Page 80 of Vendetta

“He’s going to get tired of you sooner or later, you know. He’ll get bored and pass you on to the next person. That’s how Cashton works. Him and I are endgame, everyone knows it. So have fun while it lasts, and don’t feel too butthurt when he eventually dumps you on your ass and comes back to me.”

“You’re delusional. And quite frankly, a little bit off your rocker. As fun as this has been, I think I’ll get back to Cashton now.”

I started to turn to try the door again but a force slammed me back into it, Courtney’s friend pressing into my front as she pinned my arms down by my sides. She had a solid few inches on me, and was much stronger than her lean body portrayed. Well, this couldn’t be good.

Panic seared through me as I struggled against her hold, Courtney coming up behind her and uncapping a sharpie, a wicked grin on her face.

“You’re fucking psychotic!” I seethed, squirming under her friend’s hold as I tried to get away. Courtney walked up, grabbing my chin and pinning my head against the bathroom door as she began writing something on my forehead.

“I warned you, bitch. Learn your fucking place. And stay the fuck away from Cashton.”

She got done writing, her friend letting go of her hold on me and backing away as I spun around and bolted through the door. Pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I opened my front camera to find the wordSLUTimprinted across my entire forehead. Anger boiled through me. I could easily break down right now, run to the car and beg Bexley to take me home, but Iwas done running away. A fire was lit inside me, and I wasn’t ready to put it out.

Turning to face them as they exited the bathroom behind me, I balled my fists at my side, my body begging me to take action.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I screamed at her, my face twisted with rage.

“Just stay away from Cash and we won’t have any problems,” she smiled sweetly.

Oh, we’ll see about that.

I offered a saccharine smile of my own, mischief glinting in my eyes as I spun on my heel and made my way down the corridor, my ponytail swishing behind me as I heard them following.

“Where the fuck are you going? Did you not hear me?” she called behind me, her steps quickening as I approached the section where we had been sitting. It must have been halftime considering the volume of people out at the concession stands, but I didn’t pay attention to anything around me as I made my way up the steps and down the walkway, my eyes lasered into my target as the two girls followed hot on my heels.

Cashton spotted me immediately, his gaze landing on mine before moving up to read the word stamped across my forehead. His features twisted with fury, his eyes narrowing on the two girls behind me as he shot up to his full height and made his way down the bleachers to meet me as the rest of the group went silent, all catching on to what had stolen his attention.

“Landry–” He started as I practically ran to him, whatever he was preparing to say was cut off as I threw my arms around his shoulders and pulled him down, slamming my mouthto his. He was caught off guard for a second before eventually lifting his arms to wrap around my waist, taking control of the kiss as he devoured me for everyone to see.

Cheers broke out through our friend group, and I would have laughed if I wasn’t so consumed by his lips, his tongue breaking through the barrier to greedily eat me up.

One of his hands moved to the back of my head and grabbed my ponytail as he dipped my head back to kiss me deeper. Butterflies roared to life inside my stomach, my head getting light as heat blossomed between my legs.

Breaking the kiss, I turned back around to face a dumbfounded Courtney, both her and her friend’s mouths practically hanging open. Cashton made to step between us, his arm pushing me behind him as he got ready to confront the two, but I pushed right past him. This was a battle that I was going to fight on my own.

“Listen here, you little–” Courtney began, but I cut her off.

“No Courtney, you listen. Stay the fuck away frommyman.”

Oh gosh, this was beginning to sound like some bad pissing contest. My cheeks flamed, realization dawning on me that Cashton and I had technically never established any sort of relationship, exclusivity, let alone anything at all.

Remembering that I was also currently sporting the wordSLUTfor everyone to see, a part of me wished I could snap my fingers and make myself disappear into thin air. But the wrath inside of me from hearing her try to claim him fueled me. Praying that I wasn’t making myself look like a total idiot, I continued.

“If you watched the video of me sucking his dick, I’m sure you also saw the one of what I did to those two Stoneview girls at the bonfire last Fall. Don’t. Fucking. Mess with me.”

I didn’t recognize myself as I took my stand. I was never one for confrontation, let alone fighting or threats. I had to admit, it did feel nice to stand up for myself for once. Cashton stayed silent at my back, letting me take the lead.

Courtney looked from me to Cashton, probably hoping to get some sort of denial from him, but whatever look he gave her had her spinning around and running in the other direction, tears in her eyes as her friend followed.

I didn’t move, too afraid of what I would see when I turned around. Was he fuming? Was he mad at me for trying to stake my claim? I had pretty much all but pissed on him to mark my territory. Oh gosh, what if I had ruined everything?

Slowly turning to face him, I kept my eyes down on the ground, waiting for him to speak first.

“Your man, huh?”

I cringed, realizing how stupid that had sounded. We were no better than a couple of little girls fighting over our favorite doll. Leaning in closer, he whispered in my ear for only me to hear.

“I like the sound of that, princess.”

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