Page 24 of Ramsay

Chapter Five

Willow

The following day I stumble out of bed with a groan. Although I’m resolved in my course, that doesn’t mean I’m not weary as fuck because the shit rolling downhill never seems to end.

Since I’m no longer pretending to be what Sabrina and her lemmings need me to be, I don my favorite pair of holey jeans, band T-shirt, and boots. After pulling my hair back into a messy bun, I swipe on my favorite cat-eye and siren red lipstick, which eases the tightness in my chest. The one I’ve been carrying for months.

I’m still a shell of the girl I was before, but I will find my way back and accept that drugs or no, I’ve got darkness inside of me which may never truly leave. Perhaps it’s the mark of my survival, a beast forming out of the ashes of my pain.

After parking in the lot, I search out the group I’ve been actively avoiding since I came here. It’s the same crowd at every school, with the same beleaguered expressions, only the names change. Life has not been easy for these students.

Many come from broken homes, live in poverty, or are exposed to violence. They’re misfits who don’t fit in and these are the people I avoided to my shame. Now, I know just where I belong, but the tricky part will be to steer clear of those whose darkness calls to mine.

Spotting a group standing under a tree, smoking cigarettes, I eye the tall guy with spiked purple hair because he’s got the look of one such individual, I should avoid. I can tell just by looking at him that he’s the dealer and I’m steps away from the high I think about and refuse every single fucking day.

Today is no different.

I’m facing the craving, and if I’m smart or fucking lucky, I’ll turn away because I’m already walking a tightrope. Do I want to cross the thinning line? I do if I want my pound of flesh, and I fucking do.

“Fuck that,” I grumble, sauntering over casually. They’re not going to accept me at first because just last week, I was twerking in a cheer outfit with the bitches of Sterling. I’ve got my work cut out for me.

As I suspected, I get suspicious stares when I roll up and ask to bum a smoke but the dude with the purple hair eyes me with a smirk before tossing one my way. After he steps up to light it for me.

He watches me closely, probably expecting me to choke, but I just smile and take a deep drag, my eyes practically rolling back in my head as the nicotine I haven’t tasted in a year runs through my system.

“What are you doing here? Don’t you belong over there with them?” he asks, his ring glinting when he curls his lip.

I follow his eyes and meet Sabrina’s hostile stare. Oh yeah, she’s gunning for me after yesterday. I’m sure outing her little crush went down like a hot fucking poker in her puckered asshole.

“I was. But what my parents don’t know and all that,” I say with a careless shrug.

“Is that so?” he says, dropping his gaze to my chest.

I recognize his avarice and mentally caution myself to beware when I reply, “Yep. Is that a problem?”

He smirks, rolling his lip ring with his tongue before slowly shaking his head. He’s willing to entertain my presence, but it’ll take time for him to trust me.

A short dynamo with bright pink hair swinging at her ears stops before me and places her hands on her hips, staring me down with hard brown eyes. “What do you want, bitch?”

Raising my brow, I cross my arms and mutter, “A break from fucking reality.”

She scrunches her nose in confusion. “Aren’t you the chick who fucked the Sinners?”

Purple-haired dude frowns, and I sigh, making sure it’s long and loud. “Yeah, well, they’d like you to think that. Look, I tried to behave for my fucking mom, who thinks I’m a tweaker about to fucking die. I hated it. I hatedthem. They’re sore losers, what can I say?”

“Whatever,” she says, turning when someone calls, “Dixie!”

I glance that way and catch the eye of Ramsay, who’s staring between my companion and me with a frown. Curving my lips into a bitchy smile, I look back at my new friend. “What’s your name, anyway?”

“Most call me Bone,” he drawls.

I almost laugh, because bitch gotta be tough, but I’ve got news for Bone, he isn’t tough if he’s the drug dealer at Sterling High. Try hanging out in the inner city with the real criminals.

“I’m Will. See you around,” I say over my shoulder as I walk away. I’ve made my first move, but strategy is key—that and a good dose of patience like with any good game.

I have time though and I can be a patient bitch when I have to be. Although after the last year of living in a cage, I find the notion abhorrent to say the least.

“Hey,” I yelp, when Ramsay appears as I pass the threshold, yanking me by my arm.

---