Little Creeping Things by Chelsea Ichaso

Author:Chelsea Ichaso
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2020-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

17

Brandon nearly topples from his chair. The ceramic shard falls from his hand as he snatches the little white box.

I drop the towel to the floor. “What’s in the box?”

“Nothing. It’s just—”

“Show me what’s in there, Brandon,” I demand, taking two quick steps toward him. He lowers the box to his lap, fingers covering it protectively.

“Cass.” Brandon’s eyes plead with me.

“Why don’t you want me to see?” The force and volume of my voice climb.

His chin sinks. “Because you wouldn’t understand.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t understand! You’re still going to show me what’s in there!” I shout, crossing the slippery tiles and lunging at him. I grab his arm and try to wrestle the lid away as he clamps it back over the box.

But I catch a glint.

“Cass, calm down!” Brandon yells.

“I won’t calm down until you show me! You’ve got Melody’s necklace in there!” I’m on him now, scratching and yanking, but his hands tighten on the box.

Footsteps pound in the hallway. “Cassidy!” Asher stomps toward me. “Get off him!” He pulls me back, and I grunt, trying to wrench myself from his grasp. “What are you doing?”

“Brandon has Melody’s necklace! He killed her!”

“Cass.” Asher tries to lay a calming hand on my shoulder, but I twist away.

“I heard him that day in the woods! Brandon did it. The proof is in that box.”

Asher’s eyes are wide. His head swivels to Brandon, whose body hunches over the box. Hope flickers.

Then my brother says, “I’m so sorry about this.” He turns back to me. “Cassidy, get out of here.”

I halt, my espadrille landing on broken ceramic with a crunch. “You’re really not going to make him show us what’s inside?”

Asher’s face is stoic, his tone razor sharp. “Get out.”

“This is unbelievable.”

Asher pushes me toward the door, and I have no choice but to obey. But Brandon’s voice rises over my protests. “Here. You want to see what’s in the box? Go ahead and look.” He tosses the lid to the ground, holding the open container on his lap. I wiggle out of Asher’s grip and dart toward it.

A metallic flash curls my stomach. Inside is the same gleaming thing Brandon held between his fingers outside the diner on Friday. When I see a small, silver bracelet nestled into the bottom corner, my breath catches.

There’s a charm, but it isn’t a musical note; it’s a heart, engraved with Love Brandon.

I was so certain it would be the gold necklace—the one from the posters and the news—that I simply stare at the bracelet, blinking to make sure it’s not some trick of the mind.

“I brought it here to show your brother. It’s for Laura.”

A present for Laura. A present he didn’t want me to see because he knew I’d judge him for trying to win her back. My mind continues reeling, trying to work out how it could be anything but Melody’s necklace. I don’t dare touch it. And I don’t dare look either boy in the eye.

“I-I’m sorry.” My gaze falls to my feet.

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