Chapter 2

It wasn't until my phone shut itself off that I finally stopped.

Oh, right. I almost forgot my battery barely lasts anymore.

And the old charger? Alisha just tossed it out like it was nothing.

Just before I blacked out, I tried to force a smile because maybe, just maybe, Camden still cared about me.

But I couldn't even manage that.

I let out a shaky breath. Three days without food, and I was so dehydrated I could barely move.

My eyes hurt, but not a single tear came out.

At least I wouldn't have to die with tears streaming down my face.

From outside, I could hear my parents and my brother throwing a birthday party for Alisha.

The place was so lively that it was like I was nothing but dust left to rot in some dark corner.

I even overheard my brother splurging on imported canned food and fancy clothes for Alisha's dog.

Alisha cooed her thanks in that sugary-sweet voice.

I couldn't help but laugh at myself. Even Alisha's dog had it better than me.

If they hated me so much, why bother bringing me back at all?

Why did they have to take me away from Camden, when I was all he had?

And as for me? It felt like Camden was the only family I ever had, all along.

If I'd known things would turn out like this, I never would've let Camden talk me into coming back.

I let out a shaky breath and closed my eyes.

Thinking back over the last ten years, it honestly felt scarier than being lost out in the wild.

Whenever I got lost out there, I always believed Camden would come for me.

But now, maybe it was all just something I made up in my head.

Not once did Camden ever call.

I just wished my ashes could be buried deep in those mountains.

Ever since I came back to the Avery family, I knew nobody liked me.

The way my parents looked at me showed both guilt and disdain.

The guilt was real, but the disdain ran even deeper.

Any dish I touched was always set aside, like I was toxic.

Even when the fruit I handled was rotting away, nobody would touch it, not even then.

This was the first time I'd ever felt this kind of pain.

Camden and I had grown up relying on each other.

But somehow, I never learned how to read the signs.

If anyone ever tried to mess with me, Camden would always have my back and make them pay double.

But after I moved in with the Avery family, it didn't take long for me to learn my lesson.

I clung to whatever pathetic pride I had left, just to keep a shred of dignity.

I kept my hands off their fruit and anything else that was theirs.

I'd rather starve or go without than have to feel their disgust.

I kept my boundaries clear, but they still gossiped behind my back, saying I'd never truly belong, like I was someone they could never accept.

They couldn't stand my clothes and couldn't stand my hairstyle. Nothing about me was ever good enough in their eyes.

They just couldn't stand anything about me.

They threw out everything I brought with me, treating it all like garbage.

Every time I tried to salvage something, they'd just toss it out again.

After they beat me up, I was left sprawled on my bed,

forced to watch as the garbage truck carted off every single thing Camden had ever given me.

The only thing I had left was my phone, tucked away where no one could find it.

But that wasn't even the worst of it.

It was like they were determined to erase every bit of Camden off me.

Just because the maid said I had lice and didn't want to wash my hair, they chopped off the braid that Camden always took his time to do for me.

But Camden washed my hair every three days,

He always took his time, making sure my hair was spotless and smelled amazing.

He did it so I'd never have to worry about getting lice.

How could I get lice?

The next day, I showed up at school rocking a chopped-off boy's cut, while Mom was fussing over Alisha, trying out her new hairpins and gently braiding her hair like she was a princess.

Stuff like this happened way too often.

Alisha didn't even need to warn me. I got the message loud and clear.

I knew I didn't even deserve to go up against Alisha for anything.

So for the past ten years, I never once tried to compete with her for anything.

Three days ago, I was heading to school with my brother and Alisha.

Alisha forgot her jacket, but I had mine on.

My brother, Sheldon, slapped me hard across the face.

"So calculating at such a young age! We never should've brought you back; you should've just been left to rot in that godforsaken mountain!" he said.

I held my stinging cheek, completely at a loss.

Sheldon was even more pissed now. "Quit acting all innocent! Don't think I don't know what you're up to! Look at you, all warm and cozy, but you didn't even bother to tell Alisha to bring a jacket. You just wanted her to catch a cold so you could laugh at her, right? Arianna, you're so damn manipulative!"

I was totally dumbfounded.

Alisha gave me this heartbroken look.

Her eyes were all red as she started talking, "Arianna, I remember that jacket. I was the one who gave it to you. You know I'm hopeless with this stuff. I didn't even realize it was freezing today.

"Why didn't you tell me to wear something warmer? Are you still mad at me for taking your spot? I'm sorry, I really am! Maybe I should just go! Sheldon, send me away! I'm the one who should've been left behind in that mountain, boohoo..."

As soon as she finished, Alisha buried her face in her hands and started sobbing, putting on her usual pitiful act.

I was left completely dumbfounded by her performance.

Even though I'd witnessed plenty of her drama before, I still had no clue how to deal with it.

I stammered, trying to explain, "Sheldon, I swear I didn't do it on purpose, I just thought..."

"Enough! Take it off!" Sheldon shouted.