Page 57 of Pretty Little Psycho

“Then I’ll hurt them back,” I reply.

Libra chuckles into her drink. “You’re just as psycho as they are.”

“Lib!” Villette hisses.

“It’s okay,” I chime in. “I’ve done some really fucked up things in my life. It’s not the first time someone has called me psycho. I’m not offended. I probably deserve that.”

Libra sighs. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that… Are you going to the Solstice with them?”

As much as she annoyed me at first, Libra is growing on me. She’s unapologetically herself—bitchy and bat-shit but she owns it.

“Yeah, they didn’t give me a choice.” There are things I can’t tell them that happened that night after we went dress shopping. Things that neither of them would understand. Libra might, but she’d still scoff at it. That night in the altar room was terrifying and hot as fuck. Maybe that was my sexual trigger. I need to be scared out of my fucking mind to cum hard.

Villette leans back and crosses her arms. “Yeah, I don’t get it. How can you be so calm about being forced to go to the ball with them? I didn’t take you for a pushover, Maur.”

“I’m not. It’s just a game we play. I act like I don’t want them, and they chase me down and… make me do things. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment. The more I hate them, the more I want them. I’ve wanted them since the moment we met.”

“I take back my apology. You are a fucking psycho,” Libra quips.

Villette bites her lip. “Um, yeah you kind of are, Maur.”

I feign a gasp and then burst out laughing. Within seconds, they both join in, and we are giggling like a bunch of teenagers. It’s been so long since I had girlfriends, it reminds me of how much I miss it. We spend the rest of the afternoon chatting about the other boys at Tenebrose, mostly whom Libra is planning on seducing, and making plans for a girls’ night before everyone goes home for the holiday break.

I agree to catch up with them later and head across campus for my Gothic Literature class. My good mood is instantly ruined when I walk in. Professor Erebus is huddled at his desk with none other than my freaking mother.

Fuck me.

My stomach knots and my palms dampen. What the fuck is she doing here?

Their conversation looks light and playful until she spots me. And that familiar look of disappointment washes over her face. She sticks a pointy pink nail out and curls it back, beckoning for me to come over.

Now would be a really good time for the guys to pull one of their let’s kidnap Maureen games.

I groan as I shuffle over. “Why are you here?” I snap.

She purses her lips. “That’s a very rude way to greet your mother, Maureen. Aren’t you happy to see me?”

Professor Erebus snickers, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “I’m sure she’s just tired from all her extra-curricular activities.”

Oh my god. I want to scream. My cheeks burn so hot, I might pass out.

My mother arches her eyebrow. “Oh? Back home all she did was hang out with that Bishop girl in her weird mansion. I’m glad to hear she’s being more active.”

“That she is indeed,” he drawls.

Fuck my life. This is the most awkward conversation I’ve ever had. I make a mental note to strangle Valentin later for talking about me with his dirty uncle.

I force a smile. “Well, I learned from the best.” I motion to my mother. “How do you two know each other?”

The amusement fades from both their faces as they get a taste of their own medicine. Yeah, I can play this game too, asshole.

My mother averts her eyes the way she does when she’s trying to look bored. “We both grew up in Ever Graves. But we didn’t really know each other that well, did we Julian?”

Right. Keep telling yourself that, liar.

He clenches his jaw through a fake smile. “Well enough… anyhow, I must get class started. Lovely to see you as always, Shana.”

I wait for him to walk over to a bunch of students before I turn on her. “What in the actual fuck are you doing here? Haven’t you embarrassed me enough in my life?”

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