Page 98 of Beyond The Break

My hands start to tremble from the anger coursing through my body, so I stuff them into the pockets of my hoodie. I watch as she pulls out a pack of cigarettes from her bag, lighting one and taking a deep inhale. It was always one of the things I hated about her.

“Something like that,” she answers without any sign of remorse.

“And while I was recovering in the hospital, you kept writing about me? Using my injury as more content for your column?”

“I did, and I don’t regret it because it kept you relevant while you were gone.” Her tone is defensive.

I scoff. “You make me sick. How can you say you care about me and want to be with me when you intentionally hurt me for your own benefit?”

She visibly bristles, tossing her cigarette to the floor and stomping on it hard. “If it wasn’t for me, you would be a nobody by now. I kept you relevant and I keep you relevant even though you’re cheating on me with that Eliana bitch.”

I rear back as if she slapped me. “Meghan, I’m not cheatingon you because we’re not together. You made that very clear when you decided to kiss Colton for your story.”

“You’re only saying that because you have a new little girlfriend right now but once she leaves, you’re going to come crawling right back.” she snarls, her hands curling into fists as she frowns at me.

There it is, my opening.

“Why would she leave?” I press.

“Because she doesn’t want you or your stupid little surf team to know about who she really is. Did you know her hometown nicknamed herThe Bad Luck Charm? You guys are going to keep losing and keep getting hurt if she sticks around.” she says through barred teeth.

I laugh humorlessly. “That’s a load of crap, where did you even hear something that stupid?”

“I saw it in an article,” she says defensively, returning her eyes to the boats in the distance.

“She’s not from Saltwater Springs, Meghan, how would you have seen an article about her from another town? It sounds like you’re making all of this up.”

“I’m not,” she shrieks, turning to face me.

“Crazy mode activated,” I hear Gabriel mumble in my ear.

“So how did you get an article about her?” I push.

“Some guy that she pissed off, I think his name is Alex, sold it to me when I was digging up on her past.”

“I don’t believe you. Alex, who?”

“I didn’t get his last name,” she lies.

I sigh and look away from her, my frustration building. “Meghan, you’re a reporter. Remembering sources is literally part of your fucking job so don’t lie to me right now.”

“Fine,” she shouts, crossing her arms over her chest, “His name is Alex Young.”

“Got it,” Gabriel confirms.

“Well, Alex Young misinformed you, Meghan. You musthave forgotten that she was at the last competition where we came in first place.”

“Because your good luck charm was there, you said it yourself.”

I frown at her in confusion, and she rolls her eyes before pointing to her chest.

“I was talking about her, Meghan. Not you. I could never say that about you because you are by far the unluckiest thing that’s happened to me.”

Her face crumbles into rage before she runs at me, pounding her fists against my chest. I block as many as I can until the police run up and restrain her, but she gets a nice blow to my face, my lip splitting from the impact.

She growls at me as the police hold her arms back, trying their best to cuff her wrists while she fights against them like a feral animal.

“I hate you,” she shrieks, “I hate you and your stupid fucking girlfriend. As soon as they let me go, I promise you I’ll tell the world what they call her. I’ll expose her until she has nowhere left to run to.”

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