Page 47 of Jolt's Vengeance

The audacity of this guy is unbelievable.

My mind races, torn between telling him exactly where he can shove his invitation and the ingrained politeness my mom always stressed.

"Trevor, ye just insulted my entire family. My da, my uncles, people I love. And now you want me to party with ye?"

His face crumples at my words, the arrogant veneer slipping to reveal a glimpse of what I think could be genuine regret.

"I...I didn't mean..." he stammers, struggling to find the right words.

His usual confident demeanor is replaced by an awkward hesitancy that is almost pitiful.

"I let my temper get the best of me, Aggie," he mutters, his gaze dropping to his battered knuckles as if they hold the answers to his predicament. "I said things I shouldn't have... things I don't really believe. It was stupid and... and I'm sorry."

For a second, I'm taken aback.

The sincerity in his voice is unexpected, startling even.

But it's not enough.

Not nearly enough.

"Oh, so now you're sorry?" I retort, folding my arms over my chest defensively. My heart is still pounding, adrenaline fueling my anger. "Is that supposed to make it all better?"

He looks up at me then, his eyes pleading as he reaches out tentatively. "I know I messed up," he admits quietly. "And I can't take back what I said. But I can try to make it right. Give me a chance, Aggie."

The look in his eyes makes me think.

Is he sincere?

The blatant disrespect for my family and the life we've chosen is a bit much, though.

"Trevor," I say finally, stepping back out of his reach.

My voice is colder than I intended it to be but holds steady nonetheless. "I appreciate your apology and... and maybe on some level, I believe you regret your words. But ye don't just insult someone's family and then think an 'I'm sorry' will make everything all better."

Trevor's face falls further at my words but I can sense he’s not giving up so easily. "Then help me make it right, Aggie," he implores, stepping forward again as if the physical distance between us is what's keeping me from forgiving him.

It's not, but I appreciate the effort.

It's more than most would do.

"I'll do whatever it takes," he adds, his voice barely a whisper as he desperately tries to convince me of his sincerity. "Please... come to the party with me."

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

Trevor's face is a mix of hope and desperation, his bruised features making him look even more pitiful.

Against my better judgment, I feel a twinge of sympathy.

"Fine," I say, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. "I'll go to the party."

Trevor's face lights up, and I immediately regret my decision.

I can’t shake how curious I am though.

Maybe this is a chance to understand the other side of campus life, to see what I'm missing—or not missing.

"But," I add quickly, holding up a finger, "this doesn't mean we're friends. And if I hear one more word against my family or the club, I'm out. Got it?"

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