Devils' Day Party: A High School Bully Romance - C.M. Stunich Page 0,146

Knight?”

She pauses, scowling at me, but there's a curiosity in her gaze that tells me I've picked the right subject to start with.

“Luke heard a rumor that you're the reason Calix and Raz were sent to Crescent Prep.” I pause and lick my lower lip as Pearl narrows honey-brown eyes at me. She's wearing the lavender version of the school blazer, and the solid silver skirt. It looks good on her. Maybe a compliment would help? I file that away for tomorrow. That is, if I can't get this right today.

“The only reason Calix and Raz are here is because they couldn't keep their hands off of each other,” she replies with a smug little smirk. “Didn't know that, did you? That your boyfriend and his buddy were fucking each other?” I'm stunned speechless for a moment, and I can tell that Pearl just loved dropping that little bomb on me—whether it's true or not. Calix told me I was the only person he’d slept with; I believe him. There’s not a soul who could’ve spent the day in his arms and thought he was lying. “Have fun digesting that, Trailer Park.” This time, she flips her hair in my face and takes off.

Fuck.

I need to talk to Raz and Calix, don't I?

Only, that isn't as easy as it sounds. In order to get one of them to talk to me, I sort of have to snub the other. Scrubbing my hands over my face, I add another item to my list of things to deal with later, and head home yet again. Paint again. Nap again.

“Hey Pearl,” I start, smiling at her in a way that I hope seems open and friendly, welcoming, easy to talk to. “I was hoping I could talk to you about Calix Knight? He …” I pause and summon up some of that old hurt. It used to be like an ember, burning deep down in my belly at all times, but his apology the other day has cooled it to ash. “He broke my heart after last year's Devils' Day party.”

“Why are you telling me this? You have the whore and the freak for besties, don't you?” Her smirking expression pushes all my buttons, but I curl my hands into fists and remind myself that she's hurting, that she cuts herself, that nearly every day since I started this time loop, she kills herself. “Go vent your emo bullshit to them.”

“We … slept together again recently, and I'm pregnant,” I blurt. It's a lie, but I need something for Pearl to cling onto, some reason for her to trust me. “I—”

“Why the fuck would you tell me that?” she asks, and I can see her pulse thundering in her throat. Goddamn it, why does this have to be so freaking hard?! Honestly, all I want to do is paint, hang out with my friends and family, and spend time with the boys. If I have to live on repeat, then I might as well enjoy this. I enjoy none of my moments with Pearl.

But that's the point, right?

This isn't about me.

“Calix told me you had a baby with his brother, and they … the Knights, I mean … have offered to buy my baby.” I feel like a total piece of shit making up this crap, but I have to save Pearl. I have to get her to trust me. You’re not being honest, Karma; this isn’t going to work out in the end.

She just stares at me then, nostrils flared, body shaking. It occurs to me that if I really do make it to tomorrow after this, I'll have spent all day avoiding the boys, avoiding Luke, avoiding my family, to save Pearl. And then I'll have a big bag of lies to deal with, too. I'm hoping this is just legwork for a future day.

“They're monsters,” she tells me, turning away and staring at the floor, her eyes shimmering suddenly with unshed tears. “But I can't help you. I can't even help myself.” She glances back at me, a modicum more interest in her gaze than there was before. “I'm not getting my baby back without a huge legal fight. And I can't do that without money, which my parents won't give me. There's no point.”

We stand there in silence for a moment.

“Do you want to skip class today? We can get something to eat or buy new dresses for the party or … whatever.” My voice cracks with hope which,