Hayden’s expression softened as he caught my covered wrists. “Ember, you don’t want to do that.” He moved my hand away from the hem of my hoodie. “Let me take you upstairs.”
I stared into his deep brown eyes. They were so beautiful, so open. It took me a moment to remember why I was angry with him. I pulled away from him. “I saw you,” I whispered.
His brows rose as he whispered back, “Saw what?”
“With her.” I lowered my eyes, letting out a shaky sigh. All my anger suddenly vanished. The cockiness dried up. I just wanted to sit down. And maybe take a bath. Sit first, though.
Confusion faded from his face. “Ember, that’s not—”
“I wanna see my mom.” I turned away from him, realizing then we had company.
The twins stood in the doorway, flanked by the cherub-faced Gabe. They all stared at me.
“What?” I grumbled.
Gabe’s lips pursed. “You have blood all over your left cheek.”
Hastily, I used the good sleeve of my hoodie and swiped it over my face.
Hayden caught my arm, pulling it down. “It’s okay. Gabe, where’s Liz?”
“She’s with Olivia.” Gabe folded his arms as he shifted his weight to his other foot. “Olivia wanted Liz to stay with her until she fell asleep or something.”
My shoulders slumped. Olivia hadn’t asked me to do that since we’d come here.
“So… what happened?” Phoebe asked quietly.
“She thinks I slice up rabbits.” Kurt pulled out a chair and dropped into it. I scowled as he stretched out his legs. He winked. “She thinks I’m your run-of-the-mill psychopath.”
Phoebe’s eyes went wide.
“Kurt,” Hayden warned softly.
“You are a psychopath,” I said.
“Ember, what did I tell you in the car?” Cromwell grabbed a water from the fridge. “You’ve had a troubling evening—”
“You can’t tell me these things aren’t related!” I backed away, hitting the edge of the counter. “Y-you just expect me to think all these things are coincidences?”
Phoebe crossed her arms, stricken-looking. “Oh, damn…”
“What?” asked her twin, frowning. Then his eyes narrowed. “What did you do?”
Those words had a stilling effect on everyone in the room, probably because Parker rarely ever spoke. I’d forgotten how soft and melodious his voice was.
Phoebe rubbed a hand down her face. The kitchen light caught and reflected off the deep purple nail polish. Suddenly, she whirled on her twin. “I know,” she hissed. “I’m fucked up. Don’t you think I know that?”
“What’s going on?” Cromwell demanded.
Parker shook his head. “Tell them, or I will.”
I leaned against the counter as Hayden stepped forward. Compassion marked his gaze as he approached Phoebe. At once, I had a feeling I should be sitting down.
“Phoebe? You can tell us.” Hayden took her hand. “What did you do?”
I squeezed my eyes shut. He cared for her. It was so evident; probably everyone in the room could sense it. How had I missed it? Because I was a glutton for punishment, I opened my eyes in time to see Hayden pull her against his chest. Had I really meant anything to Hayden? Or was Phoebe just more broken than me?
Then Phoebe started crying. “I’m sorry. I really am.” Her voice was muffled against Hayden’s sweater. “I just couldn’t take it.”
Cromwell walked around the table, placing his hand on Phoebe’s back. His eyes met Hayden’s as he spoke. “Couldn’t take what, Phoebe?”
“Her,” she said. “Her emotions are all over the place, and they’re dark. They keep pulling me in!” She tore away from Hayden, whirling on Cromwell. “You brought her here without any regard to us! How it would affect any of us!”
I felt my stomach sink, and then Kurt was beside me, guiding me into a chair. “You look like you’re going to fall over.”
Phoebe wiped the palms of her hands across her cheeks. “I just wanted her to leave, so everything could go back to normal. Then I’d be able to come home and not have to rely on Hayden to take the edge off everything!”
“Why didn’t you say something?” asked Cromwell. “We could’ve been working on your blocking.”
She laughed, and suddenly, she was composed—only her wet lashes gave an indication that she’d been crying. “It was me. I did it.”
The room tilted a bit as I stared at her.
Hayden took a step back. A muscle feathered along his jaw. “Did what?”
“I’ve been the one putting stuff in her locker,” she said. Kurt swore under his breath, but everyone ignored him. “I just wanted her to leave. And I thought it would scare her enough to make her go away.”
I was out of the chair before I realized it. “I never did anything to you!”
Hayden was fast, positioning himself between the two of us. Cromwell just looked shocked, and Gabe’s eyes were wide.
“You came here!” Phoebe screamed.
So much anger welled up, boiling over. “You killed a rabbit! And shoved it in my locker! What is wrong with you?”
“The rabbit was already dead. I’m not a freak.”
“Really? You aren’t?” I started around Hayden, but he blocked me. “You did everything else! How did you know what the car looked like?”
She was watching Hayden now, her lower lip trembling. “I saw the pictures Jonathan had of the accident.”
I wanted to hurt her.
“Phoebe,” Hayden said so softly. There was such disappointment in his voice. “You should’ve told us it was bothering you so much. There was more I could’ve done.”
She laughed. “Like what? You can’t just keep draining my gift all the time.”
Part of me could understand how much my mixed-up emotions messed with her. Hell, they got to me.
But still… “I don’t want her around my sister.” My voice shook. “Anywhere near her.”
Phoebe’s mouth dropped. “I wouldn’t hurt your sister!”
“You’re crazy!”
She started crying again.
Cromwell took Phoebe’s arm. “We need to talk in private,” he said to her. “Parker, please come with us.” He turned to me, his expression blank. “You need to get some rest.”
Tears burned my eyes as it all settled on me at once. Phoebe hated me so badly—it was an ugly feeling that slid over my skin. The three of them left the room, with Kurt trailing behind them.
Gabe slowly backed out of the kitchen, hands raised. “Wow. That takes family drama to a whole new level.”
Hayden stared at him.
“And I think I’ll go to my room now,” Gabe said.
I watched him disappear down the hall. A numb feeling settled in my bones.
It’d been Phoebe this entire time.
“Ember…?”
Slowly, I lifted my gaze to Hayden’s. “You didn’t believe me.”
He opened his mouth, but closed it.
I laughed, but it sounded harsh. “What will Cromwell do with her?”
“I don’t know.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t think he’ll send her to the Facility, but I’m sure he’ll work with her more to help her block… everything.”
“It’s not my fault.”
His gaze fell to my face. “I know it’s not.”
“Your girlfriend is pretty messed up, you know that?”
Hayden frowned. “Phoebe’s not my girlfriend.”
“Yeah.” I waved my hand, too tired to argue with the obvious. “I can’t believe she… she hated me so much that she would take it that far.”
“She has… problems, Ember. Her gift is difficult.”
“And mine isn’t? I don’t use my gift as an excuse to terrorize people.” I felt my face pale. “Is me being here really that bad? That I would drive someone to do those things? Am I that bad?” My voice broke, and I choked back a sob. “I can’t help what I am.”