IS MAC A PSYCHO?

I knew it was Mac. It had to be Mac.

What a childish and obnoxious way to pay me back for dumping him. He crept into our house through the front door and slipped the rat in my bed. What a psycho. What a sociopath.

Mac transferred to Shadyside High last year. I knew he had a bad reputation. I heard he’d been suspended from his old school for fighting. I’d seen his violent temper.

But I also thought he was a good guy at heart. He was kind at times and very soft-spoken, even shy. He had a tender side he didn’t let many people see. Yes, he was very possessive, even though we’d only been seeing each other for a few weeks. And he resented the time I spent with Amy and my other friends.

But I kind of thought that meant he cared.

Stupid me.

Amy warned me about him right from the start. She said I was just looking for the opposite to my old boyfriend. She didn’t like Mac’s bursts of anger, the way he started to curse and carry on at the tiniest frustration. The way he always tried to act tougher than everyone else.

Now Mac was obviously out to prove Amy right.

Okay. Okay. He was angry that I stopped answering his calls or his texts. That I ignored him when he tried to stop me at school. That I changed my Facebook page and told everyone that he and I were over.

Angry enough to sneak into my house and tuck a dead rat in my bed.

Sick. Totally sick.

My room became a blur. I focused on the darkness outside my window. Stared hard and tried to slow my rapid heartbeats.

Mom and Dad must have heard my scream. They came bursting into my room. Mom’s hair was wild about her head. It looked like a tossed-up ocean wave. They both came in blinking and muttering. But their eyes went wide when they saw the dead creature stretched out on its side on my sheets.

“Ohhh.” Mom covered her mouth and made a gagging sound.

Dad stepped up to the bed and stared down as if he’d never seen a rat before. “How … how did this get here?” He turned to me. “Do you think the open door…?” His voice trailed off. He knew that was crazy.

“I don’t know,” I said. I didn’t want to accuse Mac. I didn’t want to get into the whole thing.

My parents are good, understanding people. But ever since I was little, I’ve always preferred to keep things to myself and deal with them on my own. Even when I was a little kid, I didn’t want to share what I’d done in school that day. I guess I’m weird that way. And, of course, I always had Beth to confide in. I always felt more comfortable telling things to my sister.

Mom turned so she wouldn’t have to look at the rat. She’s the squeamish one in our family. “Probably came from your closet,” she said. “I’ve been telling you it’s a rat’s nest.”

“Is that supposed to be a joke?” I snapped.

She shook her head. “No. I’m serious. That mountain of dirty clothes…”

“I’ll call the exterminator in the morning,” Dad said.

“I have to get out of here,” Mom said. Her whole body shuddered. She hugged the front of her nightgown. “The smell … it’s making me sick. Rachel, do you want to come to the kitchen and have some tea or something?”

“No,” I said. I sighed. “I just want to get to sleep. I’m so tired, I want to cry.”

“I’ll get some gloves and carry the rat out to the garbage,” Dad said. “Then we can change the sheets.” He shook his head. “I still don’t understand.…”

“Me neither,” I said softly.

But I thought, Mac, you can frighten me. But you can’t ruin my life. I’m going to Brendan Fear’s birthday party. It’s going to be the greatest all-night party ever. Brendan invited me, and I’m going. You’re history, Mac. I’m just glad I found out what a psycho you are. Really. I’m glad.

5.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20