Page 62 of Soul of a Psycho

“Sure.” He nods, his antennae springing at the movement.

“But what if it has roofies?” Callie gnaws on her raw lip.

“It won’t,” I assure her. “Bobby is going to open a brand new bottle. Right, Bobby?”

The antennae bounce again.

“See? It will be fine. And here,” I smile mischievously and put Callie’s hand in Bobby’s. “Buddy system. Just in case.”

Her cheeks go bright red as she widens her eyes at me. I give a quick shrug before she can come up with any more worries, and push them towards the table. I watch like a proud mother hen as Bobby holds up different bottles, and Callie struggles to read the labels in the dark, no doubt trying to read the warnings.

“You did that on purpose.” Cade folds his arms, not looking happy.

“So?” I frown. “She likes him.”

“She’s asenior,Sky.”

He says it like it’s supposed to mean something to me, but it doesn’t. Bobby may be a sophomore, but he’s only one year younger than Callie. I don’t see the harm in them possibly getting together. If anything, it could only do Callie good, give her something to focus on besides the side effects of an aspirin. And Bobby is sweet, perfect for Callie.

“It’s just going to make it that much harder on him when we—” Cade stops abruptly, running a hand through his hair and grinding his teeth.

“When we graduate?” I finish for him. “Even if it becomes serious, Callie is going to Haskett for university. That’s only two hours from here.”

Cade shakes his head and locks his jaw, giving me a long stare.

“She isn’t going to university.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Cade

The flames lick towards the stars as I clench Sky’s eighty dollars in my fist. Wispy embers float up and into the heavens, and I wonder if I could somehow ride the fire through the sacred gates. But I know I’m being wishful. When all is said and done, I’ll be trapped in an infernal pit while Sky is worlds above, hating me for cutting her and her friend’s lives too short. I don’t think it’s fair that I won’t be able to win her back in the afterlife, that I’ll be severed from her for eternity.

She laughs beside me at something Ruby has said, but what, I don’t know. I can only hear Sky. Every breath, every chatter of her teeth, every gulp from the drink in her hand. She’s the only frequency I’m always tuned into. I think the quiet of hell will be my real punishment.

“Is that a trash bag?” She giggles, and I morosely follow her gaze to one of the said friends I will be eliminating, and the void that will be left behind thereafter.

Bobby and Callie.

They are still at the drink table, but now he’s holding open a black bag while Callie fills it with crushed cups. Jesus, we’ve only been here twenty minutes, and he’s already trying to clean up.

I’m going to turn a saint into a void.

“Where did he get that?” she whispers to Ruby.

“He brought it with him,” I grumble past the lump in my throat, knowing he keeps a roll of trash bags in his backpack. He probably stuffed a few in his pockets before coming.

I hate that I know this about him.

“What? Are you taking the piss?” Ruby cackles.

“He has a thing about littering,” I say, frowning.

“Awh,” Sky gushes, none the wiser to my dilemma.

Her eyes have taken on a relaxed haze from the alcohol, turning them glassy and sparkly. I’m glad I snagged her cash before she could go soliciting for weed. There’s only one person at Hillcrest who deals, and I don’t want her anywhere near Bentley in this state. Especially in the scant angel costume. It’s a weak imitation of the real seraph beneath, but it’s tantalizing all the same.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell her, tired of putting this off—tired of watching a doomed relationship bud.

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