Brittany was fuming.
She couldn’t believe my dad was suddenly
skeptical of her.
But a bitch is a bitch.
884
Brittany touched her bruise and made her face look like she was in pain.
“Mr. and Mrs. Van Derlyn, please don’t fight
over me. Whether or not Ashley pushed me,
don’t blame her.”
Dad looked relieved.
Mom asked me, “Honey, how about we take
Brittany to the hospital, then drop you off at
く
school? She’s going to compete and I need her
in top form.”
Talk about a selfish person.
She still cared about her reputation.
Before I could say no, a cool voice rang out.
“No need. I’ll take Ashley.”
A cocky guy appeared, tossing a Porsche key in the air.
His eyes lit up when he saw me. “Hey, there, short stuff. What the heck happened to you?”
My eyes widened.
Only one person ever called me that.
His name was Jake Hartman.
Jake and I were neighbors. We’d grown up together. He lived with his grandpa.
Jake was always the smartest in class.
He skipped class to play video games.
But before every test, he’d flip through the
textbook and get a perfect score.
Dad hated that he could cheat the system and
had a huge chip on his shoulder.
For that reason, Dad didn’t like him much.
But Jake was stubborn and liked to do things
that would annoy my dad.
Jake skipped a grade and got into the best
college in the country.
He wasn’t around much these days because he
wan thing to anodiinto in thean unnen
<
was trying to graduate in three years.
But I’d gotten kidnapped.
- 9.
I ran out of the house, ignoring Dad’s yelling.
After getting in the car, Jake fastened my
seatbelt.
“I heard you lost your memory. Do you know
who I am?”
I shook my head.
“Then why are you coming with me?”
“I don’t like my parents, and you just pissed off
my dad, so an enemy of an enemy is my friend.”
Jake chuckled. “You’re not very grateful, you
know that? After all the presents I brought you
<
He pointed to the back seat.
There were mountains of chocolate and candy.
I reached out to grab some.
When Jake saw my injuries, he looked sad.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I tore open a candy wrapper and put a candy in
my mouth. It was vanilla, my favorite.
I cried when people hurt me.
Jake would say that I was a crybaby and never
stood up for myself.
He’d say that he would chase off all the bad
people for me.
But he had his own problems.
<
Jake’s parents had died in a car crash, and his
grandpa was getting old. His uncle took most of
the family’s money.
While he was out of the country, he enlisted
help from those close to his father to take back
the company.
I didn’t want to bother Jake, so I’d always tell
him that everything was fine.
He didn’t have the time to come visit, but he
would send me presents.
Brittany liked Jake and always tried to take
them from me.
But he would only send her a toothpick.
Brittany was furious and told my dad that I was
dating Jake.
<
That’s when Dad chewed me out.
Now, I was safe.
Jake looked at me and messed up my hair.
“Hey, I’m glad you’re standing up for yourself.”
Before I got out of the car, I heard him say, “I’m
back. I’m never letting anyone hurt you again.”
