Protect Me by Evelyn Glass

Author:Evelyn Glass
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pronoun

CHAPTER 8

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IN THE STORE-ROOM WITH CRYSTAL I can barely keep it together as I tell her everything that’s happened in the last day. I have to keep reminding myself that I’m not allowed to cry, that I’m strong. It works. I don’t spill one tear, no matter how many are fighting to come out.

“But why would Jake believe you would do something like that?” Crystal’s eyes are wide as saucers and she looks like she may be about to lose it.

“He found out I wasn’t at the diner, where I said I would be. After that, I guess it was pretty easy to convince him that if I was lying about that then I must have been lying about a whole lot of other stuff too.” I shrug as I grab the crate of orange juice that Crystal had been fruitlessly trying to lift when I’d arrived.

“Oh, Aimee, I’m so sorry.” Crystal’s voice is full of sadness and I pray that she isn’t about to cry on me, because I just can’t take that right now.

“It’s not your fault, Crys,” I grunt the words out as I lift the crate, enjoying the feeling of the muscles burning in my arms. Feeling anything else is better than just feeling this empty ache inside of me.

“It is my fault.” Crystal’s words make me turn around, almost dropping the crate that I’ve finally managed to stabilize.

“What are you talking about?” I ask warily. I pray that Crystal isn’t going to be another Suzie, someone else that is going to let me down.

“Jake called yesterday and asked to speak to you, but I told him you weren’t here, that it was your day off.” Crystal covers her mouth and looks at me as if she’s just done something unforgivable. “I didn’t know, I’m so sorry!” she wails.

I start to make the connections of the chronology in my head. It makes sense, and I curse myself for not having let Crystal in on the secret. I’d made it so easy for the Angels to pit Jake against me. Then I curse myself again for wishing that I’d kept the secret. I know what I should have done—I should have told Jake everything, regardless of the consequences. That’s the only right decision that there was to make. It’s that simple.

“Crystal, it’s not your fault, okay? I did this, not you.” I start hobbling towards the door, shifting the weight of the crate. I’m almost knocked over as Crystal rushes at me to give me a hug from behind.

“Really? You’re not mad?” The relief and plaintiveness in her voice are endearing. I berate myself for thinking that she could be anything like Suzie. Crystal was a good egg. I don’t think she has one malicious bone in her body.

“No, Crys, I’m not mad. But I will be if you make me drop this crate on the floor!” I warn jokingly.

Crystal releases me instantly. “Right, sorry. But could you let it go for a sec, anyway? You should really leave the makeup to the professionals.

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