Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 63

(Angel's POV)

The dorms were quieter than usual tonight and everyone seemed caught up in their own thoughts, their own worries. But as I turned the corner to grab a snack from the kitchen, I nearly bumped into Dilrah. "Oh, sorry!" I stammered and tried to gather my thoughts.

"No, it's okay," Dilrah said softly and her eyes darted around. She seemed nervous, maybe even a little scared.

We stood there in awkward silence for a moment before I decided to break it. "Hey, um... thanks for trying to stand up for me that day when Ava was being a complete witch."

Dilrah's cheeks flushed and she looked down at her feet. "I... I'm sorry I didn't do more, Angel. I was just so scared. She... Ava, she has a way of getting inside your head and making you feel powerless."

I nodded as I remembered how Ava had belittled me and how helpless I'd felt in that moment. "I get it. It's not easy to stand up to someone like her."

Dilrah took a shaky breath and glanced up, her eyes meeting mine. "There's more, Angel. You need to be careful. Ava... she's targeting you."

My heart skipped a beat. "Targeting me? Why?"

"Because," she whispered and looked around to make sure no one else was listening. "Like I told you before, you're a threat to her. You're stronger than she expected and she hates that. She's used to everyone falling in line and you're not doing that."

I stepped closer and lowered my voice. "What else do you know about her?"

Dilrah sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Ava, she's dangerous. She knows how to manipulate people and make them do things they wouldn't normally do. Just look at how she's got the entire dorm under her thumb." "Yeah, but what has she done exactly? How does she control everyone like this?" I pressed, needing to understand.

"She finds out your secrets and weaknesses and then she uses them against you," Dilrah explained in a whisper. "She did it to me. I trusted her once and she twisted everything, made me feel like I was the one in the wrong." My stomach twisted. "What did she do to you?"

Dilrah hesitated but then the words came tumbling out. "I confided in her about something personal. About my family. My dad's gambling problem. How we lost everything and now my mom's sick. I needed this place, Angel. I needed to get better so I could go home and take care of my mom. But Ava... she threatened to expose everything if I didn't do what she said. She made me spy on the other girls and report back to her. And if I didn't, she promised to ruin me." Anger washed over me. "That's sick. How can she do that to you?"

"She thrives on control," Dilrah said, tears welling up in her eyes. "And now, she's doing the same to you."

I swallowed hard as I felt the weight of Dilrah's words settle over me. "What else do you know? Please, Dilrah. I need to know everything."

"She's been asking about you," Dilrah confessed and wiped her eyes. "Asking about you and Hendrix. She knows something's going on between you two and she's using it to her advantage. She's already spreading rumors and trying to make you look bad."

My blood ran cold. "How does she even know about Hendrix and me?"

smart, Angel. She probably has

realization sent a shiver down my spine. "I... I thought she was

than that," Dilrah warned. "She sees you as a threat. You're not like the others. You don't bow down to her and that scares her. She's

nodded and felt even more determined.

me a weak smile, relief flooding her eyes. "Good. Just be careful, okay? She's more dangerous than

breath and felt my resolve harden. "Thanks for telling

but I could still see the fear in her eyes. "We're in this together, Angel. Don't forget that. I've got you even though, sometimes, I

in the dorm, or Ava's involvement with the

was playing a dangerous game and I had no choice but to play along. But one thing was for

...

news this time. When she finally opened the door, her expression was guarded like always. "Angel," she said and gestured for me to sit. I perched myself on the edge of the chair and felt my heart racing.

blinked at her and waited for more, but she just stared at me like that was it. Besides, when did we

my voice was sharper than I intended. "That's what you've been doing this

narrowed. "You need to understand, Angel, these things take time. You can't just come here and expect everything to happen

weeks," I pressed, feeling my frustration rise. "You said you'd help us. I

I am helping," she interrupted and her tone was clipped. "But you need to be patient. This isn't a simple game, Angel. There are

back the urge to argue. "Fine," I muttered. "I just thought there'd be more progress by

chair. "You're young. You want things to happen fast. But sometimes, the most important battles are fought in silence and in the background. Be patient and trust that I'm doing everything I

and dismissed me with a wave. "I'll update you

more frustrated than before. It wasn't

waiting for me. They'd claimed our usual spot by the worn-out couches that sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of bleach. Hendrix was slouched in the corner,

"Well," I announced, "Dr.

their eyes wide with anticipation. "And?" Cylan prompted as

among the staff," I said and crossed my arms as I took a seat beside Hendrix. "Apparently, it's

it?" Hande asked and her disappointment mirrored my own. "I

nodded, feeling the same

least," Dilrah offered

isn't good enough. We need results,

what she can," he muttered.

more, we'd actually get