Chapter Twelve #2
But I can’t. Not after last night. Not after the way they laughed. Not after she sobbed in my arms like they broke something in her that I couldn’t fix. I let go of her hand and turn back toward them. “Kai,” she hisses, grabbing my wrist, “don’t. It’s not worth it.”
I shake her off gently. “No, Em. I can’t leave it. They’re idiots.” I storm back over, my fists clenched. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I yell, my voice carrying across the garden. “You think it’s funny? What you did? You humiliated her. You violated her.”
Austin throws his arms up in mock surrender. “Whoa, man. Chill. It was just a joke.”
“A joke ?” I bark, taking a step closer. “You helped film it, didn’t you?”
“I mean,” he shrugs, grinning at Henry. “There were so many cameras, it’s hard to say whose angle was best.”
Emmie’s behind me now, barely holding it together. Her breathing’s shallow, and she’s got both hands stuffed in the pockets of my jacket.
“Oh, come on, Kai,” Bella says sweetly, leaning forward. “It’s already viral. There’s literally like, what, ten different angles floating around the college group chat? You should be proud. Your girl’s famous.”
Austin laughs and something inside me snaps. “You think that’s funny?” I snarl, stepping right up to him. “You think ruining someone’s dignity is entertainment? You’re pathetic. All of you.”
His grin falters. “Jesus, man, relax.”
I turn to Bella. “Oh, I’m relaxed . Real zen.
But just so you know, Bella, I’ve got some footage of you too.
” Her eyes narrow. “Don’t play dumb. Like you didn’t insist I film us together.
” Emmie inhales sharply, but I need to use this to make that footage disappear.
“If it got out, it wouldn’t look good for any potential brand sponsors. ”
Bella’s mouth opens in outrage.
“So, here’s the deal,” I say, stepping closer. “You get every single video of Emmie deleted. Gone. Off phones, group chats, Google Drives, all of it . Or yours goes viral too.”
For a second, the smugness drains from her face. But then she smiles. A slow, poisonous smile that coils in my gut.
“Seriously, Kai. You can drop the act now.” She crosses her tanned legs slowly, “Just tell her the truth.”
I freeze.
“What are you talking about?” Emmie’s voice is practically a whisper.
Bella tilts her head, eyes glittering with venom. “You really didn’t tell her?”
“Bella,” I warn, my voice low and dangerous. But she doesn’t stop.
“Austin made a bet with Kai weeks ago,” she says, savouring every word. “Said he couldn’t pull the geeky virgin. Said he wouldn’t even get past first base. But he did. Didn’t you, Kai?”
“No,” I say, the word strangled and too late.
Emmie steps back from me like I’ve struck her.
“I mean, standing up for her friend was genius. I didn’t think it’d work, but well done, Kai. And it looks like she believed every single word.”
As if Austin suddenly gets a second wind, he grins, “I ain’t paying up though unless you saved the bloody sheets. I need evidence.”
Sickness swells in my gut as I shake my head, why didn’t I just walk out with her when I had the chance?
Bella’s smile sharpens. “Congratulations, Emmie. You were a challenge. A game. A scorecard.”
I spin on Austin. “You started this.”
He shrugs, not even pretending to deny it. “Didn’t think you’d actually go through with it, man.” His eyes go to Emmie, “Do you feel different, Emmie? Now you’re not holding on to that V-card. Maybe you could get the pole from up your arse now.” The girls laugh.
“I didn’t-” I turn to Emmie. “It wasn’t real. Not like that. I didn’t mean for-”
She gives her head a slight shake, but the mistrust in her eyes is burning brightly. There’s no way back from this. She turns on her heel and walks away.
I glance back at Bella. “Why?” I whisper.
She grins. “Because you took it too far,” she snaps. “And I want those videos of me. All of them. Perv.”
I don’t even have the energy to fight them, so I turn and race after Emmie.
She’s already halfway down the drive; her steps unsteady but full of purpose. The ache in my chest is making it almost impossible to breathe. “Emmie!” I call, but she doesn’t slow.
I reach her just as she’s yanking open the gate, I grab her wrist gently. “Please,” I say, my voice breaking. “Just wait, let me explain.”
She spins around, her eyes glassy, cheeks streaked with tears. “Explain what, Kai?” Her voice is sharp, bitter. “That you made a bet to screw me over? That everything you ever said was a lie?”
“No,” I say quickly, stepping in front of her. “It started as a bet, yeah. But it stopped being one. The second I got to know you; it stopped being about that.”
“I don’t believe you,” she whispers.
“Emmie, I swear. I really like you.”
She flinches. “You could have told me,” she points out. “If you changed your mind, why didn’t you just tell me everything?”
“I was scared,” I admit. “Scared you’d never look at me the same if you knew.”
She laughs, it’s cold and humourless. “And yet, here we are. You were right.”
I take her hand, try to hold it, but she pulls away like my touch burns. “Em-”
“Don’t call me that,” she snaps. Her voice cracks, just once. “You don’t get to call me that anymore.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I whisper. “I swear to God-”
“But you did,” she says. “And I don’t care what you meant, Kai.
I trusted you.” Her voice is breaking now.
“I gave you everything . And you turned it into a story for your mates. Like everything they’ve ever done to me wasn’t bad enough.
” Her shoulders tremble as she backs away.
“I can’t look at you. I can’t breathe near you. ”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I’ll do whatever it takes to fix this.”
She shakes her head. “You can’t. I don’t think I’ve ever hated someone so much in my life. Stay away from me, Kai. I mean that.” And then she spins on her heel and walks away.