Princess of St. Vincent

Chapter 21

"If I tell you, you can't repeat it. To anyone... ever." Vada said, walking outside with Matt. They'd stepped onto the terrace in an effort to keep anyone from overhearing.

"It depends on what you're about to tell me." Matt said. "Listen to me, Vada. I'm not going to cover up for you if you're getting yourself into a mess you can't handle. So be honest, because I've known you all your life and I'll know."

Vada was quiet, staring up at Matt, wondering what she could say and so she blurted out the explanation with the least lies.

"A boyfriend." She said and immediately mumbled. "Oh my god, I actually said that."

"Are you telling me you spent that whole time with a boy?" Matt asked, not looking any happier.

"Yes." Vada said with a dramatic sigh. "If you must know. I did."

"Who?" Matt asked.

"Doesn't matter. I was planning on spending the whole summer there but we had a fight and I realized how irresponsible I was being so I left." Vada said.

"What did you fight about?" Matt said, angrily and skeptically. Vada saw that this wasn't going anywhere- he was too mad. She needed him to feel sorry for her.

"He... said he wasn't interested in a relationship. It was just a fun time." Vada said, trying to sound forlorn.

"Where?" He asked.

"What does it matter where it was? It's over and he wants nothing to do with me anymore." Vada said.

"I need to know who and where so I can find him and kill him." Matt said, making Vada turn to look at him wide eyed.

"What?" She asked. Matt cracked his knuckle.

"I'm going to find the idiot and show him that Vada Carlton is not some dumb girl to be played with." Matt said, his voice cold. Vada was in shock- her brothers were never so protective before.

"No, Matt. No." She said.

"Why not? Or are you going to tell me you behaved so shamelessly over some guy you didn't care about?" He asked, his anger immediately being directed back at her. Vada was nervous.

"Do you really think I would do that?" She asked.

"No- I don't. So tell me who the asshole who played with you was and where I can find him." Matt insisted. Vada turned away, trying to control her breathing. Lying really did just complicate things more. At that point, Vada did the only thing she could do.

"No. Please." She said, turning on the waterworks. Matt stared at Vada who was sobbing with her back to him.

"Vada..." He said and she turned suddenly, tears down her face, looking miserable.

"No, no, no! You have no idea what pain I went through. He broke my heart." She said dramatically. Matt's face grew angrier.

"So I'll break his face." Matt said but Vada shook her head.

"No. I'm getting over this on my own. I made my mistake, I made the choice and now I'm paying for it. The last thing I need are more reminders of what I went through." She said, crocodile tears a huge success.

"But Vada, I can't let him get away with that." Matt said, his face softening as he reached out towards her.

"Is that what matters most? Revenge? Can't you see I just want to forget?" She said, dramatically flinging herself into her brother's arms. Matt was still for a second, not knowing what to do. After a few seconds he embraced her, trying to comfort his sister, despite his rage.