I flash her a saccharine sweet grin, one that gives me a toothache, and her body relaxes incrementally as she nods sharply. “All right, if you’re sure.”
As the game begins and Mariabella leads us through cheer after cheer, I scan the crowd for any of the Devils. Lucas is once more in the stands, but this time, an entourage of girls doesn’t hang from his arms, listening to every word he says like he’s some ungodly king. I don’t see Elias, and for reasons I don’t wish to look into, that sends red-hot pain straight to my heart, as if someone doused my veins with gasoline and then lit a match.
I continue my search, only my eyes moving as the rest of me performs the choreographed cheer to perfection, but I don’t spot Cassian either. I wonder if it’s because he finally figured out what I did. I’m beginning to believe that I don’t even know the first thing about Cassian’s hatred. Because when he comes for me, and I have no doubt that he will, his revenge will be swift and brutal, a sword piercing flesh. He’s not like Lucas in that regard, able to meticulously plan out every fucking detail of someone’s demise.
His cruelty stems from his own insecurities. When he lashes out, he does so in a manner that makes me think that he secretly wishes he was the victim. He’s passionate, hotter than fire, but that only makes him more dangerous.
And then finally, my eyes latch on to a group of older, distinguished men sitting near the top of the bleachers, jotting notes into spiral-bound notebooks. My lips twitch when I see the peppered-hair man wearing a State sweatshirt.
The first half of the game runs smoothly, and by the time halftime rolls around, we’re ahead by ten points. It’s only then that I drop my red and black pompoms and hurry towards where Helen sits with her back against the railing.
“Yes?” She narrows her eyes suspiciously. “Are you feeling okay, Peony? Did you overexert yourself? I knew I shouldn’t have let you cheer after the accident last game.”
“Actually, I was hoping I could use the bathroom,” I confess, adopting a petulant expression. “I’m not feeling the greatest, if you know what I mean.”
“Oh, of course.” She gestures towards the bathrooms, just outside the gate that separates the public from the field. I nod once and then break into a run, stopping once to swoop up my backpack.
At Mariabella’s confused—and slightly worried—look, I mouth “period,” and she nods with understanding.
I move briskly down the track running adjacent to the field, opening up the gate and slipping out. The bathrooms are located directly beside the concession stand, with a dark sliver of space between them. It’s there I go, glancing in both directions to ensure that no one sees me.
Fortunately, the crowd is too captivated by the game to pay me any mind.
And I’m too much of a nobody to ever capture anyone’s attention.
I drop my backpack to the ground and fall to my knees, digging through my clothing and shoes until I grab the voodoo doll with a blond strand of hair wrapped around its throat like a noose.
And this time, I’m going to see Karsyn fucking hanged for what he did to me.
As I creep to the opening, I can’t help but note how badly my hand trembles. I mentally curse myself and run through a list of all the horrible things Karsyn and his friends did to me. It’s hard to think that I’m in the wrong after what I endured at their hands.
But at the same time…
How does this make me any better?
I shake those thoughts away, brutally sweeping them beneath the metaphorical rug in my mind, and focus on the game. From this angle, I can see the field, but the shadows make it so no one can see me.
Perfect.
I murmur a soft incantation, activating the doll, and then hold it at the ready.
On the field, Karsyn claps his hands together, breaking from the huddle with his other teammates. I can’t help but admire his muscular build, clearly defined in the football uniform. Even with his head covered by the helmet, I’d recognize him anywhere. Heat prickles my spine, shooting scorching flames to my core.
I suddenly have a very, very vivid image of him wearing that uniform while I wear my cheerleading one…
His cock sliding through my slick folds as he pulls my skirt up over my ass, his hands cupping my breasts