sakura
After circling Redwood like a maniac three times, I pulled over at the Overlook and paced back and forth on the rocks. My car was locked, the head buried underneath a pile of my clothes in the trunk.
What the hell was I going to do?! I had a damn head in my trunk! Should I throw it into the ocean and hope he didn’t pop up anywhere? I mean, that was why I had come here. If I could almost drown in the water, I could surely dump a head here and watch it sink too, right?!
Maybe I should toss it into a shredder instead?! Hurl an axe at it to get out all my hate?
I yanked out my phone to contact Callan again.
Me: We need to talk!!!
Me: NOW!
I didn’t know how the hell to get through to him. He had been ignoring me for the past two days, then randomly sent me a picture of a gift he had left me in my bedroom that had a freaking head in it! Who the hell did that?!
If he was watching me from afar and snickering because I was losing it over here, I would kill that man. I paced on the rocks some more. The tide was higher than usual tonight, so I couldn’t hike down that far.
Having friends at Redwood would really help with this situation.
But, no, I had to be shy Sakura, who couldn’t socialize with normal people, and now, I was stuck with a damn head in the trunk of my car! If anyone found it, I would fucking go to jail for years and never be able to go off to college, start a new life.
After mustering up the courage, I messaged Maddie Weber.
Me: Hi! This is Sakura from Redwood. Do you happen to have Kai’s number?
Maddie: Hey! Sorry, I don’t have his number.
Me: Or Imani Abara’s number? Sorry to bother you! I’m sorta in a jam right now.
Fuck, I really shouldn’t have told her that. What if she asks what’s happening?
I sat on a rock and ran a hand through my hair, impatiently waiting for a response.
Part of me didn’t even think that Callan would have done this.
Sure, he might’ve killed Jett, but sent me the head?! Why would he do that? Just to show me that he loved me and would do anything for me? A book—literally any kind—and a sweet note would’ve done the trick.
But I had pushed him to do this. I had been a complete hormonal mess, screaming at him for wanting to fuck another woman, feeling like he didn’t care about me at all, telling him that he didn’t care, even after he said he did.
I’d caused this.
Callan Avery was teaching me a lesson. The hard way.
A couple of moments later, Maddie sent me a number along with a smiley face. I blew out a low breath and slumped my shoulders forward, thanking the Redwood gods who were on my side tonight.
Sorta.
Me: Thanks! I really appreciate it!
Maddie: Ofc!
My knee bounced as I opened up a new message and typed in Imani Abara’s number. Besides projects at school, I hadn’t talked to her much. She hung out with Allie—who was stepsiblings with Jace Harbor, high school football star—as well as Poison who, well, participated in a bunch of illegal activity.
And I hoped some of that activity included disposing of bodies or … body parts.
Me: Hi, Imani. This is Sakura Sato. I wanted to know if you had Kai’s number.
Almost immediately, she read the message. Three bubbles appeared by her name.
While I waited for her response, a white Mercedes-Benz pulled up behind my car with a tinted windshield so I couldn’t see who the hell it was. I stiffened and gazed at the car.
Don’t seem suspicious, Sakura. It’s just someone here to enjoy the view. Not to see you.
But they didn’t exit their car.
Not that many people did here, especially in the chilly fall. More people than not sat in their cars and gazed out at the ocean with their significant other. And all the kids from Redwood came here to fuck.
I turned back to the water but still stayed highly aware of the car, watching from my peripheral. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling they were watching me. Maybe I just felt guilty.
Since we had started this little affair, I had wanted Jett and Georgina out of Callan’s life. He was mine, and I had made sure that he knew that the other night. But I … I foolishly hadn’t thought he would kill Jett for me. What would he do to Georgina? He hated her even more.
As far as I knew.
When he found out that she was back … I could only imagine how he’d react. He was so stressed out at the moment, most of the stress coming from me because I had been a hormonal bitch lately.
When I glanced back down at my phone, a message from Imani popped up.
Imani: Hi, Sakura! I’m actually not sure where Kai is tonight, but he doesn’t like anyone giving his number out. People usually go through João to get to Poison, if that’s what you want. Is there a specific reason?
Shit.
Me: Sorry for bothering you, but I just needed his help with something.
Imani: Something bad?
Me: Ha-ha, um, no?
Me: Maybe.
Me: Actually, never mind, it’s fine!
I didn’t want her asking questions, especially over text, because I wouldn’t be able to answer them. I didn’t want anyone finding out later down the line about this damn head either. I would be forever haunted by the possibility that I’d go to jail for this.
Suddenly, the bright lights behind me turned dark, the Mercedes’s headlights shutting off. Nerves bubbled up inside me, and I hopped up from my place on the rock. I needed to get out of here. Not only to get rid of this head, but also because of this car behind mine.
I hurried toward the driver’s door, just about to slip into the car, when someone cleared their throat behind me.
“Miss Sato,” Principal Vaughn said. “Funny seeing you here.”