Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
STEVIE
“And I need to write an article about ducks.” Em slams her hand on the table.
“Duckssss.” She drags the word out as if we can’t hear her.
“I’m supposed to write about ducks mating on campus to get a spot in one of the best college newspapers in the country.
” She dramatically drops her head onto her forearm and lets out a deep breath.
Kamila taps her back. “Okay, no more vodka sodas for you. Four is your limit.”
“Yeah,” Jake agrees. “You’re not the fun drunk tonight.”
Em sits up and narrows her eyes on Jake, shooting him a death glare.
“First of all, I’ve only had three. And secondly, Jacob, I’m only tipsy, and if I don’t get on that newspaper by the end of the semester, all of those articles about the new parking lot and the menu from the dining hall will have been for nothing. Do not test me.”
I nudge Levi. “For such a small person, she has a really high tolerance with alcohol.”
He shrugs. “She’s been that way since I met her, but whenever she doesn’t eat beforehand, it’s bad.”
“Anyway,” Kamila starts, “I’m going to get another drink, so move.”
She motions to Jake and Em, but I give Levi a slight push instead. “I’ll go with you. I wouldn’t mind trying a mocktail.”
Kami smiles and tells Levi to move his ass.
“I’ll come with. I want another beer.” Levi shimmies out of the booth.
Once we’re standing, I gently shove him down into his seat. “It’s on me. I still owe you for the water and all the rides.” And for also making me come.
He must understand what I’m implying since he doesn’t object and gives me a lopsided smile.
Rolling my eyes at the flutter in my stomach, I move toward the bar with Kami. She orders me a mocktail she’s already tried. Kami quickly shows me a picture she took of it for the website and explains the marketing strategy for the place, as she has an internship here.
She turns her back to the bar and leans on it with both elbows, her perfect red lipstick in place. “So, what’s going on between you and Levi?”
My eyes widen for a second before I put my most impassive face on. “What do you mean?”
Kami grins, showing her white teeth, and puts both hands up. “It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. I’m the last person who should be asking after what happened last semester.”
Finally, being comfortable and ready to get the full story, I ask, “How did you and Cameron get together?”
Her eyes shine bright, and it’s as if she’s reliving whatever it is that occurred between them. “We met in high school, where he was dating my sister—”
“Look who it is.”
My heart sinks. The high-pitched voice is all too familiar, matching the straight bleach blonde hair and dark brown eyes when I turn.
She looks at me as if we’re in a ring and I’m her opponent, watching my every move, my every facial expression.
I’m not entirely sure what’s happening because we haven’t spoken in weeks, and she has no right to be angry.
Kami speaks up. “Who’s this?”
My former friend leans over to see Kamila properly, but I speak before she says something obnoxious. “Tiffany, the girl I found fucking my ex-boyfriend.” My voice isn’t one of anger, but indifference, which seems to piss her off even more.
Tiffany’s gaze sharpens, and I continue to hold my own. I have the upper hand, like I did last time, knowing Kami will back me up.
“Get over it, Stevie. Andrew and I are still together, like it was meant to be since we met.” She points to a table over her shoulder, which I can only see a corner of.
Since we met? She had been pining over him since their freshman year?
“He was never satisfied with what you were giving him, and then not giving him. It’s not his fault you got sick and couldn’t satisfy his needs. ”
Something about that last sentence still hits home. Not because I have feelings for Andrew, which I don’t, but because it’s a reminder of how I felt only months ago. Blaming myself for my body’s natural reaction to the treatment I was given.
My friend scoffs and stands next to me. “See, normally I’d be mad at the boyfriend more so than the girl since it’s not her relationship, but you—” She waves her hand toward Tiffany.
“—were her friend too. And now you’re trying to make her feel bad about something she can’t control?
You are the worst type of person there is. ”
Swiveling my head in Kami’s direction, I assess her. Did Levi tell her anything?
“What did you just say to me?” She takes one step closer to Kami, matching her height.
Kami smirks while I stand there, mouth hanging agape, not knowing what to do.
I’ve never hit someone and don’t feel like breaking my streak.
Yet my friend doesn’t seem to have that problem.
She’s a very sweet person, but Levi has told me about her training, and if anything, Tiffany should be the one backing down.
Kamila clears her throat. “You’re a lying, insecure, narcissistic, pathetic excuse of a human being.” Kamila doesn’t call her a “bitch” or bash her on her looks as others would do. She only states facts about who she is as a person.
Tiffany’s eyes flare. “You wanna try me, fatty?”
Although Kamila chuckles, my heart rate picks up at the petty and messed-up expression. “That’s my friend you’re talking to.”
“Aw, poor little Stevie. You wouldn’t harm a fly, and you know it.”
This time, I’m the one to take a step forward. “Go ahead.” So much for not breaking my streak. “Do it.”
Kamila tugs on my arm. “Stevie, no. They’ll suspend you both. She isn’t worth it.”
Taking a deep yet shaky breath, I step back. She’s right. I have a lot going for me right now, it’s not worth wasting it on this girl.
Tiffany shrugs. “Wouldn’t be the first time I got suspended.
” Then everything happens at warp speed.
Tiffany’s palm flies in the air, landing straight on my face, enough to shock me and make me stumble.
What the heck? I grab onto my cheek, looking at her in shock.
She’s more fucked up than I’d originally thought, coming out of nowhere and slapping me for no good reason.
I barely have time to react before she swings a fist at Kami, and a small, yet strong palm stops it. Next, Kamila knocks her forearm down, grabbing and twisting it behind Tiffany’s back. She cries out in pain.
“Don’t be such a baby.” Kami rolls her eyes. “I’m only restraining you, but trust me, if we were anywhere else but here…” Her threat hangs in the air, and when Tiffany attempts to get out of the hold, Kami pulls a little harder and smiles. “How’s that for a fatty?”
“Fuuuuck,” I hear Mateo, the bartender, say from behind the bar before he runs to the back.
Tiffany moves, attempting to hit Kamila, but fails. Yet somehow, she manages to get out of Kamila’s hold, ready to try to punch her again. She’s batshit crazy.
I step forward, ready to pull her hair or something along the lines of that. Kamila’s not going to get hit because of someone who’s holding a grudge against me.
Then, a massive hand comes into view, grasping Tiffany’s arm tightly, and his tattoos flex with his muscles. Cameron gives her a look that I never want to be on the receiving end of.
“Hey, baby. You got here right on time,” Kami says casually, as if what happened before didn’t affect her at all. I stand there in the same position, my hand lifted, ready for the pull I planned to try on Tiffany. Cam gives me a dip of the chin, silently thanking me for what I was about to do.
He looks back down at what I’m imagining is a terrified Tiffany.
“You’re lucky I got here when I did. I might not be able to lay a hand on you, but Kamila can, and it would’ve been much worse.
” His voice drips with venom. “Next time—” He leans in.
“—I won’t fucking stop her until she is satisfied with the results of your punishment.
” Cam straightens, and whatever he sees must satisfy him as his lips turn up the tiniest bit when he lets go of her forearm.
Mateo comes out with a bat in hand. “All of you out now, or I’m calling the cops.”
Andrew comes rushing from God knows where, as Levi grabs my face, and I flinch at the slight, sharp pain from the slap. His eyes darken. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry I didn’t get here faster. All of it happened so fucking quick, and we couldn’t see shit back there.”
“I said out. Now,” Mateo repeats. The bouncer standing next to him starts to escort all of us out until we’re on the sidewalk across the street from the bar, no longer near their property.
Andrew and Tiffany are also with us on the same side of the sidewalk.
Levi stays close to me as every person from the group works their way out.
Looking around, I check in on everyone. Cam is busy searching for any injuries on Kami, while Em gives my former friend and ex-boyfriend the dirtiest look I’ve ever seen, and Jake stands close by, ready to intervene if anything goes wrong.
Levi catches my attention when I feel his hand cup my cheek.
Meeting his eyes, I see the sadness, apology, and anger in them.
I know the anger isn’t directed toward me, but I’m so glad he hasn’t made a move to fight Andrew.
All I want to do is go home and sleep. Tomorrow we’ll talk about what happened earlier.
“You did this,” Andrew spits out, consoling a now crying Tiffany. Once I realize he’s talking to me, my head rears back.
My nostrils flare. “I did this? Your damned girlfriend was the one who slapped me across the face first and tried to punch my friend, you asshole.”
Tiffany whispers something in Andrew’s ear, and whatever she said has his gaze narrowing.
“You’re lying.” He shakes his head.
I laugh humorlessly. “Pot, meet kettle.”
For some reason, that tiny saying seems to piss him off as he opens his mouth, setting Tiffany aside.
Levi places me behind him and gets in Andrew’s face. “I highly recommend you get your pathetic ass the fuck out of here.”