Page 259 of Vile Boys

Me: I know. I trust you.

Penelope: Good. Because I think it’s already making rounds at school.

She lifts her phone and shows the group chat for our class, which is filled with responses and comments to a picture that was shared. A picture of me kissing Ares while Caleb and Blaine happily stand behind us.

Oh God.

Me: Nathan’s going to try to kill them, isn’t he?

Penelope: 99/100 chance.

Blaine

When she finally gets out ofclass, my heart begins to race with excitement.

My beautiful, darling Crystal so content to finally make it back to her college education like a normal girl even though she’s far from it after what she’s endured.

Of all the joys in life, this is what makes her happy?

I snigger to myself.

“How was it?” I ask.

“Good,” she replies. “Why are you all acting like you don’t go to this school too?”

“We do, but we don’t enjoy it like you do,” I muse.

“Did you learn anything?” Caleb raises his brow. “I saw a ton of texts flying by in the group chat.”

She tucks her hair behind her ear. “A little bit. It’s just good that I can finally go back to semi-normal.”

“Whatever that is,” Caleb growls.

“I’m guessing you guys saw the texts about us?” she asks.

Oh, we all definitely saw, and I don’t mind one bit. Let the world know I love her, I don’t care, not even the slightest, as long as she’s mine.

Ares sighs out loud and turns around, walking off. “Don’t want to talk about it.”

Party pooper.

“Oh …” She follows him, clutching her bag, but when Ares glances at her over his shoulder, she stops and gazes up at him with doe-like eyes.

“What they say has no influence whatsoever over my feelings for you. None.”

Her whole face turns red, and oh my God, I am living for this literal real-life romance novel.

None of the books could ever come close to this.

She gulps and murmurs, “Me too.”

“What’s that? You have feelings for us?” I lean over her shoulder to look into her eyes, and she nearly squeals like she forgot I was there.

“Jesus, don’t scare me like that.”

Caleb bursts out into laughter, and it irritates me. “Don’t make me pull out my—”

“Sword?” Caleb interjects.

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