Page 13 of Tainted Rose

Scarlett

All eyes have been on me since the second I stepped out of my truck in the parking lot. I’m sure they’re waiting for me to start crying or something. Well, the joke’s on them. I’m stronger than that. I’m getting through this, come hell or high water. And Xander? He can go fuck himself. Or Aria. At this point, I don’t really care.

It’s too bad I’m going to have to endure multiple classes with him every day. I grab my English book and notebook and slam my locker shut only to find Justin leaning against his locker next to me. His cool appraisal feels like a lizard licking over my skin. I once thought he was a cute, kind boy; now he just gives me the creeps.

“So, he screwed you over, huh? How long did it take him to hop out from between your legs and into Aria’s bed? That was some photo.”

I look at him, the boy I now know to be Xander’s stepbrother. “None of your business.” I don’t want any part of their fucked up family. Taking a step to the side, I go to push past him, and he catches my shoulder, stopping me.

“Let me know if you ever want to get back at him. I’d be down to take you for a ride to see why he tossed you aside so quickly. Maybe I can give you some pointers.” He smirks at my reddening face.

The humiliation is almost blinding. My hand cocks back, and I slap him hard across his face before I can think twice or stop myself. “Fuck you, Justin.”

He lifts a hand to his red cheek and chuckles. “Maybe you’re too embarrassed to admit that you wish you could. See you around, Scarlett.”

I scamper away from him as quickly as my legs can carry me.

Farther down the hallway, Max catches up with me right as I get to class. I stop abruptly, desperate to stall going inside. My heart rate is erratic from the encounter with Justin, my face still flushed.

“Have you already run into Xander or something? You’re shaking.”

I lick my lips. “No. Just Justin. I’m beginning to think those assholes definitely deserve to belong to the same family.”

Max stiffens. “What hap—?”

I shake my head and hold a hand up. “I can’t right now. I only have enough mental energy to get through this class. Tell me I can do this, Max.”

“I’m confident you can, Cupcake.” He points at my tush. “Hey, your butt’s vibrating again.”

I huff out a laugh. Max always knows when to crack a little joke to make me feel better. I retrieve the phone from my back pocket and see it’s Daphne. I quickly swipe to answer.

“Hey.”

“Hey, sorry,” she huffs. “I can walk and talk easier than text. I want to let you know before class starts that the yearbook with the prom pics from the year your mom graduated is missing.”

“Like, checked out?” My brows draw together.

“Nope, like disappeared. I don’t know what to make of it. I’ll ask the librarian when I’m in there tomorrow if she knows anything about it.”

“Well, crap. Okay, thanks for trying, Daph.”

“Sure. Gotta run.”

“Bye.”

“Did she say what I think she said?” Max shoots me a perplexed look.

“Yeah. Funny that the exact yearbook we want to look at isn’t there.”

“I’m guessing it’s not a coincidence.” He sighs heavily. “Ready to go in?”

Sure.Why not go sit in a class with the boy who broke my heart? “Yep. Let’s go.” Adrenaline spikes through me as I walk in. My eyes are immediately drawn to Xander, Beau, and Micah, then over to Aria on the other side of the room. No one says a word, but Aria waggles her fingers at me and winks. Bitch. Visions of how they’d looked in bed together race through my mind. Her head on his chest, her blonde hair spilling over his shoulder, and her hand snaking its way down his ridged abs, heading straight for his— Ugh. It’s enough to make me vomit in my mouth.

I make my way to my seat, deliberately turning my back on Xander without ever meeting his eyes. My gaze nervously shoots from Beau on one side, then over to Micah on my other side. Each of them gives me a pained smile. At least that’s something. They don’t appear to think I deserve what Xander’s done. I wonder if they know. How much has he told them? Does everyone know how he took advantage of me and then made me leave? Told me I meant nothing to him? Or are they making assumptions that something happened based on Aria’s stupid fucking photo?

I take a deep breath and immediately regret it. I swear I can smell Xander’s cologne from here. I can feel him behind me with my entire being. My heart aches with the knowledge that I’d had sex with someone who would do this to me—that I’d fallen for him. I don’t know what made me think I could get through this class with him, or any class for that matter. I should have stopped in the office and had them rearrange my schedule. It would certainly be easier.

But I’m not a coward. I won’t let him get to me. He can fuck the entire cheerleading squad now if he wants. I couldn’t care less.

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