Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

I told him to fuck off and booked it. Partly because Xavier was glaring at Logan with a raw edge of… dare I say, jealousy in his eyes, and it made me a hair too happy.

Stretching my legs out on the lounge chair by the pool, I inhale deeply. Theo’s backyard is pitch-black, the only source of light the faint patio lamp. Could hardly see myself showing my face inside after that speech, but I don’t want to leave without Dia.

She’s been skipping every party since the confessions were exposed. She stuck by my side through and through, coming over to my house daily, and she deserves this time with Finn. She’d die before admitting it, but I know she misses her “regular” life, eating and hanging out with the jocks, meeting Finn at his locker between classes.

I texted her and promised that I was okay. Figured I’d just hide out here and give her a few more hours of normality before I burst her bubble. I wince at the weird, salty taste of my drink as I finish it.

Jesus, what’s the deal with my taste buds tonight?

The second I put my drink down, a nausea so brutal I almost puke rolls through my stomach, followed by a dizziness unlike anything I’ve ever known. I feel weak, disoriented, like my senses are deserting me one by one.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

It takes every ounce of energy in my body to push to my feet and—

“Going somewhere?”

I don’t need to see him to recognize his voice.

Drained, I force my eyes open, barely discerning Logan and Axel advancing toward me in the darkness of Theo’s backyard.

“W-What do you want?” I slur.

“What every teenage boy wants, baby.” Logan smirks. “Fun.”

Time seems to slow down.

My eyes filling with tears, I glance at the red cup in my hand.

I know instantly.

No.

No.

God, please, no.

“Something wrong with your drink, Vee?” Axel taunts.

The red cup slips from my hands onto the cement, and I fall backward onto the lounge chair against my will.

So… Freaking… Weak.

>

How did I not see him slip me something?

When?

A tear streams down my face as the realization crushes me. It had to be when I glanced at Xavier. Had to. The boys continue to close in on me, and I don’t even have the necessary energy to panic. I can feel myself fading.

“No” is all I can say.

Logan snorts. “Trust me, you’ll be begging me to fuck you in a minute.”

“Why me?” My eyelids weigh a thousand pounds.

“I thought it was about time we revisit that threesome idea.” Logan pushes me flat against the lounge chair, climbing on top of me and pinning me down under his body. I can’t fight back. All I can do is scream inwardly.