“Think carefully. Something must’ve happened.”
“I guess you caught me fooling around with a sophomore—but it was just a kiss and we were drunk and she looked so much like Lucy. Fuck. You think it was because of that?”
If I thought Prescott wasn’t serious about Lucy, I would’ve definitely offed him. “Could be. Were you also close to Bree?”
“A little. I mean, you were best friends with her.”
Or maybe I pretended to be best friends with her for other reasons.
Old Reina had an interesting brain. It’ll take me some time to get into it, but I’ll eventually figure out her thought process.
“Are you going to be on my side or do I have to treat you as an enemy?” I ask him.
“I want what’s best for the squad.”
“Wonderful. And Prescott?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
He lowers his eyes. “No.”
“If I deem you worthy and if Lucy agrees, I’ll lift the ban.”
His expression lights up as he stares between me and Lucy, who’s struggling to have Naomi hold her up. “Is this another game?”
“No games.” I pat his shoulder. “Don’t disappoint me.”
After practice, I shower and walk out with Lucy and Naomi. They keep following me around. Even though they’re not voicing it, I know they won’t leave me alone for fear I’ll be attacked again.
If I didn’t know who attacked me, I might be scared as well. I might look over my shoulder and search for those green eyes that were eating away at my soul.
Now, I have a different type of plan, one they don’t need to know about. If they did, they’d tell me not to do it.
Since I woke up at the hospital, I haven’t been as sure about anything as I am about this.
My phone vibrates. My lips pull into a smile as the name pops up in my notifications.
Cloud003: Any gloomy clouds today?
My heart flutters with tiny bursts of happiness. He remembers. I don’t know why I feel so touched that he does.
Reina-Ellis: I’m trying to get rid of it.
Cloud003: How’s that working for you?
Reina-Ellis: Not so well.
Cloud003: I’m sure you’ll make it. You’re a fighter.
I bite my lower lip.
A fighter.
Why does that single word fill me with so much energy? It buzzes under my skin, demanding I shout it.
I’m a fighter. A survivor.