Devils' Day Party: A High School Bully Romance - C.M. Stunich Page 0,23

ruined canvas sitting on the coffee table. Is that what this is about?

“Not really,” I say, stepping inside and pulling the door closed behind me. Despite everything, I’m still wearing my mask. I’m not sure why. Maybe because I don’t feel comfortable without it right now? Like the emotional mask I’m used to wearing is starting to fracture in places … “Why?”

“Honey, come sit down,” Cathy says, her green-gray eyes studying me with an even mixture of pity and parental frustration. I don’t like the way this is going. My gaze flicks back to Jane, clearly the more furious of the two.

“I don’t feel like sitting down,” I say, wishing I’d climbed in my window instead of coming through the front door. All I want right now is to be alone. “I’d rather just shower and go to bed, why?”

“Please sit down,” Cathy repeats, looking pleadingly in Jane’s direction. Cathy’s orange-red hair is braided, much like April’s, and splattered with paint. Her hands, too. Some of my earliest memories involve paint-covered arms enveloping me in lilac-scented hugs. Right now, however, the sight of Cathy wringing those colorful hands is filling me with dread.

“What is it?” I ask, my heart fluttering, my head spinning. I start to think of worst-case scenarios, like something happening to one of my little sisters, or finding out one of my parents was diagnosed with something awful …

“Do you know a boy named Calix Knight?” Jane asks, clearly struggling to maintain her composure. The blood drains from my face, and I feel my hands curling into fists at my sides. Is this about the Aston Martin? It has to be, right? But how could he say anything, after what the Knight Crew did to Little Bee?

“He goes to Crescent Prep,” I say with a shrug, trying to feign nonchalance when all I feel is dread. “Why?”

The moms exchange a look before turning back to me. It’s the way Cathy reaches for her phone that first sets me off. Please no, I think, exhaling sharply. One of my worst fears after being found naked with Calix in the treehouse was that he—or one of his awful friends—would have a video of some kind. Like, if it was all a trick, then surely he’d want evidence of it to hold over my head? For an entire year now, I’ve had this gnawing feeling low in my belly, this sense of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Are you two seeing each other?” Jane asks, and I shake my head. My tongue feels swollen and numb. I mean, so what if they saw the video, right? They’re both progressive, understanding parents, aren’t they? And it was just sex … Or maybe I’m overreacting and there’s no video at all? “From what Luke tells us, he bullies you. Why have you never mentioned it to me or Cathy?”

“When did you talk to Luke?” I ask, feeling my trepidation fade a little. The anger comes clawing back, raging through me like a monster on a rampage, like the mask on my face is a real thing, sweeping over and consuming me.

“We called you a few hours ago, but you didn’t answer,” Jane says, and I wonder how many times they called, and I didn’t notice, too intent on revenge against the Knight Crew. Because obviously they had to have talked to Luke before we dropped our phones at the gate. “So, we called Luke and talked to her about it. Apparently, she already knew.”

“Knew what?” I ask, looking to Cathy. Tears prick the edges of her eyes as she stands up from the couch.

“We’re not mad, honey,” she says, but Jane looks it. She looks furious. “But someone posted a video of you and that boy online …” My heart plummets to the floor and shatters, spattering the walls with metaphorical blood; my body begins to shake.

“Where? When?” I choke out, wishing I had my phone so I could look it up.

“We’ve been working to get the videos removed for hours,” Jane continues, “but it could be some time before they come down. Karma, is there something you want to tell us? Did that boy coerce you into sex? Did you give your consent?”

My head is spinning, and I have to put a hand up against the wall to steady myself.

“If he hurt you, baby …” Cathy starts, but I can’t breathe. Did Calix coerce me? Well, he lied to me, but that’s not a crime is it? It’s not against