All Wrong

Chapter Twenty One Bedtime

Henry

I lie in bed. Now it makes sense why we all put up with Bryce. He knows our secrets. Probably even played a part in them all. I cringe at the thought. I wish I could take him out. I almost did.

Why did Syd stop me? To protect herself? To protect him? I can’t handle that thought without getting a heavy heart so I push it out of my mind. She wouldn’t. Now she knows he has something on me too. I let it slip but she sounded so defeated. We have to end this. It won’t stop just at going in different directions. It’ll always be held over us.

He’ll use it until the day we die.

Maybe if we all come clean without him around then we can do something about him. We need to talk tomorrow. But we have to do it carefully. He’s always around. Eyes and ears everywhere. Just like now I’m sure he knows how I feel for Syd. And it’s just another thing for him to use over me. I sigh in defeat and hope that sleep will come soon.

Another party tomorrow and I can’t even fathom the thought without wanting to rip Bryce apart. He has no boundaries. Goes to any length. He is dangerous and he’s going to take us all down with him. I can’t let that happen.

I have to come up with a plan. I can’t act rashly like I always do because that’ll make it worse. Don’t wake a sleeping bear and all that.

If I don’t get to bed soon I’ll be planning my wedding and funeral all in the same night. I pull the pillow over my head hoping that the darkness will drown out everything else.

Somewhere in my dreams I hear Sydney’s soft voice. Then I see her. God she’s brilliant. I could watch her all day. She smiles at me and I smile back. But when I go to walk towards her I notice that I can’t move. I’m stuck. I open my mouth to talk but nothing comes out and now I’m looking at her confused. She’s still smiling at me though so I relax and smile back at her.

She walks to me and puts her hand on my cheek. It’s like touching a piece of heaven I swear. I relax into her hand. She runs her other hand over my hair.

She’s so close that I can smell her perfume and I want to take a long deep breath but she pulls away. Looking at me skeptically for a second before she speaks. I can’t hear her though. It’s like I’m deaf or something. I reach for her again and she tips her head back and laughs. When she comes closer this time she’s standing an inch away from my face. I tilt my head down to meet her but then she fades away.