Chapter 9 #2
Goodbye composure. Bringing up Mom and Matthew?
Nuh-uh! He could insult me all he wanted but to go after them when they weren’t even alive to defend themselves?
To throw insults their way for wanting nothing to do with him because he was a leech?
When he got to live while they were buried? No fucking way.
I threw my covers back and jumped to my feet, wearing my pink piggy pajama bottoms and a light grey tank, and I glared at him.
“Do you think I want to be here? Do you think I asked for any of this?” I shouted.
“I lost everything! Everything! It sucks that I disrupted your pathetic little life, but you’re supposed to be my father!
For once, why don’t you fucking act like it? ”
With a snap, his hand came flying out and struck me across the face.
My head whipped to the side, my hair hiding me from him like a purple curtain.
I froze. Mom and Matthew never struck me.
Not that I ever gave them a reason to, but still…
I’d never been hit so many times as I have this first week back in Harley.
“You little fuck!” Keith hissed at me. “You talk to me like that again, and I’ll really give you something to bitch about!” He stormed across the room and slammed the door shut behind himself as he disappeared downstairs. Hopefully, to sleep off his anger.
Stunned, I stood there, lightly touching my cheek. I could feel the tears brimming my eyes, but no, I wouldn’t cry… because if I started, I wouldn’t be able to stop.
On Monday, the mark on my cheek from Keith was bruised, but I did my best to cover it up with makeup.
It was still noticeable, but you had to look really hard.
I avoided Keith all weekend, though Sunday was difficult as it was his day off, so I hid out in my room and worked on my schoolwork, hoping to keep my grades at the top level.
Nylah would be so proud of me. We’d texted back and forth a bit over the weekend, but I knew she was busy with basketball and all her extracurriculars, so I tried not to distract her and kept my messages to a minimum.
I slipped on a fitted zip-up grey hoodie with patches of red roses sewn onto the back and slipped into my white sneakers. Pulling up my hood to hide my face, I headed off to school, hoping this week would be better than the last.
My first class was Math 30, so I hurried to my seat, pulled out my books, and kept my head down and my hood up.
Most of the students ignored me, thankfully.
There might have been a whisper or two, but then everyone went back to talking about their weekends with each other.
I sat back in my chair just as Lee walked into the room, and his gaze met mine.
I saw how his eyes flickered to my cheek, and for a moment, he looked pissed as hell, and it scared the crap out of me.
Quickly, I lowered my head and bent over my books, pretending to re-read the chapter of our homework assignment.
“What happened?”
I stiffened as my hood was plucked away, exposing me completely. Behind me, Lee had taken his seat but was leaning in so close, I could feel his breath on my ear.
“What do you mean?”
“What happened to your face?” His voice was deadly.
I shrugged. “This is from that bitch Celeste and her skank squad…” I kept my eyes down on my books, refusing to turn around to face him.
“Don’t lie to me.” His voice deepened, and I felt the hairs on my arms rising, even beneath my sweater.
“I-”
“I can tell how old a bruise is, even hidden under makeup. That one is new. So who did it?”
“Maybe I’m just super clumsy, and I walked into a door?” I said, nonchalantly. “Or I tripped while playing basketball… hell, I’m so damn clumsy, it’s amazing I’m not covered in marks.”
“Stop lying, Casey.”
Crap… even after all these years, he could see through me. Why did that make my stomach jump, my heart pumping just a little faster, at the thought of Lee being so intuitive to me?
“I had a run-in with a relative.”
“Your old man?”
“Yes. But if you think this is bad, you should see him .” I looked up just as Mr. Fortin walked in, looking irritated as he always did.
“You’re a terrible liar, babe.”
At the nickname, I felt my cheeks flush, and I lowered my head again, choosing to remain silent.
But he left me alone, at least. When the bell rang, I was on my feet and rushing out of class.
I didn’t need to be vulnerable to any of these guys right now, and Lee’s sweet protectiveness, his hidden affections, that stupid nickname, they were all getting to me.
The day was pretty quiet, but when I stepped into the cafeteria at lunch, that’s when shit hit the fan.
I grabbed a tray with my usual favourites, but when I turned to head to my table, a hand came crashing down onto my tray, knocking all of my food to the floor.
The lunchroom went eerily quiet, and I watched as a stiletto crushed my sandwich.
“Well, that was a waste,” I said, amusement lacing my words.
I couldn't let the other students see me as weak, so I used humor as a defense.
When the heel stepped onto my chocolate milk box, and it burst, and the owner of the shoe yelped, I couldn't help but laugh. I stared into Celeste Wood’s eyes.
“What did you think was going to happen?” I asked her.
“Listen, you little whore,” she hissed at me and kicked my milk carton away, rather than risk slipping by stepping on it. “I don’t know what you’ve done to get all the guys in this school drooling over you, but I’m the Jackals number one girl. Got it?”
I burst out laughing again at her words, wondering if she was going to break out into song next.
I felt like I was in a cheesy episode of Degrassi.
When I faced her again, smiling wide, I saw the confusion on her face.
“Seriously? That’s what this is all about?
” I shook my head at her. “Come on, Celeste… don’t be so petty and insecure.
As if I give two shits about any of the guys in this school.
” The lie had fallen from my lips so easily.
I could sense Vail, Shaw, and Lee watching this altercation with interest. They were sitting with Vendetta today, their presence standing out the moment I walked in here.
“And the Jackals? You can keep them, bitch.” I walked around her, deciding just to leave the cafeteria altogether, but her long, manicured hand snatched at my arm, keeping me in place.
“You fucking stuck-up cunt!” she snarled at me between her teeth.
“I’m the fucking queen of this school-” she prattled on, but my eyes moved to my pearl earrings that she’d been proudly wearing since she stole them from me.
I tuned her out, barely taking in the threats and insults she hurled my way.
When her hand raised in an obvious intent to hit me, I reached out, seized the earrings from her lobes, and ripped.
Celeste let out a high-pitched shriek and released me, her hands springing up to her ears in horror. I saw the blood trailing down the side of her neck, and I knew I had done some damage.
“These are mine,” I sneered at her, raising my voice.
“Touch anything of mine again, and I’ll really fuck you up.
You’ll walk away with scars, bitch.” Right now, I couldn't stand this chick and her constant attacks. It was the last thing I needed in my life. If she had just left me alone, then her ears wouldn’t be fucked.
She earned her injury. I turned and stalked out of the lunchroom, leaving her wailing loudly with her friends gathered around, consoling her.
None made a move to follow me, and it all became crystal clear.
The sheep would only follow the shepherd's command, and right now? Their leader was down.
I knew everyone was watching, but honestly, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass.
I shoved open the lunchroom doors, raising my hand behind me, and I flashed everyone the Italian bird without looking back.
Since arriving at this school, I’d been bullied, insulted, and almost gang-raped.
I had been told that I needed to fall in line with whichever gang officially claimed me, and I didn’t have a choice in the matter.
No fucking way was I going to align with Hunter and the Jackals.
I’d initially decided to then support Vendetta, but Vail had pushed me away… again! Well, I’m done. Fuck everyone.
“Seriously, Celeste is such a fucking idiot!” Meredith was practically cackling when I met her in Home Ec.
after lunch. I grinned as I cracked some eggs into the mixing bowl and started whisking them.
“I mean, when the chocolate milk burst all over her shiny shoes? Oh man, I was hoping she’d slip and fall in it!
” She wiped her eyes, beaming at me as she watched me start our brownie mixture. “Did you really tear her ears?”
I shrugged, “No idea. There was some blood, so I guess so.”
Meredith was positively gleaming. “Bitch deserved it. ” She hip bumped me, and I grinned at her.
“I don’t think I’ll ever want to wear these earrings again, but it’s more of the principle. She's been after me since I arrived, and there’s nothing to back her bullshit. I’m done with it.”
“Damn straight, Kitten!” She laughed again. “Show us your claws! I swear to God, you gave every guy in that room a boner!”
I burst out laughing just as Mrs. Adamson glared our way, having heard Meredith’s choice of words.
“Sorry, ma’am.” Meredith waved at the older lady and shook her head as she got the dry ingredients mixed together. “Anyways, you should have seen Hunter afterwards…”
I cringed a little at the mention of Hunter. Last week was still very fresh in my mind, and I felt a chill rush through me at his name. “What about him?” I mumbled.