Her big brown eyes fill with tears, and for a moment, images of her at every stage flash through my mind. That doe-eyed look has gotten her many things over the years. I glance at Josslyn and my heart sinks. Her wobbling lip, the sadness in her eyes. There’s no doubt in my mind that if something happens to this girl, I’ll die. Literally, physically, and metaphorically, I will cease to exist.
The megaphone turns on and the man starts speaking again. “Please call us. We will give you anything. Everything will be okay.”
“What thefuck,Mallory?!”
For a moment, she just stares. “Did you really care that I died or were you just using it as an excuse to get close tomyfriend?”
“Are you fucking…” I say, and pause. Is that what this is about?Attention?“Of course I fucking cared! How could you … why would you … they identified your body.”
“I know,” she says, chin wobbling. “I … I had to have my teeth knocked out.”
My head starts to spin again. “Why? why would you do this?”
“I wanted out!” she wails.
“Out of what!?” I shout, my anger overpowering my disbelief. My heart launches into my throat when the gun at her side slips a little before she grips it tightly again. “Put the gun down, Mal.”
“What are you even doing here?” she asks, her eyes filling with tears. “You’re supposed to be out of town! You’re supposed to be in the middle of a game! You NEVER leave games!”
From the couch, Josslyn makes a light whimpering sound. I don’t dare take my eyes off my sister. I try to think of something to say that might appease her, but come up short because what she’s saying is true. I don’t leave games or practices or meetings, but for Josslyn … I’d leave the league in a fucking heartbeat. My breath hitches when Mallory shakily moves the gun and points it at my chest. Josslyn wails for her to stop. Stoic mindset and all, being on the other side of a gun is fucking terrifying, especially when the person holding it is unhinged.
“Come on, Mal,” I coax despite the riot of emotions inside me. “Put the gun down.”
“You first,” she says, hands shaking wildly now. “You put yours down first.”
“YouknowI don’t want to shoot you.”
“But you would?” she squeaks. “You’d choose her over me?”
I’d choose her over anyone, I want to shout, but don’t.
“This isn’t a competition,” I say instead.
Mallory blinks hard and fast, new tears streaming down her face. “I just wanted a fresh start,” she says, her lip wobbling. “I just wanted a break from this life. From Mom and Dad. From Fairview society,” she cries, the gun shaking harder.
“You can have that. I’ll help you. I know you hate it, but you must have come back for a reason,” I manage to say, even though I don’t think I’ve breathed in five minutes.
“I didn’twantto come back,” she sobs, lowering the gun to her side. I take a step forward, but her eyes narrow and she starts to lift it again, so I step back again. “I didn’t want to come back, butthen Josslyn got back together with Tate, and then … then you…” She glares through her tears. “How could you do that to me?!”
“Do what?”
“Fall for her!”
Fuck.How could I not?
I swallow back those words. “My relationship with Josslyn has nothing to do with you.”
“You took her from me!” she shouts.
“I was never yours!” Josslyn shouts, her voice hoarse from screaming.
“YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN!” Mallory roars, her expression angry as she glances momentarily at Josslyn. “I just needed time! I needed time!”
Fear chokes me. I’ve read enough horrifying accounts of jealous murder-suicides to know nothing good can come from this. There’s no doubt in my mind that if she wasn’t my sister, I would have already put a bullet in her chest.
“Time for what?” I ask warily, wanting to keep her talking.
“Please get Tate out of here. He’s going to die,” Josslyn pleads brokenly as tears fall down her face. Her eyes move to mine. “Finn. Please get him out.”
