Page 15 of Tainted Rose

Scarlett

On the way into the cafeteria, Max and Daphne are busy chatting about plans to come watch me in the cross-country meet this weekend, when I stop abruptly in the doorway. My head is foggy with all the thoughts swirling inside, including the fact that this is yet another room that has had all of the air sucked out of it by Xander.

Because I’m blocking the doorway, a few seconds later I get bumped by some big dude making way for his girlfriend. I stumble over to the side, shaking myself free of my inner turmoil.

Max and Daphne finally realize I haven’t followed them and come back to where I’m standing just inside the room, slightly dazed. I worry my bottom lip with my teeth, looking back and forth between them. “I’m sorry, guys, I’m going to grab something from the to-go line.” My eyes dart nervously to the table full of football players and cheerleaders.

Max frowns. “Whatever you need to do, Cupcake. We could come outside with you if you want …?”

“Yeah. We totally could. No big deal, if you want company.” Daphne gives me a bright smile, rubbing my arm.

I shake my head. “No, that’s okay. You do your usual thing. I kind of need to be alone for a bit. Today has been really rough and it’s only half over.” I pause, taking a deep breath, then let the words rush out. “And there’s no way am I staying here to watch that three-ring circus over there.” I nod toward what I’ve come to think of as center stage of the cafeteria, where all the important people sit. I’ve already spied Aria perched on Xander’s lap, literally straddling his leg. She may as well be getting off on his big thigh, the way she’s sitting like that in her skirt.

And damn him, he’d known the second I’d set foot in the room, making eye contact and sliding his hand around to grip her hip.

Green sparks of jealousy shoot out of my eyes. And why? They deserve each other. In what world do the king and queen not belong together? Why had I ever thought I belonged with him? Why had I thought I’d be sitting there with him someday?

I know myself and the answers to these questions are actually simple. It boils down to this: from the first moment I met him, we’d had a connection. If he wants to deny it, he can. So be it. But I know the truth. My heart plummets into my stomach with the knowledge that he threw it all away. For nothing.

After a little more convincing, Daphne and Max part ways with me, and I grab my lunch, dashing through the door to be on my own.

I’ve just finished my sandwich with only the company of my muddled thoughts and am about to pull out a notebook to study for a quiz when the quiet of the garden is interrupted by the voice that has come to grate on my very last nerve.

“Wanna play a little game? Truth or truth?”

I glance up and half-heartedly roll my eyes. “What the hell do you want now, Aria?”

“Just to talk with you for a minute.”

“Oh, really? What the hell more could you possibly have to say? You proved your point, right? He’s yours.”

“I take it you saw the photos.” She chuckles and tosses her hair over her shoulder, giving me a big grin.

“I don’t know what you have against me, Aria, but I don’t want to be part of whatever sick game you’re trying to play.”

“You know, I’ve always heard the phrase ‘like mother like daughter,’ but I’d never really thought it was true. But for you…” She gives a mean laugh. “Definitely fucking true.”

My jaw twitches. This is so not what I expected her to say, but I’ll stand my ground. “You know nothing about my mother.”

“The rumor I heard is that your mom was pregnant with you the last half of her senior year. What was she, some slut?”

“Again, you know nothing about my mom, and I’d appreciate it if you’d back the fuck off.” I stand up, grab my bag, and attempt to skirt around her but she grabs my shoulder.

“I know more than you think.”

“Whatever. I don’t believe a word you say about anything at all.” I get right in her face. “I don’t fucking care what you have to say to me. Leave me alone.”

As I hurry away, she shouts at me, “Speaking of, why don’t you leave? It would be a lot easier. For you. For him. Just go!”

A whisper of fear trickles down my spine, apprehension clogging my throat.

The fun doesn’t stop there. On my way to the bathroom after lunch, I’m cornered by Beau and Micah. I’m not usually bothered by either of them, not by Micah’s unusual quietness or Beau’s comedic presence. But today, when they put on their serious faces, they are fairly scary.

Beau steps toward me, speaking softly, and places one hand on my shoulder, holding me in place so I can’t take off. “We know our boy. You want to tell us what the fuck went down this weekend?”

“Let me go.” I try to wrench free from his grip, but he tightens his hold. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” I struggle against him, but it’s futile.

He cocks his head to the side, curious. “Whoa, pretty girl. All we want to know is what happened. So we can help Xander.”

Micah grimaces. “Talk to us. I don’t believe he meant—or wanted to do—anything he said or did to you.”

My eyes snap up to theirs. I’d thought from the expressions on their faces earlier that they were on my side. My heart sinks. “Let me get this straight. You want to know what happened so you can help him?” I almost choke on my own words. In a low voice, I murmur, “He fucked me, then told me to get the fuck out of his house. Does that sound to you like he didn’t know what he was doing?” My eyes flick between them, noting they wince. “I assure you he meant every damn word he said. And now he’s gone right back to Aria, as if what we had meant nothing to him.” My chest rises and falls rapidly as I eye his friends. “I don’t know what else you want from me.”

Both guys look uncomfortable. Well, fucking good. They deserve that, too. Now that I’ve built up a whole head of steam, I can’t seem to stop myself. “And you two. You watched all of it go down. Helped him figure out how to get me to come around. Told him to apologize. Tried to be cute about it so I wouldn’t see any of this coming. Well guess fucking what? I didn’t see it coming. And it hurt like hell. So, thanks. Thanks for that.”

Micah’s mouth drops open to say something, but I hold my hand up in front of me, shaking my finger at him “No. Don’t try to say you didn’t.” And now I’m gasping for air as I feel the sting of tears coming. “You made me feel welcome.” My eyes flick between their stony faces. “You pretended to like me. You pretended to accept me.” I sputter. “I don’t want anything to do with any of you.” I look down at Beau’s hand where it’s still firmly gripping my shoulder. “Now, if you don’t mind, I really have to use the bathroom.” I shrug my shoulder down and away, finally freeing myself.

I point at both of them as I back away. “Tell Xander to stay the hell away from me. I hope all of this helps you figure out how to deal with his sorry ass.”

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