Betty’s POV
The moment I stepped into the house, silence hit me. Dad, Jeanette, and Brent were all seated in the living room, each one turning to look at me the second I walked in. Brent was perched on the edge of his seat, looking away from me with an expression of hurt. My dad’s face was unreadable, but his worry and frustration were clear. And Jeanette… her expression was one of barely concealed anger, her arms crossed tightly as she glared at me.
And next to them, lounging on the couch with a smug smile, was Stacey.
“Where have you been?” Dad’s voice was strained, a mixture of worry and anger I hadn’t heard before. He looked as if he hadn’t slept.
I opened my mouth, fumbling for words, but my mind was blank. I couldn’t exactly say Oh, I was at Marcus’s all night. My face burned, guilt pressing down on me as their eyes stayed fixed on mine.
“I’m… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you all worry,” I managed, looking down as I tried to avoid Brent’s gaze.
Jeanette scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Didn’t mean to make us worry? Betty, we had no idea where you were, if you were safe. Do you know how many times we’ve called?”
My stomach tightened as I nodded, barely able to meet her eyes. “I didn’t realize it was so late…”
“Late?” My dad’s voice cut through the room, sharper than I’d ever heard it. “You didn’t come home at all. You didn’t answer a single call.”
I tried to breathe, tried to find the words that would ease the tension, but nothing sounded right. “I just… lost track of time.”
Jeanette rolled her eyes, exchanging a look with Stacey. “Lost track of time? That’s the best you’ve got?”
A small sound escaped Stacey, something between a laugh and a scoff, as she leaned back on the couch, arms crossed. She was clearly enjoying the scene. “You know,” she drawled, tilting her head, “I actually know where she was.”