Page 51 of The Masks We Wear

“Remy, please. Just…” I choke out. “I need to forget her. Ihaveto. I can’t…I can’t…”

She grabs my face, pulling me to look at her. There’s a shimmer on her cheeks and it only takes a second for me to realize it’s from my face. I was crying. Iamcrying.

How fucking pathetic.

“It’s okay, Spencer.” Her small thumb runs along my temples. Her pupils are dilated, flicking back and forth as she tries to find the words.

I shake my head, “It’s not.”

She folds her arms around me, pulling my head to her shoulder. “Maybe not right now, but it will be.”

TWENTY ONE

Nothing could have prepared me for school Monday. Despite the bundle of nerves I’ve been since the party, everything has been relatively quiet. But as soon as I walk through the doors, I feel the energy in the air. It’s electric, clinging to my body like a second skin made of pure static. After striding another five feet, I hear the whispers streaming through the hall. They’re all of the Spencer variety.

When the fuck did he get so hot?

Shoes? Girl, I need him to lick my entire body.

After the pleasure of not seeing my mother the entire weekend, I thought it was a sign of a good week to come.

Instead, it was an omen—the calm before the storm.

That storm is currently dressed in dark-torn jeans, a tight-fitting black shirt, and a pair of Steve Madden combat boots. Spencer’s dark hair is pushed back, but stray brown locks sway on his smooth forehead.

There are no glasses on his face, leaving his caramel eyes fully exposed under the bright fluorescent lighting. He and Remy are leaning against the lockers, both of their heads buried in a physics book. His right dimple sinks in when she points to a page.

Something’s different about them. Their body language is off, perhaps less intimate than before. His shoulders are square, angled away from her, and he’s making sure to keep a couple of feet between them.

A sick sort of satisfaction slides down my spine as I watch them, but Amora pops my happy bubble with her whines. “Girl, I can’t with this damn algebra review packet. It’s Monday, and he really wants to start our week like this? He was fucking passing them out to us in the hall! Teachers shouldn’t be allowed to teach when they aren’t getting any at home.”

I grant her a half laugh, half huff, and nod to Spencer. “Have you seen this?”

She flips gold locks over her shoulder, letting her baby blues flash to him. “Yeah, that’s all anyone is talking about. It’s pretty fucking annoying. It’s like Clark Kent took off his glasses, and everyone’s losing their goddamn mind when just last week they were leaving dog food in his locker.”

My sentiments exactly.

The high of his appearance will likely dwindle as the day goes on, so I decide not to think about it too much for now. Still doesn’t stop my eyes from sliding to him a few times.

“See you at lunch.” I give Amora a small wave and strut to math, making sure my path diverts right in front of him. I let my hips rock a little harder, and my hair sways near his arm when I pass. Even though I don’t look, I can feel the heat of his stare on my back. It warms my core, and the brief sense of gratification boosts my mood to get me through the morning.

At least... I thought it would.

I heard Lindsey is gonna make a move. Ask him on a date.

Why were people such assholes to him? He’s a total cinnamon roll.

Girl, Lauren is going with him to the movies this weekend.

No, I heard he’s going with Tonya to a new restaurant downtown.

Bitch, if I don’t have him eating my ass by this weekend, I’m-

By lunch, I’m not sure how much more my bleached roots can take. I can’t breathe without hearing people pine over him, and the comments are getting dirtier by the second.

“He hasn’t been in the lunchroom all week.” Amora flops down across from me, pointing a barbie pink nail across the table.

I don’t bother looking up and continue twirling my pasta around my fork. It still pisses me off that he was the laughingstock this weekend, and now he’s on everyone’s to-be-fucked list just because he’s wearing something decent. Meanwhile, I had to change everything about myself to be noticed.

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