Page 192 of Vicious Saint
“Are you g-gonna try and h-hurt me?” Theory asks Hendrix, the pain in her voice obvious.
“I promised you the day by the pool I never would.”
“Just curious,” I interrupt, narrowing my eyes. “Was that before or after you called her a whore?”
26
Hendrix
“Theory, wait!” I chase her into the hall. “Please just listen.”
“How c-could you?!” She whirls around, cheeks soaked from crying. “After all the times I c-confided in you about my past?”
“I said that before I even knew you…and regretted it immediately. Saint hurt my friend one night so I hurt him back.” Pausing for a breath, I add, “I wanted to tell you so many times but after hearing your stories...I couldn’t.”
With a sad chuckle, she wipes her cheeks with the back of her hand. “You wanna know the m-most fucked up part?”
I wince.
“I would have forgiven you on the spot if you did.”
She’s actually wrong.
The most fucked up part is deep down I knew this but was too scared to risk it.
“Why?”
“Because I know how ruthless my b-brother can be! How he can drive himself, along with everyone else, m-mad.”
“I’m sorry. But in my head it was better to make up for what I did with my actions.”
“So I’m a pity sister?”
“Of course not!” I squeeze her shoulders. “I wouldn’t feel like such a piece of shit if you were.”
Listening to her and Saint’s conversation broke my heart, since the true meaning behind Theory’s pain was so obvious.
She’s been smothered by her brother for years, unable to find her own identity, and instead of Saint granting her the chance to do so, he doubles down.
And when I heard my name come up, I almost choked on fear of losing a girl I’m finally starting to consider a sister.
“Youarea piece of s-shit.” Theory shoves me—harder than I expect. “Not only for the things you s-said, but for the lack of respect you have for me to admit it.”
I deserved that one, so I’ll let it slide.
“I do respect you.”
“Fuck you, H-hendrix. You’re just like the rest of these fake bitches.”
“No, I’m not. I made a mistake and have been trying to make up for it ever since.”
“Well, you failed. Miserably.”
“You don’t mean that.”
A fire burns in her eyes, one I know all too well.
“Oh, b-but I do.”
