No, no, no.
Why the hell would my father do that?
My head becomes a jumbled mess. “But you obviously hate me. Why would you want to do this?”
Goosebumps
cover my skin as he says, “You owe me a life, and I’ll ruin yours as payback.”
Asher left me standing there.
Just like that. No Do you need help getting inside? Or anything remotely human.
Motherfucker.
I have to hobble for fifteen minutes to reach the entrance. Since I don’t remember this place, it takes me even longer. I don’t ask the others for help since that’s the same as admitting weakness.
As soon as I walk through the huge doors, an onslaught of students greets me.
“You’re okay, Reina?”
“How is the leg, Reina?”
“Is it true you were in a fire, Reina?”
“Are you cheering for the Devils this Friday?”
I try to smile, but it’s like my reaction is frozen beyond reach. I don’t know these people, and while I’m glad no one seems to recognize I don’t remember them, I don’t want to sound or appear rude.
After all, this is my college.
The attention in the halls is like having a vicious tongue lap my skin. I can see hatred behind some smiles, envy behind others. There are also eager faces, both male and female, who wave awkwardly as if they’re sure I won’t return them.
I figured I’d be popular considering the stupid-ass cheerleading position, but I never thought it would be this…fake.
So far, I haven’t met anyone who actually sees me, the person inside, not the face or the cheerleading uniform—though even I don’t know who the hell the person inside is.
I focus on my steps instead of the horde of people surrounding me. The halls are large, but I can’t breathe well with the crowd.
It’s worse that I don’t know where to go.
You should’ve planned this better.
Shut up, brain. I know that.
“Out of the way, fuckers,” howls a familiar voice from the other side of the hall.
Students trip over each other to make way for none other than Owen.
He grins from ear to ear, winking at a girl here and smacking another’s ass there. It’s like he thinks he’s a sex god blessing the peasants with his presence.
“Rei-Rei.” His grin turns into a wicked one as he drapes an arm around my shoulder. “I thought you were going to be a zombie for a bit more.”
“And I thought you’d stop being a pig by now.”
“Define pig.” He waggles an eyebrow. “Because if it means a lot of meat, then I do have that, babe.”
“Eww. Gross.”