Chapter 26

I woke up to the persistent ringing of my phone. My friends had long since gone home, partly because they hadn't brought spare clothes, and partly due to the awkwardness with my nanny the night before. Jesus Christ, couldn't people think? I wasn't responding because I didn't want to pick up. Fuming, I stumbled toward my dresser, where I had thrown the phone in frustration before crashing into bed. Silently, I willed the caller to give up, to understand that I didn't want to pick up.

The ringtone was unbelievable. You wouldn't believe it, but it was the sound of a high-pitched bell—pure torture under normal circumstances. But in my delicate, sleep-deprived state, it was grating on my nerves, driving me to the brink of smashing the phone against the wall. Finally, the caller seemed to get the message and stopped ringing. Relieved, I flopped back onto my bed, but before I could get comfortable, the phone started ringing again. I snatched it up, drowsily answering, "Hello?"

"Hello, Leila, what the heck have you been up to?"

My heart gave a lurch. The sound of his voice jolted me completely out of my drunken stupor. It might sound impossible, but I sobered up immediately. My tone changed in decibels, shifting from groggy and disoriented to sickly sweet and light—not at all like the drunken voice I had used to say hello just moments earlier. Luckily, he didn't seem to pick up on it.

"Nothing much, Dad," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I made this really cool new set of friends…"

"Really? Is that why you're talking back to your nanny now?" His voice dripped with venom and sarcasm.

Honestly, I was completely furious. Because Maya and I had a tiny quarrel, she had to get my father involved, knowing how much I feared him. The beginning of hate and irritation began to spring up in my heart, as that rebellious streak took root more firmly. "Okay, Dad, this is annoying. You just called me after all this time, only to start shouting at me about an issue Maya reported, without even hearing my side of the story. I didn't do anything wrong. You asked me to stop being a recluse, and I did. I finally made some new friends. You should be happy for me, not trying to ruin it."

"What? Delilah, how did I raise you? Is this what your friends are teaching you?" His voice rose, his anger palpable.

Oh, great. Now he was mad. He never called me by my full name, Delilah, unless he was really upset. Soft-pedaling my attack on my dad in an attempt to lighten his mood proved abortive. He was literally fuming. Honestly, parents are hypocrites, especially mine. Why was he suddenly pretending to care about me? It must be about their perfect reputation again. Eye roll.

"No, Dad, that's not what they taught me," I said, trying to sound contrite. "It's just that you and Mom hardly spend any time with me, and I miss you guys. So it seems to be getting on my nerves. And with you snapping at me and my friends hanging around me all the time, it was a bit too much to take all at once. Maya kept yelling all night. I literally had to go to bed without food. The sleepover I had planned with my friends was ruined, and I had to tiptoe around my own house. I'm sorry, Dad. Forgive me if you think I'm being rude, but I'm just not very happy."

There was silence on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I thought maybe I'd gone too far. But I was tired of always tiptoeing around his temper, of always being the dutiful daughter who never complained. It wasn't fair. I had feelings too, and I deserved to be heard.

"Dad?" I ventured cautiously, unsure of what his response would be.

He sighed heavily, the sound filling the empty space between us. "Leila, I know things haven't been easy," he said, his voice softer now. "But you have to understand, your mother and I are doing everything we can to provide for you. We want you to have the best life possible."

"I know, Dad," I said, my anger deflating. "But I don't need all the material stuff. I just want you guys to be around more. I miss you."

"We miss you too," he said, and I could hear the regret in his voice. "We'll try to do better, okay? But you also need to be more respectful to Maya. She's only trying to help."

"I'll try," I promised, feeling a little guilty now. Maya might be a pain, but she didn't deserve the full brunt of my frustration. "But she needs to stop running to you every time we have a disagreement."

"She's just worried about you," he said, his tone conciliatory. "But I'll talk to her. Maybe we can find a better way to handle things."

"Thanks, Dad," I said, feeling a bit better now that the tension between us was easing. "I appreciate it."

"Alright, sweetheart. Take care, and we'll talk soon, okay?"

"Okay, Dad. Bye."

I hung up the phone and stared at it for a long moment, feeling a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was glad that we had talked things through and that he seemed to understand where I was coming from. But on the other hand, I knew that nothing was really going to change. My parents would continue to be absent, and I would continue to feel lonely, no matter how many friends I made.

With a sigh, I pushed the thoughts aside and got out of bed. There was no point in dwelling on it. I had school to get ready for, and the last thing I needed was to show up late with puffy eyes from crying. I quickly showered, dressed, and made my way downstairs, where Maya was waiting with breakfast.

She didn't say anything as I sat down at the table, and neither did I. There was a silent truce between us, an unspoken agreement to let the events of the previous night go. We ate in silence, the clinking of cutlery the only sound in the room.

After breakfast, I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door, grateful for the cool morning air that helped clear my head. I walked to school, lost in thought, replaying the conversation with my dad over and over in my mind. I wanted to believe that things would get better, but deep down, I knew that it would take more than a phone call to fix the rift between us.

As I approached the school gates, I saw Nancy and Diana waiting for me, their faces lighting up when they spotted me. "Hey, Leila!" Nancy called out, waving me over.

"Hey," I greeted them, trying to muster a smile.

"You okay?" Diana asked, concern etched on her face. "You look a little out of it."

"I'm fine," I lied, not wanting to burden them with my problems. "Just didn't sleep well."

"Well, we'll make sure you have a better day today," Nancy said, linking her arm through mine as we walked into the school together.

The day passed in a blur of classes and conversations, but my mind kept drifting back to the events of the night before. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change, that the phone call with my dad was just the beginning of a new chapter in my life—one that I wasn't entirely sure I was ready for.

After school, I found myself wandering aimlessly, not wanting to go home just yet. I ended up at the park, sitting on a bench and watching the world go by. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over everything, and for a moment, I felt a sense of peace.

But then my phone rang again, shattering the tranquility. I pulled it out of my pocket, half-expecting it to be my dad again. But when I saw the caller ID, my heart skipped a beat. It was Ethan.

I hesitated for a moment, my finger hovering over the screen. Part of me wanted to ignore it, to pretend that last night had never happened. But another part of me was curious, drawn to the mystery that surrounded him.

Taking a deep breath, I answered the call. "Hello?"

"Hey, Leila," Ethan's voice came through, smooth and confident. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm... okay," I replied cautiously. "A little tired, but I'm okay."

"Good to hear," he said, a smile in his voice. "I was thinking about last night and—"

"Ethan," I interrupted, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. "I don't think we should talk about last night."

There was a pause on the other end, and I could almost hear him trying to gauge my mood. "Alright," he said finally. "If that's what you want."

"It is," I said firmly, though I wasn't entirely sure I meant it.

"Okay, then," he agreed. "But if you ever want to talk, I'm here. No pressure."

"Thanks," I said, feeling a little relieved. "I appreciate that."

We chatted for a few more minutes about inconsequential things, and by the time we hung up, I felt a little more at ease. But as I walked home, the weight of everything that had happened over the past 24 hours pressed down on me and made me feel as though I was walking through a haze. I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off, that the night I spent with Ethan had changed something in me, in my life, even if I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

By the time I reached my front door, the sun had fully set, leaving the world in that in-between state where the colors of twilight begin to fade into the deep blue of night. I hesitated for a moment, staring at the door as though it was a portal to another world—a world where everything was different, where the rules didn't apply. 

Taking a deep breath, I turned the handle and stepped inside. The house was quiet, almost too quiet, and I could feel the tension in the air like a physical presence. Maya was in the kitchen, washing dishes, but she didn't acknowledge me when I walked past. I knew she was still upset about our argument, but I wasn't in the mood to make amends right now. 

I trudged up the stairs, my legs feeling heavy, and entered my room, closing the door behind me. The moment I was alone, the memories of the night before came rushing back, hitting me like a wave. The dancing, the drinking, Ethan's touch, the water, the kiss… It all felt surreal, like a dream that I couldn't quite remember but couldn't forget either.

I collapsed onto my bed, burying my face in my pillow as the emotions I'd been holding back all day finally broke free. Tears streamed down my face, and I sobbed quietly into the pillow, not wanting Maya to hear. I felt lost, confused, and more alone than ever before. My parents were distant, my nanny was upset with me, and the one person who had shown me attention in a way that made me feel alive—Ethan—was also the one who made me question everything about myself.

The next morning, I woke up feeling drained, both physically and emotionally. My eyes were puffy from crying, and my body ached in places I hadn't even realized could hurt. I forced myself to get out of bed and go through the motions of getting ready for school, but my heart wasn't in it. All I wanted to do was curl up in bed and forget about everything.

When I arrived at school, I immediately noticed the whispers and the sideways glances. It didn't take long for me to realize that word had gotten out about the party. The rumors were flying fast and thick, and I knew that it was only a matter of time before the truth—whatever that was—came to light.

Nancy and Diana were waiting for me by my locker, their faces tense with concern. "Leila," Nancy said in a low voice, "we need to talk."

I nodded silently, following them to a quiet corner of the school courtyard where we could talk without being overheard. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice shaky.

Nancy exchanged a glance with Diana before speaking. "There are rumors going around about what happened at the party last night," she said carefully. "People are saying… things."

"What things?" I demanded, my heart sinking.

Diana hesitated, then blurted out, "They're saying you hooked up with Ethan in the pool and that things got… intense."

My stomach churned. "But I don't even remember what happened," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I was so out of it… I don't know if anything even happened."

"Leila," Nancy said, her tone gentle but firm, "you need to be honest with us. Did something happen with Ethan?"

"I don't know!" I cried, frustration and fear bubbling up inside me. "I was drunk, and the last thing I remember is him kissing me. After that, it's all a blur."

Diana placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "It's okay, Leila. We're not here to judge you. We just want to make sure you're okay."

"I don't know if I'm okay," I admitted, tears welling up in my eyes again. "I'm scared. What if something did happen? What if… what if I wasn't in control?"

Nancy's expression softened, and she pulled me into a hug. "We'll figure this out together, okay? You're not alone."

I nodded, grateful for their support, but the knot of anxiety in my stomach didn't loosen. The rest of the day passed in a blur, with more whispers and more stares, but I did my best to block it all out. I couldn't afford to fall apart, not now.

After school, I decided to confront Ethan. I needed answers, and he was the only one who could give them to me. I found him in the parking lot, leaning against his car with that same confident, easy-going demeanor that had drawn me in the night before.

"Ethan," I called out, my voice trembling. He looked up, his expression unreadable as he watched me approach.

"Leila," he greeted me with a small smile, but I could see the guarded look in his eyes. "What's up?"

"We need to talk," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "About last night."

His smile faltered, and he glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "Okay," he said, his tone serious now. "Let's talk."

We walked to a quieter part of the parking lot, away from prying eyes and ears. Once we were alone, I turned to face him, my heart pounding in my chest. "Ethan, I need you to be honest with me. What happened last night? Did… did we…"

I couldn't finish the sentence, but he seemed to understand what I was asking. He looked down at the ground, running a hand through his dark hair. "Leila," he began, his voice heavy with regret, "we didn't… do anything like that, I swear. You were really out of it, and I didn't want to take advantage of you."

Relief washed over me, but it was quickly replaced by confusion. "Then why can't I remember anything after you kissed me?"

"I think the alcohol hit you harder than you realized," he explained. "You passed out pretty quickly after that. I carried you out of the pool and found a place for you to rest. That's it, I promise."

"But… my bikini was shredded, and I woke up naked," I said, my voice shaking. "What about that?"

Ethan winced, looking genuinely apologetic. "I think you might have torn it yourself when you were struggling in the water. And when I laid you down, I tried to cover you up, but… I didn't have much to work with. I'm sorry if it made you uncomfortable."

I stared at him, trying to process everything he was saying. It all sounded plausible, but there was still a part of me that couldn't shake the unease I felt. "Are you sure that's all that happened?"

He nodded, his green eyes sincere. "I'm sure, Leila. I wouldn't lie to you about this."

I wanted to believe him. I really did. But something in the back of my mind kept nagging at me, telling me that there was more to the story than he was letting on. But for now, I had to take him at his word. I didn't have any other choice.

"Okay," I said quietly. "Thank you for being honest with me."

"Of course," he replied, his tone softening. "I just want you to feel safe, Leila. I care about you."

I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions—relief, confusion, fear, and a tiny sliver of hope. Maybe things weren't as bad as I thought. Maybe I could move past this and pretend like none of it ever happened.

But as I walked away from Ethan and headed home, the unease still lingered, a dark cloud hanging over me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still off, that the events of the night before were just the beginning of something bigger, something that would change my life in ways I couldn't yet understand.

For now, all I could do was try to hold on to the small semblance of normalcy I had left. But deep down, I knew that nothing would ever be the same again.