{27}✔️

Dahlia's POV

************

"Spanish is kicking my fucking ass. I cannot believe I get to spend my entire Sunday morning studying for some stupid ass, huevos, puta, peligroso test!"

I furrowed my brows as I looked at him. "Balls, slut, dangerous?"

"What?"

"Huevos means balls, puta means slut, and peligroso means dangerous. You just called the test a balls, slut, dangerous test."

"Well if you know so much fucking Spanish why don't you take the test for me?" Caden growled before slamming his book closed angrily. I shook my head at him before staring down at my phone again.

We're supposed to be studying, him for Spanish and me for my stupid health quiz, but I haven't studied anything. I can't think about anything but the fact that Billie is coming back to school tomorrow and she's gonna see Kai touching me and flip the fuck out. I don't know what to do. I need to do something, but I don't know what.

I probably should've spent my weekend figuring this all out, but I chose to go hang out with her yesterday instead of staying at home, worrying. I'm glad I did. I got to pretend that nothing was wrong for the day and it was great.

But now it's Sunday, we go back to school tomorrow, and if Billie sees Kai anywhere near me she's gonna jump her. Not to mention the fact that if Kai sees me near Billie she's gonna be pissed too. She told me to get rid of Billie. If she sees us talking she'll obviously realize we're still hanging out and that will not be good.

"Fucking cabrona." Caden spat as he glared at his book.

"What do you think you just said?"

"Fucking bitch."

"Bastard."

"Well, there's no need to be rude, Dahlia, I wasn't calling you a bitch I was just saying that's what I called my book."

"No, bastard. You called it a bastard. Cabrona means bastard."

"I thought amorcito meant bastard?"

"Amorcito means sweetie."

"I thought Mija meant sweetie."

"I mean, I guess it can, but it's used to say darling or daughter too."

"I thought tia meant daughter."

"Caden—" I rubbed my temples before snatching his book out of his hands. "We need a break. Let's go to your room and play monopoly or something."

Yeah, a five-hour monopoly game is exactly what we need right now.

"Absolutely not. You always beat me at monopoly. And what are you stressing about right now?"

"Stressing? Why do you think I'm stressing? I'm not."

"You only ask to play monopoly when you're stressed and you want to pretend nothings wrong. What's up?"

Damn my friends for knowing me so well.

"I...Kai told me she's gonna spill everything she knows about my shitty little childhood to everyone if I don't keep fucking her. Since she posted my whole ass naked picture on Facebook, her family's been up her ass about her being straight because they're religious as hell, so now she's pretending she is straight and trying to act like she likes guys, but she still wants us to hook up because she's obviously not into guys but she can't tell anyone that so she can't get with other girls." I explained quickly, picking at the lint on my pajama shirt.

"Dude, what?!" He yelled. "How the hell does she know anything about your childhood? Me and Cadence grew up with you and we barely even know anything!" That made me feel a little guilty. They're my best friends and they deserve to know what I went through, especially if some outsider knows and is threatening to tell a whole bunch of other outsiders. It's just that I've never wanted them to feel bad for me. I don't want them to change how they look at me now because of what happened years and years ago. I just want to forget about it and move on, and I'd be able to do that if it wasn't for Kai.

"She told me my mom talks about it and apparently feels guilty, and I'm guessing that since she's my mom's boyfriend's niece she might be over at his house every now and then, but I don't think I believe her. I know I don't know for sure, but I don't think my mom talks about us a lot and I definitely don't believe she feels guilty about what she did to us. Something in my gut is telling me that Kai is lying, but I don't know how else she'd find out."

"I can't believe she's doing this to you," he growled. "That bitch is so extra. Does she really want you that fucking bad? I mean, don't get me wrong, you're a gorgeous girl with a great personality, but what the hell does she want you so bad for? It's not like you're Beyonce!"

"Thanks, Caden."

"Anytime." He smiled. "You know you need to tell someone about this, right?"

"I'm telling you."

"Yeah, and I'm happy about that, but you need to tell someone who can actually do something. The principal. School counselor. Your dad—"

"I can handle this on my own. I always do. I just need time to figure out what to do and—"

"You don't have time. When Billie finds out what's going on she's gonna be pissed."

"I know." I sighed before we got quiet again. I don't want to talk to Billie and tell her about any of this, but I don't have an option.

"Come on, I'm driving you over to her house." He sighed, standing up and grabbing his car keys. "Right now?! I'm in my pajamas, I look disgusting and—and we didn't finish studying! What about your sister? When she wakes up and we're not here—"

"She'll jump for joy and spend the rest of her morning relaxing on the couch like the lazy little slug she is. Come on."

***

"Okay, sweetheart." He grinned, sarcasm lacing his voice. "You're gonna do amazing! Just go in there and use your big girl words—"

I had unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car as he spoke. I cut him off by slamming the door, flipping him off, and then walking toward Billie's front door. I knocked quietly, hoping it was too quiet for anyone to hear, but it wasn't.

Finneas opened the door and greeted me with a large smile. "Hey! Nice to see you again! You and Billie have plans today?"

"No, I—ugh—I just kinda showed up." I laughed awkwardly as I stepped inside.

"Well, she likes surprises. I was just on my way out. It's my day to open up the music lounge." He sighed. "One day I'll get to stay and hang around with you guys! Billie's a lot more tolerable when you're around, you know. Cause she spends all her time gawking at you rather than trying to start fist fights with me."

"Get the fuck out, Finneas!" I heard Billie scream from behind him. I jumped before letting out a small laugh. "Please ignore him. I promise I'm working really hard to get him to move out so you don't have to deal with him again."

Finneas shot her the bird before patting my shoulder and saying goodbye. Once he'd closed the door, I turned to Billie and sent her a small smile. She smirked as she stood in front of me, looking me up and down. Before then I'd completely forgotten I was in my pajamas.

"S-Sorry. I was just studying at Caden's and then he demanded I come over here before I changed."

"You look cute in plaid," She winked. "Reminds me of those plaid underwear you got that day in Victoria's Secret. I'd love to see those on you too."

I rolled my eyes and shoved her shoulder before turning to walk into the kitchen. I'm hungry. I'd gotten up this morning, brushed my teeth, and then immediately went over to Caden and Cadence's house to study. I hadn't gotten to eat all morning.

"Mind if I pick through your fridge?"

"Go ahead. I'll enjoy the view while you do."

I snorted before opening the fridge and searching it for a moment before pulling out a leftover burrito.

"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, that's mine!" She screeched, coming to stand next to me. "I know, that's why I got it." I laughed before bringing it up to my mouth and licking it. "Oops."

She crinkled her nose. "You better heat that up. The only thing worse than you eating the burrito that was meant for me to eat is you eating the burrito that was meant for me to eat cold."

I took a big bite and shrugged my shoulders at her before closing the fridge door and walking over to the kitchen table.

"I hate you and you're literally disgusting."

"Thanks."

"So, what brings you here today? Come to show off your pajamas? Come to steal Billie's burritos? What?"

"What have I told you about speaking in third person around me?" I shot her a look.

"Billie does what Billie wants."

I sighed before taking another bite out of the burrito. I thought about what to say for a while and she—surprisingly—sat there in silence as I ate and tried to collect my thoughts. I couldn't think of anything to say, though, so I decided I just wouldn't say anything. Not about Kai at least.

Maybe tomorrow I can just somehow keep things discreet? Maybe I'll be able to keep Kai from touching me in front of Billie and Billie from speaking to me in front of Kai. It'll be difficult, no doubt, but I don't think it's impossible.

"Your staring is really off-putting." I muttered, mouth full of burrito.

"You look cute." She shrugged.

I took my phone out and texted Caden that I'd be a while and that he could head home. I'd get Billie to give me a ride later. "I'm gonna owe you some gas money." I told her.

"As if." She rolled her eyes.