Chapter 13
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
CORI
It was just a kiss.
It was just a kiss.
It was just a kiss.
Maybe if I repeat it enough times in my head, I can believe it. I mean, isn’t that what liars do? Lie so many times that they start to deceive themselves?
And that’s what I was, a liar.
I snuck back in the house last night and stared at the ceiling for hours, trying to make sense of what was going on in my mind.
I know I shouldn’t trust him, but part of me thinks he was telling the truth.
Maybe he isn’t the shark Lainey believes he is, or he doesn’t want to be, anyway.
The truth is, I think I was just blinded by his touch, the way I felt safe around him. I haven’t felt that way in a long time.
My presence at Legacy will not end well unless I figure out a way to play their game.
I’ve learned not to trust anyone, and Carson falls into the anyone category.
Lainey was right. It seems that everyone bows to the Sharks, and I will not be a game piece for them.
The worst part of it all is that the ring leader is already in my head, messing with my emotions.
I head out the door for Jovie’s car, noticing that it’s already gone.
She must’ve had an early practice or left me here on purpose.
I sigh, pulling my phone out to text Madden and see if they can grab me on their way.
Just as I walk out the front door, I hear Carson on the phone, so I slink back onto the porch, not wanting him to think I’m watching him.
Avie, I’m sorry. I just, I wasn’t... No, that’s not it at all.
Shit. Does she know I was with Carson last night, or worse, does Jovie know? Did she see?
I shake the thought, reminding myself that I can’t hang out with him anymore. No matter how bad I think I want to.
Madden pulls up, and I slip into the car staring out the back window at a distraught Carson getting into his truck.
I turn back around in my seat, looking out the window. Lainey and Madden are entirely silent, and their tension basically radiates off the dash.
“Is something wrong?” I ask, both of them ignoring me.
Lainey huffs, sitting up straighter in defense, “Madden is confused how someone could actually like me.”
He sighs, “You know that isn’t what I meant. It’s just... I thought it was some sick way to get in Nash’s head.”
She throws her hands up, “One day, Nash Langdon won’t run every aspect of my life. I’m so sick of everything in my life being on his agenda!”
I sit back, listening to her, “Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?”
Madden remains silent, watching the road. Lainey smiles, turning toward me, “I met a guy at one of the Oak Valley parties Friday night!”
She wiggles her eyebrows, nearly squealing as she turns all the way around in the front seat, gushing to me in the back. “He’s literally so funny. I haven’t laughed that hard in so long! Not to mention, he’s gorgeous, like Zac Efron post High School Musical gorgeous!”
Madden rolls his eyes, and I can tell something is wrong with him. He forces the lever up, activating his turn signal. The air in the car shifts as Madden opens his mouth to speak, “I. Don’t. Trust. Him. Lainey.”
“I’m a big girl, Mad.”
“Why would Lainey’s love life mess with Nash?” I ask.
Lainey winces, “See, that’s the kicker. Drayton is Nash’s stepbrother.”
“Nash has a stepbrother?” I ask, unsure of what she means. I thought that Nash’s family was Legacy royalty by how he struts around like a prince. I definitely wasn’t expecting divorced parents.
“Yeah,” Madden adds. “He does, and Nash hates him.”
I don’t say anything, soaking in the knowledge.
“Nash will get over it,” Lainey huffs. “I’m sick of him.”
Madden turns the car into the school lot, parking a few spots down from Jovie, who is conveniently hanging all over Nash?
“Case in point,” Lainey points. “He hates her but will still take her to the closest closet for a quickie.”
I feel my stomach turn at the thought, “Why does he hate her?”
Lainey turns back to me again, “You don’t know?”
I look back at her confused, and a little nauseous, thinking about Nash sleeping with Jovie.
“Oh my God,” she turns to Madden. “Jovie is her cousin, and she walked in this place with no idea.”
I watch as Madden looks back at Lainey, both of them sharing looks.
“Well, are you assholes going to enlighten me or just stare at each other?”
Madden silently looks to Lainey for permission, and she shakes her head in approval. The confession slips quickly between his lips, “Jovie had proof of Nash’s mom having an affair, and she forced him to pretend to be her boyfriend to keep the video from getting out.”
I whisper an empty apology under my breath, but it’s not like he’s here to hear it, “Wow, that’s awful.”
“Oh, that’s not it.” He continues, “The affair that Kendra Langdon was having was with Lainey’s dad.”
Lainey’s eyes dim, the spitfire I’ve grown used to fading quickly, “Lainey, I’m... wow.” I find myself at a loss for words. “That’s terrible.”
She shakes her sadness from her expression, covering it with the one that helps her cope, “Jovie released the video. Nash’s dad left and has a new family. I can’t even look at my dad, but I hate my mom more for allowing it, for not leaving.”
I sigh, “Why did Jovie do it? I mean... what happened? Why did she release the tape?”
Madden shrugs, “That’s the mystery. Nash completely shut down after his dad walked out, and I think the only person who really knows what set Jovie off is Carson and maybe Avery.”
Lainey adds, “But the rumor is that Jovie saw Nash kissing someone else at her fourteenth birthday party and went psycho.”
I feel the air escape my lungs as if it’s stolen and place my hand on my chest to keep my heart from beating out of it. I force the car door open for air, on the brink of passing out. Madden and Lainey quickly follow suit. My eyes rest on Nash. His empty blue eyes unapologetically focused on me.
I sling my backpack over my shoulder and begin to retreat into the building, Lainey’s voice muffled by the thumping in my ears, “You ok?”
“Yeah,” I nod, getting a reasonable distance away from them. “I’ll see you at lunch.”
As I walk by Jovie’s car, Nash swats her hand away, walking very close to my heels. I brace myself for what he might say as I have to slow my pace at the doors of the building where the crowd is thicker.
A million thoughts race through my head, what he said lingering at the forefront of my mind.
That day ruined everything. You ruined everything.
He kissed me, and Jovie ripped his family apart.
He blames me.
I feel the heat of his aggravated glare on my back as I turn down the hallway, hoping he goes another way.
“I don’t want you here,” his voice booms, basically echoing off of the lockers.
“I don’t want to be here,” I agree.
He corners me, “Why are you here? Did Jovie set this up?”
I look him straight in the eye, so he knows he doesn’t scare me. “Trust me, I did this all by myself. I’m here because I had no choice.”
“Stay out of my way,” he demands, his stance unwavering.
“You are the one standing in my way,” I sass back. “My class is that way.”
I point behind him, and he moves to the side, allowing me to pass. “Oh and Corinne, make good choices.”
His condescending tone infuriates me, making me clench my fists at my side.
Make good choices?
He sounds like my father, but I know it isn’t meant protectively. No, it’s intended as a threat. Make good choices or else.
I snap back at him, “Make good choices or make the right choices? Are you threatening me?”
He doesn’t turn back, letting my mind swirl with confusion and my heart lay on the floor.
Everything is clicking into place, the whole reason for his outburst on my first day here. The way he keeps Jovie within an arm’s length and the reason he’s so awful to me. It all makes sense now, because the boy I met that day is gone, replaced by a broken soul and a black heart.
I knew that the kiss we shared was more than a couple of kids testing the waters. It was a revelation for him and a fresh start. For me, it was dreams of the blond boy I left behind as I went back to work, tirelessly gripping at a dream that I thought I needed to be successful.
I guess my presence isn’t wanted at Legacy any more than it was back home at Brooks.
My mind floats back to the first day back at school after what happened with Aspen.
It was just three weeks ago, but it feels like a lifetime.
The minutes went by slower, and each second lingered what seemed like just a little bit longer.
Every head turned in my direction, Corinne Clark the subject of every whisper but not because of a fantastic dance routine or a great outfit like usual, but because my best friend was dead and it was my fault.
I betrayed her.
The last words I spoke to her haunt my memories, and I’ll never be able to go back.
I’ll never be able to take them back.
A familiar voice cuts the silence as I turn to face it, “?Está todo bien?”
Wait, Carson speaks Spanish?
I turn around and drink him in, his dark hair, his perfect skin, his pitcher’s forearms.
I try to remember all the classes I took, and I’m by no means fluent in Spanish, but I’m decent. So I translate what he said in my head. Is everything alright?
I cram the thoughts of Aspen to the back of my head, “Sí, solo un día de mierda.” Yeah, just a shit day.
“You speak Spanish?” he asks, stepping closer to me as I back away.
“Oh, not really. I’m better with French.”
He laughs, “You got me there. I’m lost with French.”
I nervously shuffle my feet, searching through the sea of kids for stares. The last thing I need is a target on my back from Legacy’s very own Regina George.
He lowers his voice just above a whisper, “About last night...”
“No,” I quip. “Nothing happened.”
“I just...I didn’t mean to... you know,” he fumbles his words.
“Shhh,” I demand. “Stop before someone hears you.”
He looks around, noticing the eyes starting to linger on us, “I just wanted to apologize because I shouldn’t have...”
I hold my hand up to silence him, “Apology accepted, will you just shut up?”
He nods, a bright grin taking over his sharp features, “Yeah, I will. I’ll see you around.” He grabs my hand, kissing it with a silly bow, “Merci.”
Thank you in French.
I can’t help but melt a little, completely swooning. No wonder all the girls in this place are crazy about him. He’s a real charmer, and it turns out I am not immune.
No one is immune to Carson.
The two boys that run this place are night and day. Best friends that I can’t stop thinking about. One soft and inviting, already making me lose my mind, and the other dark and broody.
A daydream and a nightmare.
Everything in my mind is muddled, but I am absolutely sure of one thing. Corinne Clark is either going to sink or swim here at Legacy, and I refuse to let Nash or Carson drown what’s left of me.
Lucky for me, I know exactly where to go for swimming lessons.
Madden.