by Melissa Aden
“I’m just saying you don’t know Hagen like I do.”
“I know him better than you think,” Everett said softly.
“Sure,” I said, too spent to fight.
“I’m honestly relieved you haven’t fallen for him because there are things you don’t know about him, things he’s hidden from you.” I looked at Everett skeptically and he added, “Like, after you ran from his car tonight, he left campus for JB’s, a bar in town.”
“How do you know?”
“Sophie, I… care about you… a lot. As you know, I’ve never had a good feeling about Hagen, so I’ve kept an eye on him. He was also at JB’s on Wednesday after he left your dorm.”
I slapped my hand over my mouth.
“Your beloved boy toy lives a double life,” Everett said calmly.
I was stopped in my tracks. It was like the room had been spinning all around me and now came to a sudden halt. Everything stood still. I could hardly breathe. It was just as Everett had said about my intuition. I’d had inklings that there was more to Hagen than he let on but always dismissed those thoughts, thinking them too bizarre to actually be true.
“I’ve said too much,” Everett said, looking distraught. “I’m sorry. This was a bad idea. I’ll stop.”
“No, please. Tell me more. I’ve been hanging out with Hagen for over three months now. I deserve to know.”
A knock came at Mia’s front door then.
Everett got up and looked into the door’s peephole before whispering, “Speak of the devil. It’s Boy Toy.”
Chapter 23
Means to an End
My mind reeled. What was Hagen doing at Mia’s? After my escapade, he was probably looking for me, but I didn’t want to see him.
“He’s probably looking for you,” Everett said, confirming the thought.
“I told him I had to write a paper tonight,” I explained, trying to think fast. “Give me a second before you answer the door.” I was already up and running for my dorm.
“Are you sure you want to see him?” Everett called.
“No,” I answered truthfully, pausing at the adjoining door. “But I should.”
“Just promise me you’ll do what’s best for you. And be careful.”
“Okay.”
I ran to my room, turned on my desk lamp, and frantically searched for my backpack among the towels and clothes littering the floor. Finding it, I yanked the zipper open and poured its contents out on my bed, grabbed the library books I’d checked out for my paper, and splayed them over my desk. Plopping down at my desk, I concentrated on controlling my breathing, knowing the charade wouldn’t be believable if I was out of breath. For good measure, I found my iPod and, turning the volume up, plugged the earbuds into my ears.
Hagen peeked into my bedroom just then.
“Hagen!” I greeted him, trying to sound enthusiastic yet a little surprised. “How’d you get in here?” I pulled my earbuds from my ears.
“Everett let me in through Mia’s dorm,” he answered. I noticed how he spit Everett’s name. “Where have you been? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for the past hour.”
“I’ve been here in my room,” I replied innocently. “I took a bath and now I’m working on my research paper.” I held up a book.
“But I’ve been calling you. When you didn’t answer, I finally decided to come over and see if I could talk to you in person. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
I thought fast. Where was my cell? Finding my purse on the bed, I took out my phone. Sure enough, there were thirty-two missed calls. “I’m so sorry. I set the ringer to silent when we were at dinner tonight.” It was the truth.
“Oh. Then why didn’t you answer your front door?”
“I was listening to music,” I said, pointing to my iPod.
Hagen exhaled exasperatedly, sitting on my bed. “I was worried about you, Sophie.”
I felt bad for having put him out, but only a little. Between my awkward moment with Hagen earlier in the night and fear of the unknown things Everett never got to tell me about him, I was on edge.
“Sorry. I guess I was in the zone. You know how I get when I’m doing my homework.”
“The way you enjoy school is deplorable,” he scoffed. I was relieved he was buying it. “By the way, keep the door that connects to Mia’s place shut.”
I didn’t like his tone. “Why? I like Mia.”
“Yeah, but Everett is over there. He could barge in on you. That’s not safe or smart.”
His attitude rubbed me the wrong way. Who was he to arrive unannounced, guilt trip me, and then chastise me? I wasn’t having it. “Thanks for the lecture, but I trust Mia’s taste in friends. And Everett is harmless.”
“Whatever! Everyone knows Mia is a mindless debutard and Everett is a freak. You’ve heard the rumors about him.”
“No, I haven’t,” I clarified. “Nor do I care to,” I added, knowing how much Hagen loved to gossip. I feigned interest in my book hoping he would get the hint and leave.
“I wouldn’t trust that guy. If you heard what people said about him, neither would you.” The hatred in his voice threw me. It was my turn to scoff. “I’m serious,” Hagen said, growing angry. “He could be a maniacal murderer lying in wait or a serial rapist. People lie about who they are all the time. He could have a double life or something.”
I froze, my intuition telling me Hagen was talking more about himself than Everett. “Stop being dramatic. No high school student is smart enough to pull off the intricacies of having a double identity.”
“It’s easier than you think,” Hagen said cryptically. “If he got away with murder, there’s no telling what else he’s capable of.”
“Murder?”
“You weren’t joking. You seriously haven’t heard.” He seemed fascinated.
I continued pretending to read. “I don’t have time for this. I need to finish my paper.”
“The story goes that Everett has — or had — a twin brother,” Hagen said, ignoring me. “His name was Benjamin. They attended Brightman and were really popular, made good grades, were sports heroes — the whole nine yards. Then last spring, everything changed.” My interest piqued, I looked up. Hagen smiled, reveling in my full attention. “Benjamin disappeared. No one knows what happened to him. Search parties were sent out all over town. Much of Brightman’s student body even helped, but nothing was found.”
“What happened?”
“Word is that Everett and Benjamin had a nasty fight over some girl. Everett liked this girl, but she liked Benjamin. Benjamin asked the girl to Brightman’s spring dance, and the guys supposedly got in a heated argument over it during lunch one day. They were seen having a stand off and yelling at each other about her, Rose or Razz or something or other. I’ve asked around and no one seems to know who she is. Anyway, their very public fight was on a Friday and, by Monday, Benjamin was nowhere to be found.”
“And so everyone automatically speculated that Everett killed him? That’s absurd!” I was astonished at the conclusions people jumped to. How could anyone think such things about Everett, especially if they knew him at all?
“People have killed for lesser things,” Hagen replied flippantly.
“Well, Everett obviously was never charged by the police.”
“Don’t be stupid!” Hagen rolled his eyes. “Like most kids at Brightman, he’s rich. His parents probably paid the police off.”
“Whatever. Everett is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.”
“That’s what he wants you to think. If he honestly murdered his brother, do you think he’d be drawing unwanted attention by being a jerk at every turn? Since Benjamin went missing, he’s taken a total one-eighty. He doesn’t play sports anymore, one of the teacher’s assistants told me his grades have dramatically dropped, and he’s anti-social. It’s all an act, Sophie.”
I stared at Hagen in disbelief. He sat haughtily on my bed like a perfect statue, handsome at every angle, his out
stretched legs crossed at the ankles and his arms smugly folded over his chest. But despite his good looks, I saw past Hagen’s pretty outer shell to the reality that he was truly ugly and grotesque. He was careless, selfish, maybe even soulless, and I wanted nothing to do with him.
“Did you ever stop to think that maybe Everett is grieving?” I asked, remembering what it was like after Mom died. If the timing of Hagen’s story was accurate, it hadn’t even been a year since Benjamin had disappeared. “Why are you here?” I demanded.
Hagen frowned at me, confused. “You left so abruptly tonight. I wanted to make sure you weren’t mad at me, or that I hadn’t done something wrong.”
“I wasn’t upset with you before you came over, but I can’t say that now.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“How dare you spread awful rumors about Everett? He’s been through a lot and he doesn’t deserve it.”
“I’m not spreading rumors!” Hagen said, instantly on the defense. “The story has already been spread. You’re honestly the first person I’ve come across who hasn’t already heard about it. And I only gave you the bare bones version. I didn’t go into the conspiracy theories of how Everett killed him or what he said that day at lunch, or even—”
“Enough, Hagen!” I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “You should go.”
“What?”
“I need to work on my paper,” I said, turning my back on him.
“Fine.” He stood up. “See you tomorrow.” He stormed out.
I listened as Hagen’s footsteps faded towards the front door but never heard the door open or close. I held my breath straining to hear what he was doing. I suddenly heard footsteps coming closer, and, before I knew what was happening, Hagen leaned over me at my desk. His weight supported by his hands on either side of me and his cheek parallel to mine, I was trapped.
“What are you doing?” I asked, making no attempt to hide my irritation.
“I can’t leave without doing something I promised myself I would do. Kiss me,” he ordered.
I couldn’t believe he was pushing this. I panicked for but a moment before remembering my promise to Everett. I knew what was best for me and that wasn’t Hagen. I calmly turned in my seat, pushing him away.
Looking him in the eyes, I said, “I don’t want to kiss you, and I don’t want to date you either.” I’d been so afraid to make a definitive decision but, now that I had, I was resolute and felt at peace with it. I would not be moved.
“What!?!” he growled. My response had clearly caught him off guard.
“It doesn’t feel right. We’re not supposed to be together.”
“It doesn’t feel right?” he asked mockingly. He shook his head. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
Something about the look in his eyes scared me, like he was about to snap. And then, out of nowhere, it happened. His finger was in my face and he spoke between clenched teeth, his words slashing through me like knives.
“You’ll be sorry you did this. You’re nothing without me. Nothing! You’ll regret this. After I’m done with you, no one will want to touch you.” He charged me. I scrambled out of the way. He upended my desk. “Three months, Sophie!” he screamed. “Three. Months. You’d think after three months, you’d at least feel you owe me a kiss. A simple kiss. But no. You’re nothing but an ungrateful—”
“I don’t owe you anything,” I yelled, doing my best to hide the storm of emotion churning under my glassy surface.
“Screw you!” he screamed, veins pulsing in his neck and face.
“No, thanks. I just told you I’m not interested.”
He lunged at me, pinning me against the wall. Raising his fist in the air, I flinched. He stopped short of my face. Shaking his fist, he screamed. My composure broke. I began crying. Grabbing my shoulders, he shook me, yelling obscenities. Overcome with fear, all I could do was cry until…
“Is everything alright over here?”
Hagen and I turned to see Everett and Mia in the doorway. Everett glared threateningly at Hagen, clenching and unclenching his jaw. Mia peeked from behind him looking more like me: on the verge of tears and scared stupid.
Things were obviously far from okay. Tears streamed down my face as Hagen’s hold on me tightened, his nails digging into my flesh.
“You’re hurting me,” I whimpered.
“Shut up,” he growled.
“Let her go,” Everett said in a calm but authoritative voice.
Hagen shoved me backwards into the wall. I sunk to the floor in a sobbing heap. Mia was by my side in an instant, holding and consoling me.
“Look who’s here to save the day,” Hagen jeered. “Murder Mystery Extraordinaire Everett Sinclair! We were just talking about you. How you killed your brother and expertly covered it up. Mind sharing how you pulled it off, Ev?” Hagen asked with exaggerated enthusiasm.
“It would be in your best interest to leave,” Everett replied firmly.
“It would be in your best interest to mind your own business,” Hagen snapped.
“Sophie is my business,” Everett growled, his face tightening.
Determined to prevent a fistfight in the middle of my room, I spoke up. “I agree. You need to leave. Now,” I said, quietly but sternly.
“See. She wants you gone, freak.” Hagen smiled arrogantly.
“No, Hagen. I mean you,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
“What?” He spun around in disbelief. “You’re siding with him?” He started towards me but the fierce look on Mia’s face stopped him short. His face softened as he looked into my eyes. “Please don’t do this. I’m sorry, okay? Give us another shot. We’re great together. I know we can make this work.”
I could feel the numbness spreading through me from his gaze but refused to let it control me anymore. “No,” I said, resolutely.
“Don’t make any rash decisions,” Hagen begged. “Let’s get out of here. Talk things over.”
Everett took a protective step forward and Mia tightened her hold around me. Drawing strength from their support, I help my ground. “No, Hagen. Leave!”
He darkened. “I’m not coming back.”
Standing to my feet, I said, “Good. Go!”
Hagen was dumbfounded. He looked at Everett and back to me, the red, hot hatred in his eyes conjuring my awful reoccurring nightmares about him. All along, I’d somehow known he was dangerous.
“Fine, but this isn’t over,” Hagen seethed, leaving the room. He paused at my bedroom doorway, adding over his shoulder, “Mark my words. You will be sorry.” With that, he stomped to the front door, slamming it hard behind him.
Chapter 24
After Shock
Sophie, Mia, and I stared at each other in shock. Tension hung in the air like moisture on a humid day. Then like a bolt, Sophie whizzed past Mia and me. We followed her. She quickly locked her front door before standing on her tiptoes to look out the peep hole.
“Good idea,” Mia whispered to me. “I should make sure my front door is locked, too.”
I nodded to her before approaching Sophie, cautiously placing my hand on her shoulder. She jumped, her body tense. “What are you doing?” I asked.
“Shhh… he’s out there,” she whispered in a trembling voice.
I put my ear to the door and heard Hagen’s voice in the hallway. “May I see?”
Sophie hesitantly moved, putting her ear to the door as I had. I looked through the peephole to see Hagen talking on his cell phone in the hallway. Visibly distraught, he spoke loudly, allowing me to hear every word.
“I know, but—. No, sir. Yes. Just give me a little more time. I can do this. Trust me. Fine… but… Furlow? Are you there? Hello? Furlow!”
Whoever Furlow was, he or she had hung up. Hagen screamed and launched his phone into the wall with a loud crack. Sophie jumped.
I grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “You’re safe now. I won’t let him hurt you.”
She nodded, her eyes large wi
th fear and her chin quivering like she might cry. Hearing silence, she whispered, “Is he gone?”
Looking out again, I reported, “He’s pacing.”
Grabbing his phone off the ground, Hagen dialed. He took a deep breath, mussed his hair, and stood still.
“He’s calling someone else,” I said.
Hagen transformed. The anger drained from his face, replaced by a cocky smirk as he spoke in a smooth, calm tone. “Hey, babe,” he almost sang, his voice dripping like honey. He was suddenly all grace and charm, laughing delightedly at something said from the other end. “Of course it’s me. Who else would it be? You’re not seeing other guys are you? You know that would break my heart.”
“I knew it,” Sophie said, her face contorting.
I squeezed her hand tighter.
“I could never forget my favorite girl. Meet me tonight,” Hagen said. He listened intently. “Great. You know the place, right?” He paused. “I’m looking forward to it. See you, Becks.” He hung up. The perfect pretender, his serene smile dissipated back into an angry glare and he was on the move.
“He’s leaving!”
Sophie exhaled, sliding to the floor.
My mind raced. I wanted to follow him, but Sophie clearly needed me. I’d made the mistake of not asking for help before. I wouldn’t do it again. Pulling my cell phone from my back pocket, I dialed.
“Who are you calling?” Mia asked, returning to the room.
“A friend,” I replied with a wink. “Stay with her.”
Mia nodded and went to Sophie as I walked into Sophie’s bedroom and shut the door. Sal’s secretary answered.
“Yes, this is Everett Sinclair. I need to speak to Director Salvatore, please. It’s urg—”
“Everett! He’s been waiting for your call. I’ll put you right through,” the secretary said.
A few seconds later, Sal barked, “Talk to me, Rett.”
“Hey, Sal. I just had a scuffle with Hagen Dibrom. Sophie is pretty shaken up and I need to tend to her, but Hagen’s on the move. Someone should probably tail him.”
“Is Sophie okay?”