Page 18 of Make Me Yours

Kai had given me, at least for the last few months, a constant place to belong. As his friend or otherwise, it felt right. Like for once I was enough. I know I have the girls, but their lives have been shit show after another since getting to Servite. Scarlett and Jade, though they’re the true definition of ride or die, are also just too busy to see me. Not in the literal sense, considering we see each other constantly to hang out, but on a deeper level.

Kai, however, called me out on my pain within days of hanging out. He assured me whatever line I was about to feed him was bullshit, and to just admit instead, I wasn't ready to talk about it. I nodded and laid my head on his shoulder, unable to keep my tears from falling as he silently slid his hand around my shoulder and let me weep while we continued watching a movie. Never judging, never pushing, simply seeing me, and caring for me.

But after last night, I know things won’t be the same.

The girls constantly warned me that for reasons they couldn’t explain, he was fucked beyond words. He has a dark past, secrets that made him board up his walls and render them impenetrable. Only unlike him, I don’t have a key.

He shares what he wants, and it’s not nearly enough.

“What the fuck’s wrong with you?” Ruby asks, turning her chair toward me.

I’m startled from my thoughts blinking nervously at her, unsure of what she’s asked. “Um, I’m sorry, what?” I mumble quietly, noticing some heads around us have turned to gawk.

“I asked what the fuck is wrong with you? Clearly something major because no offense, Stella, you look like shit.” Of course, sitting beside Ruby Drake, anyone looks completely average compared to the long legged, dark-haired, green eyed, exotic beauty, but she’s right. I look just as bad as I feel on the inside.

Instinctively, I shift my hand up to cover the fading bruise on my upper cheek. Failing to have applied the proper amount of makeup this morning, I’m afraid it shows.

“Nothing, just another sleepless night is all.” I shuffle through my bag for my laptop. Luckily, it didn’t break after falling off my bed last night. I would have loved explaining that to my uncle when I asked for a replacement.

“I know exactly what you need,” she mutters excitedly.

Beside me, Rebekah Rose, a new student, and one of the few other girls besides Ruby, Jade, and Scar that dares talk to me, takes her seat. “Sleep,” she says, and I’m confused by what she means.

“What?”

“Sleep. You need sleep.” She flips her dark, curly hair over her shoulder and winks at me. Big brown eyes look me up and down, taking in my disheveled appearance. My uniform is wrinkled, the collar of my blazer flipped upward, and the pleats of my skirt inverted. “You look like shit, Stella, no offense, and I overheard Ruby say she knew exactly what you needed. It’s sleep, that’s what you need.”

“Fuck sleep,” Ruby shouts, a little too loudly, making those who weren’t already looking turn. “What our girl needs is a night out.”

Eyes all around us scowl, annoyed, making me want to curl into a fetal position under my desk. “It’s Thursday, Ruby, no one goes out on Thursdays.”

“Yes, people who actually like to have fun do, and you my friend, need some fun in your life.”

“I have plenty of fun,” I whine. Frankly, I’ve gotten more drunk in the past few months than I ever thought possible. So much for keeping a low profile. “There’s literally a party here every weekend.”

“Bullshit. Now that Scar’s head over heels for Ace and Jade’s in the middle of that love-hate war with your cousin she doesn’t think the entire world knows about, you are back to sulking away, locked up in your bedroom. I’m not home most nights, but I know when I am, you’re locked up in there crying or watching Netflix. I heard you last night.”

I freeze, scared she means she heard Kai sneak into my bedroom. We’re usually careful when he comes over and spends the night. I mean, it’s not like anything happens, but usually Ruby’s crashing at the guy’s dorm, Scar is practically living with Ace, and Jade’s sneaking away with Sebastian. However, I have noticed Ruby’s been spending more time back at the dorm since she’s constantly fighting with Jaxon.

“Whatever,” I concede, hoping to change the subject. “I’ll let you take me out for a night offun.”

“I’m scared to ask what it is you consider fun, Ruby?” Bex asks, although she seems intrigued.

Ruby giggles excitedly, “Oh, you are not ready, Bex. So are you girls in?”

“Oh yeah, I’m in.”

“Fine.” Bex and I say simultaneously.

???

“This is the place you think I’m going to have a good time at?” I gasp in horror at the scene before me. Not that I have anything against neighborhoods unlike the one I grew up in, nor I am ashamed to be here knowing my best friends grew up around the corner from this place, but I was not ready for this. I may have been raised in a glass palace, fed by a silver spoon, and bathed in all luxuries you can imagine. Regardless, this place would be way beyond anyone's comfort zone.

Brick walls covered in graffiti, clouds of smoke surrounding the hordes of addicts, drug dealers, and scary looking dudes on motorcycles loitering nearby. The stench of alcohol, weed, and vomit surrounds me as I inhale a deep breath, ready to hold it until we get inside. Trash, beer cans, and broken glass bottles line the sidewalk. A true sight to see.

“Oh lighten up Princess, it isn’t as bad as it looks.” Ruby scoffs, strutting over to the front of the line outside the club, while Bex and I quickly follow behind her. I shouldn’t have let her convince me to wear one of her outfits tonight. These five-inch heels are impossible to walk in.

“Besides, I know the owner, and I’m sure once he gets word that we’re here, he’ll make sure his guards keep an eye on us. No fucker will dare come onto us, unless, of course, we want him to,” Ruby adds with a wink. The people waiting behind the long red rope glare angrily at us for disregarding the fact they’ve probably been out here waiting for quite some time.

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