Ugly girl

Chapter 4

A bright light flashes through my bedroom window and my eyes shoot toward it, but it’s gone in a split second. My heart instantly races as my fingers curl around the pocketknife under my pillow.

He’s found me. I knew he would come, but I didn’t realize it would happen quite this fast.

I barely have a second to throw my blanket off my legs before the light is shining through my bedroom window once again. I tighten my grip on the knife, never so damn relieved that Blake’s spending the night with friends.

I clamber out of bed, pissed off that my body is moving so slow. I will not go through this again. I let my guard down, I should have been ready, just like I’ve always been before, just like I’ve trained myself to be.

I move back toward my bedroom door and unlock it, ready to make a run for it if need be. What was I thinking of coming here? Blake and I should have just stayed on our own. There are only a few months before my eighteenth birthday. We could have made it on our own. Why did I have to bring this mess to Shay and Ben’s door?

The light flickers as the person fumbles to open the window. They’re going to have a hell of a time getting in since I locked that fucker.

I flick the blade out and indulge in the feeling of power that comes with having this weapon securely in the palm of my hand. I've dreamed of this moment despite the fear that comes with it. I've imagined what I would do, how I would react...how damn good it would feel to finally get the upper hand.

The window rattles and I swallow back fear. I will not be afraid. I will not go back to that place that holds all my nightmares. He can't make me.

The light flickers around, goes dark and comes back into view. Knuckles rap against the glass and I take a step forward, preparing myself. “Hey, open up,” comes a feminine voice, muffled by the closed window. There's a strange familiarity that has my brows drawing down in confusion. "How are all the devilish boys supposed to sneak in here and do naughty things to you all night long if you've got the freaking window locked?"

The fuck?

"Maze?" I call out, refusing to let up on my pocketknife.

The light moves around and a second later I see Maze's gri

“Who the fuck else would it be?” she demands, turning the light back to the window and searching me out. "Wait...is that a fucking knife in your hand? Shit, I underestimated you. I took you for more of a talker than an action girl. What were you pla

I snap back to reality. "What?" I grunt, slipping the blade away tossing it to the bed. After turning on the light, I stride forward and go about unlocking the window. “Explain myself? How about you? You're the one showing up at my window in the middle of the night.”"

I get the window unlocked and slide it up, cringing at the way the old frame squeals in protest. Maze climbs through the open window, groaning and grunting with every movement. “Hey, I'm the good guy here, and for the record. It’s not the middle of the night. It’s barely even 10 pm,” she says once she's safely on her feet, instantly looking around my empty room. "I came to break you out of this hell hole."

I cross my arms and raise a questioning brow. "How did you know where I live?"

“How else?” she grumbles, walking around my room and picking up one of my shirts. She holds it against herself, checking her reflection in my mirror and clearly liking what she sees. "I stole your file from the school office."

I instantly go on high alert and as if sensing my unease, she continues on. “Chill out, would you?” Maze grumbles as she peels off her shirt and replaces it with mine. “I may be nosey, but I know a thing or two about respecting one’s privacy. I looked up your address and that's it. Though, I can't say that I'm not curious. That file was fucking thick. You must have gotten yourself into all sorts of shit before winding up here.”

Relief rushes through me though I’m not quite sure I believe her. She's been great so far but what kind of person doesn't peek at the new girl's file given the chance? But then, she's not looking at me with pity, disgust or sadness so maybe she's telling the truth.

I walk around to my bed and slide the pocketknife back under my pillow. “So, what are you actually doing here?”

“I told you; I'm breaking you out of here.”

“And taking me where?”

“Wherever you want.”

I let out a sigh and consider it a moment. It's not like I was going to get any sleep after the fear she invoked inside of me earlier. “You better make it worth my while,” I tell her, grabbing one of the only shirts left in my closet and peeling out of my pajamas.

Maze chuckles to herself before dropping down on my bed and watching as I pull my ripped jeans into place over my ass. “Trust me,” she says with a sly grin as she pulls a perfectly rolled joint out of her pocket. "I got you covered.”

I grin back at her. “Well, damn. How could I say no?”

Maze’s eyes crinkle with excitement and within seconds, we’re slipping out of my bedroom window. I pull my leather jacket on as we trail up the driveway and just when I think I’ve gotten away with it, Blake’s laughter rumbles from behind me. “Well, well. Double standards I see.”

I groan and turn around to face a smirking Blake. “Hey, I said you had a curfew of 10 pm, not me.”

“That’s bullshit,” he says, his eyes flicking between me and Maze. “Where the hell are you two going?”

“Just out,” I say as Maze gives him her best bedroom eyes which instantly gets his attention. “And no, you can’t come.”

“Oh, come on,” he groans, walking toward us. “Since when can’t I come?”

Since I plan on smoking a joint. This dirty little habit isn’t exactly something that I share with my little brother. He has a good head on his shoulders but he’s impressionable and I don’t doubt that if he comes, he’ll ask to try and it’s not something I want him getting involved with. Besides, he has basketball to think about.

“You have a curfew,” I remind him, “and I sort of explained that to Shay. She’s been sitting up, watching Netflix with Ben all night waiting for you. I don’t know what she’s expecting but I think she wants to play the supportive aunty role and make sure you’re being a good little boy and not falling in with the wrong crowd.”

Blake grins. “You mean like you,” he says, slowly trailing his gaze back to Maze and making her squirm under his stare.

“I resent that,” she shoots back at him.

“Promise, I’ll make it up to you.”

“Okay…enough of this shit,” I say, pulling out my boss bitch, big sister tone. “You need to get your ass inside before Shay sends Ben out here to find out where you are.”

“Damn it,” Blake groans. “Did you really have to tell her?”

“Of course, I did. I want the best for you even if that means having people like Shay and Ben helping me look out for you. You’ll thank me one day.”

“Doubt it,” he groans, spi

I cringe at his back. In Blake terms, that was a big ‘FU.’ Any other time, I’d get a grin, a ‘love you’ or some ridiculous joke about being safe and using protection. The fact that I didn’t get any of that tells me he’s real dirty with me. He’s never liked having people breathing down his neck and me setting the standards for Blake with Shay did exactly that, but I meant what I said. One day when he’s playing in the NBA, getting checks bigger than he could ever dream about, and has fans screaming his name, then he’ll understand why I did it. Hell, he’ll even thank me for it, but until then, I’m going to have to deal with the fact that he’s a sixteen-year-old boy and all he wants to do is screw around and party.