Page 18 of Queen Rose

Lyla turns me toward her, one hand on each of my shoulders, and forces me to look at her. She whispers, “Are you okay?”

I blow out a hard breath, and my words come out low and lethal as I finally get my head on straight. “I’m fine. It’s just a car.” I grit my teeth together. Damn this bitch. Farrah cackles, and my head whips toward her. “I thought the text said I was meeting someone from River Rock. Was that just a ploy to get me out here?”

Farrah shrugs. “Kinda. But I did talk to someone from River Rock who wanted me to relay a message to you. Should I share with everyone?” She looks around the group with a self-satisfied smile.

I draw myself up, pursing my lips as if I find her amusing—I don’t, but I don’t need these piranhas to know that. A few cautiously nod, but just as many have started to back away, sensing that I’m displeased. There aren’t many who want to be banished.

With a roll of my eyes, I cross my arms over my chest. “Go ahead. I couldn’t care less. You’ve already sunk your ship.”

Farrah’s expression turns smug as she taps the screen of her phone and holds it up so everyone can hear.

An unfamiliar voice comes from the speaker, “Hey, my name is Mariah.” She pauses. “Nate King and I have been dating forever. Whoever that skank was that was all over my boyfriend at the River Rock party this past weekend—” Another pause. “She makes really weird sex noises. All of us heard her out in the woods with him. She sounded like a cat in heat. So gross.”

A furious blush hits my cheeks. Farrah gives me another smirk. She seems pleased with herself. “That’s Mariah. In case you wanted to ask your trashy guy about his girlfriend. How’s it feel to know you’re the other woman?”

“What the fuck ever, Farrah. You and I both know that before you knew who Nate was or where he was from, you were drooling all over yourself for him. You wanted him so bad anyone within a ten-foot radius could fucking smell it. You’re just pissed because he didn’t want anything to do with you.” My gaze flicks around the group of students remaining. “Let’s get this straight right now—I don’t fucking care what any of you think. And if you want to believe Farrah, or some random girl you’ve never met, go right ahead. Don’t show up anywhere I am, though, or I’ll make you walk your sorry ass right back out. Have fun celebrating the end of your high school career on your own. Farrah’s trying to find a few idiots to join her. Don’t fall for it.”

Farrah’s eyes narrow, but before she can say anything, I pick up one of the bags of trash, sling it over my shoulder and walk back toward the school. Immediately, Lyla, Scarlett, and Daphne appear in my peripheral vision, each with a bag. “If any of you know what’s good for you, you’ll grab a trash bag and help.”

There’s a mad scramble behind me. I wink at my friends, then glance over my shoulder to see a bunch of other kids grabbing the rest. Farrah stands watching everyone with her mouth wide open.

I raise my arm in the air, extend my middle finger, and shout, “Fuck off, Farrah!”

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