Page 88 of Hate Me Like You Do

All too quickly, he catches himself, the expression he wore now reducing to a muted form of apathy. He leans closer to me.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better.” He looks away from me, unwilling to be vulnerable any longer. Shutting down like he always does.

And then he walks away.

Like he always does.

Chapter Thrity

Dee

It’s another day at Mournmount Academy. Another waste of my time, energy, and Ronan’s money. But I won’t tell him that. Not when today is easier, happier, less...nothing.

The halls are the same. Lockers are still the clean cream color built into the stark white walls. Spotless. I remember when I first walked these halls and how rich everything felt.

Privileged parents send their children here for the name alone. They pay for this name that they toss around like it’s something. Still I know what it’s really like inside these god forsaken walls. I’ve witnessed the demons that lurk here.

Mournmount Academy, pretty on the outside, pretentious assholes on the inside.

Faceless students trickle in. Some give me a wide berth as they continue about their day while others get nice and close to knock into my shoulder. I make a point to step on a few of the toes that try to get their tripping quotas in. Did I say step? I meant stomp. I stomp on some of these asshats that think they can knock me down.

The counselor, Miss Perry, waves at me as she passes. I hear her halt to a stop behind me but I keep moving with the small crowd of students.

“Violet?” she calls.

If I was anybody else's daughter. If the image of Knox folding at the gut wrenching punch didn’t continue to play every time I close my eyes… I would ignore her.

But my wrong doings are his pain. And unfortunately I am the fucking daughter of Ronan Reyes.

Averting my gaze, I watch my feet while I stand still. She catches up to me quickly. The strong scent of her cherry vanilla perfume follows her in a large cloud that settles in my nose. I fight not to sneeze.

“What happened to your face?”

A shithole of a dad. That’s what happened,

“Oh, Knox and I got in a little bit of a car accident,” I say like a rehearsed line, but when she doesn’t look convinced, I continue, “You should see him. I was much luckier than him.”

“You know...” One long pointer finger taps against her chin. “Actually now that you say that I think I did hear something about an accident.”

Of course you did.

“Out on Miller Road.” She nods.

“Yeah, that’s the one.”

That road. This road. Any other road. Honestly, she could make up the street name and I would agree. Yes, yes, Fuck Me In the Ass Street? That’s it. That’s the one.

I spy a familiar face through the throng of people. Speak of the devil. Desperate to escape this awkward conversation I give the counselor another small wave and push forward.

Knox lingers in front of a small bulletin board. His eyes examining it as if something important was posted. Unlikely. Seeing him is like some weird glimmer of hope. One piece of the puzzle. Albeit, a usually smug, bad boy, piece of the puzzle.

The shine of hope that brightens my smile dims. Small feminine hands scamper over his pecs up over his shoulders and down his arms. God she’s like a contagious rash that spreads across the skin the more attention you give it. Kylie leans into him trying to capture his gaze from the board in front of him.

She makes me sick to my stomach just to see her touch him. Has he slept with her since he slept with me?

A pain slices through my stomach but my chin lifts my shoulders squaring as I make up my mind. That uncertainty, that ends today.

Other students stand near them, their gossiping conversations stalling only for their prying eyes to watch me walk closer.

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