Page 2 of Get Even

I smirked and finally glanced down at my phone as I walked. Three missed calls and a barrage of texts lit up the screen and I ignored them as I opened up the message app and scrolled past Aaron’s bullshit to find the photo I’d sent him of the three of us simply captioned,Touche.I laugh reacted to his message calling me a sadistic bitch, declined another of his calls and grinned up at the sky. It was a deep blue and I inhaled the pre-summer air longingly. It was April, I was single, and this was the yearthingswere going to happen. I could feel it.

Sun City in the summer was truly something else, the trees came alive and bushes, planters and shrubbery burst with color. Though, it was going to be a little less fun now that I had nobody to spend it with. I tended to run a little more on the loner side of things and now that I’d firmly kicked my boyfriend from my life (and soon my ex-bestie for good measure) my social calendar was looking a bit tragic.

My good mood faded slightly as I thought about what might be waiting for me back at my apartment. With any luck Taylor would be out and I could deal with her later, or maybe Aaron had already warned her that I knew. I clamped down on a slightly hysterical giggle, as if Aaron gave a crap about anyone other than himself. I took a deep breath as I walked on, deciding not to think about Aaron again, I had a History paper to work on later and nothing cleared the mind and realigned the chi like a revenge-threesome.

My apartment was on the other side of town, closer to the bars than it was to campus, but I didn’t mind. I’d bought it for cheap when I’d moved down here in my Freshman year. I’d waited before I’d come to college, working full-time at a club for a year back in Phoenix and saving every single tip I could and then scrounging it all together alongside a small inheritance that I’d been left with when my Grandmother had died. It had been enough to get me my own place and rent out the second bedroom. Aaron had helped me fix it up when we’d met – repainting the walls, sanding down floors… I sighed. I was going to have to redecorate… and find a new roommate.

Taylor and I had met in our Freshman year, she had been staying in the on-campus housing and I’d been friends with one of her friends. I squinted into the sun, wishing I had my sunglasses as I tried to remember the girl’s name – Sara? Ivy? I shook my head and breathed a sigh of relief as I found my way beneath the canopy of trees that sheltered the long walk-way up to the main crossing that led back into town. Taylor and I had bonded over our love of karaoke on a night out and when it came time for her to re-apply for housing or find somewhere else, I’d offered to rent out the second room in my apartment to her. The rest, as they say, was history. Until she’d fucked my boyfriend.

I clamped down hard on my emotions, not wanting to shed a single tear over those two fuckwits. Tonight I was going to get rip-roaringly drunk and then tomorrow I was going to have to advertise for a new roommate.

Cocoa & Rumappeared in my eyesight and suddenly I was gasping for a bucket-sized iced coffee, never mind the fact that I was now only ten minutes away from home and could make one myself. Homemade iced coffee was never as good as the real thing and iced coffee, especially fromCocoa & Rum, was one addiction I did not mind feeding.

It was probably my favorite coffee house in town and as the familiar scent of coffee beans washed over me I felt my shoulders relax. I’d actually had several messy nights here too, in the evening the place opened up into a cocktail bar with a small dance floor and the signature cocktails were to die for – and potent as hell.

The barista from behind the counter seemed new, her green-brown eyes were pretty and her smile was wide and for a second I let a hint of interest grip me. Iwassingle now. If I wanted to ask out a cute girl, there was nothing stopping me… except, I couldn’t risk fraternizing with the place that made the best coffee in town. That was a recipe for disaster. I placed my order and lingered at the opposite end of the counter, admiring the way the sunlight poured in through the large glass-front windows. It was only spring and already the heat was ramping up, everything starting to smell like warmth and sunlight again, maybe I’d even be able to build up my tan this summer. My olive skin was temperamental, I either became a glowy golden brown or I burnt. There was no in-between.

I accepted my coffee gratefully when the barista called my name and immediately started gulping it down as I walked slowly towards my apartment. I winced as brain freeze started to settle in and looked longingly out towards the lush green park sprawling on the walkway behind the town.No.I clenched my jaw, realizing that I was putting off the inevitable. I’d had my caffeinated fortification and now it was time to face the music.

My apartment had always felt like a sanctuary and when I’d invited in Taylor, my former best friend, it had felt like a home. My Mom and I weren’t close and my Dad had never been in the picture, it was only really my Grandmother that I’d had any real familial connection with. Then she’d died, I’d moved to Phoenix and the rest, as they say, was history.

I’d been on my way home from a class trip when I’d discovered Aaron and Taylor were boning. It was tragic how predictable it was really – came home sooner than expected and went straight to my room, intending to freshen up and surprise Aaron. Taylor had sounded… busy, in her room and I’d smirked, wondering who she’d managed to pin down now. Obviously my amusement had quickly faded away when I’d re-opened my bedroom door in time to see Aaron closing Taylor’s behind him as he walked into her bedroom.

Standing outside my apartment door now, I felt the twinges of Deja-Vu hitting me. For this more than anything else, I hated Taylor. This was my home.Mine.All that security, that peace that had come with finally having something to call my own –something good I could point to and sayI did thathad been tainted by her and Aaron’s rampant fucking hormones.

I huffed out an angry breath and twisted the door handle viciously as I walked in. I wasnotgoing to feel like this damn it. They were the ones who had fucked me over. Aaron was… well, I knew he wasn’t going to be the forever kind of boyfriend. But Taylor? She was supposed to be my friend and that made it ten times worse.

My hallway was painted a cheerful cherry red but even the sight of the familiar walls couldn’t ease the anxiety building in my chest as I stomped through and to the kitchen. I passed through the living room without a glance and it wasn’t until Taylor called out that I even realized she was still here. I let out a long breath.

What the fuck? Surely she had to have heard from someone that I knew what had happened? So why was she still here? Did she think we were just going to talk it out, hug and move on? I was more likely to poop rainbows and fly around the kitchen than I was to hug it out with this fake-ass bitch.

I pasted on a smile as I scooped the drink I’d just made off of the side and strolled casually into the living room and took in Taylor, sprawled on our couch.No.That wasmycouch and this wasmyhome. Though, Aaron had beenmyboyfriend, so clearly Taylor didn’t care a lick about boundaries.

“Hey,” she called again, flicking a glance away from the TV and smiling. “Where have you been? I thought we were getting breakfast once you got back this morning.”

“Yeah, sorry I had to take care of something.”

“Oh?” Taylor’s blonde eyebrows rose so high they almost blended in with her equally blonde hairline. “Anything interesting?”

I waved a hand airily and sipped my juice, “Just stuff between me and Aaron.” That finally caught her attention and her eyes held mine, taking in my lacey black outfit with something close to jealousy passing across her face. “It’s funny really…”

“What?” Did she know how curt her voice had become? Had their relationship been staring me in the face for so long without me even realizing it?

“Well, Aaron’s okay in bed – as I’m sure you know,” Taylor’ face whitened, her blue eyes looking bright against her deeper pallor, “but I really just didn’t expect his brother to bethatmuch better. Though, I suppose with Cody helping out too it evened the playing field a little.”

“Jamie, I–”

“If you’re about to lie to me, don’t. Don’t disrespect me or yourself more than you already have.” My voice was cold and I felt like ice, like I was gazing at this scene from a distance and I wondered whether I would remember the minute details about this moment in the future –the tampon ad playing on the TV, the trees swaying beyond the blinds shading the window, Taylor’s face, slowly clouding from horror to anger.

“I’m the disrespectful one?” Taylor stood, her blonde hair fluttering about after her like she was the heroine in a movie.

“Sorry – are you saying youdidn’tfuck my boyfriend? In my apartment?”

Taylor laughed, a sneer taking over her face as she looked me up and down. “It’s not my fault that he was bored of you – I mean, who could blame him with the way you dress? Have you ever heard of that sayinggiving the milk away for free?”

Was she calling me a slut?

I didn’t bother to respond to that. I liked sex. I’d previously mostly-enjoyed sex with my boyfriend. Monogamously. My current outfit was a game in seduction and not what I’d normally wear out for a walk through campus and town, so I had no idea what she was talking about and honestly? I didn’t care anymore. I wanted her gone.

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