Hated (Rock Star Trilogy) (14 page)

Mona, Stephan, and I turn around to look at the two of them.

“Did Bridgett just jump over the top of us?” Mona asks.

“Mmhmm,” Stephan and I say.

“How is that even possible?”

Bridgett takes her other flipflop, and proceeds to hit Alec’s arm.

“You should stop this,” I tell Stephan.

“A few more seconds,” Stephan says. After Bridgett gets in a few more hits, Stephan gets up and pulls Bridgett off of Alec. She tries to fight Stephan, but finally gives in.

“Fine. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,” she says.

Stephan loosens his grip around Bridgett, and she takes off running after Alec again. He runs, but his foot gets caught on the coffee table and he takes a nose dive toward the love seat. I watch in slow motion as he falls onto the back of the seat, and then onto the floor.

“OW…”

“Oh my God!” Bridgett kneels down beside Alec. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry!”

“I knew you loved me,” Alec says. “But seriously, I think my arm is broken.”

Bridgett takes a look at his arm. I get up, and see that his arm has already swollen to twice its normal size.

“Let’s get you to the hospital,” Stephan says, and then helps Alec off the floor.

9:32 PM

Change.

“You broke his arm,” I tell Bridgett. “Seriously, this love-hate relationship you guys have going on has
got
to stop. It’s ridiculous.”

“I know.” Tears run down her face as we sit in the waiting room at the hospital. Peter and the camera crew showed up, and Mona is telling them the whole story. I can’t wait to hear what she says.

“I kind of wish they would have gotten your flying leap over the couch on camera. That would be awesome to watch again,” I joke. “Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen somebody jump so high before.”

She rolls her eyes. “Humor isn’t going to make me feel any better about this. I still can’t believe I broke his arm!”

“Imagine all the stories we can tell our grandchildren,” I hear Alec’s voice. I look around to see him sitting in a wheelchair. From the looks of it, he’s pretty doped up on painkillers.

Bridgett ignores his comment about grandchildren. “How do you feel?”

“I feel amazing. I got some magic pills, and I can’t feel a thing.”

“I’m sorry I broke your arm.”

“I can think of a few ways you could make it up to me.” Alec smiles… Well, sort of… It’s only a half smile. “I can’t feel my lips.” He turns to the nurse. “Those pills are awesome. Can I get more for later?”

The nurse hands me a bottle of pills. “Have him take one every four hours for pain. Don’t let him take it on an empty stomach, and make sure he drinks lots of water. Schedule a follow up appointment with his doctor in three weeks.”

“Thanks,” I tell her.

Stephan wheels Alec out to the car, and helps him climb inside.

“I can’t feel my feet either.” Alec laughs as he falls over into the backseat. Bridgett gets in on the opposite side, and Alec rests his head in her lap. “You’re so pretty,” he tells her as he strokes her hair.

“You’re high.” I can hear both regret and annoyance in her voice. But despite everything, I know that Bridgett is still in love with him.

I really wish I knew what went down on Thanksgiving. What made Bridgett change? She’s not the same person she was before she left, and it’s breaking my heart.

“I may be a little high, but I know a pretty girl when I see one.”

“Scarlett is the pretty twin,” Bridgett says. She hasn’t said that in a long time. Why is she saying it again?

“But I’m not in love with Scarlett. I am in love with you, Bridgett.”

Bridgett sighs. “Please just go to sleep.”

On the ride home, Mona rides with the security team. Alec falls asleep in the backseat on the ride home, and in the rearview mirror I can see that Bridgett is stroking his hair gently. I wish I knew what she was thinking. The only way I can do that is figure out what happened. To do that, I have to go to South Carolina.

I glance at Stephan. He smiles at me, and then I look back at the road. There is no way that Stephan would actually
let
me go alone, but this is something that I can’t do with him… Especially considering what happened last time Stephan was around Bridgett’s parents.

He will be so pissed
.

I glance back at Bridgett again and see tears streaming down her face. My heart feels heavy, and I know what I’m going to do…
What I have to do
. And I’m going to do it
tonight.
Stephan will forgive me. He always does.

Wednesday, December 9

Columbia, SC

8:01 AM

Beverly.

My plane lands in Columbia, South Carolina around eight in the morning. It’s four in California, so everybody is still sleeping. It’ll only be a few more hours before they realize I’m not there… Part of me regrets my decision to come, but I’m already here. It’s too late to back out now.

I take a look at myself in the mirror. I have my hair pulled into a bun, the way Bridgett fixes her hair, and I have on a pair of jeans and a hoodie. I’m even wearing tennis shoes, and no makeup. It’s scary how much I look like Bridgett right now.

As soon as my plane lands, I get a rental car. If I pull up in a limo, her mom will know something is up. So I get the most inconspicuous car they have — a white Ford Focus. I have to admit that it looks like something Bridgett would drive. I guess I know her better than I thought. But as I am leaving the car rental place, I question myself.
Am I really doing the right thing
? I left Stephan… again. At least this time I left a note. I know he will be so mad. I promised him I wouldn’t leave again. But if I would have told him, he never would have let me come alone. I take a deep breath to try and calm my shaky nerves. Stephan will understand, and he will forgive me. I have to do this — for Bridgett. Plus, it’s not like I’m never going back. I shouldn’t be here longer than a few hours.

I pull up to the curb in front of Bridgett’s parent’s house. I think back to the last time I was here — it wasn’t long ago, but it feels like a
lifetime
. So much has changed since then. It’s crazy to even think about my life before Bridgett. It just doesn’t seem real… And I sure am not going to let this woman take my sister away. She already tried that once. Bridgett stood up for me then. Now it’s my turn to return the favor.

I get out of the car and boldly walk up to the house. I am about to knock on the door, but then I realize that Bridgett used to live here. She wouldn’t knock. So I open the door and walk in. I chant over and over again that I am Bridgett, not Scarlett. When Bridgett walks, she looks at her feet. I have to remember to look down.

“Mom,” I yell as I walk inside.

It is going to feel weird calling this woman… my biological aunt… Mom.

You just have to figure out what she told Bridgett on Thanksgiving, and then you can leave
, I tell myself.

I hear running down the hallway and see Bridgett’s little sister, Natalee, run toward me. I kneel down and hug her, because I know that is what Bridgett would do. This is her little sister, and I know she loves and misses her.

“You’re not Bridgett,” the girl whispers.

“Shh…” I put my index finger over her lips. “Please, don’t tell.”

“Your secret is safe.”

“Natalee!” I hear somebody yell. “Who are you talking to?”

I look up and see Mary Evans walk around the corner. She stops in her tracks and studies me for a second. I am worried — what if she knows? Bridgett and I may be identical twins, but we are so different.

“Bridgett?” she asks.

“Mom!” I get up, and run toward her. Instead of slapping her like I want to, I hug her. I tell myself over and over that this is for Bridgett.

“You’ve finally come home.” She smiles at me. “You’re where you belong.”

“I’m sorry that I left. I should have listened to you.”

We finally pull back from our embrace, and Mary grabs my hand. “Come. Let me cook you breakfast. I’ll make pancakes.” She turns to Natalee. “Why don’t you go play while I talk to your sister.”

“Okay.” Natalee runs back towards her room, and I follow Mary into the kitchen. This is it. This is what I came here for. It’s time to get answers.

I sit down at the bar while Mary starts getting out everything to make pancakes. I am hoping that Bridgett doesn’t have a certain place to sit. I’m also hoping that Bridgett doesn’t help cook, because last time Stephan tried to teach me to cook pancakes I nearly burnt down my house. I’m pretty sure my inability to cook would give me away.

“I see our talk on Thanksgiving has convinced you to come to your senses.” Mary puts the pan on the stove and turns on the burner.

“Yes. I’m sorry that it took me so long to come back. I just felt torn. I didn’t want to leave my sister.”
Please tell me what you said again.

“Did you tell Scarlett what I told you?” she asks. Her back is turned to me, and for that I am thankful. Hearing my name makes me jump a little.

“No. I… I couldn’t bring myself to tell her.”

She looks over her shoulder at me. “I know this is hard for you to understand… Why I chose you, and why I let Mark take her… But I had a choice to make. It’s best that Mark thinks I am dead. If he knew the truth… well, it would be bad.”

Why is she bringing up my dad? And what does she mean he thinks she’s dead?
“Why can’t we tell Scarlett? Would it be so bad if she knew?”

“You know it would be awful. Certainly you don’t want your sister to know that her own mother lied and just gave her away.”

Oh my God.
She’s my biological Mom.
It can’t be. Certainly I’m just misunderstanding.
“Beverly?”

She turns to me and drops the spatula she’s holding. “Scarlett?”

“You’re my mom? My biological mom?”

Her mouth opens slightly, like she’s trying to say something, but she does know what.

“You’re Beverly… There was no
accident.
” I stand up and slowly start to back away from her. “You just gave me away.”

“Scarlett…” Her voice breaks.

“No, you don’t deserve to say my name. You gave me away and then acted like I never existed.”

“It was for your own good!” she yells. “Please, I need you to understand.”

“I understand that my biological mother is a complete bitch.”

“I didn’t want to split up your family. I did this for Bridgett, you, and for your sister, Stacy. I couldn’t stand the thought of splitting up your dad’s family. When I found out I was pregnant, I ended the affair and moved here. But once I had the two of you, I knew that I couldn’t live with my choice. So I made the decision that I thought was best for everyone. I had a friend who worked at the hospital. She agreed to help me. She told your father that Beverly died.”

“You chose Bridgett over me.” My heart feels so heavy.

Finally, it all makes sense. Bridgett didn’t want me to know. It wasn’t me that was picked over her. It was her that was picked over me.

“I did. But I did it for
you
. For her. Please, Scarlett… You have to believe me.” She comes closer, and puts her hands on my arms. I try to pull away, but she squeezes me harder. “Please, understand.”

“You’re hurting me.” I finally pull free from her grasp. “You know, I should thank you for giving me away. You saved me from a lifetime of misery with you.”

She slaps me across the face. “You would have been
lucky
to have been raised by me. I see now that I made a mistake by letting your father take you. You need structure and discipline.”

My face stings, so I put my own hand on my cheek. Tears fill my eyes. “Is this how you control Bridgett? By slapping her around and telling her that she’s not good enough? You’re a monster.” I don’t want for her to answer. I don’t want to hear anything else that comes from her mouth. I turn around, and I run as fast as I can. I jump into the car, and I leave. I call my pilot, and we leave South Carolina. I can’t wait to get back home.

Los Angeles, CA

9:11 AM

He didn’t save you.

It is just after nine in the morning when I get back home. I have several voicemails from Stephan, and Bridgett. I haven’t listened to one of them. I know they have to be furious with me. When I open the door, the first person I see is Stephan. I see relief on his face. And then he looks at me, and I can tell he’s worried. I’m sure I look like a mess. The red mark still hasn’t faded from Mary’s slap, and my cheek hurts. I’m hoping it doesn’t bruise.

On the plane ride home, I cried — the whole way. And I hate myself for crying. I feel weak. Why am I letting that woman get to me? She isn’t worthy of my tears.

Stephan comes over to me and wraps his arms around me. I cry into his shoulder.

“You know,” I hear Bridgett say.

I pull back from Stephan and look at her. “About Mary… Or Beverly… Mom… Yes, I know.”

“I’m so sorry, Scarlett. I didn’t want you to know.” Bridgett puts her hand against her forehead and rubs it. “I wanted to protect you. You’re so loving, Scar. You just want to be loved. I thought I was protecting you by not telling you.”

“How is not telling me about her
protecting me
?” I ask. “I just flew to South Carolina, only to find out that my mother is
alive
. Not only is she alive, but she is an abusive crazy person.

“What are you talking about?” Stephan asks.

Bridgett ignores him. “I grew up with her. She’s a very cold person. I think I understand why now. But it doesn’t change anything. What she did was terrible… Splitting us up, lying about her death, using me as her punching back… No matter her reasons, it’s not acceptable.”

“Is it really any different than what my dad did?” I ask. “I know he didn’t hit me, but he went along with her plan to separate us.”

“Mark did what he did with pure intentions. My mother…
OUR
mother… did this because she is evil.”

“No…” I say. “He was selfish too, Bridgett. He didn’t want Stephanie to leave, so he just let you go… But she said that she did it, because she felt bad for keeping us a secret from him. She wanted to make everything right…”