Devils' Day Party: A High School Bully Romance - C.M. Stunich Page 0,157

older game that was remastered some years ago. The character in that lives a three-day time loop which seems infinitely more valuable than my one day. But for him, the loop ends when he saves the world.

“Fuck.” I put my forehead on my knee, blocking out the play-through on my computer. Next up on my list: Russian Doll and The Butterfly Effect. After that, I'll likely read Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. I have a long fucking night ahead of me.

A soft knock sounds on my door and I pause, lifting my head up to glance toward it.

“Karma?” It's Mama Cathy, paint-splattered and beautiful as always.

“What's up?” I ask, exhaling and trying not to let the feeling of hopelessness wash over me. As long as I'm willing to fight, I can beat this. I know I can. I truly believe in the power of the mind, and I'm determined as fuck. Especially after yesterday. Yesterday with the gun and the blood and …

“There are some boys here to see you,” she says, sounding a bit uneasy. “I think they're those boys you don't like, the Knights of the Round Table or something.” A harsh laugh escapes me as I check the time on my phone and see that it's just barely four o'clock. School will have just gotten out.

“Hardly. They're pretty much the opposite of the Round Table Knights.” I stand up and brush my hands down the old tank top and ratty sweats I've got on. A month ago, before I ever entered this shitty time loop, I wouldn't have been caught dead talking to the Knight Crew in an outfit like this. Today, I don't care if they see me naked.

Okay, well I do care, but in a different sort of way.

Stepping onto the porch, I let the creaking screen door swing shut behind me, padding down the ramp that leads to the gravel road in front of our house. All around us, the mountains rise up, covered in trees, trapping us in a little valley of sunlight.

The Aston Martin is parked in front of my house, and all three of the boys are leaning against or standing outside of it.

Jesus.

“What are you guys doing here?” I ask, crossing my arms under my breasts. Raz's red eyes go right to my peaked nipples before lifting to my face. He scowls at me, but the expression is empty, just a gesture he's comfortable with instead of an emotion he truly feels.

“You had a car accident this morning,” Calix says, and the softness in his voice makes me want to lie every day about the crash being an accident. But I hate lies. I can't live to tomorrow on a lie. “Then you threw yourself at me crying.”

“And then you said you were in love with us,” Barron adds, cocking his head to one side. He's wearing that white hoodie again, the hood pulled up over his rainbow-colored Mohawk. He thrusts a lollipop into his mouth that's in the shape of a skull.

“Yeah, how about that shit?” Raz asks, crossing his arms over his chest. His blazer is unbuttoned, his tie loose, dirty blonde hair mussed. “We dealt with Erina today, by the way.”

“Dealt with her how?” I ask, looking between the three of them. I'm shaking a bit from the adrenaline rush of seeing them here at my house, but I'm not embarrassed about what I said this morning. I only get to live one day, so I have to use that one day to say what I need to say, do what I need to do.

“Sonja loaded up on rings, and beat the shit out of her,” Raz says, like it's no big deal to commit a felony assault on another student. My eyes widen as I glance over at Barron and Calix. They're both as stoic as the trees looking down on us from the backyard, soaring sugar maples that shade the house but leave the studio in brilliant golden sunshine. “She confessed to taking the video; we got into her cloud account and got rid of it.”

“Thank you,” I say genuinely, looking between the three boys and wondering if some of the trauma from last night wore off on them, and that's why they're being so nice. Either that, or all the time we've spent together—whether they remember it or not—is having an effect. Although, I don’t know how I feel about using violence on Erina. That can’t be the only way, right? She shot