Beautiful Fiend: Chapter 18

The party is at its peak when I walk back into my living room. I just said I could sleep through the noise, but this absolutely pushes it. Knowing there’s no way to shut down a North Shore party before it ends, I grab a glass of water and sit on my sofa, watching everyone have fun while I long to see the only man who doesn’t belong here.

Emma is nowhere to be found now, and Xi is talking to some girl I’m pretty sure came from Stoneview. Apart from me, he’s always had a thing for the rich girls in short skirts who come to the wrong side of the tracks. That’s fine with me. I don’t get along with them, but I don’t judge him for the fact that he does.

The sofa dips next to me, and I drag my gaze away from my stepbrother to Nolan.

“Hey,” he smiles.

“Fuck off,” I reply right away.

He laughs and wraps an arm around my shoulder. “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to snitch on you to Xi. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“I was great. Now, I’m not okay.” I toss his arm off my shoulders, and he pouts.

“I’m sorry, Bil’s. What can I do for you to forgive me?” He points at my now empty glass. “Should I get you another drink?”

“I don’t drink,” I huff. The guy calls me Bil’s and doesn’t know the first thing about me.

“Oh yeah,” he chuckles. “You’re a fighter.”

“How long have you been working for Xi?” I ask.

“A few months,” he shrugs. “Why?”

“’Cause his dealers usually know to leave his younger stepsister the fuck alone.”

He bites his lower lip and smiles at me. “Maybe I know, and maybe I don’t care.” He brings his face closer to mine. “I like to live dangerously.”

“You’re not gonna live dangerously for long if you piss him off,” I say casually. “And you’re not gonna live at all if you piss me off.”

“Rawr,” he laughs. “You’re feisty.”

Someone kill me.

“Why don’t you go grab me a Gatorade,” I say to get him off my face.

“Sure thing.”

He gets up, but I call for him again. “Hey, grab a new bottle from the fridge.”

There’s a rule everyone goes by at North Shore parties. You either open the bottle in front of someone or share it. No one truly trusts each other, and we prefer to always stay on the safe side.

Nolan returns a minute later holding a sealed bottle of Gatorade in his hand. He opens it for me as he walks toward the sofa and smiles at me as he gives it to me.

“Here you go, unbeatable Billie.” I take the bottle. “I heard what you did to those Kings girls,” he adds as he sits next to me again.

I roll my eyes and down half the bottle so I don’t have to talk to him.

“Look,” he says more seriously. “I’m really sorry if I got you in any trouble.”

I huff and put the cap back on. “Whatever, man. I put myself in trouble, don’t worry.”

The guy is annoying as fuck, but it would be very hypocritical of me to blame it all on him. I put myself in this situation in the first place. Well, Caden did. And when I played along, I knew I would get caught at some point.

“So, what is it?” he asks more calmly and with genuine interest. “Did you get in a fight or something?”

“It’s nothing.” I change the topic, knowing I’m heading to my room soon anyway. “So, what did you do before working with Xi?”

“I was doing drives for him, actually. But it’s risky as fuck, and I wanted to do something more chill. So I asked if I could just sell and he was super understanding. He’s a great guy.”

“He is,” I admit, my eyes darting to him now making out with the Stoneview girl. At least he’s mending his broken heart rather quickly.

We talk for a little more before I feel my body giving up on this party. I can’t control my yawns anymore, either. My eyes are practically closing on their own when I realize I haven’t really been listening to anything Nolan has been saying anymore.

“I’m going to bed,” I yawn. I want to also tell him to stay out of my business from now on, but I’m so exhausted the words don’t even come out of my mouth.

“Good night,” he smiles at me. I get up and then fall back right away, my legs not carrying me.

“Whoa,” he exclaims as he catches me before I fall. He’s up now too, holding me against him. “You alright there?”

“I don’t know what happ—” My vision narrows, and I can’t finish my sentence.

What the hell is happening?

“Hey, Billie,” Nolan says worriedly. “What’s wrong?”

“Not…not feelin’ well,” I manage to slur.

“Let’s get you some fresh air,” he says quickly, wrapping an arm around my waist and helping me toward the door.

I try to look around for Xi. I would rather be with him right now than with Nolan. I need to be with someone I trust. Except I don’t have the strength to call for him or look around. My head starts to fall against my chest and I can do nothing but allow Nolan to drag me out of the house.

The cold air doesn’t help at all. I still feel entirely useless. My body is shaking from the freezing air and the fact that I’m wearing nothing but a tank top and jeans. The world turns blurry as I try to drag air into my lungs. The exhaustion turns to dizziness and I feel like I’m going to faint.

“What the hell?” Nolan panics. “Should I call an ambulance?”

“N-no,” I force out of my cottonmouth. All I can see is the fuzzy ground going past me. Everything spins whenever I try to lift my head, and my neck immediately gives up. “Fight…tomorrow…” That’s all my mind can focus on. I have a fight tomorrow, and I can’t miss it.

Tripping over my feet again, I don’t even think I’m walking anymore. It seems like Nolan is taking most of my weight and I’m hovering over the ground.

I’m not too sure what’s going on. All I know is that I was outside, and now I’m sitting down in a moving car.

“What…”

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” I hear next to me. “Did you eat anything today? Here, have more of this. At least it’s sugar. Fuck, you’re scaring the shit out of me.”

With one hand on the wheel and one holding the Gatorade, he tips more into my mouth. Most of it spills on me, but I still manage to swallow some.

My eyes close for what feels like a second, but when I finally manage to open my eyelids again, Nolan is carrying me toward a building.

I’m still conscious enough to understand we’re not heading to the hospital, but there is nothing I can do about it. Fear envelops me, yet I can’t seem to consciously understand I’m scared.

“Where…we…” My voice comes out as a sob despite knowing I’m not crying. I can’t control my emotions anymore. “Nol…”

“I’m just taking you somewhere safe,” he says. Although, his voice is not panicked anymore, nor is it caring either. He didn’t take me to the hospital.

He’s not helping me.

“Wait…” My brain can only focus on one thing, and I can’t stop running it over and over in my head. “Fight…my fight…”

He pushes a door open and we’re in a small room. It’s rundown and not well-maintained.

I’m on a bed, and his hands are on me.

His face is blurry now and tears are running down my cheeks, but I can’t feel anything.

“My fight…” I repeat.

I’m not wearing my jeans and my top anymore. I can see them beside me on the bed as my head lolls to the side.

“Don’t…” I choke. My thoughts blend, my words not coming out clearly. That’s all I can repeat over and over again. “Don’t…”

His hands are on my thighs, spreading them apart.

I try to lift my arm and push him away, but I can’t even detect my own body, let alone his. And my arm feels like lead. My entire body does. I can’t move any limbs whatsoever while he handles me like a ragdoll.

“Don’t…” I repeat one last time before I give up altogether.