Chapter 23: Waking Up to Bad Memories


    Blythe’s P.O.V.


    The first thing I noticed when I came to was the smell. It smelled clean. Sterile. Not at all like the


    clubhouse.


    The next thing I noticed was the surrounding noises. There was no beeping of a heart monitor, so I guess I’m not in the hospital. I can hear other people though. Their shuffling about, them breathing, and the muttered growls of words I can’t quite make out.


    I was reluctant to open my eyes and actually be awake though. I wasn’t sure what good it would do. For all


    I know, I could be in trouble for breaking one of Alex’s nails on my face or something. Besides, I’m going to


    be starving, and I doubt that I slept through the whole night to make it to breakfast.


    It might be better if I just don’t wake up at all.


    Ever.


    Wouldn’t that be the best?


    Never having to feel again.


    No pain.


    No scars.


    No heartbreak.


    “Got her blood results back.” I think that was Doc.


    “And?” Karma asked impatiently.


    “She’s severely malnourished,” Doc stated angrily. “And dehydrated. And you want to know what else? Not


    a fu.cking drug in her system. Not even an aspirin.”


    Drug? Why would they test me for drugs?


    “Don’t give me that fu.ckin’ look,” Karma growled. “I saw how fu.cking cracked out she looked. Nikki said-”


    “Well, Nikki lied,” Doc cut him off, sounding more pi.ssed off than I’d ever heard him. “She obviously fu.cking did, regardless of what you saw. Because there are no fu.cking drugs in her system!”


    So, Karma thought I was a jun.kie, is that it? And who the hell is Nikki? The blonde bimbo, or the other


    one?


    I shouldn’t be surprised at all that Karma believes the lies of someone else without even giving me a chance. It’s like living with Tusk and the twins all over again. They don’t even bother to ask my side of things. They justbel me the bad guy. I should have given up hope a long a.ss time ago.


    < Chapter 23 Waking Up to Bad Memories


    Like back when Karma yelled at me for the very first time.


    ~shback: age, 14~


    +8 Points


    “Oh, hey, Blythe,” Everly said as she came to sit next to me. I beamed at her, secretly happy that she came up to me. I’ve been at our parents’ wedding reception at the clubhouse for a few hours now, but I’ve been at this table all alone. The guys were all apparently busy, and Mom and Tusk just looked so in love and happy… I couldn’t bring myself to break them apart just because I was an awkward loser.


    “Hi, Everly,” I replied to my new step-sister. “I can’t believe that our parents got married. Or that we’re moving in tomorrow. It’s so exciting. I’ve always wanted a sister.”


    Which was true. I mean, I’m an only child. Of course, I fantasized about having a sister. The fact that Everly and I are the same age is even better. She can be like a real best friend to me. A girl best friend. Someone to talk to about the guys and how they make me feel. Someone to gossip with and have sleep-overs-


    “Yeah, great isn’t it?” Everly said, interrupting my thoughts. Something about her tone was off though. She didn’t actually sound happy about it at all. “Listen here, Blythe,” she suddenly spat, sneering at me. “I am the only princess in my daddy’s eyes. Alex and I are the only princesses the club will ever have. You moving in means nothing. Got that? We won’t be friends. In fact, if you don’t start leaving the guys alone… I’ll make your life a living hell.”


    To say I was stunned would be an understatement. Everly has been so kind and friendly any time I’ve seen her before. We didn’t talk much, but she was always nice to me. Was that all fake?


    “But… Kylian has a sister,” was all I could manage to say.


    Everly smiled wickedly.


    “And there’s a reason she’s never around,” she told me, making my eyes go wide. “You would be smart to


    do the same.”


    “B-but… they’re my only friends…” I mutteredmely.


    “I don’t give a sh.it if you have no friends at all,” she replied tly. “Ditch them, or suffer the consequences.”


    I frowned at her, suddenly growing angry.


    “No,” I said sternly.


    “No?” Everly repeated with a scoff.


    “Th-that’s right,” I replied. “I said no. They’re my friends. I won’t abandon them. Do whatever you want.” “What if I told you to just stay away from Kylian?” she offered. “He’s the one I want. Alex wants Tae, but that can be between you and her. But… if you stay away from Kylian… I’ll let the others slide.”


    < Chapter 23. Waking Up to Bad Memories


    I looked her dead in the eyes.


    “I told you no,” I said firmly. “I care about all of them.”


    “Selfish wh.ore,” she spat.


    + Points


    I gasped, shocked. No one had ever called me that before. I thought Everly was nice up until this point. Is she always like this? Are these her true colors?


    “Fine,” she finally said, smiling. “I’ll just give you a little sneak-peak at what’s toe if you don’t listen.”


    With that, Everly got up and walked away. I watched her walk off for a moment before looking away. I’m


    not scared of her. She can’t intimidate me into abandoning the only people that were ever there for me.


    The only people that were ever nice to me. And I know that she can’t sway them either. Our bond is much


    stronger than that.


    A few hours had gone by, and I was still all alone. I spent most of my night watching Mom with Tusk. I’ve


    never seen her so happy before. I was so happy that they had each other.


    Most of the adults are pretty drunk now, since all of them live on the property, they got a bit carried away


    with the celebration. We move into Tusk’s house tomorrow, but we have enough stuff there now to stay the


    night tonight. So, I was all for Mom getting wasted. She never does, and this is her wedding reception


    after all.


    I didn’t see much of the guys for the rest of the night. I’d catch glimpses of them, but it always looked like they were busy. Sometimes they would be running around to do something their parents asked, or… talking to a pretty girl. I couldn’t bring myself to ever interrupt. It’s probably not my ce.


    I looked around, but didn’t spot any of my friends. With a sigh, I headed towards Tusk’s house. It’s on the opposite side of where the party’s going on. Barely anyone was over here, and I tried not to pay attention to the people that were. I’m going to have to get used to this kind of PDA if I’m going to be living here.


    Once I was inside the house, I carefully shut the door and let out a deep breath. I really miss Ozias. He would have loved a party like tonight. Even if I didn’t get to talk to him either. At least he would have been


    here.


    Shaking the sadness away, I stepped further into the house. I got to my room and flicked the light on. I smiled as I looked around. Tusk got me a brand-new… well, everything. I’ve never had such a nice bed


    before.


    I was just about to change my clothes when someone came barreling into my room. My eyes went wide as I spun around to face the person. Angry green eyes bored into me,ing closer. My face heated with shame at the amount of anger in those eyes.


    D-did I do something wrong? <fn47b8> Latest content published on find{n}ovel</fn47b8>


    “What the hell is wrong with you?” Kylian spat at me, so close I could smell the whiskey on his breath.


    315


    + Paint


    “W-w-what?” I stuttered, confused and rmed.


    “Everly told me what you said to her,” he said angrily, pointing a finger in my face. “You don’t have to be such a bit.ch to her just because you don’t want to share your mom. You didn’t have to tell her that you refuse to share Angie. Her mother’s dead for fu.ck’s sake, Blythe.”


    “W-what are you talking about? I never said that to her-”


    “Don’t fu.ckin’ lie to me!” He snapped, shouting at me. I jumped a foot in the air, my body going tense as fear froze my blood. “Just because your dad fu.ckin’ left doesn’t mean you have to act like such a bit.ch! Everly’s mom fu.ckin’ died Blythe!”


    “B-but I didn’t-”


    “Your dad just didn’t want you! Don’t be bitter and jealous about it!” Kylian shouted in my face.


    My breath hitched as tears filled my eyes. I think it would have hurt less if he’d pped me. I felt like I didn’t even recognize him right now. Kylian never raises his voice. Especially never to me.


    “Bly… I didn’t…” he muttered. At least he has the decency to look ashamed now.


    “Maybe you should go,” I whispered, my voice cracking.


    “Spark… I-”


    “It’s fine, just go,” I cut him off, turning to give him my back. “I won’t be talking to Everly again, so… don’t worry about how she feels.”


    Kylian hesitated, but left without another word, leaving me to cry myself to sleep for the first of many, many nights toe.


    ~ Present: age, 25~


    Karma apologized the next day and I forgave him. I wish I wouldn’t have. I wish I had realized then that I


    truly meant nothing to them. I was just… a toy. A shiny new toy that they wanted to y with. Nothing more. I stuck up to a bully for the first time in my life, telling her that I wouldn’t abandon my friends, but they abandoned me at every turn after that.


    And it’s no different now. I have to remember that. I have to remember what they did to me so that I never fall for their tricks again.


    I can’t let them get to me.