AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dario, I’m not lying!” I plead, though I can tell I’m fighting a losing battle. His nostrils are flaring, and the vein in his forehead is bulging, but he maintains his composure in front of the cops. He’s already made up his mind.
“I see,” he says simply.
To me, Gary says, “You can’t be wasting police time like this, because there are people with real emergencies.”
“I’m not lying! I’m not making this up for attention!”
I sound like a broken record, one that they’re not bothering to listen to.
Gary sends me a dirty look filled with contempt. “You know you’re neighbors with Lily Liu, right? You know she’s disappeared. When we got this call, the whole station thought it was another . . .” He trails off, letting us fill in the rest on our own. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
I’m so frustrated I want to rip my skin off. I’m sosickof people not listening to me. “I didn’t make it up!”
Dario, who’s seemingly had enough of this, kicks in with his charm. He opens the door and gestures for them to exit. “I’m so sorry for my daughter’s behavior, Gary. It’s completely unacceptable to be wasting police resources.
She’s having a hard time adjusting; she’s used to living with her mother, and you know how Florence was when she wasn’t getting any attention.”
As they head out into the hallway, Gary gives a disbelieving chuckle. “That is textbook Florence. You know, when you told me she looks just like her, I didn’t realize you meant she looksjustlike her. It’s almost eerie.”
“Tell me about it,” Dario says as they head down the hall to the front door. I can hear him placating the officers and apologizing for me. He even promises to “control” me better.
I sink into the leather chair in front of Dario’s desk, stewing over this conversation, incredibly pissed about how I was just brushed off, at how they’re acting like I’m lying because, what, I’m Florence’s daughter? Sure, nothing was technically stolen, and sure, there were no signs of forced entry and only my room was destroyed, but I’m sticking by my word, and that should mean something!
Dario reappears in the office, alone this time. He studies me for a moment, like he’s trying to decide where to even start. His voice is low and resigned when he says,
“Do you know how embarrassing this is for me? I play golf with that guy, and you’re wasting his time. King City may not be a one-stoplight town, but it’s still small enough that everyone knows everyone’s business, and word travels.”
“But I’m not—”
He holds up his hand, stopping me. “I don’t want to hear it. Am I angry? Yes. But I’m not surprised. This is something your mother would do, and therefore, something you would do, I should have seen it coming when things seemed so calm for a while.”
“But I didn’t—”
“I’m not done,” he interrupts coolly. He doesn’t raise his voice, doesn’t do anything to showcase his anger. His eyes are hard and impassive as he regards me with cool detachment. “I stopped putting up with behavior like this from your mother a long time ago, and I’m certainly too old to put up with it now. And to be frank with you, I’m getting tired of the same thing over and over with you, Siena. This is my last straw. Either you get your shit together and act like a responsible adult, or you’re out, and I don’t care where you go.”
It’s clear Dario doesn’t believe me; I don’t know why I expected anything different. He’s never believed me before; Why would he start now?
“I looked in your room after walking the officers out. It’s obvious you either had a tantrum and destroyed your room, and used a ‘break-in’ to try to cover it up, or you purposely destroyed the room for attention like Gary said. I don’t care which it is, because I’m sick of your behavior either way.” He walks around his desk to the bar cart in the corner, picking up a crystal decanter and pouring some scotch into a clean glass. I don’t say anything. I can’t. There’s no point, and I already feel so defeated. Arguing with Dario is only going to make me feel worse.
He swirls the alcohol and takes a sip. “You’re lucky I don’t kick you out right now, because you’d deserve it.
But that would make me look bad in front of Gary when I run into him and he asks me about you. But make no mistake, you are one dirty look away from being out on your ass. Got it?”
He’s not actually waiting for an answer, and I rise from the seat, feeling all kinds of awful and dejected. I wish there was something I could say to make him listen, to make himhearme, but I don’t possess the words, especially not when he’s never going to change his mind about me.
“Oh, and you need to pay to replace everything you destroyed. I’m not buying you anything new. This behavior will not be rewarded.” He takes another sip of his drink, sinking into his office chair. “Close the door on your way out.”
And just like that, the conversation is over. I’m a liar and an attention seeker, just like Florence, and Dario hates me, and nothing will ever change no matter how hard I wish it would.
Ten
After two days of avoiding Dario, which is easy since he’s at work but hard because I stayed home from school, I’m glad when Friday night finally arrives. I’ve put my room back together as best I can, but there’s nothing I could do about the damage and dents to the walls and some of the drawers, or the pillows that were cut open. But after being cooped up in my room for the last two days, I’m excited to be going with Jason to a party Warren’s throwing, especially since Warren promised me a big bowl of all-red gummy bears if I come.
He’s always throwing get togethers or parties, but I haven’t been to one since the motel party. Of course, that ended terribly, but I’ve been assured this is a very small party where Warren personally knows everyone, so it will be a good night to unwind, and boy do I need it.
I’m putting on some lip gloss when there’s a knock on my door. Gia’s standing in the doorway, her leather jacket in one hand and her purse in the other. “Brianna’s mom is here. She’s dropping us off at the movies. I’ll probably be in before you, so I’m bringing a key.” The very same key that Zia Stella forced Dario to remove from under the front doormat, the one Florence, and most likely Brandon, used to get into the house.
“All right, have fun.”
