Chapter Five: Bad Decisions

Brie's POV

Lunch ended, but the elephant remained in the room. Should we or should we not go to Logan’s Party? My mother would heavily encourage it as she would consider it my staple invitation back into society and the land of the vocal speakers. My father would encourage it to keep from getting on his boss's bad side.

Apparently, after my assault confession, my father had become a regular target for Logan's father.

"Where's your head at?” Vic asked.

We had been sitting in my car, not moving or speaking for the last fifteen minutes. We called it our cool-down period where we allowed ourselves to process the day, mainly allowing me to process the day. It was typically the one time that I would actually say words to her.

I wish I had an answer for her, but in our silence, the only thing I processed was that Logan invited us to his party. From the moment I woke up this morning, I was off kilter. The nightmare, the mysterious visitor, and now Logan’s random act of generosity. I wasn't an idiot to blindly trust him, but I also didn't want to ruin our chances of having a senior year worth remembering.

Vic and I stood on the outside from freshman year until now. Would it be wrong to accept his white flag and live this year in harmony? A peaceful discord.

"Talk to me, Brie. I see the wheels in that pretty little head of yours turning."

I laughed. "I'm processing. Logan's a snake, but this is something we've always wanted. A year without Logan and Noelle."

She nodded. We had several discussions about it. They were the King and Queen of the school. If they left us alone then everyone would eventually silence their very loud, very opinionated thoughts.

"I've known them both my whole life. Logan’s an idiot, but he would never spoil a good party."

Would Noelle? It was a question neither of us would answer. My answer was she absolutely would, but ruining a Peak family party would ruin her. She was only safe as Logan's girlfriend and if she ruined that, then she was no different from the rest of the town.

"What are you suggesting?" I asked.

"We go, see if he's truly grown up or if it’s bullsh* t. If it's a weird vibe, we leave. It's not on school property so I can kick their a*s if they get out of line.”

This was a bad idea. It was a bad idea before we even began discussing it, but it was worth it, right? A chance at redemption? A chance to finally have a normal high school experience? Dr. Broner would encourage me to face it head-on but never touch the flame. The flame would only serve to burn me.

What if? What if the same attackers as before came back? What if they had been waiting for their golden opportunity to strike again? I was playing right into their plan. I was going to be the victim all over again.

Vic's hand covered mine. I hadn't known I was shaking or that my mind was going to take such a dark path the more I lingered.

"You'll be safe. It won't be like last time because this time you’re not going in alone,” Vic promised.

I hadn't been back to the Peak property after the incident. I refused to go back out of anger and fear. I hadn't come to a conclusion just yet. Having Vic there would be better. I wouldn't be alone and there was no way Vic would allow anyone to hurt me. She was a woman of heart with a body of steel. I blame her father for encouraging her love for wrestling as a child.

“Do you trust me?” Vic asked.

“With my life, you know that,” I said honestly.

“Then trust that I’ve got you.”

She had a way of knowing exactly what to say when I needed to hear it. I couldn't go into the lion’s den on my own and with Vic, I wouldn't have to.

From what I learned, Jonas Peak was an unforgiving man, and those were the worst types to have power. He still held a grudge for the cops knocking on their door regarding a party of minors with alcohol, but that wasn't my fault. If I hadn’t been attacked, I wouldn’t have said a thing, but they had to know everything if they were going to help. Or at least that was what I thought.

That was before I discovered the truth—the town only cared about what Jonas Peak told them to care about. A girl who just moved to town and was drawing attention to his family and their home was something that he did not approve of them caring about.

"I have to practice. My routine isn't perfect yet," I stalled.

That familiar sense of doom and destruction clawed at my chest, We shouldn't go tonight. Last time I had this sinking feeling in my chest, I ignored it and I shouldn't have. I had to trust myself and keep my wits about me.

"Your routine is never perfect. You're a perfectionist and none of them will ever be perfect enough for you."

She was right. My couch allowed me to do my own choreography because I pushed myself, I didn't want the bare minimum, I needed perfection. My work never being good enough for me had ensured us of gold medals so, she often left me to my own vices.

"I'm sure you got some practice in this morning so you can spare a of couple hours for Logan’s Party,”

In theory, she was right. I could afford to take some time away and go to the party, but as much as I wanted to have hope that this party could be a good thing, I couldn't shake that it wasn't. Something bad was going to happen.

We shouldn't be anywhere near the Peak estate or their son ye,t the words of agreement left my lips before I could stop myself. I had sealed my fate for this evening. I had just agreed to do what my brain has jdst warned me not to do.

This was more than facing the fear of that house and that night. I was also taking a stand for my father. If Logan could bury the hatchet with me then maybe his father could stop treating mine as if he were scum.

I started the engine and drove Vic home. What was done was done. I had agreed and once Vic got the seal of approval there was no undoing it.

I took a deep breath. Get yourself together Brie, I told myself. It’s just a party.

Sounds like deja-vu—the exact same pep talk that I gave myself all those years ago. The same feeling that I ignored years ago, and the warning that I somehow sent myself to stay away.

Why had I agreed? What was wrong with me? Did I like going into dangerous waters?

I shook the thoughts from my head. I would analyze later, but now I had to get to practice and then focus on facing my fears.

The only bright side was I wouldn’t be alone. Vic and I would be entering the lion's den together.