27
Clique
Amanda
I’m not sure what to do next. As if my life wasn’t fucked up enough already.
I don’t get any sleep. My alarm goes off on Saturday to remind me I’m supposed to meet South at the gym today.
I get ready for exercise and catch a whiff of Gabe’s cologne. I showered last night like I was trying to flood the bathroom, and I can still smell him on my skin.
My brain and heart are both confused messes, and I want to shut them up for a little while. Exercising until I pass out seems like the best idea. Maybe South will know what to do. Scratch that. Maybe Shade will know.
I’m on the mats without shoes, pacing back and forth way too early. The first people I see are Asher and Max.
“Well, if it isn’t the wedding planner,” Max taunts me with a laugh.
Asher is looking at me curiously.
“Is something wrong?” He asks in a calm tone that rubs me the wrong way.
“Try my life. Number one answer,” I snap back and keep pacing.
I can see them exchanging a confused glance and blue hair right behind them.
“South, I need your advice.”
Max double-takes and looks around the gym.
“No, I’m Max. Are you high?”
I gape at him in disbelief. “Not you, fucker. Her !”
I jab a finger at the woman approaching us with no expression.
They exchange another confused look as South passes by them. They look right past her as if she isn’t there.
Is this some kind of joke? If so, I’m not in the fucking mood.
“What’s up, wedding planner?” Shade calls from the door.
I ignore him to keep pace beside South.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Murder is always an option,” she replies casually.
“Damn it, South,” I smack my face hard enough I think it might bruise.
“Fine,” she relents with a smirk. She turns around to take in the guys huddled together gossiping.
“I had sex with Gabriel,” I admit through gritted teeth.
“Did he sign the waiver?”
“I’m not joking, asshole!” I scream.
It makes the guys stop talking and stare at me like I’ve lost my mind.
South’s smile gets wider.
“He acted like I was some whore he wasn’t interested in paying. I’m half convinced he teleported to get away from me.”
Her smile drops as if it never existed, and I have her full attention.
Now that her eyes are on me, I can’t keep going.
“You’re upset.”
I’d be offended by the remark, but it’s South.
“I’m ashamed,” I whisper. “I should never have been near any of them. I knew better.”
She looks around and returns her attention to me. “None of them are here now.”
I frown as I realize she’s right. Shade, Max, and Asher are here, but no one else.
Maybe Jake hasn’t made it back yet, and Cade didn’t bother coming. Please let that be the reason. I don’t know why, but a feeling of doom taps on my chest like a knock. It’s barely there, but I rub my sternum with a frown.
“What’s wrong?” South studies the motion carefully.
“Stress,” I mumble with a scowl.
“I don’t believe you,” she tells me baldly.
I give her an impatient look. “I just feel like something bad is going to happen, ok? With all the bullshit I’m dealing with, it's normal.”
She raises a brow. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” I retort dryly.
“Have you had feelings like this your whole life or just recently?”
I blink at the sudden, emotionless therapist in front of me.
“Think hard,” her eyes narrow on me.
I gape as my mind unwillingly spins back to the past. Now that she mentions it, I’ve had this feeling several times in my life. It’s just happening more frequently now.
“Whole life, I guess. Can we focus?”
“I am focused,” her flat tone makes me sigh. It doesn’t stop her. “Tell me a time that it happened in the past.”
“I don’t know. The day I got hit by a car? It wasn’t major. I got some bruises from it.” It’s the only one that’s standing out right now.
She makes a breathy, thoughtful sound.
“I don’t want to know what that sound means. How do I face any of Gabe and Co after this?”
That feeling presses on my chest. Hard . I take a step back with a confused frown. Just in time to feel the breeze as South’s fist flies past my face, barely missing me.
“What the fuck, asshole?” I backpedal quickly.
“Did you feel it then?”
My jaw drops as I stare at her.
“Answer me.”
“Yes?” I ask in bewilderment. What the fuck is happening now?
“You know when you’re in danger.” She nods as if she’s a scientist that achieved a new miracle drug. “That’s why you can see me.”
“Huh?” It’s the only sound I can make.
“Look around you, Amanda. No one but you can see me.”
I look around in confusion. The guys are talking to each other and giving me wary glances.
“You’re not funny,” I grit out as our eyes meet again.
“I know. Because I don’t joke.”
My shoulders slump in defeat, and I turn to walk away from her.
“You need to hone that skill, Amanda,” South follows me relentlessly. “It can reap many rewards.”
I scoff and keep stomping. This sounds a lot like the say yes to everything conversation. I’m not drinking the fruit punch again, thank you. I’m out of here.
Two steps later, my feet falter. That feeling presses lightly on my chest. Now that she’s brought my attention to it, that's all I can focus on. I glance around, goosebumps running down my arms.
I came here for answers, not a damn mystery. This is bullshit.
Janine walks through the door, followed by Beth and Jessie. When they see me, they look surprised and then relieved.
That feeling pokes my chest.
“Bullshit,” I mutter.
South backs away from me slowly. Her head turns to watch the three women as they approach.
I’ve gone from irritation to anger in seconds. And somehow I notice that none of them even look at South. It’s creepy as hell, but my mind focuses on my enemy.
“Mandy! Where have you been?” Janine squeals happily.
I raise an eyebrow at the excited act. She’s practically skipping toward me. Beth and Jessie share a resigned look and then put bright smiles on their faces.
She’s in my face, hugging me as if I’m a long-lost relative that showed up suddenly. I don’t bother raising my arms to return the gesture. She draws back as if she didn’t notice.
“I’ve missed you!”
“Uh-huh,” I reply in the dryest tone I can muster.
“I didn’t know you were dating already,” Beth inserts herself into the conversation with a smile. “Who was that guy? And are you sure you’re safe with him?”
I blink slowly with no intention of answering. Janine, I know for sure is bad news, but Beth and Jessie might be innocent. Annoying as hell but innocent.
“Where’s my Cade?” Janine looks around with a sly smile. “I’ve missed him too.”
I don’t know what happens. One second, I’m irritated, and the next, Janine is on the floor with Jessie trapped underneath her. She’s clutching her face and staring at me with wide eyes. My knuckles hurt.
I glance down and find them red and starting to swell a little. Then I turn my face to the trio of men with raised brows.
“I take it back. You aren’t useless as fuck as an instructor,” I tell Asher with surprise.
“A good hit,” South comments without emotion. “But if you let her get up, the fight will turn against you.”
That snaps my attention back to where it belongs. I may not remember hitting her, but I’m not done yet.
Janine is struggling to get up, and Jessie is whining underneath her. Beth is staring at me in a mixture of shock and disgust.
Before she can get to her feet, I plant my foot in her chest and knock her back down. My weight versus her scrawny ass? No competition.
I follow her body’s downward movement with a little hop to keep the pressure on her chest. When she’s prone, I put as much weight on her as I can.
She tries to gasp for air and fails, her face turning red. Her nose is bleeding and crooked. I take a moment to admire the swelling and the black bruise that’s hurrying to come up. Pretty soon, she’s going to look like a raccoon, and I’m here for it. Her hands scrabble at my foot, trying desperately to shift my weight off of her.
“You’re going back to Loser, I mean Blake , and letting him know that my fuckfest or lack thereof is none of his business. My life is not your business. You aren’t my friends. I have photographic proof of at least you getting pathetically humped by Blake, Janine. By the way, your orgasm face looks like you’re constipated as fuck, and your eyes cross.”
I lean down and brace an elbow on my knee, feeling the power of the position and how good it is to let the rage out. Why was I afraid to be myself around these people? It’s pathetic.
“By the way,” I add with a menacing smile. “Have you had an STD check recently? The ex has been a very busy little leg humper. I didn’t see a condom, Janine. And I’ve seen his dick planted inside at least twenty other pussies. Mine came out clear but you might want to get checked if you’ve been at it recently. It would be a shame if the only useful portion of you rotted off , wouldn’t it?”
I stand tall and use her as a step to move forward. The satisfying sound of her straining for air is worth every second of this.
I make it two steps before Janine is sputtering with rage.
“You bitch!”
Her words are cut off when Beth’s disgusted voice blurts out. “You? He’s fucking you too?”
My feet pause, and then I spin with wide eyes.
Instead of focusing on me, Janine’s attention goes to Beth with disbelief. Jessie has managed to slide out from under her and is catching her breath.
“ You’re fucking him?” Janine gapes in astonishment.
I can feel a smug smirk rising, and I let it out with vicious intensity. This just got more epic, and I want to watch it go down.
“STD checks all around,” I crow gleefully. “The clinics are going to be flooded.”
“You’re just a pawn,” Beth assures herself with a dazed nod. “That has to be it.”
“ What? ” Janine shrieks loud enough to make me cringe, but my smile doesn’t fade.
“We are in a relationship. Whatever you have going on is over,” Beth tells her with determination.
Janine scoffs. “He’s not that good in bed. Have fun with that.”
“He has a small penis,” Jessie pipes up, causing the two women to spin towards her.
“ Wow .” I can’t take my eyes off this train wreck.
They all start screaming at one another. Before I can blink, it’s a catfight for the ages. Should I mention Annette? They should be hunting down Blake instead, but I’m enjoying this too much to say anything.
The guys are watching in horror as hair gets pulled, blood splatters on the mat, and pained cries fill the air. That’s why it’s called a catfight. They’re rolling around in a wriggling mass with a concerning amount of hissing that might be talking.
“Jesus, Amanda! Stop them!” Max’s horrified eyes swing to me and back as if he can’t resist watching.
“Fuck no,” I laugh and flip him off. “Have fun cleaning this up, boys. I’m out!”
I turn to find my way blocked by a mass of muscular bodies. It seems like everyone in the boxing area heard the commotion and decided to see what was going on. I excuse myself as I squeeze through and make it to the other side of the growing crowd after a few minutes.
I’m skipping as I make it to the doors. That felt so freeing. Maybe I should hunt down everyone else in the photos. I could call each of them, threaten them with blackmail to meet up at the same place at the same time and watch the fireworks explode.
I make it outside to the sidewalk and close my eyes, letting a deep sigh escape me. The sunlight feels amazing and all my troubles have washed away for the moment.
Until a suffocating weight falls on my chest with a feeling of doom.
Someone grabs the back of my shirt and yanks. My eyes pop open, expecting to see Janine or the other two. Instead, I see South as I’m pulled to the side of her body and back. I trip over my feet and land on my ass and an elbow. She used enough force that I slide an inch before I stop.
I open my mouth to yell at her, and then there’s the roar of an engine revving, and a tan vehicle jumps the curb aimed right at us. It corrects with a squeal of tires, thumps back onto the pavement, and slides around the lot toward the exit. Tires squeal as I gape. It rockets out at high speed to keep going without pause. Several cars have to stop and lay on the horn as it cuts off oncoming traffic and disappears down the street.
I’m stunned silent as my flailing stomach wars against the grinding pain in my butt cheek and the scrape over my elbow. I can’t move. I’m frozen in place like someone hit pause.
There’s no one else out here with us. It’s the middle of the day, and most of the parking lot is full. No witnesses to whatever just happened here.
“Call the cops,” I tell her in a shaky voice of shock.
“No. Get in the truck,” South straightens and starts walking to her vehicle.
I stare after her with my mouth dropped open. Did that not just happen? How is she so calm? I think I almost pissed myself.
I sit up and wince at the pain in my elbow. It’s swelling and scraped from my elbow down my forearm. It stings, and it isn’t pretty.
“Amanda.”
I can barely hear her from this distance, but for some reason, her tone seems off. It’s weird because she doesn’t really have one to begin with. Nevertheless, I spring up like my butt is on fire and hurry over. Something isn’t right here, and I don’t just mean the insane person behind the wheel of a car.
As soon as the locks click open I’m in the truck and trying not to bleed on her seats. My hands are shaking so hard I feel the vibration all the way up my arms. I can’t catch my breath.
“Does this happen a lot?”
I glance at South in disbelief. “Uh, no.”
“Have you made anyone mad lately?”
She’s focused on the road casually, like nothing happened. Her hands aren’t even shaking.
“No?” I stop at the blurted word and try to think as my body settles into jitters. “The only person I can think of is Loser and his trio back there.”
My mind shifts to Gabriel’s cold face, and I smack the thought aside quickly. One bout of mistake sex wouldn’t lead to this. That’s stupid.
South nods and pulls directly to the door of the apartment complex. Her eyes meet mine and a cold chill washes over me at the lack of emotion in them. I’ve noticed it before, but somehow, this intense stare is worse than usual. As if she’s pissed somewhere deep inside, and her dead eyes are trying to take it out on me.
“If you leave your apartment, get a ride. No more walking. Start working on honing that sense now.”
Her tone is harsh and grating like the words have gone through a shredder to come out. Her breaths are starting to become choppy.
“Why?” I ask her, completely baffled. I’m not touching the superhero power delusion.
“Do you wear a hood and sunglasses when you drive?”
“No,” I scoff in disbelief.
“Do you cover your plates in mud?”
“What the hell?” I ask with no clue where this is going.
“Whoever was driving did. Odd, don’t you think?”
“It wasn’t some granny that lost it?” My brows furrow, and that phantom feeling of a shoe of doom dropping increases.
“No,” she assures me and turns to face the windshield. “No more walking until I know.”
“Know what?” Why does she sound like this was something more than a freak accident? That’s all this is, right?
“Who,” she says in such a final tone I decide I’d be safer outside the vehicle. I barely get the door shut before she’s placidly driving away.
“Bye?” I wave with my middle finger.
I grip my arm, twisting it to see the damage while I walk into the complex. My attention is immediately snagged by Manny as he freezes with a horrified look on his face. He’s in front of the mailbox, and he has a very familiar envelope in his hand.