Unraveling Sarah Cresley, Marisa Maichel [thriller books to read .txt] 📗

love you. Please call me again."

My heart was breaking more each time she ignored me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

At school the next day, I sat with Mason and his group. I looked up at Sarah sadly. She was also sitting here.

"Why aren't you two talking?" Jody asked. We hesitated.

"We're not together anymore," Sarah said.

"Really, why not? You two were so cute together!"

Sarah picked at her sandwich. Then she got up and left the table. Amara and Rachel gave Jody dirty looks. I got up as well.

I tracked her to an empty classroom. She had her head buried on the desk and was sobbing.

"Sarah," I said. I started to rub her back. She flinched. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I pulled out a restraining order on Eric and blocked him," she said. "I'm so stupid. I should have done that in the first place! And if Scarlett contacts me again, she'll get suspended. If she touches me again, she'll be expelled. I'm such a bitch. I was a bitch to you yesterday, and I was a bitch to you a couple years ago, and you didn't even know about it. Scarlett's right. I'm a hypocrite and a whore. I love you and don't want to be embarassed again. I was more concerned about my reputation than you.

"I know that you'd never hurt me on purpose. I don't know what I was thinking. I hate myself right now. I hate being pregnant, I hate Mike, I hate Scarlett, I hate Mia, and all the rest of them. I hate Jody too. I don't know why I sit there anymore. She's such a bitch. I don't know what everyone sees in her. I'm such a loser. I thought about cutting my arm, but I don't want to hurt the baby. I'm an idiot, a bitch, and a whore. I love you, Reese, and I'm sorry."

"I...I had no idea that you felt that way," I began. "First of all, you're not a whore or a bitch. You're not perfect, I see that now, and no one is. I had it coming. I wish Ariella hadn't told you that I have a secret, however, I was going to tell you anyway. I promise, I have my reasons for not telling you. Since you're going to find out anyway, I'll make you a deal. I'll tell you before Hanukkah officially starts. How does that sound?"

She looked at me. "I'm not sure that this relationship is reparable."

"Don't say that. I've already forgiven you. Can you ever forgive me?"

"Yes," she said cautiously. I leaned forward, and she pulled back. I'm sure that I looked confused and hurt. "I'm going back in with careful optimism," she said.

"Do you still see a future with me?"

"I'm not sure anymore. I want a future with you, more than I've wanted a future with anyone before. But we both screwed up, and that damaged my trust, and I'm sure it damaged your trust in me."

"It most certainly did not," I said firmly. "If anything, it made me realize how much I need you in my life. I love you, Sarah Harper Cresley." She burst into tears and buried her head in her arms. "Sarah, please stop crying."

"Leave me alone," she whispered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I went home early, my heart still broken. Sarah had also gone home early. She was too upset to speak anymore when I left. I felt guilty and dirty and useless. I was a terrible boyfriend. I buried my face in my knees and let the tears flow. I felt my father wrap an arm around me.

"I heard what happened," he said. "Is it still over, or are you getting back together?"

"I don't even know anymore," I told him, rubbing my eyes. "Father, I really screwed up. If I hadn't read her private messages, we'd still be together."

"Shh, it'll be all right, love. I'm sure that you'll get back together." He kissed my scalp. "By the way, I finally opened that damnable music and video store. I'm thinking about selling comics and manga too."

"You should," I said. "Sarah likes manga."

"Oh, Reese." He laid on the couch. "Cuddle with me." I laid in front of him, and he held me for a long time. He eventually dozed off, and I was still awake. I texted Sarah a couple times, to no avail. Father suddenly snatched the phone out of my hand. "No more texting. Go to sleep. Rest."

I did fall asleep, after lightly crying for a few minutes.

I woke up hungry. I crawled out of Father's embrace and went to find a meal. Ever since the first time he took me hunting, I have been craving fresh blood. I grabbed my cell phone and my house key.

"Where do you think you're going?" Father's voice stopped me in my tracks. I turned around to face him, and my stomach gave a loud growl. He chuckled. "Oh, so that's what you're doing. Can you wait for a minute? I will come with you."

He redressed in casual clothes and came with me. We chose a secluded street known for drug dealers and prostitution.

"Have you ever drank from a drug user or dealer?" I asked Father.

"Once, and never again. His blood was so foul, I threw up right after. I prefer blood that is clean and pure. Of course, very few people have pure blood. Most have damage, from tobacco, or alcohol, or illegal drugs, or plain old junk food. Not that I wouldn't turn down a snack that has eaten chocolate. Chocolate is delicious and I'm told that dark chocolate has nutritional benefits."

"It's definitely better than once thought-" Father held out his arm, stopping me in my tracks. I looked ahead. There was a woman standing in front of us. When she saw us, she started walking forward. She was dressed in ultra-tight jeans, a red tank top, and high heels that made my eyes hurt just to look at. She had platinum blond hair, obviously dyed, cherry red lipstick, and loads of blue and black eyeshadow painted skillfully around her hazel eyes.

"Got any spare change, boys?" she purred.

"A woman should not be on this street this late at night," Father said, grinning flirtatiously at her. Blech.

Father, I thought you had a thing against drinking from women.

I generally do, but you're too hungry and this woman needs money.

"Tell that to my sisters," the woman crooned. Yuck. This was becoming more and more repulsive by the minute.

"I generally prefer one woman," Father said. "How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"A ripe age. Here is some cash and my friend here will show you a good time." The woman winced. She took the money and grabbed my hand. I paused. She looked back at me, confused. I moved forward slightly.

"Forgive me," I said, and bit into her neck. She made a noise of surprise and fear. I used my tongue to calm her. Father stood in front, and stared into her eyes. He used a form of hypnosis to knock her out cold. As soon as I was done, I cleaned her wound and called for an ambulance to get her. I didn't kill her, but I drained a lot of blood out of her.

Father and I walked away with minimal mess. Satisfied, he picked me up and carried me home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up tucked into bed. I looked at the clock. It was almost nine in the morning. I decided to go back to sleep.

When I woke up again, it was ten thirty in the morning. I got up and got into the shower. I was aching all over. My muscles were tense. I washed and conditioned my hair, washed my body, stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. I studied myself in the mirror. I looked thinner than usual, almost gaunt. I rubbed my chin. My cheekbones and the point of my chin could clearly be seen. No wonder Father was so hyped up about my dietary habits.

I blow-dried my hair (a necessity for long hair), and got ready for the day. Technically, it was a school day, and I could not hear nor smell Father. I took in a deep breath. Janna was nearby, as promised. Toby and Spencer were in their room. Dimitri was posted outside Uncle Soren's room. Grandfather was currently in his room and I had yet to find Louis.

Louis spent most of his time holed up in his room. He lived in New York, in a nameless college town. He often pretended to be a college student. He'd graduated so many times, he had a closet full of graduation caps and gowns. Before I was in the hospital the first time, he'd come to New Jersey on a personal visit to see some old friends.

In the hospital, he'd found Ariella and became attracted to her. Unfortunately, she was more attracted to my uncle. It was a twisted triangle, especially considering how much older than her they are. Now she and my uncle weren't speaking anymore, at least as far as I knew.

I wondered who would be her next crush. Caden Cartwright, maybe. She'd crushed on him on and off for years, except for the times when she had a boyfriend or other crush. He was undeniably gorgeous, and rumor had swirled that he planned on asking Sarah out before the school year ended last May.

Jealousy swirled inside of me. Why am I jealous? He's not...wait...he does have a chance now. I wondered how Sarah would react if I spoke to her again. No, I have to wait for her to come to me. I messed up...several times, and now I could pay the ultimate price for it.

I quickly dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and turned on the TV in the living room. The best choices were the news or Halloween. I decided to watch the news for a bit, as I already owned Halloween.

A jail break-out in Saudi Arabia, a new perfume that caused skin rashes, a politician in a heap of trouble for texting an underage girl. I noticed that it mentioned the eighteen year old woman that I drank from last night. Her name was Vanessa Slaughterman, and she was only seventeen, so she'd lied about her age. Father would not be pleased. She had been a runaway from home since she was twelve, and her parents tried to kick her out numerous times.

Now that she was unconscious, they had a change of heart and desperately wanted her back. She was in a coma due to substantial blood loss. Whoops. My father would have a cow when he found out.

I sat up. I felt sick. I went outside and laid facedown in the grass.

"Reese?"

"Uncle Soren."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm such an idiot. That girl was only seventeen."

"Yes, your father was rather proud of you for hunting last night. And yes, she was a minor. Your father is on his way home. He knows you're upset and wants to comfort you."

And before long, Father himself was picking me up off the grass.

"Shh, my little one, it's me," he cooed. "Everything will be all right. Daddy will take care of it."

"I feel like throwing up."

"Don't you dare. Try to keep it in, baby boy. You have to understand and get comfortable with drinking from different people, not just overage men. You may be forced to make a crucial decision that could affect someone else's life."

"I already have. Mike, remember?"

"That little shit deserved it, though. You should have heard the things he said about Sarah. I was glad to get rid of him. He had no compassion or thought for the lives and well-being of others. He was cruel and malicious. Sarah was not the first girl he's hurt."

"You mean he-"

"No, Sarah was the first girl he raped, but not the first girl he was cruel to. He harassed other women, and they were too afraid to speak up. Now that he's dead, his victims have gained confidence. They are speaking up. Being taken seriously."

I held myself and rocked. "It's all my