Chapter Seventeen
Maggie
I hike my bag a little higher on my shoulder as I move through the quad. I’m so fucking relieved to be back on campus, but the only downside is that my favorite coffee shop is over two miles away. This summer, I typically just made coffee at the house, but I’m simply too fucking lazy for that. I’ll happily drive the two miles each way and pay fourteen dollars for my overpriced liquid fix.
I haven’t seen or spoken to Bridgette in almost three weeks. Not since the day she ripped out my fucking heart as she swallowed Asher Putnam’s cock down her throat. I didn’t believe a fucking word that she said. It was all bullshit. There was nothing to explain, nothing to shed light on that would suddenly make it okay. I saw her. She was all too willing, all too enthusiastic. I just feel fucking stupid for thinking that I would have been anything but a summer fling for her.
And that fucking letter? I didn’t read it. I didn’t want to. I knew what it was the minute it slid under my door. Just a plain white envelope with a red kiss mark across the front. I could see the slight show of her ink through the envelope, but I forced myself not to look too hard. I knew what was inside. It was either a bullshit half baked apology designed to invoke sympathy and overlook what a traitorous bitch she was or…it was goodbye. I couldn’t stomach either. So, I tossed it in my drawer and haven’t touched it since.
Okay, that’s a lie.
I brought it to campus. I don’t know why I did. I could have easily left it. I told myself I brought it to make sure whatever the fuck that happened between us this summer stayed quiet. I wouldn’t put it past my mother to snoop through my room the moment I left. I know deep down that was a crock of shit, though. As pathetic as it sounds, I wanted to bring it because it’s all I have left. It’s the only thing I have to remind me that this summer actually happened, that for just a moment, I had her. There is a beautiful irony in it all.
Shaking my head, I practically beg my mind to conjure up something, literally anything, other than Bridgette Brenton. As if the universe was waiting for that very thought, my eyes land on a very lost and very beautiful girl staring at the campus map like it holds ancient hieroglyphics.
Her white pantsuit and camel coat scream old money in a way unlike anyone else on campus. Of course, everyone that attends Gallows Hill is wealthy, but her…she screams Elder money. I’d bet my favorite dildo that’s the long lost Parris Princess.
Everyone else passes her by, casting her judgmental and curious looks as they go about their day. She’s like a museum artifact; look but don’t touch. Word traveled almost immediately about Asher’s new fiancée. Intrigue is piqued across the entire society as to who this girl is, why she’s been gone, and what she will be like. I mean, she’s basically Brethren royalty. That’s an intimidating person to approach. Good thing I’ve never given a rat’s ass about shit like that.
I come up beside her, looking at the map for a moment before I smile at her.
“You’re Skyla Parris, right?”
She frowns at me, her bright green eyes landing on me.
“Yes, have we met?” she asks, just the barest hint of an English accent on her tongue.
“No.” I laugh. “I’m Maggie Bartlett,” I say as I stick out my hand.
She takes it, nodding, though she doesn’t quite smile.
“Sorry, how did you know my name? It’s a big campus, and it’s a little odd.” She laughs awkwardly, like she’s not sure if she should even be talking to me.
I shake my head as I look around this place. The late seventeenth to early eighteenth century gothic architecture practically looms over us all like the gallows themselves. All tall and foreboding. Some may see beauty in it, but those that have lived here long enough, know that these walls more closely resemble a prison, than a palace.
“It may look like a big campus, but the student population is small, and we all grew up together. You’re the first new face that’s come around in a long time.”
“Really?” she asks, a hint of jealousy to her tone.
I nod, gesturing towards the map.
“I’m assuming you’re lost? C’mon. I’ll show you around,” I smile softly.
What looks like relief rushes through her as she throws an irritated look at the map, like it personally offended her. I can’t help but chuckle as she hands me her phone. I glance over her class schedule, nodding as I smile.
“Perfect. We have history up first together. Let’s go,” I say as I lead her towards Lewis Hall.
Skyla seems to struggle to keep up for a moment before she meets my stride. We make it to the door together and I open it first, making a sweeping gesture with my arm that makes her laugh as she steps in first.
“Thank you.” She smiles as we enter the lecture hall.
She takes a few hesitant steps before pausing, her eyes roaming around the grand room. I get it. The high arched ceilings, black stained glass, and gothic accents make it quite the sight. Definitely an adjustment from any other school. Looping my arm through Skyla’s, I guide her up the stairs as we head for the back rows.
She gives me a cautious look, like she isn’t quite sure about me, but that’s okay. I’ve already made my mind up about her. We’re going to be best friends. Maybe more if I try hard enough. She seems like she’s hiding a lot under that prim exterior. Could be a good time, for sure. Best way to get over someone is to get under someone else, right? Skyla Parris is definitely a woman I wouldn’t mind getting under, or on top of. Hell, I’ll settle for sprawling her out across this table in the middle of class and feasting on her sweet pussy.
Okay, Maggie. Chill. Reel it in.
When we sit down, I take a seat and drop my bag to the ground. Skyla sets her bag down gently, lifting her shoulders to the sky. She looks like she has a board permanently glued to her back as she folds her hands in her lap.
I can’t help but lift a brow in question as I gesture to her.
“Why are you sitting like that?”
“Sitting like what?” she asks.
I mimic her posture as I shove my nose into the air.
“All prim and proper, there’s no one of importance around here. You’re fine, relax.”
She looks like she’s ready to argue before her posture slightly relaxes. It seems to be physically painful for her to do so.
I do my best to fight the smile that is begging to spread across my face as I shake my head.
“We’ll have to work on that.”
Skyla smiles and shrugs.
“So, do you have any siblings?”
That smile I was fighting disappears in a flash, but I do my best not to let it show. I give her a strained smile as I feel my face tighten.
“Not blood.”
The reminder of Bridgette is like a knife to my chest. I don’t want to think about her, let alone talk to her. Clearly this woman I’ve never met doesn’t know that, though, and based on the puzzled look on her face, she seems to be waiting for me to elaborate.
“Stepsister. Total cunt,” I say, choosing to leave Brad out of it. Despite his sister being the worst, I like the guy.
Skyla grimaces. “My condolences.”
Yeah, fucking mine too.
“Well, hello,” a familiar voice purrs.
I turn to see none other than Liam fucking Walcott leaning over Skyla. He rakes his gaze over her like the predator he is and she’s the helpless baby deer up for the kill.
“Hello.” She smiles politely.
Oh, baby. She doesn’t realize by acknowledging his pathetic existence, she’s only egged him on.
“What’s your name, babygirl?” he asks.
“Skyla Parris, and you?” she says as she reaches out to shake his hand.
I know that look. That’s the ‘oh shit, I’m flirting with my best friend’s fiancée but I don’t want to stop, look.’ He shakes her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles like the cheesy fucker he is.
“Liam Walcott.”
I make a gagging noise as Liam shoots an irritated glare my way.
“Could you be more desperate, Walcott?” I ask.
He smirks at me because I don’t think he’s ever taken anything seriously.
“Aw, you scared I’m gonna swipe your girl out from under you, Bartlett?”
I give him a challenging look as I drape my arm over Skyla’s shoulder, bringing her into my side.
“Not in the slightest.”
The perv bites his lower lip as he groans.
“Fuck, please tell me I can watch?”
I can’t help but laugh at him as I shake my head.
“Not on your fucking life.”
He pouts dramatically as he mopes off to an empty seat, practically throwing himself into it. He’s acting like I’m the one that scared him away, but we both know the moment her name left her lips, he couldn’t get away fast enough. Walcott can fuck pretty much anyone he wants on campus…except her. Same goes for, well, everyone.
Skyla turns to me with a confused look. Poor sweet girl. She doesn’t have a fucking clue about the world she’s been dropped into.
“That’s Liam Walcott, Gallows Hill’s resident flirt. I’ve heard he’s slept with almost every single willing girl on the entire campus. All have nothing but glowing reviews, I guess,” I draw with a laugh.
“You guess? So you aren’t one to fall under his spell?” she asks.
I can’t hold in the snort that escapes me as I tighten my hold on her a bit to prove my point.
“Definitely not. He doesn’t have the right plumbing for me.”
Her brows furrow as she stares at me to explain. Fuck, her innocence would be so fucking decadent. I just know it.
“I prefer women,” I say flatly, with a small smile.
She looks surprised for a moment before she shrugs.
“Well, how could you not? We’re beautiful and we don’t smell half as bad as men.”
I toss my head back and laugh as I nod.
“Exactly,” I say. “But unfortunately for me, you seem to be far more interested in men than women,” I say, as her eyes are currently glued on Liam.
“What?” she asks abruptly.
“Nothing, you just proved my point.” I laugh, honestly more than a little disappointed. “But if you ever get sick of these men, let me know. I eat pussy way better than all of them put together,” I say with a wink.
Surprisingly, she laughs as I remove my arm from around her. Alright, definitely not anything more, but one hundred percent new best friend. I’ll take it.
After class, Skyla and I slip out of the room, Liam just ahead of us when he meets up with Asher and…fuck.
Tucked under Asher’s arms on either side is Mercy Lewis and…Bridgette. Her hair practically shines in the August sun. Her jeans hugging her legs and her top dipping low enough to…fuck. Stop. Not going down that road.
Two girls slide under Liam’s arms and smile at him like he makes the world go round, when Asher sets his eyes on his fiancée. He scowls at her, but it’s not the nastiest look she receives.
Bridgette’s eyes bounce between me and her, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I scoot just a little closer to Skyla, looking her over like she’s my next meal. A furious look passes over Bridgette’s face before she snuggles into Asher further.
Ouch. Can’t lie. That shit hurts.
In the next moment, the entire fuckwad gang heads in the other direction, and I look over Skyla’s shoulder at her phone.
“What do you have next?”
“Looks like I don’t have anything until eleven,” she says.
“Ugh, lucky bitch. Give me your phone,” I say as I swipe it from her, putting in my number before handing it back to her. “Text me at lunch and we can go grab something!”
With that, I take off, heading towards my next class. As soon as my back is to Skyla, my smile drops and my stomach turns. I knew running into Bridgette was going to suck, but I didn’t know it was going to hurt that bad. Fuck.