Page 70 of Demise

“Well, thanks…I guess?” Skyla says.

“I really am sorry. I don’t want to be that person anymore. I want to change, and…change starts within.”

Change starts within? What the fuck is that? A bumper sticker?

“Sure,” Skyla says, hesitance lacing her tone. “Well, good luck with that. Try not to break any plates over people’s heads.”

Bridgette grimaces at that and nods, casting one more look at Bartlett. It’s a look of pain, regret, and longing. When she sets her eyes on Sewall, her expression bleeds into fury. The evil, crazy bitch Bridgette is back in full force as she stares at Sewall like she wants to set her on fire. With her jaw clenched, she turns on her heel and stomps out of the cafeteria, several people staring after her with curiosity.

Skyla sits down, blinking several times before she looks to the rest of us.

“That just happened, right? I’m not imagining things?”

“Yeah,” Bartlett murmurs, her eyes still glued in the direction where Bridgette disappeared to.

Sewall leans into her, shaking her out of her daze. Bartlett gives her new girlfriend a fake as fuck grin before she nods and takes a bite of her pasta.

What an absolutely confusing and tension filled lunch.

I’m sitting in my econ class, bored out of my fucking mind, when I decide to text Asher.

Me: What are you doing?

His reply comes surprisingly quick.

Asher: Listening to Professor Noyes drone on about fuck knows what.

I huff my amusement at that as I respond.

Me: Prayers be with you brother. Feel like ditching?

Asher: What did you have in mind?

I smirk as I type out my reply.

Me: You, me and an empty coat closet. Maybe a dark corridor.

I wait for his text, but it doesn’t come. My teasing smirk slowly slips from my face, and I pocket my phone. I was just joking, fuck.Kinda.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I try to ignore the way my heart kicks up, hoping it’s him.

Asher: Meet me at my dorm room. Now.

I don’t even finish reading the text before I’m out of my seat. My econ professor asks me where I’m going when I call out over my shoulder.

“Shit my pants, see you tomorrow.”

The class thunders with laughter as the professor shakes his head in disgust. Most people would be embarrassed to say something like that, but it’s the perfect excuse. No one is going to stand there and argue with a guy they think just soiled himself.

I haven’t been to the dorms in forever. I’ve practically moved into Asher and Skyla’s place. We all have, none of us ever willing to be far from our girl. It doesn’t take me long to get there, though. Since it’s the middle of class, no one is around, thank fuck, because the less people that see me or him, the better.

It’s not like people aren’t used to us being attached to the hip anyways, but things are different, and I know others can tell. I’m not looking forward to the first Brethren function we all have to be at. That I’ll have to be in a room with him and pretend. Behind Skyla, he’s quickly becoming everything to me.

When I reach his door, I find that it’s already propped open. I push inside to see the lights are off as the door thunks shut behind me. Confused, I look around for Asher, but come up empty until a body comes out of nowhere, plastering me against the wall, hand around my throat as his deep voice rumbles in my ear.

“This what you were hoping for when you texted me?” Asher says.

“Something like this.” I smirk as his grip on my throat tightens.

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