Page 14 of Your Side of the Offense

Her face falls, and I hear a gasp from behind her. Must be her friend. I walk away, not interested in this conversation any longer, and stride into the kitchen.

"Dude! Where've you been?" Caleb jumps for the bag before I move it out of his reach.

"Say thank you," I say.

"Harv, I'm not doing this with you. Give me the food, I have the fucking munchies, man."

"I don't care. Say thanks."

"Fucking thanks, asshole," he says lifting a middle finger.

"That's better." I place the bag on top of the counter, and they dig in. Not many people are in the house yet. Mostly just hanging outside.

I pull the blunt out of Archer's lips.

"Hey, I was still smoking that," he protests.

"You aren't supposed to be smoking so much, asshole." And he isn't.

With his medication, he isn’t supposed to have any substances. If he does, he should watch it. We have always watched him. But since she’s been gone, it’s been hard.

He may think I don't see, but I know about his late nights with the bottle. I just don't say much because I'm not an asshole. And because it's all my fault. All my best friends are fucking shattered because of my stupidity.

I have never hated anyone more than I hate that fucking girl. At this point, it’s only jail preventing me from getting my hands on her. But my revenge will come. She will fucking regret what she did.

I plan to take it slow and make it hurt. I have been on her ass since this whole shit happened. People always say I'm impulsive and I don't think before I act, but if they only knew. If they only knew.

When I am finished with her, she will beg for death. She is the one person I will never let go. Even now I have a P.I. working on her. I want to gather everything about her, her family, her friends, boyfriend. If she has a fucking cat. Everything will fold on top of her head, and I will crush her with the weight of my wrath.

I used to think I hated my father, and I do, but I loathe her even more. My hate for her burns me in the deepest pits of my stomach. It's simmering for now, but one day when I'm ready, I will unleash all hell on her, and she will cry with no one to come to her rescue.

She will never have peace. Will never know it once I start with her.

"Are you plotting to end the world again, Brain?" Jaden throws an arm over my shoulder, and I glare at him.

"Yup, definitely one of those. Who is the subject of your wrath this time? Is it the barista? Did they flirt with you again?" Caleb jokes after expelling the smoke.

Archer jumps off the counter and goes to the fridge. My gaze follows him, and he scoffs at me. Asshole.

"Has anybody ever told you you’re a psychopath?" Jaden says. I get out of his hold, and reach for an open beer in the middle of the table.

"You really should have a sandwich before you drink yourself to oblivion again," Archer says behind me.

"I don't remember you pushing me out of your pussy, Arch," I shoot back.

"If I had a pussy, sure wouldn't push out such ugly things like you. Sheesh."

"Let's stop before that goes further than it's supposed to." Caleb raises his hands.

We all chuckle. Silence befalling us after and I feel the slight discomfort coming before someone speaks.

"So, Caleb, you still taking Econ?" Jaden asks.

"Yup." He knocks half the bottle after answering. "I know we agreed to give her space to adjust for now, but…" Caleb trails off and he doesn't need to expand. We all know.

"I want to see her" Archer breaks through the tension.

"Are we seriously going to turn to stalkers?" Caleb asks.

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