But does it matter if he’s the reason I’m here in the first place?
“So, party this weekend?” Dan asks with a waggle of his brows.
“Wow. You really think I’d step foot in a party after what happened at the last party we were at?”
“You can’t let them bring you down. I bet they want you to stop having fun.”
“It was a hit and run, Dan. Pretty sure they wanted me dead, not to stop me from having fun.”
“You think they’re the same person who called help and gave as many details about you as possible?”
“I don’t think it’s the same person.”
My ‘saviour’ as Dan and I labelled him was the one who had a star tattoo on his forearm. Sort of like the star in the Sun-Moon-Star tattoo Mum made for me.
The responders found no one by my side when they came to get me.
Dan searches my face. “And you still remember nothing about that?”
I shake my head. Because of the fire, the police didn’t manage to retrieve any surveillance camera footage.
The facts were: I was drugged then hit by a car that night. My blood test results came up with a considerable dose of Ecstasy and some cocaine.
I think Dad was angrier about the drugs — and therefore his reputation — more than whether or not I remained alive.
Dad thought I used drugs of my own accord. He didn’t have to say it so I can feel it. He thinks I’m a complete disgrace to the Clifford name.
All he did was slap me with numerous therapies, coping, maintenance. It’s like I’m a machine who’s supposed to start running again after a few mechanics look into it.
He did the same after Mum’s death. He never stopped to ask if maybe I want to talk to him instead of some strangers.
To occupy myself, I’ve been visiting the deputy commissioner — a friend of Dad’s — and insisting on finding the bastard who did this to me.
If they thought I would cower into my shell and be a turtle, they will have a freaking ninja turtle on their hands.
Okay, that was lame, but all my similes are, anyway.
Mum and I didn’t have much, but we had our dignity. She taught me to never take other people’s rights, but to not let them take my right either.
If you don’t strike back, people will stomp all over you, Star.
Mum might not be here anymore, but her words are my mantras.
“You’re all I got so don’t go all emo on me.” Dan fist-bumps me and we release on a sound that resembles the ‘Big Bang.’ “Stay strong, bugger.”
“Strong is all I got, mate.” I nudge him with a shoulder. “I wasn’t always all rich and preppy like you.”
“Yes, miss East London.” He grins, saluting as he motions at the football team’s lockers direction. “I’m over here. See you in class.”
I wave at him with two fingers and continue down the hall. Energy pumps through my veins at the idea that all this will be over soon.
One more year.
I make my way towards the classroom when a hand slams on the doorframe right next to the side of my head. A tall frame blocks my entrance.
My vision snaps to the source and I freeze. Everyone in the hall seems to stop walking and talking altogether, too.
Levi King.
The same hypnotic eyes that pushed me to the brink of death stare down at me with a strange gleam. The other time, I saw interest mixed with menace, but now, it’s complete calculation.
“What do you want?” I snap, and I hear a few gasps around me.
No one snaps at Levi King. Kids here trip over themselves to keep him happy and comfy on his stupid throne.
I’m thankful my voice contains all the venom I feel for this bastard.
He knew I was drugged and still threw me out to be hunted down and left for dead.
Well, he only knew I was drugged. He couldn’t possibly have known someone drugged me unless he was the same arsehole did it.
But that’s the part that’s still fuzzy. If Levi drugged me, why didn’t he carry on with his plan and kick me out instead?
A change of mind, perhaps.
But why would he drug me anyway? He and I don’t cross paths. Ever.
He lives on the highest position of the food chain and I chose the low comfortable — and very invisible end — on purpose.
What made me visible to him?
That’s the only reason why I’m not going on full offence on him. That doesn’t