Chapter 2

"Look at her. No shame at all."

The voice came from a woman passing by, her eyes fixed on the box in my hand. I quickly shoved it into my purse, my face burning.

I hurried away from the pharmacy, my steps quick and uneven. The city felt vast and lonely. I found a dimly lit bus stop and sat down on the cold metal bench.

With trembling hands, I took out the pill and a bottle of water I' d bought. I swallowed it dryly, the small tablet feeling like a rock in my throat.

A wave of nausea hit me, and I leaned over, gagging into a trash can. Nothing came up but bitter bile.

"Finley Brooks? What are you doing here?"

I froze. It was Demian. He stood in front of me, his face a perfect mask of concern. He must have finished celebrating with his friends.

"I was worried when you left," he said, his voice soft and convincing. He even managed to look hurt. "I called you, but you didn' t answer."

I just stared at him, my stomach churning.

"I was just buying some medicine," I said, my voice flat.

He saw the empty pill packet I' d dropped on the ground. A flash of something-annoyance? embarrassment?-crossed his face before he smoothed it over.

"Oh," he said, kicking the packet under the bench. "Well, let' s get you home. You look awful."

I didn' t move. The thought of being in a car with him, of him touching me, made my skin crawl.

"I' ll take the bus," I said.

"Don' t be silly." He reached for my arm. I pulled it away like I' d been burned.

His eyes narrowed. "What is your problem?"

"Let' s just go to the graduation party," he said, changing tactics. "Everyone' s heading over there. We can go together."

The idea was absurd. Two years he had insisted we keep things secret. Now he wanted to show up at the biggest party of the year together?

"You go ahead," I said. "I' ll meet you there."

I wanted to see it with my own eyes. I needed to see him with my sister.

He looked annoyed but finally shrugged. "Fine. Don' t be late." He turned and walked away without another word.

I sat on the bench for a long time, replaying the words from his phone in my head. A warm-up. The main prize. He had never planned to be with me. He' d always promised that once we graduated, we could finally be public. It was all a lie to get what he wanted.

The truth was laid bare in that group chat. He wasn' t just a liar; he was cruel.

I finally got up and took a bus to the party. The house was already overflowing with people, music blasting from the open windows.

I saw him before he saw me. He was standing by the pool, and my sister, Finley, was hanging on his arm, laughing at something he said. She looked radiant, the center of attention as always.

People were cheering them on. "Finally making it official, Demian?" someone shouted. "Finley' s been waiting forever!"

He just grinned, a smug, possessive look on his face as he looked down at my sister. I remembered all the times he' d dismissed my desire to go public. "It' s not the right time," he' d say. "People will talk. It' ll ruin what we have." What we had was nothing.

I walked into the backyard, my heart a heavy stone in my chest.

Demian saw me over Finley' s shoulder. His smile didn' t falter. He was a master of deception.

Finley turned and her bright smile widened when she saw me. "Finley Brooks! You made it!"

She rushed over and gave me a hug, her perfume cloying and sweet. "I was so worried you wouldn' t come."

Someone in the crowd behind her snickered. "Look at her neck. Someone had a good night."

My hand flew to my collar, but it was too late. The high neckline of my dress had slipped, revealing the dark bruises Demian had left.

Finley pulled back, her eyes widening in mock surprise. "Oh my god, Finley Brooks! What happened to you?"

Her voice was loud, drawing more attention. She reached out and pulled my collar down further, exposing the marks for everyone to see.

"Did you get into a fight with a vampire?" she asked, her voice dripping with fake concern.

The crowd erupted in laughter. Their eyes were on me, filled with judgment and amusement. I felt stripped bare, humiliated.

Demian stood a few feet away, watching the whole scene unfold. He didn' t move. He didn' t say a word to defend me. He just watched, his expression unreadable, as my sister tore me apart for his entertainment.

I looked at him, then at her, and forced a smile. "Just a really passionate mosquito," I said, my voice shaking with a rage I didn' t know I possessed.