Chapter 4
COSETTE
“Are you kidding me?” I muttered, my voice barely a whisper. The sight of Eli’s face staring at me from a massive poster held up near the school’s entrance was not something I’d expect to see today.
They set it up there to notify everyone that the school scheduled a memorial service out in the field this morning for him, and I was not about to grieve the death of a guy who took part in his family’s hellish business.
“We’re not attending that,” Siege assured me with his fingers still intertwined with mine, and he tugged me while I grabbed Dex’s hand so he doesn’t fall behind now that people are already making their way to the field to find seats for the service.
I don’t even know what they’re going to talk about there.
The jerk only ever had Andy and Siege as his ‘friends’, and Siege was just pretending.
Given that he was relatively new, I suspect the teachers might not have had much opportunity to form positive opinions about him.
Perhaps the school administration felt the need to honor him simply because he was a student here.
Perhaps they might even consider using him as an example, to tell the students to go straight home after class, or they could suffer a similar outcome.
Trust me, fellow schoolmates, no need to worry.
He was the threat.
After navigating the hallways with a few turns, Siege opened a door that led us directly into a computer lab. I haven’t been here in forever. As far as I am aware, this area is primarily used by the robotics club, but otherwise, the space is left unoccupied.
“First the janitor’s closet, and now, the computer lab?” I asked Siege with an amused yet curious gaze, and he just smirked at me, shrugging.
“I wanted to be prepared in case you feel rowdy while we’re in school again,” he said.
I felt my face heat up as he reminded me of what we did the last time we sought a hiding place in school, and Dex must have felt left out because he was quick to press against me from behind.
“Stop it. We’re not going to do naughty things in school anymore,” I said, looking around to see if there were any cameras in the place that might’ve caught what Siege said, or Dex’s petty attempt.
“No cameras. Don’t worry. I plan in advance,” Siege teased me more, and I swatted his chest with my palm.
After I had taken a seat on the floor in one corner of the room, crossing my legs, Siege and Dex followed suit. Siege adopted the same sitting position, while Dex stretched his legs out, placing his palms behind him on the floor to hold the weight of his upper body.
“What are we going to do here while they fake mourn that douchebag there outside?” Siege asked, and I shrugged, leaning back against him, trying to find a comfortable position and only stopping when my head ended up on his lap.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m reading.”
Reaching into my backpack, I took my Kindle out, and then began reading my current read. I’m now able to consider ‘why choose’ books as part of my research. I have a little ménage going on for myself, so this is basically a self-help book and an instruction manual in one.
Dex did the same, pulling his bag along the carpeted floor and taking out his iPad, and I just knew he was going to get back to work of finding where The Nest is.
“Just scroll through social media on your phone or something,” I said to Siege as he just stared down at me before I continued where I left off from my book last night.
I know there’s been a sexual charge between the three of us lately, but I truly enjoyed moments like this when I get reminded that we are still so young and we deserve to enjoy our youth—even if Dex is technically working now.
About twenty minutes into the book, I ended a particularly action-packed chapter, and I turned to look at Dex, seeing his brows drawn in a frown.
“Need any help?” I asked, wanting to reach over and run my finger through his forehead to de-stress him, but I didn’t want to seem overbearing.
I can’t make this any better for them until we find that place.
Dex looked at me from his screen, and his shoulders dropped, his gaze softening, as he shook his head. “No, it’s fine. I’ll—”
I nearly jumped from my place on the floor when the door to the computer lab opened, and I thought a teacher had found us hiding from having to go to the memorial, but it was just Nero.
With a focused look, he scanned the room as though he had a mission to hunt down something, and after his eyes finally found our little cozy spot in the corner, he directed a harsh glare towards me.
He’s been doing that a lot since the start of the semester. Every time our gazes would meet in the hallways, in classes, even in the parking lot when he and Dex would pull in almost at the same time. He hasn’t made a scene since that standoff in the cafeteria, though, thank god.
“Why aren’t you in the field?”
I rolled my eyes, so done with him playing the good guy in all this.
“Why do you suddenly care so much about the guy who stole your girlfriend?” I asked, fed up with this fake persona. And for what? For him to feel superior to my recent so-called rebellious ways?
“Because he’s dead, and you’re letting yourself be alone with guys who are most likely responsible for that.”
Well, I can’t exactly debunk that, can I?
I sat up, feeling uncomfortable talking to Nero when I’m literally lying down on the floor. “Can you just stop? You got out of there yourself just to look for me and scold me for not being there. Do you not see how hypocritical you’re being?”
“And do you not see how stupid you’re being?” He spat, and with those words, I have reached my tolerance of how he’s been treating me.
I couldn’t sit down for this, oh no. I jumped to my feet, silently hyping myself up and hoping to god my guys don’t intervene because, oh boy, am I fired up.
“Stupid? I’m being stupid?” My voice has never sounded this dangerous before, even though it was so shaky. Not from fear, but from how seething I was.
I used both hands as I pushed Nero full-force on his chest, and for once, I actually caught him off-guard as he stumbled a step back.
“You’re the one who’s fucking stupid because I told you what Andy did. I told you that I found things on her phone. That she faked the black eye. I told you. And what did you do? You left me when it mattered the most. When I needed you the most.”
I pushed him again, and it seemed this time he was more ready for it, but he still let me have that small win as he took another step back.
“When have I ever lied to you, Nero? And no, I’m not talking about little playful lies, or white lies.
When have I ever lied to you about important things?
Crucial things? I fucking lost my oldest friend because I couldn’t lie to you, keep looking you in the eye when I knew Andy cheated on you.
Do you remember how even after I managed to get the courage to tell you, you still demanded evidence from me? So, I fucking did.”
Oh, I was fuming. And I couldn’t stop now.
“You’re the one who’s fucking stupid. Not me.
And when you find out the truth? You’re going to feel stupid because you know you can’t blame this on miscommunication, because I told you and you just chose to believe her lies when that girl had already lied to you multiple times before.
You’re just too blinded by her fucking face to realize that.
You’re the one who’s fucking stupid for always—always—goddamn choosing her over me! ”
I could see doubt flicker in his eyes. I could see the moment it hit him that maybe the truth he’s holding onto was not the truth. And with that little doubt that I saw him feel came a teeny tiny flicker of hope in my heart that maybe, just maybe, this time he would believe me.
But Nero Combs wouldn’t be the Nero Combs I’ve known for years now if he didn’t stay loyal to Andy.
“She promised on her life that she’s telling me the truth, C,” he said, his voice sounding so at a loss, but I couldn’t seem to care anymore. Because for the last time, he’s chosen.
And it’s still not me. It would never be me that Nero would choose.
I could hear the hallway getting busy again, and I figured the memorial was over. It was time to get to class.
I could hear Dex and Siege shuffling to their feet behind me, and not a couple seconds later, Dex’s hand was on my hip, gently tugging me as a signal for us to go and leave.
So, with one last look at Nero, I let him know my final thoughts on this matter.
Because I was done.
With Andy.
With him.
With our friendship.
“Believe her, if that’s what you want,” I mumbled, looking him dead straight in the eye. “But leave me the fuck alone, Nero.”