Beauty and the Bad

ing lunch and breaks between classes. Logan and I only have the one class together in the morning

say anywhere about dance, or any dance classes. Another thing

at offers dance classes for a cheap price, or is e

rt ways to see my mom, still always waiting right up fron

how me around town? I don't really know any stores or anything around h

an show you all the best stores to shop at, and we can even go together and s

nd we'll swing by, " Logan says and starts to steer Sissy away before I can object. I bite m

bout her first day at her new job, how friendly everyone is and how

she told me what she is planning. It's kept me up every night so far. Wondering, do I really w

an I ask yo

?" she says, the smile

ey wanted to show me around town tonight, you know, show me all

ns, but doesn'

nd this place on your own, until maybe a little time has passed. Just until we make sure how safe we are, and only time will tell t

her this weekend, but it's impossible to think of anything, seeing as she won't let me go out anyw

with something, or

t, and making up some excuse that she needs me to help unpack and arrange the house. They sen

party that everyone who is anyone supposedly is attending. I need t

organized, but eventually give up again and head downstairs for dinner. I try and keep my mind

look into some dance classes in town?" I ask my mother when

ard look, her lips pre

, casting her eyes down. I should have known she was going t

ld onto, it's dance, and I think there might be somewhere in town where I can maybe take lessons, or even teach them. I took a lot of le

y promises, but we can try and take a look in a little bit for something close to here, " she

u're right, I always loved watching you dance, and you are very good at it. I just want to settle in first, adj

nd give her a sma

s the best I'm

*

parking lot. I give my mother a rushed good-bye before I run over to jo

acking are you and yo

do most of it, " I say, telling part of the truth. Most of our major unpacking and arranging is already done. The

p you unpack? That way your mom has no choice bu

y I would come to a dead end with my lies, I

bout me going out, she's really protective

sy share a co

u come to the party thi

aven't really told her about it, I have

aning next to me with excited eyes. Something t

g a small punch in the arm from Logan. "And we're going to help you, I can be the get-a

guys know when I do, " I say and shut my locker door. Just as

eel eyes. Ethan is grinning down at me, one hand shoved in

asually against my locker. Sissy and Logan look between the two of us with wid

he hint and pull t

hall, their heads bobbing together as they probably whisper about Ethan and I. I roll my eyes at t

usting the strap on his shoulder. It almost seems l

, cursing myself silently when my voice

about the party a few students from scho

together. "I did hear

o ask if maybe, you could save a d

er what he is asking, before I shak

I say, starting off rough but quickly recovering by

you the moment I get there." He sends me a wink, a lot more sultr

houghts, and I fly down the hall to first period, making it into my seat just as the last bell

s staring, or more like glaring, at me from across the room. She looks like she wants to stand and say something

letely disappear, or fall underneath and sneak out the door, but neither are options. I try my best to

sing the bathroom. I feel someone staring at me again, before a presence comes

nicured finger into my chest. "You waltz in here like thin air, and s

d try to back up, but I run right into someone else.

I'm not letting a worm like you destroy everything I have built here, " she threatens

anything that will get me in any trouble, or my mother will kill me. She wants me to keep a l

avy against the tiled floor. I can't see them, but I can see Athena's shocked face as they

king. Besides, what are you even doing here, thou

lf if I left and didn't pay it off, " Thomas says from b

riously, I find th

not true, now get th

blonde hair twirling dramatically. I let out a small breath when she's fin

ghtening enough to scare off someo

of me. I can see he is tall, but not as tall as Ethan. Still enough to tower over me. I slowly

say something about him dropping out, maybe he i

ck list?" he asks, completely oblivious to the tension

ch to get on her bad side, " I mutter. Thoma

can be a

ttle, surprised at how

ry protective family, this is the only place where she feels in control, which seems to have gone to her head over th

I might not be so

lls me I won't be seeing you any time soon, " I say, silently referring to wh

bout it. Till then, try to stay out of trouble, this place isn't as glamourous as it see

hall without a glance back, and walks out the front doors

bout the school

*

gure out a plan for this weekend. As they pull out of the parking lot, I realiz

one and realize

e at the office. Any cha

ore the town, that means I have no idea how the bus system works? Or if there even is a bus I can take from he

e honks, and a nice-looking car pulls up to the curb

e for dramatic effect. I roll my eyes, but can't co

pristine leather seat. Ethan chuckles and revs out of the pa

d a ride, or did you just happen to be passing by?" I

I tell you, I'll just

, trying to hide my burn

going to have to give him my address, something I have been avoiding giving out to anyone. I try and thi

?" he asks, and I can't help but s

ving to a new city would be, " I say, trying t

d before? Or is thi

hin my old town." I can feel a small ball of panic b

ve seen, and some of them just move from across town, not a completely different city. Any reason wh

id I

, escape our old life and start new somewhere else." I start rambling, and catch myself just as I realize my slip up. T

change the

you lived her

ody shops in town, let's me work there part-time so I can save up for college, " h

iliar house. I open my mouth to object, but quickly sn

like my mother is home, " I say, looking at the empty driveway, even th

" Ethan says and grins at me. I'm stuck between the urge to slap him, and

o you want?" I

"Your name, "

ou just wa

I'd have to find out, if I want to know

e. "Haley, " I say quietly, still not l

ays and smiles softly at me. I avert ey

wave to him from the sidewalk, staying glued to the spot until his car pulls away and disappears.

t red front door, but I'm shocke

ll isn'

lly home, and even school is done. I cautiously walk in the front, thinking her car m

se. I shrug it off and shove my phone back in my pocket, wandering into the

er tha

ke my own. When we made the move over, my mother took the opportunity to get rid of all our old furniture,

living room feels foreign, nothing feels like home. The best I can do to try and feel

ant memories, I'll probably never be able to return to. I think to all those pictures I see on Facebo

create those precious mom

I really ready to give u

p the rest of the photos on my desk and lug myself over to my

concerns, but barely any answers, until my eyes are

her shaking me, whispe

's almost time to g

sh light. "What time is it?" I ask groggi

rips the covers off of me, no warning. I let out a shriek and try t

oses the door. I huff and look towards the clock next to my bed. It reads 7:02 A

life, without any blunder or slip up. I give myself a small, tired pat on the back while I trudge myself out

is sitting there, already half-way through her plate, shoveling food int

pushing some papers out of

we're working on, " she says absent-m

nnected to Jeremy's killer?" I taunt, but she still do

t, this goes way back to m

a little too dangerous, " I say, dr

up from her papers

st your common criminals, put away for things like grand theft auto and robbery mostly. Of cours

mach grew. It's almost the size of my stomach at this point, crampin

her life, finding meaning. I should be happy for her too. Why aren't I? Why do I keep finding every rea

ling her papers together in a

" she starts off slowly, turning to me in the kitchen. I suck in a silent breath, forgetting completel

d away, when she gives

e all weekend, and probably working over-night Saturday. I joined the firm at the best and worst tim

that I am jumpin

whole day and night Saturday.

e an excuse to avoid going out with her, and it's going to be muc

promise to stay out of trouble, " I add when I see her opening

ehead. "That's my girl, now go get ready

he good news. They both cheer and send me their congrats, saying thi

at this is going to be the on

out of the school lot, before I

the weekend?" Sissy cheers, winking

ns at me before she turns back to her car and dives into the back seat. She rummages

er at the contents. But I just see

e to find an outfit for this weekend, so just in case you don't have anything to wear, you can borrow

p just above my knees, not too short but not too long, with a lace front cove

that, I pull out the slightly skimpy looking black stringed bikini. I smile tightly at h

Sissy, this

. Logan rolls his eyes but joins in our group hug when Sissy grabs

off to class, getting more and more exci

t I finally figure o