The Rules of Being Friends (A Pact Between the Forgotten #2) - Jessica Sorensen Page 0,1

usually is. But every time I even think about going to see a man or woman wearing one of those creepy white coats, I feel like I’m going to throw up—

“Raven! Are you up yet?” My aunt pounds on my shut bedroom door, startling me.

I’ve been awake since before the sun came up, mostly because my side hurts and also because I’ve been overanalyzing everything that happened yesterday—

“Raven!” my aunt shouts again. “Wake up! You’re taking the damn bus today, and it gets here in twenty minutes.”

I sigh heavily. “Okay.”

She pauses. “You’re not going to argue about this?”

“Nope.” Because I don’t plan on riding the bus.

Harlow told me yesterday that I could ride with her, so I’m going to. Then again, Hunter, Jax, and Zay sort of implied that I could ride with them, too … I think anyway. Honestly, I’m confused at this point if I have a ride to school or not.

Sighing, I sit up and scoot to the edge of the bed. “Crap, what am I going to do?” I mumble to myself. “I mean, I could just text one of them and see, but …” What if this is all a prank?

No matter how nice the guys and Harlow have been to me, that worry plagues my mind. And I can’t help thinking of all the times in the past when I’ve been pranked by people pretending to be my friend only so they can humiliate me.

“Well, hurry up,” my aunt snaps, “or you’ll miss the bus. And I’m not driving you to school if you miss it. Dixie May’s car arrived last night, so I have no reason to go there.” She grows quiet then, and I assume she’s left.

I get up to leave my room and use the restroom so I can get ready quickly, so you know, I won’t miss the bus, because yeah, I’m a big old chicken and can’t bring myself to text anyone. And when I open the door, my aunt is still standing there.

Her blonde hair is pulled into a messy bun, and she’s wearing a pair of yoga pants and a long-sleeved shirt—her usual morning look.

She eyes me over suspiciously. “Why are you being so cooperative about this?”

I elevate my brows. “Do you want me to argue with you?”

“No,” she snaps. “But it’s unlike you to be so agreeable.”

“Yeah, well, I’m tired,” I mumble. Exhausted really. Of her. Of my uncle and Dixie May. Of having to live in this house.

“Probably because you’ve been doing too many drugs,” she sneers. “Just like your mother.”

My blood burns underneath my flesh. My mother wasn’t a drug addict. And even if she were, my aunt wouldn’t know since she didn’t know my mother.

My lips part, and I’m probably about to spit out words that’ll get another word carved into my flesh, but my uncle interrupts me.

He steps out of the room across from mine and into the hallway. He’s dressed in his uniform, buttoning the top button of his shirt.

“Honey, remember what we talked about,” he says to my aunt.

“Right.” My aunt’s lips twist into a malicious grin as she looks at me. “The bus gets here in twenty minutes. If you miss it, you can walk.” She tosses me a smirk then spins around and walks toward my uncle. When she reaches him, she places a kiss on his cheek, but he doesn’t even so much as glance at her, his eyes fixed on me like a hawk.

Well, this is new. Usually, my uncle only acknowledges my presence when he’s punishing me.

“Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes,” my aunt tells him then whispers, “Last night was amazing.” She gives him this lustful look that makes me want to puke then struts off toward the stairs.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” My uncle approaches me as he readjusts his belt.

“I’m not looking at you.” I step back into my room and move to shut the door.

He slams his hand against the door and holds it open. “You better start being more respectful toward me. I’ve got a whole list of words waiting to be carved into that pretty little flesh of yours.”

So many words burn at the tip of my tongue, but I swallow them down, too tired and too sore to get into it with him this morning. Besides, if I decide to help Jax, Zay, and Hunter spy on him, maybe I can get some sort of revenge. That sounds nice. Although, I’m still a bit