t leaving. And neither are you,” James said and grabbed her arm. “You’re not even wearing any clothes, babe.”

  “Which is apparently your thing,” she said and gestured toward me.

  “Come on, Rachel.”

  “No.” She took a step away from him. “I can’t believe you’re taking her side. This…you…ugh!” she screamed. She turned in a circle looking for her dress again. “And where is my dress?!”

  “It’s in the bathroom,” James said.

  Rachel started toward the bathroom door.

  “Yeah, I kissed her,” James said. “And I gave her a keycard to my room. Because you cheated on me, Rachel. And our relationship has nothing to do with the fact that Brooklyn’s in trouble.”

  “You’re full of shit. You’re just trying to torture me.” She shifted the comforter on her body so she could fit through the bathroom door and slammed it behind her.

  James cringed.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m so…”

  “Don’t.” James ran his hand through his hair. “Don’t apologize when you haven’t done anything wrong.” He looked down at my bloody knee and grabbed a tissue from the table behind him. “The front desk said Mr. Pruitt was still there. He’ll be up in just a minute.” He leaned down and put the tissue against my knee. “I’d say we should clean up that cut, but I guess Rachel’s hogging the bathroom.” He laughed, but it sounded forced.

  “James, I didn’t mean to ruin your relationship. I…”

  “You didn’t ruin anything. We’re going to be fine.”

  “It doesn’t seem like you guys are fine.”

  He shrugged. “Well, maybe she shouldn’t have cheated on me.” He was acting like he didn’t care, but I could tell that he did.

  “I really do think it was just a kiss,” I said. “I don’t think she slept with Matt.”

  He shook his head. “Does it really matter? How would you feel if you found out Matt was kissing someone else while you were dating?”

  I swallowed hard. I had kissed someone while I was kind of dating Matt. Was that the same as this? Rachel was upset and went to Matt. I was upset and went to Miller. My stomach churned. “It sounds like she’s sorry. Maybe you should give her the benefit of the doubt. Besides, didn’t you get even?”

  “I love her. I love her so fucking much and she betrayed my trust. I’d have to do a lot more to get even.”

  “That doesn’t sound very healthy.”

  “I didn’t say I was going to do it.” He lowered his eyebrows again. “Are you seriously analyzing my relationship right now? You’re the one that came here instead of going to Matt. Maybe your relationship is as unhealthy as mine.”

  “Matt lives outside the city. It would have taken me forever to walk to his house.”

  James stared at me. “You still chose to come to me.”

  “Because I had your keycard.”

  “You still chose me.”

  I laughed.

  “That,” he said. He reached up and lightly touched the bottom of my chin. “That. Don’t let Isabella ever take that away from you.”

  I swallowed hard. “Take what away?”

  “Your happiness. Your hope.” His eyes drifted to my lips. “Your innocence.”

  My heartbeat kicked up a notch.

  He closed his eyes for a second, his eyebrows drawn together. “I want to kiss you again,” he whispered. “And I don’t know if it’s because I like you. Or because I want to make Rachel feel like I did when she kissed Matt. Or because you remind me of what Rachel was like when we first met. Before my world corrupted her. Or because I’m still mad at her. Or if it’s because you’re hurt. I don’t know why.” He opened his eyes and they bore
into mine. “But I want to.”

  I stared back at him. “Making a second mistake doesn’t right the first one.”

  “Kissing you wasn’t a mistake, Brooklyn.”

  Yes it was. “I was actually referring to Rachel kissing Matt.”

  “You really think it was just one kiss?” he asked. “You really believe him?”

  “I do.”

  James’ eyes travelled back to my lips. “I don’t. I don’t trust a word out of his mouth. And I still want to kiss you.”

  I knew he didn’t mean it. He was just hurting. “I think you’re just scared that Rachel doesn’t love you back anymore,” I said. I knew the feeling. I was currently worried that Matt wouldn’t love me back once I told him about Miller. “And maybe you think I could fix that feeling. But I can’t.”

  “Maybe you could.”

  I looked up at him. “I’m not going to kiss you again. But I won’t turn down a hug. I could really use one.”

  He laughed. “Yeah. I can do that.” He pulled me into his arms. “You’re going to be okay, Brooklyn. I’ve got you. Everything is going to be okay.”

  I didn’t know if anything would ever be okay again. A revenge kiss hadn’t made James feel any better. Would revenge against Isabella be just as bitter? I wasn’t sure if I cared if it was. I wanted her to feel the same way I had tonight. I wanted her to suffer.

  “You’re safe now,” he whispered against my ear.

  I wasn’t safe. I wasn’t sure I’d be safe unless Isabella died before she had a chance to kill me. But I wasn’t a murderer. I wasn’t her. So why did I so badly want her to die? I closed my eyes tight. I just wanted to wake up from this nightmare. I wanted to be back home with my mom. I wanted to rewind time.

  A loud bang on the door made me jump. Oh God. What if Isabella had already found me?

  Chapter 3

  Saturday

  I backed away from James and the door. “How did she find me?” It felt like my lungs wouldn’t inflate. Was Kennedy okay? Had Isabella already gotten rid of her? I can’t breathe.

  James put his hands out like he was dealing with a crazy animal instead of me. “It’s probably just Mr. Pruitt, Brooklyn. The front desk said he would be right up.”

  Whoever it was started knocking harder and I jumped.

  “It’s okay,” James said.

  It sounded like someone was hitting the door with a gun. “No, it’s her. James, don’t answer. Please just let me spend the night. Please.” I was gasping for air. I shouldn’t have let him call downstairs. Isabella had eyes and ears everywhere. She knew. She freaking knew.

  He lowered his eyebrows. “Brooklyn, it’s okay.”

  I tried to tighten my map around me, but instead it started to tear down the middle. Shit. I didn’t want to die half-naked in James’ hotel room. Everyone would actually remember me as a prostitute. I didn’t want that to be my legacy.

  James moved toward the door.

  “No! You can’t.” I couldn’t breathe.

  He looked out the peephole. “It’s one of Mr. Pruitt’s bodyguards.”

  Oh my God, it was probably Donnelley. Isabella must have sent him to finish me off. “Don’t answer it.”

  “Brooklyn, you’re being ridiculous. He’s here to take you home.”

  “I can’t go home! She’ll kill me!” How was he not getting this?

  “It’s fine,” James said. And then he completely ignored my pleas and grabbed the door handle.

  “Please, James. I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t answer the door. I’ll kiss you, okay? Don’t answer the door and I’ll kiss you.”

  “I’m not going to kiss you when you’re freaking out. Let’s put a pin in that for now.” He started to open the door.

  Had he lost his damned mind? I would have run into the bathroom to hide if Rachel wasn’t already hiding out in there. So I did the first thing I could think of and ducked behind one of the curtains. My heart was beating so fast, I swore it was the only thing I could hear.

  “Where is she?” said a deep voice.

  Donnelley. I didn’t know him that well, but it sounded like him to me. Isabella had sent him to kill me. I threw my hand over my mouth so he wouldn’t hear me crying.

  There was a long pause.

  “I don’t know where she went,” James said. “She was right here a second ago. Brooklyn? It’s okay, you can come out."

  Right into Donnelley’s trap? No freaking way. I felt behind me for the latch to the window, but I couldn’t find one. Wasn’t this a fire hazard? What kind of fancy hotel made their rooms death traps?

  “Brooklyn,” Donnelley said. “You can come out. I’m not here to hurt you.”

  Like hell you’re not. Why was he doing this? I let Isabella abandon me in that parking lot in part to keep his secret. I ran miles in my bra to protect him. And now he was going to kill me? Fuck this guy.

  I could hear footsteps getting closer to my hiding spot.

  No. No, no, no. I was too young to die. But I knew better than to believe that. Life could be cut short. And I was going to do my best to hold on a little longer. I tried to take a gulp of air and my throat made a squeaking noise. Crap.

  The curtain flew open and Donnelley was standing there frowning at me with what I assumed was a murderous expression.

  Not today. I did the first thing I could think of and threw my map at his face.

  He yelled and I slipped past him.

  “What are you doing?!” James yelled.

  Donnelley lunged for me and I dodged him by hopping onto the bed.

  “Brooklyn, he’s here to help,” James said. He was staring at me like I was crazy.

  And maybe I was. I was jumping on James’ bed in my underwear. I looked over at James and he was staring at my breasts as I jumped. What the hell is happening? I had no idea how my night had turned into this. But I couldn’t trust Donnelley. He was an extension of Isabella. That conclusion wasn’t crazy. It just made logical sense.

  Donnelley tore the map from his face and ran to the side of the bed. I bounced to the other side and tossed a pillow at him to slow him down.

  “Get down,” James said, his eyes still focused on only one part of me.

  Good idea. I threw another pillow at Donnelley and then leapt off the bed. James sidestepped and caught me in his arms.

  “Calm down,” he said.

  His voice was so calm. Normally I would have found it soothing. But not when I was about to die.

  I pushed him off of me, knocking him back into Donnelley.

  “Brooklyn!” James yelled.

  “What is going on out here?” Rachel shrieked as she reemerged from the bathroom fully dressed.

  “Get back in there! Save yourself!” I gasped as I ran past Rachel and out into the hall.

  “Stop telling me what to do!” she yelled back. “James! Don’t you dare go after her!”

  I looked both ways to see which way I should make my escape. That stupid football player who couldn’t close the deal was still standing there with his girlfriend. It didn’t really matter if they saw me again.

  The girl gasped. “What did James do to her?”

  High school gossip was the last thing on my mind as I sprinted down the hall. Let them think the worst. They already thought I was a prostitute.

  “Stop!” Donnelley yelled from behind me.

  “Brooklyn come back!” James said from somewhere closer behind me.

  I looked over my shoulder. James was running down the hall after me. I felt bad for running from him. But if I stopped for him, I stopped for Donnelley.

  “Brooklyn!” James yelled. “What the hell are you doing? I’m trying to help you!”

  His voice was so close. He was going to catch me. I ran toward the stairs, gasping for air. Everything hurt, but my chest hurt the most. I tried to take a deep breath like Rob had told me to do when I was panicking earlier tonight. But I couldn’t. My vision was starting to blur.

  I ran into the stairwell. Someone w
as cleaning up my bloody footprints. They didn’t look pleased that I was leaving a trail of more footprints. But they could have also been frowning at me for running around in my underwear. I didn’t freaking know and I didn’t freaking care.

  I heard his bucket topple over and I just hoped it was Donnelley tripping over it instead of James.

  I picked up my pace and ran down the stairs as fast as I could. When I reached the first floor, there was someone dressed in a rent-a-cop outfit coming toward me from the kitchen hall. I couldn’t trust a hotel security guard any more than I could trust Donnelley.

  But I hesitated a moment too long.

  James grabbed my arm. “What are you running from? Donnelley came to take you home.”

  “He’s in on it, James. He’s the one that was driving. He left me there.”

  “Fuck.”

  We both looked up the stairs. We could hear Donnelley’s footsteps, but we couldn’t see him.

  “This way.” James opened the door to the main part of the hotel. His hand slipped into mine as we ran down the hall. We turned left and his fingers tightened around mine. We ran down another hall until we ended up running into the lobby.

  Shit. “Someone from school will see us,” I said and tried to take a step back. But then I saw the only face that I knew for sure would help me. Mr. Pruitt was arguing with the man at the front desk. His suit coat was wrinkled and his hair was askew. He looked a mess. And I said the first thing that popped into my head. “Dad.” My voice cracked as my tears spilled down my cheeks.

  His eyes softened at the name.

  I let go of James’ hand and ran into the lobby.

  He ran over to me. “Sweetheart.” He pulled me into his arms. “I thought you were dead.” His voice was raspy, like he’d been crying too. “I thought I lost you.” He kissed the top of my head as he held me tight. “Thank God you’re alright.”

  I buried my face in his chest. “Dad.” It was suddenly the only word I knew.

  “You’re okay.” He kissed the top of my head again. “I’m here now.”

  I knew I was safe as long as I was with him. But I wasn’t worried about me. “She’s going to kill Kennedy. She’s going to kill Kennedy.” I kept saying it over and over again.