Page 76 of Malicious Desires

Other than seeing them both when they got discharged, I’ve kept to myself to wallow in self-pity of being unable to see Jasper. I’d tried to sneak into Valley View a few times, but there were now armed fucking guards everywhere, stalking around the campus like they were protecting royalty.

I’m definitely on edge, and worried about Jasper. Not being able to see him just makes me uneasy. And I can’t get out of my head. I’m also ignoring my father, not willing to do his damn bidding anymore. I’m not that man anymore. I don’t care if I never see him again. I won’t be so lucky, but it’s nice to think about.

To escape I’m at the furthest beach from the Capullo side of the city, as I can be. Velum Beach is pristine white sand and has some of the biggest waves of any beach in Vemore.

Sitting on the sand with my open journal in my lap, I’m staring at the blank page in front of me. I’ve hardly used it since being with Jasper, because my pretty boy has been my vice and my escape when I’ve needed to get out of my head. But now I feel like casting it aside and running into the ocean to drown myself. Living without Jasper causes a deep emptiness within me. I don’t move though, instead I scrawl words across the page.

Emptiness. Crushed. Loveless. Shattered.

The words I’ve written break my heart more. I love Jasper, but we’re being forced to be absent from each other’s lives because our parents can’t accept our love and get over a feud that doesn’t involve us, or them quite frankly. There’s no reason for our families to still be feuding, years later.

Slamming my journal closed, I wipe an arm across my cheeks to wipe away the tears on my cheeks. I can’t believe I’m crying, but I’ve truly never felt such heartbreak. We didn’t break up–per se–but it feels as though we have.

Standing from the sand, I’m shocked to find Blaise running towards me frantically.

“Reece! I…fucked up!” he calls out, stopping in front of me, and scuffing his feet in the sand.

“How? What did you do dickhead?”

“I think something has happened to Jasper.”

“How in the hell would you know that? And what the fuck do you mean, Blaise?”

“Well, you know I’m going to Valley Views as I am not of feuding family blood, and well…”

I grab the front of his shirt and tug him closer. “What does your attendance there have to do with Jasper?”

“I know about you guys.” I can feel the blood fall from my face. I’m not ashamed of my being with Jasper, but if Blaise knows then we haven’t hidden our love from anyone.

“Ok, still doesn’t explain the current situation of you seeking me out.”

“Well, I um…gave him something to take the edge off.”

“You gave him drugs?”

“Yeah, he sought me out and asked for Xanax and strong painkillers.”

“And you gave him them?”

“Sold them to him. How is this news to you?”

“I had my suspicions about you dealing, but had no confirmation so you’ve not been unlucky enough to grace my hit list.”

He gulps audibly, mumbling, “I might be now.”

“What did you do, Blaise? Tell me now or I’ll shoot you right here on the beach for bats to devour.”

“I just got word from my source that the pills were laced.”

I shove him away, my heart pounding with apprehension.

“With what?”

Blaise drops his gaze to the sand, again mumbling, “with rat poison.”

I scream, shoving Blaise to the ground and stomping towards my car. He stumbles over, yanking the door open with strength I didn’t know he had. I’d give anything to have my Bugatti right now. He wouldn’t have been able to get into that without my letting him, but all I’ve got is a shitty nineteen eighties Audi a5 that my father had stashed in the garage as though it was a prize relic of a car. It’s older than me, and sputters as though it has smokers lungs when you start it. I don’t say a word to Blaise as I drive off with him gripping the dashboard for dear life.

I speed into Vemore, stopping just outside of town.

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