Bad Intentions: Chapter 28

“I mean, you can tell she’s not normal just by looking at her. Oh God, I can’t believe she actually came in here for lunch! I’d go home, I’d be too ashamed.”

Selena’s fucking annoying voice grated on my nerves. I didn’t understand why we had to put up with her or her minions at lunch. I was beyond over it. Everything was irritating me today. Thanks to the gossip about Lily this week, the rumors about me had nearly completely died out.

I should be relieved.

I wasn’t.

I glowered at Selena as she stood to get a better glimpse of the object of her torture.

Lily had entered the cafeteria, Eve at her side. Her waterfall of red hair shielded her face from me. If I saw she’d been crying again, I’d fucking lose it right now. It had been bad enough the other morning in the locker room. That dashed-away tear that had escaped her eye would haunt me for the rest of my life.

I’d caused that.

If I’d ever needed more confirmation that I was a bastard, that tear fit the bill. I’d told her that she didn’t exist to me anymore. What a joke. I couldn’t get her out of my head, she’d taken over my thoughts completely. She was the only thing that existed for me; that was the truth I couldn’t escape.

“Did you hear Principal Smith? It was a prank that got out of hand. You really think Lily is leaving her journal around for just anyone to copy?” Marcus snorted.

Selena sighed at him. “She didn’t just leave it around, obviously. Cayden took it, didn’t he?”

I sensed her turn to me, her satisfaction curling off her like the stink of old cheese. “Didn’t you? You got sick of seeing her at home all the time, being weird and annoying, and decided to teach her a lesson.”

“Are you fucking deaf? It was a prank, end of story.” Asher’s snap had a bite to it, and it managed to silence Selena for a whole minute.

“Well, Bug doesn’t look like she found it very funny, and neither do you guys, so I doubt it was a prank.”

The irritation that had been simmering in my blood overflowed, and I jerked my chin at Selena and shoved her lunch tray. “This table’s too fucking crowded. Get lost.”

Stunned silence met my words.

“Excuse me?”

I fixed her with a look. “I said there’s one too many people at this table, and it’s you. You’re boring, and I’m fucking sick of hearing you run your mouth. Fuck off before I stop asking nicely.”

“You’re such an asshole,” Selena said after a moment, standing and crossing her arms in front of her. “I think you’re just sore because Bug’s upset, for some reason, I don’t know why. Maybe because you leaked her diary.”

“Talk about the fucking journal again, or Lillian Williams, and you won’t like the consequences,” I ground out. Crap, what was I doing now? Threatening random mean girls. What could I even do to her? Breaking Josh’s nose and threatening the queen bitch of our class. Lily had me all kinds of fucked up, and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.

“You think Lily has dark secrets that are embarrassing to expose? I’m sure you have some, too, and if you don’t shut the fuck up and keep her name out of your mouth, I’ll make it my mission to find out what they are, and make sure everyone knows.” I nearly growled at Selena.

She blinked at me, tears forming in her overly lined eyes.

“And don’t call her Bug anymore while you’re at it,” I added.

Selena spun on her heel and stormed away. Her anger and crocodile tears did nothing for me. I wasn’t going soft, after all. It was only the sight of Lily’s tears that bothered me. Freckles, the only person I’d let inside in so long. Ever, really.

This week had been a slowly unfolding nightmare, and I was ready to wake up. Leaking the journal had been rash, an impulsive act born of anger and hurt, and now, I couldn’t take it back. So, Lily had let everyone know about my past…it was all true, after all, and public record. Now, thanks to my shot at her, every fucking loser in the school thought they could have a crack at her. The memory of the droplets of blood on her white T-shirt haunted me.

“Isn’t that a little bit like closing the gate after the horse bolted, when you’re the one who let it out in the first place?” Marcus raised an eyebrow at me.

I shrugged uncomfortably and then stood. I couldn’t help my eyes going to Lily and Eve. They huddled at a table near the back, eating quietly. I turned away before she could see me staring at her.

“Man, you’ve hardly touched your food.”

“I’m not hungry. See you at the rink.” I tossed my tray on the way out and didn’t look back.