There she stood, Trisha — the perfect picture of innocence. Her big doe eyes shining, her dark hair curled just so. She wore a pale sky blue dress that made her look even more fragile than usual, and in her hands… a peanut pie.
I stared at it for half a beat. She knew I was allergic.
“Alli,” she cooed, smiling sweetly. “Sister… I brought you a slice of my birthday pie. Come down and join the party, won’t you?”
Her voice was syrupy, affectionate on the surface but thin enough for me to see right through it.
“No thanks,” I said coldly, folding my arms. “I’ve got work to do. Have fun.”
Her eyes immediately shimmered with unshed tears, her lower lip quivering. “You… don’t like me, do you?” she whispered pitifully. “Is that why you always avoid me?”
I clenched my jaw. Moon above, I hadn’t done anything to this girl — and yet she always managed to look like I’d ripped her heart out.
“Trisha,” I said flatly, “save the act. It might work on Ryan and Warren, but it doesn’t work on me.”
I reached for the door, ready to close it in her face. But her hand shot out, blocking the frame.
“Allison, wait—”
I glared down at her slender fingers pressed to the wood.
“I just… wanted you to have this,” she insisted, holding up the pie again. “Please…”
That was it. My patience snapped. I smacked the plate out of her hands. It shattered on the floor, crumbs scattering.
She gasped theatrically and immediately dropped to her knees, trying to pick up the shards with her bare hands.
Predictably — and probably intentionally — she cut herself.
Her pale hand started to bruise and bleed, and she let out a delicate cry, her tears finally falling.
And of course — because fate hated me — that was the exact moment Ryan and Warren came charging up the stairs.
“Allison!” Warren barked, his sharp voice like a whip crack.
They rushed to Trisha, who whimpered and showed them her injured hand.
Warren rounded on me instantly. “What the hell is wrong with you?! You don’t have to like her, but this? This is petty and cruel!”
Ryan’s eyes met mine, colder than the full moon. “It’s her birthday, Allison,” he said quietly. “You went too far.”
I swallowed down the bitter laugh that threatened to escape. Too far? When she purposely tried to give me something I’m allergic to? Who went too far between the two of us?
Then both of them softened their expressions as they turned back to her.