Cruel Kisses (It's Just High School #2) - Thandiwe Mpofu Page 0,90

smile, but it feels wooden and wrong. “When did you come?”

“Oh, I was in the UK and Rye called to tell me that you’re coming, so, here I am!”

The both jump around like two sorority bitches, drunk on wine coolers. They seem happier, more at peace with themselves, unlike the last time I saw either of them.

“God, I’ve been praying for this day since that party in Malibu,” Rye gushes, making Jaz roll her eyes.

“Bitch please,” I mutter. “When did you start praying?”

“Since I met this Catholic cutie who sings like an angel.”

That grabs my attention. Jaz and I stare at Rye like she just grew two heads. “Since when did you start dating musicians?”

“Since they started looking like sex on legs on stage, their ripped bodes making my pu…”

“No, too much information,” Jaz shouts and we laugh.

A few tears are shed, we hadn’t seen each other in years and because they both know I don’t want to talk or dance for that matter, we decide to spend the rest of the day in the city.

They decide to drag me from club to club, but I’m just not into it. I could’ve been with Julian right now, but being judged sucked, especially when it comes from him.

And the day did exactly what I was afraid it would, nothing. I felt nothing all through the day despite their considerable efforts to cheer me up. It just didn’t work.

All I wanted to do was be left alone and eventually, they let me leave the club to go.

“Stay, Mia,” Rye had begged. “I swear once we get some liquor in you, you’ll let go of everything and feel better.”

I understood her logic, but as I stood there in the middle of the crowded dance floor, tugging at my long-sleeved shirt, I just wanted the world to open up and swallow me whole. I felt out of place, awkward, and wanting to cry.

But at the end, it was Jaz who agreed I should go home.

“Listen, Mia, if you need to rest, it’s okay,” she had said, sympathy and pity in her eyes as she looked at me. The truth is, both of them now look at me different. I’m no longer the girl they thought I was. The bravado, the sass, and confidence, it’s all gone.

I guess that’s what happens when your passive aggressive attitude murders the woman you thought was your mother.

Back in the room Rye’s family graciously assigned as mine, I sit on the plush, comfortable bed and then tentatively reach for my sleeves. Slowly, I start rolling the left one and without looking at what I have been doing to myself, I roll up the right sleeve.

Nauseated, I can feel tears fall down my cheeks as I stare at the cuts crisscrossing each of my wrists. Each morning I wake up, I always have fresh cuts. As if I do it when I’m not fully conscious. Each night I’m plagued by nightmares and demons haunting me, and my God, I miss home so much, I’m in pain constantly.

But you can’t go home.

Just then, the phone that we got earlier today after Rye and Jaz forced me to, rings. Quickly, I wipe my tears away as I grab it. I don’t check the caller ID.

“Hello?”

“Mia, oh thank God,” Nicky breaths and I shut my eyes. “I’ve been so worried about you. What’s going on? Are you safe?”

“Yes, I’m safe and you? How are you over there?”

“I’m safe for now. I can’t talk right now I just wanted to check if you’re all right.”

“Okay but before you go, please tell me, what did Nathan do to me? What happened to me?”

I’ve been racking my brain, trying to come up with an answer, but nothing. He hurt me, but where? The only scars that I have are on the side of my head where I fell and cracked my head while dancing. That’s it. He didn’t do that.

“Mia, forget about it,” she says. “Don’t get in contact with anyone. If anything happens over here, I’ll call you.”

And she ends the call just like that.

I’m walking down a long hallway. It looks and feels familiar.

I’ve walked this hallway before. Am I having a déjà vu moment? No, I’ve been here before. As I look around, I realize that this is the Fitz mansion. This is the same hallway that not only led to my room, but to…Nancy’s

Nancy!

I walk faster, feeling like my heart’s in my throat. But then, things start changing. No longer are the