“Jack’s surname is Bloom.He’s Rebecca Bloom’s younger brother.”
A hush settles over the room.
That wasnotwhat I was expecting.I didn’t even know she had a brother.
That family is rotten to the core.
This entire time, I thought Legs and Jack were nefarious monsters.But they’re your average seamless American family, which is even scarier than what I thought.No one suspects the unsuspecting.That’s what makes them the most dangerous predator of all.
It sickens me to think Rebecca’s older brother, Legs, would deprave his younger brother this way.Is this some sort of Bloom family tradition?I then wonder how many girls they’ve done this to.There’s nothing special about me.I can only imagine girls who are much prettier and more popular than me falling victim to the Bloom brothers.
They need to be stopped.
“So Legs is Rebecca’s older brother?”I say, desperate to get online and put a face to the name after so many years.
But Kit shatters everything I thought I knew.“Rebecca doesn’t have an older brother.”
What?
At first, I’m confused, but then I realize—it’s her father.Although I don’t know much about him, judging by his children, he doesn’t seem like a decent person.
But why would Rebecca’s dad want to hurt me?
Something doesn’t make sense.
Dandy stands and places his hands on my upper shoulders, comforting me.But I suddenly feel trapped.“Hallie, do you remember what Rebecca’s cheerleading number was?”
“No,” I reply, confused.“Why does that matter?”
Dandy looks over my shoulder at Kit.
“What’s happening?”I ask, panic in my voice.
“She wore number 11,” Dandy reveals.
Kit stands beside his brother, his face riddled with pain.“And her nickname was Legs.Legs 11.A British exchange student once called her that because she was tall with long legs, and she wore number 11.It stuck.”
Nothing makes any sense.I’m hearing Dandy and Kit, but I don’t understand what they’re trying to tell me.
“What?I don’t…?What does this mean?”
Dandy squeezes my shoulder reassuringly.“Remember I once told you Rebecca was rumored to be seeing an older guy?”
I nod.
I remember the night he told me.We were at the diner, right before I spilled an ice cream sundae over Robin and Rebecca.Rebecca was so pissed.I remember the utter hatred in her eyes.
“The guy was Arthur, and I’m quite certain the lighter you found in his car was Rebecca’s.”
I stare at Dandy, still unsure of what he means.
His expression falls as he reveals, “Rebecca is L11.Rebecca is…Legs.”
Time stands still.
“There’s n-no way.No.It’s not p-possible.”
“It makes sense,” Kit says, stepping in for a shaken Dandy.“She has a younger brother named Jack, goes by Legs, and Arthur—the guy she was seeing—had a lighter engraved with L11 in his car.”
