Worse Than Enemies

Nobody knows for sure whether he’s awake or not—and if he is, whether he can even talk thanks to his jaw being busted. But I guess he could still answer yes-or-no questions. Once he’s awake, he could identify Hayes.

Meanwhile, there are who knows how many videos out there of what Logan and Salem were doing before the beating. And because I tried to stop them, I’m on those videos, too. Yelling at Logan, even kicking him once. What if somebody wants to talk to me?

What if they arrest Hayes?

Why does that bother me worse than anything else?

Is Hayes worried about any of this? That’s the worst part. Nobody would ever know he laid a finger on Logan. He’s still strutting around school like he owns it. Not a care in the world. Meanwhile, my clothes are getting loose because I can’t eat without feeling sick.

I rinse my face at the sink and swish out my mouth. Not that it does anything to get rid of the sour taste. I hardly recognize the fear-filled eyes looking back at me. My gaze lowers to the mark Hayes left, half-hidden by my shirt and covered in makeup. That’s not quite enough to hide it, but it makes a difference. I still don’t know why he did it.

The door squeaks open and my heart lurches when I see who’s coming in. Of all the girls in the whole school.

“Damn,” Madison snickers. “You look even worse than usual.”

She doesn’t know I’ve had a lifetime of experience ignoring snarky remarks. I ignore her and make a move to walk around her so I can leave. Of course she gets in my way.

“Rude much? I’m talking to you.”

“I have to get back to class.” She sidesteps to get in my way again and something inside me snaps. “Don’t you have something to snort up your nose? I don’t want to hold you up.”

Madison snarls before shoving me. I stumble back against the sinks, but don’t fall. “You look like somebody who’s got stuff on her mind. Like something happened and got you all fucked up inside. I wonder what that is?”

All this time I was worried about the police, when I should’ve been worried about vicious bitches like her.

“Get out of my way,” I say.

“You know what I think?” She grins nastily. “I think you saw your new best friend fucking her guy, and you lost your shit. I think that’s how he ended up in a hospital bed.”

“Me?” If she only knew. I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, okay. People are saying he was almost dead when he got to the hospital. Like I could do that.”

“There were all kinds of equipment behind the stage. You could’ve used that.” She gets close to my face, eyes narrowed into slits. “I bet that’s why you look like you haven’t slept since. Because you got jealous and lost your shit. I wonder if the cops would want to talk to you?”

I don’t know why she has to be this hateful. I don’t know why the whole world won’t leave me alone.

But I know why I throw my total weight against her as I shove her away. She falls against one of the stall doors and almost lands in a toilet, but stops herself just in time. Now it’s my turn to lean in close, and now the surprise and fear on her face give me strength I didn’t have before.

“You know what? Maybe I did. Maybe I snapped and beat a man half to death at the park.” I lean closer and she flinches. “So why would you fuck with somebody capable of doing that? If I almost killed Logan, what could I do to a piece of nothing like you? Maybe you’re the one who needs to watch her back before I snap again, bitch.”

“You’re crazy,” she whispers, trembling.

“Then you need to back the fuck off.” I punch the metal wall next to her head before leaving the stall, then the bathroom. I feel ten feet tall. Untouchable.

Until I see Hayes standing outside the door, arms folded. That’s all it takes to bring me back to reality.

“Making friends in there?” he asks with a smirk. Did he hear any of that? He must have, or else why would he look so smug?

“I guess the rules don’t apply to you, or else you’d be in class right now.”

“The rules never apply to me.”

“Right.” I’m too sick and too tired to face off with him. Madison is one thing, but he’s a different beast. “I have to get back to class.” I’m about to leave when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and read the message.

He sees the way my face falls. “What is it?”

“Mom and your dad came home early. Bridget wanted to let me know.” I look up from the phone to find him pushing away from the wall and stalking away.