more stupid kid butcher Shakespeare’s sonnets, I am going to fucking scream.” Ellie’s arm hooks with mine as we make our way down the long hallway.
I can’t help it, I scan the horde of students rushing to their first classes. Of course I don’t see Xander. Why would he show up on time for school?
“I am glad I am back to entertain you.” I force out a little giggle.
“You all right?” Ellie stops dead in her tracks before pulling me to the side to let the other students hurry by.
I bow my head. “Just a little overwhelmed with being back.”
Another person I am only telling half-truths to.
Xander is rubbing off on me a little too much.
There are too many secrets now.
Too many things that are so far up in the air, it makes my head spin.
But how in the fucking world could I explain any of this shit to my new best friend?
It’s not like I can tell her what is really going on. She would tell me that I was crazy for loving Xander and an idiot for not telling my parents about Scarface. And she would be right. I am crazy and a total idiot. Because no matter how much I try to fight it. I want to be with Xander and I want this entire mess to just go away. But deep down I know that none of that is going to happen. That would be a fairytale ending and this is real life.
As the bell rings, Ellie puts her hand softly on my arm. “I got you, babe,” she reassures me with a little wink. “And if it gets too much, you go home. At least you’re trying.”
My shoulders relax. “Thanks, I needed to hear that.” I take a long drink out of the to-go cup and nod toward the open door of our classroom. “Shall we?”
Ellie offers her arm to me and I laugh.
“Let’s do this,” she sings out.
I made it to lunchtime. It’s a small feat, but it’s something. And I am going to take the minor win. I need something to be even the least bit proud of right now.
Waiting for Ellie outside of the cafeteria, I hear a loud snicker coming from behind me. I know that laugh and it belongs to the last person in this fucking school whom I want to deal with right now.
“Look, a broken slut out in the wild,” Melina scoffs as I slowly turn to see her posted up against the brick wall with her arms folded under her massive tits. Someone needs to tell her that she looks like a hooker, not a high school student. Her bright red lips and inch-thick makeup make her look like trash. I want to scrub it off her face with a Brillo pad.
“I’m not in the mood.” I turn away from her. My fists clench and my jaw tightens. I can feel her getting closer to me.
“But I am,” she whispers only inches away from my ear.
I whip around, closing the gap between us. “Remember what happened last time you tried to fuck with me? Want to run to the bathroom crying like a little bitch with a bloody nose again? Are you that desperate to be manhandled that you’ll just push buttons until you get your rocks off?”
Her eyes narrow as her lips curl. “You’re such a little punk ass bitch. No one wants you here. You think I’m scared of some rich, prissy little cunt like you. You have no idea what I am capable of. But Xander does.”
His name slides out of her mouth and assaults me. “Fuck you. I don’t give a shit about anything you have to say to me. Leave me the fuck alone before you regret ever even looking in my direction.”
“You know that you’re not woman enough for him, right?” She cackles.
“Then why does he keep coming back for more?” I pop my hip out, crossing my arms over my chest.
Her lips twist into a sinister sneer as she whips out her phone. “See for yourself. He was out with me last night.”
Glaring at me is a picture of a smiling Melina with her back pressed against Xander’s chest. His face is hard — pissed. But that fact is lost on me. All that crosses my mind is that after he told me he loved me he went to a club with that slut. Rage prickles my skin as I start to see red.