Devils' Day Party: A High School Bully Romance - C.M. Stunich Page 0,55

chocolate from his full lower lip. “Go tell Pearl what we think of her.”

“Which is?” I manage to spit back as Sonja chortles with laughter and the horde of dark fae minions behind her snicker in mean-spirited laughter.

“Go tell Pearl she's a useless whore,” Calix says, his voice pleasant enough, smooth and silky, like the petals of an ebony tulip. “Tell her that she isn't worth the air in her lungs. Tell her that the whole world would be happier if she were dead.”

My eyes widen and Raz sneers, shaking his head in disgust.

“See that expression on her face? That look of self-righteous morality? That's why you'll never be a part of our crew. Fuck off, Trailer Park. We'll come for you later to say thanks for the car.”

I shove Raz back and shoulder Calix out of the way, but he snatches my arm before I can get past him.

“You’ll tell her that she’s weak,” he whispers, voice so low that I’m certain I’m the only one that can hear him. “That she’s pathetic, that she’s cares far too much what the world thinks of her, that she’s afraid.” I turn my face just enough to look at him, but he’s already releasing me and stepping away, face closed-off and cold, as always. I can’t help but wonder though … is he talking about Pearl right now? Or is he talking about himself?

With a shake of my head, I storm down the hall, my entire body quivering as my conscience screams at me to stop.

Don't do this. You know how bad this hurts. You know what's it like to be on the receiving end.

“Hey Pearl,” I say, drawing the attention of the pale girl with the white-blond hair. She let you, Luke, and April out of Devils’ Den that first night. But she also calls April a whore. Luke a freak. Me, Trailer Park. She cuts herself, Karma, she's hurting.

“Karma, wait!” Luke calls out, the fear in her voice slicing through me like a knife. I glance back and see that the Knight Crew has boxed her in at the end of the hall.

“Hurt her and I'll kill you all!” I shout before turning back to Pearl, knowing even before I do this that I'm going to regret it.

But … then I'll go to sleep. Or I'll fucking die. And it'll start all over again. Maybe this is hell and I'm paying for every mistake I ever made in life? Maybe this is purgatory, and I'm being judged? If so, then I'm headed for the ninth circle of hell after this.

I'm not sure that I care.

“What do you want, Trailer Park?” Pearl snaps, looking me up and down with a similar expression to Raz's. Just … less hungry maybe. Raz Loveren might hate my guts, but he wants to fuck me, that much is for sure. I mean, I'm not exactly flattered. Pretty sure he fucks anything with a pussy.

It occurs to me as she sneers my way that she could be the one who uploaded the video of me and Calix.

“You're nothing but a useless whore,” I say, my voice a cold deadpan, a dead ringer for Calix's. As the words leave my mouth, I pretend like it's one of the Knight Crew saying it to me. Like it's Raz.

“Excuse me?” Pearl asks, taking a step back from me. She's wearing a silver pleated skirt—an alternate uniform choice—and her purple blazer, an iPad clutched against her chest. She scowls at me, like my words don't bother her. I can see in her eyes that they do.

“You're not worth the air that you breathe,” I continue, taking a step forward, hating myself more and more with each word that falls from my lips, each one a toxic cloud that hurts me as surely as it does Pearl. The Knight Crew isn't worth this; my soul isn't worth this. Tears sting my eyes, but I don't stop. I won't. “The world would be better off without you in it.”

I do not repeat the last few sentences that Calix told me; I’m fairly certain they were meant for my ears only anyway.

“Fuck you, Trailer Park!” Pearl screams, dropping her iPad to the stone floor with a crack. It hits the ground and shatters, her words echoing off the limestone walls of the old school. “Fuck you!” She turns and runs down the hall, leaving her iPad behind, the sound of her footsteps making me sick to my stomach.

“Color me surprised,” Raz purrs,