Page 20 of Pretty Little Psycho

Atlas laughs and blows me a kiss before stalking off to join his asshole friend.

Fuck.

My stomach knots. I don’t have the energy to deal with Atlas and Valentin tonight. “Actually, Villette, I’m pretty tired. Plus, classes start tomorrow and I gotta be up early. I think I’m going to head to bed.”

She pouts her lips. “Come on, just stay for one more drink. It’s a Tenebrose tradition.”

I shake my head and throw on my coat. “I can’t be tired tomorrow. Sorry. Rain check?” I’m starting to feel homesick. Villette is a lovely girl, but I miss Bailey like crazy. She’s the only one who gets me.

Villette nods but her lips are pursed. “Don’t let those assholes bully you, Maureen. If you leave now, they will think they’ve won.”

She’s right, but I don’t care. I really am exhausted too. “I’m not running away, I promise. I just need a good night’s sleep.”

She finally concedes and gives me a hug before I leave. As I head to the door, I feel eyes on me. I shouldn’t look back, but I can’t help myself. I throw a glance over my shoulder and see Atlas and Valentin are laser-focused on me. Fuck. I spin on my heel and storm out.

The air outside has dropped at least twenty degrees since sundown. I button up my coat, grateful that I remembered to bring it. An uneasy feeling settles into my bones. The path ahead is dark as fuck and the ground uneven. I take a deep breath and charge ahead, stumbling every few feet in my heels. And I’m sober. I can’t understand how anyone could do this drunk. I guess the kids here are used to it. I really hope I don’t twist my fucking ankle.

At least Villette was understanding. Libra is going to lose it when she finds out I left. I’ve barely seen her since the party at Nocturnus and then she just barges into my bedroom tonight with an outfit picked out for me. That girl is something else.

Oh, fuck. I’m not more than ten feet from Swallow when I see Libra barreling toward me.

“Nope, nope, nope. You’re not bailing on me tonight, Blackwell.” She grabs my wrist and spins me back around toward the bar.

I pull back, digging my heels in the dirt and almost topple over. “Whoa, slow the fuck down. And stop calling me that.”

Libra whips around and her long blonde ponytail almost smacks me in the face. “There are rules here, Maureen. Social standards. Everyone parties at Swallow the night before the first semester starts. Everyone. I swear to god if you make me look bad—”

“All right!” I say a little too loudly. “Fuck. I’ll go back inside. But I’m not hanging out with your cousin or his asshole friends.”

Her breath quickens, and she tightens her grip on my arm. “Nocturnus is here?”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes at her referring to them like they’re some famous boy band. “Atlas and Valentin are. I haven’t seen Riot. Why do you seem surprised? You just said everyone goes to Swallow.”

She lets go of my wrist and smooths her hands down her tight pink dress. “They just never show up this early.”

I shrug. “I actually don’t care.”

She glares at me. “You don’t care about anything, do you, Blackwell? But with your family’s money and power, I guess you don’t have to. Just remember you’re in Raven’s Gate now. We play differently here.”

My mouth hangs open, stunned by her words. And then my anger kicks in. “Ever since I got here, I’ve been bullied, stalked, assaulted… and it’s only been two fucking days. If this is how you all play here then I want no part of it.”

“What are you talking about? I know I’m bossy, but I haven’t assaulted you. Fuck, you’re so dramatic,” Libra quips.

I snicker. “Why don’t you ask your cousin and his friends who assaulted me?”

Her cheeks redden. “Don’t say things you can’t take back, Maureen. They’ll hear you.”

I shake my head. This place is insane. “Who will hear me? The fucking birds? There is something seriously wrong with all of you.” I step back and turn around. “Fuck this, I’m going back to the dorms.”

“Wait!” she shrieks.

I stop but refuse to turn back around. “What do you want from me?” I sigh.

“I-I don’t have any friends,” she whispers.

What the actual fuck? I stalk back over to her. “Are you joking?”

Her eyes are glassy. “No. I don’t have like actual friends. I mean, I know everyone, but no one wants to hang out with me.”

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