Nightfall (Devil's Night 4)

Motherfuckers. What the hell were they doing? How long had it been going on?

I knew something was up.

I leaned against a stack of mats in the wrestling room, hearing the locker door open down the hall as “Apologize” played low on the speaker next to me.

I swallowed another mouthful, remembering tucking her in last night in her room.

Like an imbecile.

After our fight at school today, I went out tonight, celebrating Devil’s Night with my friends and a full mind to move the hell on. Get shitfaced and see if there was anyone I thought would make me feel better, because she treated me like shit, and I was sick of chasing after the girl I knew was meant for me but who didn’t want me.

She gave me almost no reciprocation.

Except last night.

But today, she was back in full form, acting like I was a pity fuck. Like I wasn’t good enough.

My friends and I went to the cemetery and partied.

We went to the Pope in Meridian City.

And partied some more.

I just couldn’t forget her, no matter how much I drank. I caught a cab back to Thunder Bay, but instead of going home, I carried my ass to school and to our bus parked in the lot. I snuck on and plopped down in the backseat, remembering how’d she felt last night. How good her desire and love felt.

I sat in there and just got drunker, thinking about her, and then I looked out the window and saw them.

Damon and her. Walking into the school.

I blinked, not sure I was seeing right, because everything was spinning, but…I finally climbed off the bus and followed them.

I closed my eyes, inhaling a breath as their footsteps approached down the hall.

They weren’t tough to find. In a school this old—and being nearly empty this time of night—I’d heard the water running as I trailed down the hallway. My legs went weak, my stomach rolled, and I slipped inside the locker room, seeing them as I rounded a row of lockers.

Naked in the shower together.

My fist tightened around the bottle. There was no way to misunderstand that.

That was why he left the hotel early tonight. Why she would never give in with me.

No one would choose me over Damon. Or me over Michael or Kai, either. No one thought I was worth a damn next to them.

They passed in front of the open door, Damon hearing the music and stopping. She halted next to his side, and I looked her up and down, seeing his black sweatpants hiked up to her knees, and his white T-shirt hanging on her. Their hair was wet, and he was only in jeans, no shirt.

“Did you fuck her?” I asked.

Damon paused, stepping into the dark room and finally spotting me ahead.

Emmy followed slowly.

“Really?” Damon cocked his head, trying to see me in the dark. “I’m not that boring. Come on.” He approached me, gesturing to her. “Besides, she’s not even pretty.”

“Thanks,” Emory mumbled.

I threw the bottle across the room, and it shattered against the wall as I launched out and shoved him in the chest.