Page 10 of Hooves & HeartStrings

My anger bubbles deep inside me. They don’t know me; they have no right to judge me just because I look different from them. I knew this was stupid. Why did I try? “This was a bad idea,” I say, bending down to grab my pants. “I’m going to leave.”

Not bothering to put my shoes on, I grab them and start to walk away, disappointment taking over.

“Wait!” Marley shouts, grabbing onto my arm to stop me when she catches up. “Please don’t leave. Don’t listen to them. They can be assholes. I’m sorry for my reaction. I was just taken by surprise.”

“You're not disgusted by me?” I ask her, searching her eyes for the truth.

“What? No!” she says, grabbing my hand. “No, I’m not. I think you're very handsome, Lucius. So you're part Monster, you're a little different from me. But that doesn’t matter. You're still the kind, funny guy I went on a date with, that I watched a movie with. So, please, stay.”

I look behind her, seeing her friends still laughing like a bunch of assholes. She looks over her shoulder. “Don’t let them get to you. The assholes laughing aren't even my friends. They just hang out with my friends’ group sometimes.”

“Marley, the water is amazing!” her friend says as she jogs over to us, dripping wet from the water. “Oh.” She stops when she realizes and her eyebrows shoot up. “Dude, you're a Monster.”

“Yes,” I say through gritted teeth, waiting for the insult.

“Nice. I’ve met a few before. You guys are pretty cool. I wish I had tentacles or something. Might be helpful with work.” She laughs.

Okay. This one I like. “Sadly, no tentacles. But I can run pretty fast.”

“Now you're speaking my language. I’m on the track team.” She high-fives me and I smile.

Marley gives me a hesitant smile of her own. “Stay? We can hang out with Stacy.”

“Are they being dicks?” Stacy huffs, glaring at the others. “Don’t mind them. They’re just my boyfriend’s asshole best friends. They share a brain cell.”

That makes me snort, and my eyes widen when it comes out more horse-like than I intended. Marley giggles. “You're adorable.”

“Oh, just what every guy wants to hear.” I tease, but I’m honestly relieved. She didn’t look put off, didn’t call me names or freak out. She seems to be okay with what I am. Maybe things can work out.

“Alright, let’s go swimming.”

Marley gives me a beaming smile that melts my heart and grabs my hand, dragging me toward the water.

An hour later, we're all tired and wet. “Come on. We brought some lunch. They should have made a little fire by now.”

I follow Marley back over to where we left the assholes. They seem to have some of the food cooked already. “We only brought burgers and s’mores,” one of the dickheads says.

“No alfalfa. Sorry, pony boy.” The other one smirks. He and his guys burst out laughing.

“What’s your fucking problem?” I demand, my voice rising as my anger finds its way back. “I didn’t do anything to you.”

The blond asshole stands up. “You're my problem. And all the freaks like you. You're coming into our town, our college, and changing everything. Go the fuck back to where you came from. Because we don’t want you or any other Monster here.” He sneers.

“That’s enough!” Marley shouts at the asshole as my chest heaves, my fists clenching. I want to punch this fucker so bad, but I won't. I won't give them more power over me. “You might feel that way, but I don’t. You don’t speak for all of us. God, you’re such a fucking asshole.” She turns to me, her hand slipping into mine. “Come on, Luci. Let’s go.”

I stare the smug fuck down for a moment, wishing every second I could wipe it off his face. “Yeah,” I say, looking down at Marley. She looks so upset, and it makes my anger fade a little. “Let's go back to my place, pretty girl.”

She nods. “Let me grab my stuff.”

As she gathers her stuff up, I look back at fuckhead one and two. With a grin, I lower my voice. “You might think I’m a freak, but who’s the one going home with one of the most stunning women in Coral Springs?” Their smirks drop, but mine grows. “Yeah, I thought so. Enjoy your lunch, guys. I’m sure it will be just as eventful as you're jacking off alone tonight.”

With that, I go over to Marley and carry her things for her. I’m pissed and in a shitty mood. I’m trying to calm down for Marley, but it’s hard. I knew there was a chance this would happen by coming here. I’m just glad it wasn’t Marley who reacted like that. Her standing up for me was so damn hot.

six

We’re walking down the sidewalk, headed to the parking lot where I parked my moped. “I’m sorry about them. They’re a bunch of dicks who think they’re hot shit at college. You know, the ones who never grow up and think bullying is cool?”

“I’m used to people talking about me and cracking jokes about my appearance. As long as you don’t feel that way, I don’t care what they think or say,” he tells me, squeezing my hand.

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