Page 44 of Petite Fleur

The child locks will keep him in place, but if not, so will the gun in my waistband.

I lean into the doorframe to glare at this fat piece of shit, basking in the pathetic cries he makes and the sweat already collecting on his forehead; he's in for a long night if this has already broken him.

“If you try to run, hit me, or even just cry too much, I will blow your fucking head off. Do you understand me?” I ask sternly.

Turner's eyes open wide, but he nods and sucks in another pathetic breath that quivers just as badly as his composure. “Why are you doing this?” He asks.

I huff, grinning at him for a brief moment. “Maeve Henderson.” I answer before slamming the car door.

Chapter 15

Maeve Henderson

How has my week somehow gotten worse?

It's been two days since everything happened with Shelby, and I've sat alone in the dining hall for both of them.

It's been two days where she would usually stay and hang out with me while the group parties, but she hasn't. She's left me alone both days and has not even spoken a single word to me.

My usual daily hug has stopped, and she's stopped calling me darling or checking in with me; she's basically stopped being my friend.

I have to do something; I can't lose my best friend altogether.

So, I sent Shelby a text.

Well, a picture, a half-naked picture saying that I want to have a repeat of our night together.

I know it probably should offend me that she responded so quickly, but I'm just glad she responded at all.

Wow, my self worth is kind of low, but she's all I have.

It only takes about 20 minutes before I hear a quick knock at the door, and Shelby lets herself into my apartment.

Although I'm betting she'd checked if Carlie and Sean were here first. What am I kidding, she was probably with them when I texted her.

“Hey!” She says happily as soon as she sees me, but it doesn't feel as genuine as it used to.

It makes me want to scream.

I want to yell at her until I'm blue in the face, but I know my words will fall on deaf ears and that she'll never care about me like I do about her.

“I've missed you.” I say rather than voice how I feel and risk looking stupid.

Shelby smiles and takes my hand, pulling me up the stairs toward my room. “Yeah, sorry, darling. Class has been super hectic, and I've been so stressed about finals that I'm ready to scream." She says casually.

Okay, that's fair.

Finals week is coming up, so we're all stressed; maybe I'm just expecting too much on one of the most stressful weeks of our school year.

I'm sure once finals are done and we all have a chance to wind down and cool off, I'll have my friend back.

As soon as we're in my room, she locks my bedroom door and pushes me onto my bed. “I brushed my teeth after lunch.” She mentions before climbing onto my bed and on top of me.

It's sweet that she thought to do that.

I would've just not kissed her or asked her to brush.

Maybe this is why I don't get a second date very often…

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