Page 74 of The List of Things

“Because he and I weren’t finished… You interjected yourself where you didn’t belong, and I think that’s incredibly below you. Or maybe it isn’t considering your track record with men. You fuck them, and they use you up, then you move on. Isn’t that right?”

I just look at her, wondering what that was supposed to hurt... My ego? My feelings? I open my mouth to say something, but my vision is cut off as someone steps in front of me.

I look up and see Bellamy. I step to the side, peering around him, smirking at the sight, knowing just how mad it’s going to make her. There’s no reason for me to care this much, but I do. I look at her, seeing her face soften only a little bit as she looks at Bellamy. She still looks incredibly angry. He’s the weakness here, not just for her, but for me too. We both stare at him now.

“What was that you just said?”

She hesitates to answer Bellamy, “We were just talking.”

Bellamy shakes his head to her answer, “What did you just say to her, Leah?”

I don’t think I’ve ever heard Bellamy sound so serious.

“I said it doesn’t seem to be below her to steal someone away from another girl considering her track record,” She speaks confidently, and I know just how stupid that was. “And I’m not wrong either. She’s slept with half of your teammates and then moved on days later. Does that not bother you?” She asks him, airing out my dirty laundry to all the people around her.

It’s not uncommon to know who I’ve slept with. Even so, I still feel the sting of embarrassment as Bellamy hears all of it. He’s known all of this, but it still feels invasive talking about it like this. It hurts knowing most of these people could be judging me. It makes it even worse thinking of Bellamy’s possible judgments too. Or Jade. Or any of Bellamy’s friends.

“Actually, I’ve only slept with three football players,” I tell her, and Bellamy looks back at me. “Soon to be four hopefully.”

She freezes, her eyes in a glare. I didn’t think about it before I said it. I don’t even know it to be fully true after what she’s doing right now. He may want nothing to do with me.

“She doesn’t deserve you Bellamy, and-”

“I think it’s my choice… Do you think you deserve me? Talking about someone I care about the way you are? Do you think it’s going to change my mind about our breakup?” He asks, and I am frozen in place.

This is for the list…Right?

“Isn’t it a little trashy to sleep with that many people? And to be so open about it?” She looks at Bellamy for approval, and that makes my anxiety shoot up at the thought of him giving it to her.

She’s forcing me to be open about it, considering this attack.

“Don’t talk about my girlfriend that way.”

I fight the urge to let my jaw drop. Sienna doesn’t. Her jaw is on the floor, and her eyes go wide. She smirks at me right away.

“It’s trashy to-” Leah can’t start before Bellamy is cutting her off again.

“Isn’t it a little trashy to be acting like this in a room full of people? And to shame someone else for having sex with whoever the fuck they want? I don’t know but it seems to be the only trashy person in this situation is you, Leah. This isn’t you. It’s below you actually. We both know that,” He says, and her face changes. “You don’t have to like me anymore, you don’t have to like her or her friends. You don’t have to like that we’re together, but we are. Either get over it or get out of my apartment.”

I swear all the air in the room is gone because I cannot breathe. Fuck, why am I turned on by this? It was on the list... I put it on there for a reason. Did he set this up? Is that why he’s defending me right now?

“Don’t come crying to me when she gives you a disease or something.”

My jaw drops, and my heart does the same.

“From what I’ve heard she’s already caught plenty,” Leah looks at me.

Her insults have never hurt me. No one’s have. But my heart is in my throat right now, and I don’t know why that hit the way it did.

“Bitch, I know you did not just say that,” I see Jade step up to the plate.

“He might not be able to hit you but I can, bitch!” Sienna stands behind Jade in my defense, and I feel a bit of warmth at the army that comes to my rescue.

All of them know that I could defend myself on my own, but the feeling inside of my chest seeing them do it anyway is unmatched.

“Maybe you should just go,” Griff breaks between the two girls, and steps in front of Bell too. “Did you drink?”

She shakes her head.

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