How to Be Cool by Annabelle Costa

Author:Annabelle Costa
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Cascade Press
Published: 2016-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

ETHAN

I mumble some excuse about horrible tooth pain and get the hell out of Laura’s house. I don’t want to say anything to her until I’ve sorted this out in my head.

Here’s what I know:

1. Alex and Nikki went out on a date on the night she was raped and beaten.

2. The guy who did this to Nikki has not been caught.

3. Alex has not come forward and told the police he went out with Nikki that night.

4. As far as I know, I’m the only one who’s aware Alex went out with Nikki.

I don’t know what to think other than this looks really bad for my brother. Is it possible he took Nikki out, obviously expecting sex, and when she wouldn’t give it up, he got violent?

Alex is a huge jerk. He’s mean, he’s arrogant, he’s a liar, and he hates it when he doesn’t get what he wants. But one thing he’s not is violent. In eighteen years, he’s never laid a finger on me, and there are plenty of times when he could have. Easily. He’s a football jock, after all. But Alex always preferred torture of the psychological kind. It’s hard to imagine him beating a woman into unconsciousness.

But that doesn’t mean he didn’t do it.

I have to talk to him.

Naturally, he’s not home when I get there, but I’m willing to wait. It takes a few hours until Alex comes in the door, flanked by two of his football buddies. I came out into the living room just in time to hear one of the guys saying, “…I swear to God, the biggest tits you’ve ever seen, especially for a sophomore. She’s like a porn star.”

I hate Alex’s friends from football. They’re a bunch of testosterone-loaded assholes. Worse, when they see me, they get these big grins on their face like they just saw something hilarious. And that hilarious thing is, apparently, me. “Hey, Alex,” I say quietly. “Can I talk to you?”

One of the guys nudges Alex and says, “He probably needs your help to tie his shoelaces or put some milk in a sippy cup.”

My face burns. I should just leave now and go straight to the police. But something stops me. “I really need to talk to you,” I repeat. “In private.”

And somehow, Alex gets it this time. He turns to his friends. “Hey, listen, thanks for the ride. My parents are going to be home soon though, so you guys probably should go.”

He knows. He knows I know. After all, that’s the only reason he’d agree to get rid of his friends just because I asked. Also, when his friends are gone, he quickly shuts the door behind them. And locks it.

“What’s this about?” Alex asks, a crease between his brows.

“Nicole Kramer,” I say. My palms are getting sweaty and I have to remove them from the handles of my crutches to wipe them on my jeans.

Alex heaves a sigh. “Do you want to sit down? You look like you’re about to fall on your face.

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