Fayre

MELISSA

Every girl in this room is trying to catch their attention. Hair flips and sly glances are the weapons of choice. Even Hailey can’t help but sneak peeks at the back of the room.

Ruen and Finley, though, they’re acting like they’re the only ones here. It’s like they’re in their own world, and that’s just making the girls try harder. It’s a game now, to see who can get a look from them.

The only one they’re paying any mind to is Luella. She’s eating it up, soaking in their attention like a sponge. She’s never looked so pleased with herself.

Her voice, her laughter, it’s all getting under my skin. I’ve known her for years, but I’ve never disliked her as much as I do right now.

The fact that I can’t ignore them is making me even angrier. I’m no better than the other girls in here. I can’t help but watch them, especially Ruen.

He’s lounging in his chair, legs spread out under the table. His hair is a mess, but in a sexy way. It’s long enough that the ends of his black curls brush against his shirt collar.

His blazer is undone. Even in the stuffy school uniform, he looks like a mix of a snobby socialite and a wild bad boy.

His knee is brushing against Luella’s, and he’s whispering something in her ear that makes her giggle.

She’s leaning into him, holding hands with Finley, who seems to be in his own world. His handsome face is as cold and distant as his pale blond hair.

His hair is slicked back, but a few strands fall in front of his bright green eyes. He’s staring out the window at the crows cawing outside.

Suddenly, Finley turns his head and looks at me. I quickly look away, only to find Ruen’s electric blue eyes already on me.

Luella shoots me a dirty look, intertwines her fingers with Ruen’s, and tightens her grip on Finley’s hand. My hands are tingling, a sign of the power I’m trying to keep hidden.

“Hey, why don’t you take a picture of us?” Luella smirks at me. “It’ll last longer.”

I turn back around, and Hailey lets out a hiss of annoyance. “How did you live with her for so long without killing her?”

I shrug, trying to block out the sound of Luella’s laughter.

The room quiets down when our teacher, Mr. Boyd, walks in.

As I try to focus on Mr. Boyd’s droning voice, I decide that I don’t like them—Ruen and Finley. Seeing them with Luella makes me angry, and when I’m angry, I get hurt. So, I don’t like them.

I can feel their eyes on me. Do I hate them? I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense, but I feel betrayed.

I’m angrier at them than I’ve ever been at anyone. So, I must dislike them. A lot.

I usually keep my emotions in check, but in the last two months, I’ve felt fear, longing, and pain.

In just two days, I’ve felt guilt, fury, and maybe even hate. No—strong dislike. A very strong dislike.

Mr. Boyd keeps talking, and I can still feel their eyes on me. I want to take notes, but my fingers are still tingling.

Eventually, I get so tired that I rest my head on the table, keeping my hands hidden under it.

“Miss Crawford, is my class boring you?” Mr. Boyd looks at me over his glasses. He’s a strict teacher, and Hailey calls him Mr. Boyd the Robot…when he’s not around.

I can hear snickers behind me.

I lift my head and look him in the eye. “I’m sorry, Mr. Boyd. I’m just really tired. It won’t happen again.”

“Stay awake, Miss Crawford,” he says, nodding before he turns back to the lesson.

Hailey rolls her eyes and leans in. “If I fell asleep in his class, he’d send me to detention,” she whispers.

“I wasn’t sleeping,” I whisper back.

Hailey thinks our teachers let me get away with anything. She once told me that if I killed someone, all I’d have to do is bat my eyelashes and the teachers would blame the victim.

***

When I get home, the house is empty. Even Mrs. McEwan’s old blue Honda Civic isn’t parked by the side entrance like it usually is.

“Hello, I’m home!” I call out, breaking the silence. The one good thing about being home is that there are no “other” creatures lurking in the shadows. It’s quiet.

My footsteps echo through the house as I head up to my room. I drop my bag with a thud and throw open the curtains to look out at the lake.

The branches of the old willow tree sway in the breeze. The calm water sparkles in the sunlight. My mind drifts back to Ruen and the bracelet.

Without thinking, my hand goes to my neck. I loosen my tie, unbutton my shirt, and pull out a necklace that’s been there for years.

It’s a gold necklace with a pretty heart-shaped pendant, a gift from my mom. She told me to never take it off, so I never have.

I shake the heavy pendant, and something rattles inside it.

***

“So, how was your day, Madison?” Dad asks, cutting into his steak—medium rare, just the way he likes it.

Mrs. McEwan is in the middle of clearing our soup bowls from the dinner table.

“It was good,” Madison replies. “Wren asked me to their cottage this weekend. Can I go, Dad?”

“Have her mom give me a call, sweetie,” Mom interjects before Dad can respond.

Dad shoots Mom a look before he turns to me. I don’t miss how his gaze briefly lands on Luella’s empty seat next to me.

My dad is lean and tall, with salt-and-pepper hair and deep brown eyes. Madison has Mom’s coloring, but the shape of her face, her nose, and her smile are all Dad.

“And you, Melissa? What’s new with you?”

“Well, I went with Mom to get my hair and nails done today,” I share, taking a sip of my drink.

I raise my hand to show off my freshly manicured nails. They’re a simple nude color, while Mom’s are a bold red.

He nods in approval at my nails but doesn’t comment on my dark hair. I know he doesn’t like that Mom insists on dyeing my hair and bleaching Luella’s.

His gaze drifts back to Luella’s empty chair. “Do either of you girls know where your sister is?” he asks, though his raised eyebrows are directed at Mom.

“Oh, lighten up, James. She’s probably just at a friend’s house,” Mom retorts.

“Do you know which friend? Doesn’t she know when dinner is? What are they doing?”

Mom’s fingers tighten around her linen napkin. “Well, if you were home more often, you might be able to ask her those questions yourself. If you prioritized your family over your work…”

“What are you implying, Victoria?”

Their voices are escalating. Madison and I exchange a glance. It’s time to make our exit from the dinner table.

“How did you get home today?” I ask Madison once we’re upstairs. Their voices are still audible from here.

“Wren had her driver drop me off,” she replies softly.

I feel a pang of guilt for not picking her up from school today. I should have known Luella wouldn’t bother to drive our sister home. My exhaustion is making me forgetful. It’s making me muddled.

“Why didn’t you call me?”

Madison shrugs and looks down at her feet. “Wren said it wasn’t a problem.”

“Next time, call me,” I instruct her as I push open my door and slowly step into my room. “Call me and I’ll come get you.”

“Melissa?”

I pause and turn to face her.

Her expression is sorrowful, and her eyes are too bright. “Your light is too dim. Please don’t let it burn out.”

“What?”

Her cheeks flush and she quickly looks away. “Nothing. Good night, Melissa.” Then she’s gone.