Bitter Kisses (It's Just High School #3) - Thandiwe Mpofu Page 0,3

my emotions and made it all right for me to go through the mess of emotions I couldn’t deal with.

Julian saw me, from the very first time we met, he saw me and no matter what happens here, I’ll protect him as best as I can. Trusting either of these two snakes it out of the question, so I need my own plan. A plan I’ll keep from them but first, I have to make it seem like I’m going along with what they have to say.

“I don’t think your foolish, childish love—” Courtney starts but I cut her off.

“Let me finish,” I whisper. “I know you don’t want me with your son. I know he’s set to marry someone else, someone of your choosing.” Though I still don’t know who that is and honestly, I don’t want to know. “I’ll stay away from him, this time for good. I just need all charges you made up against him dropped and his record cleared of any wrongdoing. He deserves better.”

I say all this while still standing rooted in the doorway, the chilly breeze blowing against my back, but I don’t feel it.

I’m nothing more than a block of ice and nothingness.

Nothing matters anymore.

Quickly wiping away the lone tear on my left cheek.

“Splendid!” Courtney exclaims. “I’m so glad you said that dear. Now, let’s get this over with so I never ever have to see your face again.”

“I knew you would do the right thing, princess,” Nathan says. “See Court, I knew my Amy would do the right thing. We didn’t have to do anything but wait.”

Hmmm.

“Uh, before all of that, I need something first.”

“I’m sorry if you misread this entire thing. This is not a negotiation,” Courtney snaps. “Now, come inside and sign these.”

“Sign what?” I whisper hoarsely.

“Your exodus papers from my sons lives of course,” she says happily. “Oh, and another life changing contract, at least for your pathetic life Mia, courtesy of your father.”

“What… what contract?” I stutter.

“Care to tell her the rest, Nathan?”

“Your own marriage contract, Mia.”

It’s like standing in the middle of the tracks, frozen in place with no hope pf escape as a freight train hurtles towards you. Everything shifts but the shock, it’s frosty and vicious, marred by the genuine smile on both Courtney and Nathan’s faces.

“What?”

“You, my princess, you are my golden ticket!” Nathan says. “And you are getting married! Isn’t that the happiest news you’ve ever had in your life?”

“No, there’s no way.”

“Oh, but if you want your dearest Julian to not rot in prison, or your precious Liam or that Perry boy to suffer, you will sign these.”

Jesus. My knees buckle and I quickly grab the door frame, to hold myself up. May chest is heaving up and down so fast but still, I struggle to breathe.

“Who?” I whisper brokenly.

“What?”

“To whom am I getting married?”

“Hmm, I’m still debating it. The bidders are incredibly high but I’m sure we can get it higher still.”

In other words, it’s a contract… for sell. My God.

I feel sick to my stomach.

“Well damn,” Courtney whistles. “You say I’m a bad parent but look at what you have. First, he traumatizes you when you’re kid so much so that you lose your poor memory. He molds you into what he wants and now this?”

“Didn’t you beat up that kid, Court?” Nathan mocks. “We’re the same, love. Birds of the same feather and all that. So, what say you, princess? Because either way…”

“Either way I won’t win,” I mutter, staring down at the blurry floor. “Either way, you’ll make sure that everything that gives me peace, everyone I love, is ripped away from me, won’t you?”

“Uh, yes.”

It’s as simple as that.

“How will I know that you’ll keep your word?” I ask. “How can I trust you?”

“Sign this,” he says, taking out a piece of paper. “And you’ll see.”

I will see, all right. I’ll see him betray me yet again because this after all isn’t about Julian or Liam or Cole for that matter. This is about whatever history is there between Nathan and John Fitzgerald.

If I sign that, I’m signing away my life and gamble with Julian’s. If I don’t, I’m pretty sure Nathan will see that as an act of rebellion, and he’ll retaliate by making good on his threats.

What do I do? Oh God.

“Oh, for God’s sake, sign it!” Courtney says. “You said you love my son, don’t you? Now sign it.”

Well then. I’ll be damned.

My signing of these papers is also important to Courtney. I