Page 84 of Diem

Rogue grabs the back of my head to deepen the kiss, and then he’s gone, ripped away, literally when Diem pulls him back and punches him in the face.

He meets my gaze with an icy glare of accusation and raising a brow, I smirk and turn away. I’d like to stay and see the action, but my job is done. To stay would make me pathetic, and I’m nothing but.

Although satisfaction runs through my veins like a high, it's followed by sorrow because for whatever fucked up reason, Diem doesn’t want me, and I'll never measure up, which is fucked up because I’m better than that and him.

“C’mon, let’s get out of here. There’s a party at the Point,” Bone says, appearing behind me.

Once we’re in the car, I ask, “The Point?”

“Yeah, used to be a local hangout for the teenagers to suck face and shit, but over time it became nothing but a shithole for us assholes to party at.”

“Sounds charming,” I mutter and wince. Charming…ugh.

We roll up half an hour later, and I follow behind Bone slowly. I recognize a few of my peers from school, but they mostly ignored me, existing on the main groups' fringes. Bone introduces me to a new set of friends and then takes off to sell his wares.

“So, you’re Maeve. I’ve heard rumors about you,” the one named Joey says. He’s on the shorter side with a thick neck, muscled chest, and meaty hands. His head is more of a square, and he has a flat nose, thin mouth, and beady eyes.

“Oh yeah?” I ask, glancing around.

I’m already regretting coming because being out in the middle of nowhere gives me the fucking creeps, not to mention Bone’s abandoned me to a fucking douche.

“Yeah, word around is that you like it rough,” he says, licking his lips.

Images of those very same words rolling from Jaxon’s mouth not too long ago make me shiver, and narrowing my eyes at the dick, I say impatiently, “You shouldn't believe everything you hear.”

“No? Too bad,” he smirks, “I’d a rocked your world.”

“Yeah, I doubt it,” I say, turning and walking away.

Why the fuck guys can’t just be decent human beings is beyond me, I mean would it hurt to try not to be a douche?

To my surprise, I spy Matt in the crowd and start toward him with a pulse of relief, only to stop up short when he turns my way with a feral expression.

He doesn’t see me, but I see him, and the ugly look on his face is so at odds with his quiet, shy demeanor, I’m momentarily speechless. Especially when he hauls back and attacks Bone. The two pound at each other so viciously, my heart jumps into my throat.

With his lips pulled back in a snarl, Matt goes at him like an animal, but he’s checked out and there’s no recognition behind his eyes. Bone is equally as fierce.

Dumbfounded, I stare as Bone swears viciously, “You think you’re the fucking shit? You’re fucking nothing. Fuck you.”

Eventually, someone pulls them apart. Matt stands in some dude’s hold, breathing heavily and glaring blankly into the trees. As if sensing my stare, he turns his head and meets my gaze, his eyes flashing before he drops his head.

After which he stalks off, and I stand there bemused and disturbed. How did I miss this side to my seemingly quiet, gentle friend?

Bone shakes his head and spits a mouth full of blood on the ground before approaching.

“Let’s go,” he says grimly.

“Bone…”

Ignoring me, he heads to his car while I follow. I know Bone isn’t a pussy cat but what the hell just happened?

Who are these guys I call friends?

Once we’re in the car, I ask quietly, “What happened?”

Bone grunts and licks his mouth, his teeth shining with his blood. Suppressing a shiver, I look away as he says, “Nothing Maeve.”

Nothing indeed.

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