Breaking You (Blackthorn Elite 2)

She’s family, and regardless of how I’m feeling, blood is blood. Pressing the green answer key, I bring the phone to my ear, “What’s up?”

“Oh, my god, you’re alive. I thought you were dead. I tried calling you the other day, and it went to voicemail.”

Yeah, ’cause I was trying to escape. “Yeah, sorry, I couldn’t find my charger.”

“Oh, well, how are you? Are you okay? Did Warren say anything to you?”

“Huh? What do you mean? I talked to Warren yesterday. What was he supposed to say?”

“I… I don’t know. I saw him the other day at the gas station. I thought you guys were friends.” She stumbles over her words, nervously. Maybe she’s on something? It wouldn’t be the first time.

“No, no, we aren’t friends, and I’m doing fine, thanks for asking.”

“I’m sorry about the party… how I acted. I don’t know why I get like that sometimes.”

Because you’re selfish, and you care about being friends with rich kids more than being mine.

“It’s fine. Look, I gotta go. I have to get to classes, but I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Okay, talk later,” she tells me and hangs up. The barista calls my name, and I step up to get my drink. I grab the iced latte and give the barista a smile. Walking out of the little coffee shop, I suck the sugary goodness from the straw.

The first taste leaves me feeling a little better than I was a second ago, and I smile. I start walking to my next class, a little more pep in my step than before.

Heading down Kingdom Hall, I open one of the double doors, about to walk through it when I all but stop dead in my tracks. My heart slams into my throat, the air in my lungs ceasing to exist, and I damn near drop my iced latte in the process.

Warren. I hate him. I hate him so much, but I also want him. Want him in ways that I shouldn’t because he’s a horrible, cruel monster. Forcing myself to make my legs work, I keep walking, taking quick steps. As much as I tell myself not to look, it’s not that easy, and even harder when I spot the incredible looking woman hanging off his arm. She could be a model.

She looks nothing like me, and maybe that’s the point. I tell myself it’s nothing but a game, but that stupid jealously bug rears its ugly head anyway, and I’m left wanting to bite the chick’s head off velociraptor style.

Getting closer, I notice another couple is standing with him, I was too consumed with Warren’s presence before, but now I see that it’s Parker and his girlfriend, Willow. I’ve never actually talked to either, but I’ve heard Warren talking about them.

Willow stares at me, I can feel her eyes burning into my skin as I walk past them. When our eyes clash, she smiles at me. I don’t know how to feel about that, so I skew my facial features. Parker has his arm wrapped around her and gives me a brooding look before leaning in and whispering something into Warren’s ear.

I don’t stick around to see what happens next, and instead, haul ass into the chemistry room. As soon as I enter the room, I find the nearest seat and sink down into it. My lungs burn, and it feels like I wasn’t breathing the entire time I walked down that hall.

You’re nothing to him. Nothing… I don’t know why, but I had stupidly hoped that the way I left his house that day might’ve knocked some sense into him. After a few minutes, I calm down enough to get my books out. My thoughts are still racing, right along with my heart, but at least I can breathe again.

It’s funny how even after everything he’s done to me, this jealousy hurts more than anything else. I’d rather have him threaten me, use my body, and humiliate me than go through seeing him with someone else.

The class drags on forever, or at least it feels that way. When it’s finally over, I don’t think anything we’ve talked about has stuck in my brain. As I’m packing up my stuff, the professor announces that we have a test next week, and since I couldn’t comprehend a single thing today, I know I have a lot of studying to do if I want to ace it.

Since I don’t feel like going home to be all alone, going to the library seems like a win-win. The walk to the library takes all of five minutes, and I’m thankful that I don’t run into Warren and his flavor of the day on my way.

That would be my luck.

The librarian greets me with a wide smile as I pass the circular desk. I try to give her a similar greeting, but the corners of my mouth just don’t want to curl up. I think I’m stuck with a permanent frown now.