Page 187 of As the Rain Falls
Kayla looks perfectly horrified.
“Don’t say that!” She shakes her head, her expression dimming. “She looked so miserable, Cassie. But I guess that’s besides the point.”
How isanyof this besides the point?
I frown. “Was she okay? Did my dad say something?”
Kayla shakes her head, deep in thought. “I don’t know, I didn’t follow them in his office. Only Mateo did. And he looked mad as hell, I can tell you that.”
“Oh.”
“But I mean, you saw it yourself. Besides the fact that she nearly gave Alice a bald spot, Angelina didn’t seem fine at all.”
“That’s to be expected,” I concede, considering Angelina’s side of things. “She stayed at the hospital for a long time and for a reason.”
Kayla takes a sharp breath before she explains her point, “But it’s like the stay at the hospital never happened, don’t you think? I mean, she freaked out over nothing.”
“It wasn’t,” I disagree, wetting my lips. “You said it yourself. Alice has been targeting her.”
“I mean, yes, but that’s what Alice always does,” she exhales, frustrated. “She’s a bully who goes after weaker people just to feel better about herself. I swear, it’s like she has a weakness detector or something.”
My phone buzzes. I reach towards the bedside table to grab it before unlocking the screen, but immediately regret doing it when Caleb’s face pops at the top.
Caleb sends picture [mirror selfie, shirtless]
I’m sorry baby
Need to see U again soon
“Is that a picture of Caleb Monteiro completely shirtless?” Kayla asks, making a face of disgust.
“Yeah.”
“Ew!”
I text him back, not bothering to flirt. He starts to type, the text bubble appearing and disappearing for a very long time.
I should break up with him. This thing between us clearly isn’t working. I’m such a fucking idiot.
“What’s wrong?” Kayla is biting her nails guiltily. I pull her hand away from her mouth, speaking softly. “I thought you wanted me to go out with him.”
She swallows hard. “I don’t know, Cassie.”
Something in her expression tightens. She looks almost guilty, her foxy dark eyes shining apprehensively.
“I don’t really think it’s a good idea anymore. You should definitely break things off.”
My stomach churns.
“Why?”
“I…” she trails off. “Listen, I don’t want you to hate me.”
“I could never,” I promise, linking my pinky finger with hers. “You’re my closest friend in the world, Kayla. A boy could never change that, I swear.”
Kayla swallows hard.
“You know how Zach and I are basically very close friends now. We sat together at lunch every single day while you were at the library.”
