Cruel Kisses (It's Just High School #2) - Thandiwe Mpofu Page 0,11
body reacts to him, your pupils dilate, you hang on to every word my son says even if you actually hate what he says.”
I shake my head, taking a step back.
“You love him,” she says with absolute certainty that stuns me into silence, but this time as her words sink in, their honesty settling over me with ease, I decide not to fight it or deny them and why should I? It’s the damned truth from hell. We both know it, but I won’t say a word. Admitting it out loud is a step too far.
I’m in love with a guy who has repeatedly hurt me like I mean nothing. I guess I’m part of the stupid teen girl statistic, in love with a guy she knows is totally wrong for her. That might be true, but that won’t be my story. I need to make sure that I don’t die on that steep, endless hill.
“I’m glad you didn’t bother denying that, I guess acceptance is key, but it’s also stupid.”
“Yeah well, or maybe I know better than to fight shit I know will change eventually,” I say then murmur to myself. “I don’t know how, but I’ll find a way to fall out of love with that asshole. I have to.”
But she heard me.
“Really?” she starts. “Is that what you tell my baby, Liam?”
I look up at her, shocked and confused. Why would I tell Liam that?
“Don’t pretend to be naïve now, you’re far smarter than that,” she says with a mocking scoff, her voice harder now as a sharp, cold smile adorns her beautiful face. “You’re a straight A student. You take AP classes that you walk through with ease. You’ve already been accepted to the best Ivy League colleges across the country, hell even elite schools abroad, so please, don’t dumb down your intelligence now. I promise I can keep up. I did go to school, too.”
How does she know so much about me?
“That’s good for you, women and girls have to be educated, but I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She tilts her head to the left, studying me for a long second that stretches into minutes. Maybe hours? I don’t know but I suddenly feel like I should run. RIGHT. NOW!
“Just as I’ve seen the way you look at Julian, I’ve seen the way my baby looks at you,” she starts and I gasp, seeing where she’s going. “He looks at you like you’re going to save him, like you’re the center of his existence.”
No… He doesn’t. Does he?
I open my mouth to deny everything she’s just said, but nothing comes out. My vision blurs and dims for a second and I start panicking. I just stopped breathing. Liam, sweet, funny, savage Liam… what do I do with this?
“He’s been out there all day, looking for you. He even demanded that his father get a P.I to track you down, like he’s lost his mind with worry,” she says, her voice hard. “What does that sound like to you, huh?”
“I don’t know what you’re getting at,” I stutter, looking down at my dirty shoes. “You’re obviously making shit up. Tell me, Courtney, are you high on xanny? Or is it oxy?”
“I last did oxy in high school so trust me, sweetheart, I’m sober as an overeager priest.” she asks.
Well then.
“That means, I don’t have a reason to lie here, Mia.”
“Then why are you…”
“Why am I hurting you with the truth you’ve been denying for weeks now?” she says, cutting me off. “It’s simple really. You’re in an impossible, daunting situation that I know will hurt you. And after everything my ex-husband has done, I imagine you’re filled with so much anger and pain right now. You need someone in your corner.”
In that moment, all I want to do is make myself small. Maybe then I’ll disappear. I start shaking and I know I must look pathetic in front of her. It didn’t take much for her to eviscerate me like I knew she would.
Courtney 1. This hurt, broke down bitch 0.
“I…” I start, but my voice is hoarse. “I have people in my corner.”
“Do you?” she questions. “Tell me, has your father tried to look for you after he gave up when you ran out at the police station?”
I pause, unable to answer that.
“Did he try to call you at all?” she goes on, unfolding her arms as she starts walking toward me. “Has Nathan tried being a decent father or do you suspect