AdmittingIwas the stalker painted me to be someone I wasn’t…or didn’t want to be. This wasn’t the fresh start I dreamed of, but I also never accounted for Maddox. A boy hadn’t been a part of the future I wished for, not immediately.
Monday would be a shit show. I didn’t even want to think about going to school and facing him. How could I? I was so embarrassed. Would he tell anyone? Would the entire school know by first period? Mallory Hales—the girl who stalked herself for attention. Because that was how Maddox would see it.
My stomach twisted violently, nausea rising.
I groaned into my pillow.God, the mortification.Already, the paranoia of everyone talking behind my back trickled in, the humiliation burning before it even happened, scorching through me like fire.
Maybe I shouldn’t go back.
The thought settled in too easily, comfortable in its cowardice.
I could homeschool again. It was my last year. Did I really need to attend Public? Did I need the hallway chatter, the stares, and the constant reminder of what I’d done playing out in real time?
My dream of walking across a stage, graduating with a class, having that normal high-school experience I’d been chasing?—
It suddenly didn’t feel worth it.
“Malibu?”
I flinched slightly at my mom’s voice, my body jerking before I could control it.
She stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame, dressed in a classic black sweater and jeans. A little too conservative than what I was used to seeing her in. “You okay?” she asked, stepping inside my room with soft footfalls, concern etched into the lines around her eyes. “You haven’t left this room in two days.”
I pushed myself up against the headboard, forcing my features to brighten instead of the dark gloom that had overshadowed them the past two days. “Yeah,” I assured, brushing a hand over Jade as she shifted beside me, her purring stopping momentarily before resuming. “I haven’t been sleeping well. I’m just tired.”
Mom’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you sure that’s all?”
No. Not even close.
Someone broke into our house. I faked being stalked. The boy I’m falling for hates me. I’m considering dropping out. Everything in my world is falling apart.
And all I wanted was my mom to wrap me in her arms and tell me everything would be okay. And she would. If I just broke down and spilled out everything, she would help me pick up the pieces. But I didn’t. I was on borrowed time as it was. She would eventually check our security cameras, and I had no idea what she would see. And it wasn’t that I thought she wouldn’t understand. If anything, she would understand too well, but I couldn’t say it out loud. So I swallowed it down and plastered on a smile. “We should go before we’re late,” I said, swinging my legs over the side of the bed, choosing the route of redirection.
She studied me for a second longer, her head tilting slightly as if she was debating whether to push. “All right. Meet me downstairs in fifteen minutes?”
I nodded. It would give me just enough time to pull myself together and fix my face.
Maybe carrying this alone was my punishment. Or maybe I felt like I needed to punish myself. I didn’t know, but either way, whatever waited for me on Monday when I’d have to face Maddox would be torture enough.
I glanced once more at Jade before heading out of my room. “Wish me luck,” I muttered under my breath.
The drive felt longerthan it should have. Or my brain was just running too fast, spinning out, thoughts tangling over themselves as I tried to banish the negative. But all I managed to do was break my brain.
I stared out the window, barely registering the scenery. The world blurred past in streaks of green and gray, trees and houses bleeding together. My reflection was faint in the glass, a ghost of myself staring back.
“You’ve been quiet,” Mom said, her voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts.
“I’m fine,” I replied, brushing off her concern. Today was about her. Not the mess I’d created. “I was just thinking if your boyfriend knows how to cook?” Asking her questions was the best way to distract us both.
She smiled, her eyes brightening. “Doubtful.”
The roads widened, trees growing thicker on either side, creating overhead canopies before the black wrought iron gates came into view. They had intricate scrollwork at the top that formed a W on either side. As Mom pulled up, the gates swung wide to welcome us inside.
My brows lifted slightly, surprise cutting through the numbness. “Okay…” I murmured, sitting up straighter in my seat. Her boyfriend wasn’t a total loser. Encouraging.
We rolled forward through the gates, and that’s when I saw it.
Willow trees.
