Page 10 of Our Ruined Beginnings

It’s been a while since anyone has spoken to me with such anger in their voice, and I should have known that if anyone would dare to, it would be her.

Only one other girl would have ever called me out publicly like this, and it seems she’s long gone.

“Kinsley,” I say, clipped, tilting my head as she steps closer. “Always a pleasure to see you.”

“Yeeeaaah,” she drawls. “Shame I can’t say the same thing.”

“Is there something I can help you with?”

“Actually, there is. You can tell me what the fuck’s going on with Harper.”

My face drops into a scowl at the mention of her name. Can I not go one fucking minute without thinking of her? Being reminded of her? “Don’t know what you’re talking about, Kins. I haven’t got a clue what’s going on with her.”

“Yeah, that’s the problem.” Her eyes narrow dangerously. “You’re one of her best friends. You’re her—”

“Nothing,” I spit out, interrupting wherever the hell she was going with that. “I’m her nothing. Whatever you think was between Harper and me, it doesn’t exist. I don’t care what’s going on with her, and you shouldn’t either. Trust me, Kins. There isn’t a world in which she belongs here anymore. You’d do well to remember that.”

Kinsley’s face pales, her eyes widening as she stares at me in horror. I’ve known her for most of my life, and she’s never looked at me like this—like she can’t believe the words pouring from my mouth. Words I doubt anyone ever thought I’d say about Harper.

“Whoareyou?” she breathes, her mouth gaping.

“I’m exactly who I’ve always been. Your precious Harper is the one you should be questioning. You know, she’s not who we thought she was. If I were you, I’d convince her to leave and save us all a lot of trouble.”

With that, I leave the line—screw lunch, I’m suddenly not hungry—and leave Kinsley behind me in the cafeteria.

How dare she question me? As if I’m the one who fucked everything up, ruined so many people’s lives. She’s trying to redeem Harper, and that’s not going to happen. Stomping down the hallway, I pull my phone from my pocket and see a message from Evan.

Evan:Harper went to her second class. Seems the car didn’t shake her for long.

Pressing dial, I hold the phone to my ear, speaking over Evan as soon as he answers.

“The car was an introduction. Meet me in the science lab.” I don’t wait for his response—I end the call and shove my phone in my jeans as I make my way across campus. By the time I stalk into the science building, Evan is waiting for me.

“What’s the big plan, then?” he asks, eagerness written all over his face. He’s enjoying this, I can tell. Everyone is. Bethany was practically giddy with the permission to turn on Harper, and she doesn’t even know her.

“We need blood. Lots of it.” That’s why I asked him to meet me here. Something we made in chemistry last year freaked him the fuck out ’cause it looked so much like the red stuff. His eyebrows rise as his grin widens.

“Now we’re talking. What’s got you so pissed?”

“Shehas. And I’ve just bumped into Kinsley fucking Parker, who thinksI’mthe one in the wrong here.”

“Haven’t seen that hot piece of ass in a while. She went away for the summer, right?”

I roll my eyes at Evan’s fickle nature. He thinks any female with a pulse is a hot piece of ass. Sure, she’s not exactly ugly, but she’s nothing compared to—

Shaking my head, I shove those thoughts away and focus on the task at hand.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care,” I answer truthfully. I could give less than two shits where she’s been. It clearly wasn’t with Harper, because I don’t think the shouting would’ve been held off so long otherwise. While Kinsley and I have always gotten along, her loyalties have never been with me, and I doubt that’ll ever change. “But her popping up and instantly defending Harper means we need to be proactive. We need to remind them both why that’s a bad idea.”

“And what did you have in mind?”

“I wanna recreate it,” I say, and Evan cocks a brow, waiting for me to elaborate. “The wreck. That night. Remind everyone exactly what destruction Harper caused.”

His eyes go wide, and his face pales. It’s the first visible reaction he’s shown to the crash since he told me the details in the hospital, right after it all went down.

“How do you plan on doing that? You weren’t there.”

“I wasn’t, but you were.” I send him my best smirk. “It doesn’t have to be a perfect replica. We’re not gonna dig up a body and toss it down the halls, but some wrecked-up metal, glass tossed over the floor, and blood everywhere should be enough to make a statement.”

---