Page 129 of Destroying Everleigh

When I reached my first class of the day, I dropped into my seat in the lab, thankful that I’d arrived before Amber and Ashton. My moment of solitude was quickly shattered when Amber dropped into the seat diagonal to me. She avoided my gaze, her lips drawn tight while she fished out her supplies and placed them on the table in front of her.

I wanted to apologize, to beg for her forgiveness, but I didn’t know how to.

I wouldn’t be able to handle her rejection on top of everything else. Reaching down, I unzipped my bag andgathered my own supplies for the class period. My head was foggy, and I already knew I wouldn’t be able to focus on any of the lessons today, but at least I could say that it wasn’t without effort.

To my relief, Ashton left me alone. No mean comments, no glares, just complete disinterest. For some reason, maybe that was even worse. At least when he was actively hating me it was because he cared enough to do so. Now, he just seemed like he was bored.Done. My chest tightened at the thought, even though I should have been jumping with joy.

My class with Jameson and Kash was no better. Jameson didn’t look at me once. Kash kept his back to me the entire time, his spine ramrod straight. It just solidified what I already feared. The end of their terror was just on the horizon.

I wanted to laugh but was too numb to do so. Why wouldn’t I want them to leave me alone? They’ve done nothing but make my life miserable since they bulldozed into it. And yet, the thought of never seeing them again, or never having them speak to me again, seemed like a worse fate.

Even soccer couldn’t take my mind off it this time. It took everything in me just to participate. Coach had to yell at me at least a dozen times to get my head in the game. I vaguely remember him telling me to pull my head out of my ass, but my mind wasn’t all there these days.

After practice, I mindlessly changed into a pair of clean clothes. I’d just shower at home like usual. Swinging my bag over my shoulder, I made a beeline for my car, ignoring the three assholes standing off to the side. Their heated gazes landed on me as I crossed the parking lot and jerked my car door open, tossing my bag in the backseat. I sucked in a deep breath and retrieved my keys, ready to get home and sleep the rest of the evening away. That’s all I seemed to want to do lately.

I placed my key into the ignition and twisted. A loud screeching sound erupted through the air, piercing through my eardrums with ruthless ferocity. What the hell? I flinched away from the noise and tried again. When the same thing happened, panic wormed its way through my chest, bringing me to the brink of an explosion. My gaze flickered to the boys standing near the sidewalk. Kash was smoking as usual. But Ashton’s smirk told me that this was anything but accidental.

Liquid heat snaked through my body, curling deep within my abdomen. Hot tears threatened to slip free, but I held them in with all my might, using the last bit of energy I possessed in doing so.

Fuck. This.

They took my job, my sister, my friend, my body, and now my goddamn car.

I wrenched my door open again and stumbled out onto the pavement. Adrenaline flooded my system from the rage building inside of me. It was all I could see. All I couldfeel.

I marched across the parking lot, toward the one place I knew would have something of use. Once they were out of sight, I allowed the angry tears to spill. My feet were fast through the grass, and I didn’t dare stop until I’d reached my destination. The softball field.

As expected, there was a basket of aluminum softball bats in a basket near the locker room, hidden from view. But I’ve been coming here long enough to know where most things were. I wrapped my fingers around a light blue one, the grip melting into my hand. The bat was heavier than expected, but that was good. It meant that it would inflict some damage.

Grabbing the bat, I made my way back to the parking lot. I didn’t miss the surprise on their faces, or how Kash’s hand stalled halfway to his mouth when he went to take another drag of his cigarette.

To make things even easier, their cars were all lined up side by side. Well…a car, a truck, and a motorcycle. My heart was hammering inside of my chest, a sick feeling settling deep within my stomach. But the rage and adrenaline were much more potent.

I stopped in front of Ashton’s hCallenger, propping the bat over my shoulder before taking a wild swing at the windshield. Glass shattered all around me, a few pieces cutting into my flesh. But I barely felt it, even when a trickle of blood started running down my cheek. Pure satisfaction shot through me at the beautiful wreckage. And then I swung again, denting the hood this time. And again, taking out one of the side windows.

Strong arms wrapped around me, but I weaseled out of their grasp immediately, whirling around. A snarl captured my lips, and I swung the bat at Ashton’s kneecap, causing him to buckle to the ground.

“Who’s laughing now, bitch?” I seethed, feeling more unhinged and out of character than I ever have.

“Fuck,” he hissed, holding his injured leg.

I turned back to his car and continued my assault until I knew there was no coming back from it. He could easily afford a new one, but his friends couldn’t. The next one I attacked was Jameson’s motorcycle. The tires popped beneath the pressure of the bat, my muscles screaming in agony from exertion. When it was completely totaled, I stopped in front of Kash’s truck, my heart aching as I stared it down. The same truck I’d given myself to him. A tear trickled from the corner of my eye, and I brought the bat down hard against the hood. It barely dented, so I swung again and again until there was a decent gash in the exterior.

Someone tried to grab me again, but I shrugged them off and kept going. I couldn’t reach the windshield, but I managed to take out two of the windows.

Police sirens sounded off in the distance, pulling me out of my rage-induced haze. My entire body locked up at the sound, and I knew instantly that I was in deep shit.

“Give me the bat,” Jameson said frantically, holding his hands up in surrender like I was a wild animal in need of being tamed. Ashton was still crouched on the ground, examining his knee. I must have got him pretty good. Guilt shot through me at the fact that I’d hurt him, but he hurt me, too.

Reluctantly, I allowed Jamie to pry it from my fingers. The adrenaline was beginning to fade, replaced with complete shock of what I’d done.

Two cop cars whipped into the lot, their sirens still blaring. My heart was racing wildly in my chest, but I’d own this. I still refused to let them see me crumble. My only regret was that thiswouldcost me my scholarship. Everything I worked so hard for, was all for nothing. Jameson was shaking with anger, his gaze resting on his motorcycle that had been pummeled to death. Despite that though, he pulled me into his arms. I tensed against him, my entire body trembling from a mixture of fear, shock, and anger.

“It’s okay,” He whispered into my ear. “We’ll get you out of this.”

This. It was their fault this even happened in the first place. I highly doubted they were here for Ashton. Then again, whatever he did to my car was a lot more subtle. It wasn’t just vandalism or destruction of personal property, either. I hit Ashton in the knee with the bat. That’s assault with a deadly weapon. My hands tightened against the front of Jameson’s shirt, my fingers twitching as my anxiety amplified. Jameson ran his hand through my hair in a soothing gesture, but it did little to calm me.

“I love you, Evie,” he whispered as the car doors opened and slammed.

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