Page 93 of House of Bass

We say our goodbyes very quickly, barely giving the others a breath to think and Nic wraps an arm around me and drags me along with him.“I hope you know what you’re doing, Anne.”

We walk out together but I turn around to see Arden stand there, resigned and helpless. But more importantly, I look at MJ and it confirms my very worst fears.

She knows.

34

HARLEY

“Bel, you’ll never believe what’s just happened to me,” Harley yelled running up the stairs of their two-story home. She needed to tell someone what had just occurred between her and Scarlett. Annabel had become okay with talking about Scarlett and there was no way she was going to babble her business to anyone else.

Harley initially hadn’t thought twice about opening Annabel’s door; they did that all the time with one another, then either or would yell about privacy but still come to say what they were there for.

She had seen Annabel’s car outside so she knew she was home, Harley had been running entirely on adrenaline so she didn’t think about how it was a little odd for the place to be so silent. Usually, there was terrible rock music coming from the other side of the door.

Harley opened it wide when she saw Annabel on the floor, wincing in pain as she took a lighter to her thighs. She was immediately paralysed by the visual of what was happening in front of her. Annabel looked up and her eyes were burning red, rimmed heavily with tears.

“Annabel…” she started but her words faded away.

Annabel wiped at her eyes, trying to hide the lighter and got up abruptly. “You’re meant to be at Scarlett’s.”

“I came back early. What were you doing?”

“Nothing,” she lied. Trying her best to smile but it came out all wrong.

Harley walked further into the room, the curtains were closed and the place was a mess. Annabel hated any form of uncleanliness, she hoovered at least once a day.

“Don’t lie to me, I saw you!”

“You didn’t see anything.” Annabel turned away from her, writhing as she walked.

Harley walked up to her and grabbed her arm, “Look at me as you tell me you weren’t hurting yourself.”

Annabel’s face crumpled momentarily, she fell into her arms crying which was when Harley noticed that her hands were bandaged.

She walked them over to the bed and tucked her in then climbed in beside her. She feared what would happen if she took her eyes off her.

“When did this happen?” Holding her hands up to stare at how carefully wrapped they were.

“An accident,” Annabel answered. “I swear.”

Harley nodded, accepting her explanation. “Do you want me to call Arden?”

She shook her head, “I’ll do it tomorrow. I just need you.”

Annabel fell asleep in her arms and every second that ticked by Harley worried that her fears would come true.

Harley had gone to university the very next day despite what she had seen the day before. She was anxious that she should’ve stayed home but she had used up the last of her attendance excuses and needed to be in as there was also a project that needed handing in.

Annabel promised she’d check in with her every hour, it had been hard to coax that agreement out of her but Harley was extremely persuasive when need be.

She was walking down the corridor, after coming out of her class, when she bumped into a lecturer, a tall dark skin man she felt she had seen him about before but wasn’t sure. All the files in his hand scattered onto the floor, she leaned down to help pick them up. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“Don’t worry about it, you wouldn’t be the first student to do so.” He smiled as he picked up the rest of the paper on the ground.

“Sorry, again.”

She began to walk away when he called on her again. “My apologies but you know Annabel Bass, right?”