Page 94 of The Wallflower

Despite trying my hardest not to glance back at that door, I do. I can't shake the bad feeling that’s intensifying in my gut with each passing second. I catch a glimpse of Drew's dad holding him by the back of the neck, pulling him into his side. Pain pinches Drew’s features.

What the hell is going on?

My eyes dart to his father, and I stop cold between a few guests. That look I recognize easily enough. I've seen it on Drew's face plenty of times. It's rage. He's pissed at Drew. Shit. What is he going to do? I shouldn’t give a shit. Whatever happens to him is on him, but that’s not who I am.

I skirt the crowd and head that way slowly, not drawing attention to myself. Every muscle in my body is wrung tight and tense, and prepared for a fight.

Sebastian and Lee stand by the bar, not paying attention to me, or to Drew and his father. When they disappear into the door, I turn and face the other end of the room.Shit.The only way to get into that hall without being seen is to go the other way, the long way, and even then, the sterile lighting might give me away.

But which of these assholes pays attention to servants anyway?

I duck into the door and press against the wall at the farthest end. Voices carry down the long hallway, filtering into my ears. Peeking around the corner, I catch a glimpse of Drew's father as he grabs him by the throat and screams into his face, spindles of saliva flying.

"What the fuck did you think you were doing out there, mooning over that fucking server. She is trash, garbage, the dirt beneath your feet. Is that what you want for yourself? Our family legacy and namesake is on the line, and all you can think about is some white trash pussy? Does anything mean a goddamn thing to you?!!!"

I place a hand over my mouth to stop myself from reacting. His father’s words sting as if he slapped me with them. When I chose to attend Oakmount, I knew I was attending a university for the rich and elite, but I also knew that no matter what or where I went, I would never fit in. I guess I never anticipated my financial status to become that big of a factor in my life.

Drew makes a small noise and mumbles something that I can’t make out. My emotions are wavering and conflict brews deep in my gut.What the hell do I do?I force air into my lungs and try to remind myself that this isn’t my problem. Like Drewtold me many times, I should keep my nose out of other people’s business.

I shake my head, my heart clenching tightly in my chest. This isn't my business. It's not my job to protect him from his family or anything really, since it's clearer than ever that I was never anything to him.

"I can’t believe you! You almost ruined everything, every single fucking thing I’ve worked for, and guess what? I think it’s time you start paying for it. I warned you. I told you what would happen if you disobeyed me, but you think you’re smarter than me, don’t you?”

The venom in his father’s tone makes me shiver, but I remind myself that Drew is a goddamn quarterback, that he’s the bully who steamrolls everyone in his way. He can take care of his father if he needs to, right?

Besides, what would me getting in the middle of it all do anyway?Nothing.That’s what, and still my heart refuses to let me walk away, even with the knowledge that he’s getting married to someone else and that he probably has been sleeping with us both this entire time. Who cares if his friends and him claim it’s an act? None of this has been an act to me.

I continue peeking around the corner. My phone vibrates with a text, and an idea hits me. What if I record this? A rich asshole who puts on a fake smile to the rest of the world. What would happen if everyone found out it was a lie? I tug the phone out of the apron and peek around the corner, with nothing more than the camera part angled down the hall. I hit record, and watch the phone screen intently. Yeah, I want to beat Drew till he’s black and blue, but his father… his father shouldn’t want to hurt him.

A pain-filled grunt fills the space, and I glance up from my phone screen to see Drew slide down the hard concrete wall before slumping to the floor. I have to help him. I take a stepforward, nearly giving myself away, but then I freeze. How am I going to help? I’m no one.This isn’t like when I stuck up for that guy in the library against Drew. This is different. I can feel it in the pit of my stomach. I can't help him in the same way I helped that kid, so even if I want to run to him, I can’t. I need to stay here, hidden.

His father moves closer, pulls his leg back, and lands a harsh kick to his stomach. A scream threatens to escape my throat, but I press my palm to my lips to hold it in. Tears build behind my eyes.How. What...

All the old aches, the new ones too, seem meaningless against this assault. No one should have to endure abuse like this from their own parents. Not even an asshole who makes me regret the majority of my choices over the past couple of months.

I have to do something. I step back and turn to peer back through the door that leads into the party space. Lee is on the other side, casually standing, acting as if he knows nothing about what is happening on the other side of that door.

How can they call themselves friends?No, there isn’t anything I can do to help, but they could. They’re rich and powerful. Money can buy you anything you want, right? Rage drives me forward, and I march right up to them. I push any and all fear aside and press a finger into Lee’s expensive suit jacket.

“How can you consider yourself to be a friend when you know he’s getting his ass beat right on the other side of that door, and you aren’t doing a damn thing about it?”

The look he gives me at that moment should have me tucking my tail between my legs and running for the hills, but if I’ve learned anything, being quiet doesn’t always get you what you want. Sometimes you have to get loud, you have to make noise.

“Don’t look at me like that. I asked you a damn question.” I give him a shove, and his expression changes in an instant.

He drops the pretty boy charm, and the lethal shark, ready to attack at any given moment, steps into place. Those pearly white teeth of his gleam in the light when he snaps at me.

“Word of advice, Drew might play nice with you, but I won’t. Don’t talk about shit that you know nothing about. He doesn't want us involved, so we help how we can and pick up the pieces afterward. That's all we can do.”

Furiously, I shake my head. "That's fucking bullshit, and you know it."

Maybe I’d be scared of him under different circumstances, but not today.

“If he wanted us to help, he’d tell us. Now run along because as smart as you appear to be on paper, you sure as hell don’t know when to leave well enough alone.”

Flickering flames of rage burn deep inside my chest. I clench my fist tightly, wanting to lash out and inflict pain on this idiot.He’s not a friend. He’s nothing.Even as the urge to wipe the pointed look of annoyance off his face rips through me, I know he’s not worth it. Not even a little.

"Smarts have nothing to do with being a friend. I hope the guilt of doing nothing eats you alive. Maybe you can stand to sleep with that, but I can’t. If you won’t do something, then I fucking will. Where is Sebastian? Maybe he’ll listen to reason.”

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