Page 40 of Your Side of the Offense

But I step forward, faking all the courage I don’t feel as I tremble.

"I won't be threatened by you. I will fuck this entire college if I want to and there isn't a damn thing you will do about it." I turn on my heel and open the door.

With my heart galloping in my chest, I rush down the stairs, open the door, and run.

It was foolish to provoke Harvey, but I won't be intimidated by him or his antics. I will fucking date if I want to.

Fuck.

By the time I get to my dorm I am resolved. And it's on like fucking Donkey Kong. He thinks he can fucking break my heart then tell me what to do.

Fuck, I would be sending Logan a text now if the asshole didn't break my phone.

The next few weeks I do just as I planned. Logan and I take it slow, going on a few dates. I told him I'm not ready for anything too intimate.

They keep to what I said, and move on. I see them with different girls.

We run into each other at parties or on campus, but it‘s been established that we don't mix. We don't talk to each other.

Logan has made sure to keep me away from them and Logan's friends don't bring them up when I'm around.

It hurts when I see them with those girls, but it is what it is.

12

THE TURNING CAROUSEL

Archer

My head spins when I try to get up and I blink a few times, my heart beating like it's going to rip out of my chest. My head feels so heavy.

Fuck.

"You okay there, Archer?" A hand touches my leg and I swat it away.

"Don't fucking touch me."

This girl has been trying to get my attention all party long, but I am at my limit. I am tired of this shit. I'm tired of all these pointless parties, hanging out with these girls and these people I hate. I'm tired of pretending.

I need her.

I need my Peach, but she doesn't care about me anymore. She left me and she doesn't care.

She doesn't care.

I groan trying to hold a more aggressive reaction.

Thinking about her hurts. Whenever I do these days, I always need at least one shot so I don't completely lose it. I am walking a tightrope, and the fall will have me losing all sanity. My friends want me to stop drinking and getting high, but they don't feel what I feel. They are heartbroken too, but I need her.

They don't understand that I need her. Breathing is hard without her smile. Without her touch. And everything about her just hurts now. Whether I see her smile or frown, whether I remember the good times and her coming over to serenade me, it all just hurts. It fucking hurts. And I am losing this battle slowly.

"You don't look…" she touches me again and my eyes fly open. I'm a little dizzy, but I grab her hand and I yank her closer.

"I said don't fucking touch me. I don't belong to you." Doesn't she know I belong to Peach? Only my Peach has rights to me and my body.

Terror crosses her features as she stares at me with green eyes, eyes that aren't my Peach's.

"I need her." My back touches the couch, my body shaking a little.

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