Page 69 of Faking Forever 1
CAN’T STOP
“This is all my fault—I’m so sorry.” her voice exudes pure despair as she takes in all of my facial features.
“You’re fault? That he’s a jealous freak?”
No way was she still going to blame herself. He’s ruined her mental, I’m convinced.
“He just wants to talk—”
“Hejustwants to try and get you back. He’s full of shit, can’t you see that? I saw him, you know—talking to you andtouchingyou.”
Her hands squeeze the now bright red towel.
“Now you’re the one that sounds jealous.” her hands drop to my lap.
Of course, I’m fucking jealous. I’m raging, in fact.
“I know I got out of character. I can recognize that. But he’s only stringing you for a long time because he’s bothered by us. Tell me he’s not.”
“Well, yes—but that doesn’t make it okay. Now look at you.
You take it far, and he takes it further.”
I shake my head as she wipes my nose yet again, and naturally, my reflex sends my hand to grab hers, trying not to audibly show my pain any more than I have been.
Beau and Sierra come running back up the hill with multiple water bottles and more towels. The game sounded like it had resumed, but honestly, I couldn’t care less. If I see Nick right now, I might end his entire existence, so staying on the hillside was probably for the best.
“We got water!”
“Towels, too!”
Beau tosses the towels beside me. He and Sierra stand side by side, observing Paisley and me.
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FAKING FOREVER
“I told them to keep playing. I figured you wouldn’t want back in anyways,” he says.
“Yeah, and everyone has enough water that we can bring you more.” Sierra nods.
“Well, the good thing is that his nose is not broken. It wouldn’t still be so perfect if it were.” Paisley sets the dirty towel on the ground of the parking lot, exchanging it for a clean one, only looking at me as she speaks.
“It got a little heated. It’s no big deal.” I mumble, still sounding stuffy in the nose.
“A little.” Beau’s eyebrows jump to the top of his head.
“Okay—define a little, and while you’re at it, can you explain why it’s causing Nick to obliterate your face with a volleyball?
What’s the problem?” Sierra folds her arms over her chest.
Paisley ignores them, still dabbing at my face, but now under my eyes, which was a hell of a lot worse of a feeling.
“Hey!” I jolt my head back, shrinking away.
“No, you need to let me get it. Now stop moving.” Paisley fights my hands, holding one down.
Call me childlike if you want to, but my nose felt like it was melting off my face in slow motion.
