Page 55 of The Cruelest Chaos

“What’s it matter?”

My mom’s green eyes, so like mine, narrow. Her jaw clenches. “Is it a boy?”

I roll my eyes, knocking my head against the door at my back as I stare up at the low ceiling. I don’t answer her.

“Ella, when I ask you a question, you need to—”

“Answer me,” I finish for her, dipping my chin to glare at her. “I know.” Her words remind me of Maverick. Except whenhesays it, it gives me a little thrill to know I’m pissing him off. Pushing his buttons. When my mom says it…I just want to slap her.

“Why are you such a little bitch?” she snaps at me, flinging her arms wide.

Here we go.

“You’re fucking ungrateful, lazy.” She jerks her head to the kitchen. “You’re probably sucking that boy’s dick forfood, Ella. What is wrong with you?”

I don’t say a word. I just let the keys in my hand dig a little more against my palm.

Her lips press into a thin line. Her chest is heaving. “That fucking farm not teaching you any manners, I see.” She smiles, lines under her eyes creasing.

My chest tightens.

“I don’t think you need to go there anymore, Ella.” She stands to her feet. “Give me my keys.” She holds her hand out, a smug look on her face.

I think of Connor. Maybe he’ll give me a ride next week. But I don’t give her the keys. I like The Ark, just like I like Maverick’s house, becauseit’s not here.

“Ella! Give me my goddamn keys right now, you little bitch!” She shrieks, stepping closer to me, the floor creaking under her. She’s my height, but skinnier than me, and I think about what it would feel like to drag her by her hair and slam her head through the big box TV on the coffee table beside me.

She takes another step, her hand still flung out, her eyes livid.

“Who is it?” she snarls, switching tactics. “Did you meet this boy at the barnyard? Who is he? I’m going to tell him what a little whore you are. He’s never going to want to see you again.” She flings her hand toward the kitchen. “He’s gonna stop paying you in food, and what’re you going to do then? What’re you gonna do when I kick you out on your ass?”

She steps closer. I can hear her labored breaths. Feel her anger. I push further against the door at my back, gripping the keys so hard my hand hurts.

A light flashes through the window and the sheer curtain adjacent the front door, but I ignore it and Mom does, too.

Maybe he is paying me in food, but who fucking cares? We need it, you stupid bitch.But I don’t say anything.

She’s in my face now, her hands fisted at her sides, veins throbbing in her neck. “You bitch! You live inmyhouse, you usemycar, and you can’t answer me when I ask you a fucking question!”

I think I hear something outside. Gravel crunching. But I can’t look away from the hate in my mother’s eyes. It’s the only thing I’ve ever seen when she looks at me.

My breath catches, my blood boiling. I still don’t speak.

I can smell her putrid breath, see her yellowed teeth as she keeps screaming at me. “Give memy keys!You’re the reason no one ever sticks around, did you know that? You’re such a fucking weirdo, and then Shane.” She grabs her hair, screaming. “Then you had toruinshit with Shane, offering your teenage ass like the fucking slut you are!” She shrieks, lifts her hand to slap me.

I don’t move.

I hear something behind me.

Her hand connects with my face and my head spins, hot pain mixing with the anger in my blood.

“You stupid bitch!” She grabs me by the hair, dragging me into the middle of the living room floor.

I feel the cold air drifting in before I hear it.

The door opening.

She’s still screaming, and I’m fisting the keys in my hand, lifting my hand up to cover my face when she suddenly stops, the insults dying in her throat.