Page 55 of Cry Madness
“Lovely piece of art. Self-portrait?”
“You think this is a fucking joke?”
Scarlett lifts a single, manicured brow. “The only thing that’s a joke is your silly temper tantrum. Actually, no, I take that back. It’s actually embarrassing, Alice. If I were you, I’d be dying of shame.”
A few people snicker, but I stay focused on Scarlett. I narrow my eyes on her and imagine whathersevered head would look like. “You’re trash, Scarlett. Doesn’t matter what family you come from or who your daddy is, because you’re garbage, scum, andthat’s all you’ll ever be.” I stab a finger at the canvas. “You pull this bullshit again, and I swear to God, next time, I hit back.”
“Miss Knightly, that’s enough!” the professor shouts.
Scarlett’s blood-red, cupid-bow lips lift in a slow, smooth grin. “Why, Alice, are you threatening me?”
“Damn right I am,” I hiss.
Scarletttsks. “And in front of the entire class.” She presses her delicate hand to the breast of her vintage red dress. “How unsettling. Why, I’m practically terrified.”
“Leave right now or I’ll call security,” Professor Riddle warns me.
“Fuck with me again, and you’ll learn what being terrifiedreallymeans. How’s that for a threat?” I sneer, not caring that everyone inside this room is watching us. Hanging on every word I say to her.
“Alice Knightly!” Professor Riddle rushes to his desk and lifts the receiver. “That’s it, I’m calling security.”
“I’m going,” I tell him, snatching the painting off the desk.
The audacity of this bitch. She waves at me. “Bye-bye, Alice,” Scarlett singsongs. I flip her the finger before spinning on my heels to march from the room. But then I hear, “It’s truly a spot-on likeness. The only thing missing is a bit more blood. You know, for effect.”
“Go fuck yourself,” I snap before pushing open the door. I slam it behind me, and once out in the hallway, I press my back against the oak-paneled wall and cover my face with my hands. “Shit, shit,shit,” I mutter into my palms.
I’m not a confrontational person by nature, but my God, it felt great to call Scarlett out on her bullshit—and to have done it so publicly. She damn well deserved it. I’m done being docile. Being silent. My father always encouraged me to stand up formyself, and I’ll be goddamned if I continue to allow Scarlett to run right over me without fighting back.
Grossly late for class, I decide to skip it. Besides, my phone is blowing up. No doubt by now, the scene I pulled is making its way around Briar Rose. Here, gossip spreads like wildfire. I’ll bet that most of the texts coming in at rapid-fire speed are from Maddox, and after trudging to my car, getting drenched from the rain, I see that all the messages are from Maddox and Ivory.
I reply first to my best friend’s last text.
Ivory: WTH happened?!?!?
Me: Your sister is a bitch. I’m going home
Ivory: Call me later!!
Me: I will
Ivory: U better!!!
Then I answer Maddox.
Me: Scarlett’s an asshole. Meet me in the maze
I hit send when the rap on the passenger’s window scares the life out of me. Gasping, I fumble for my phone, the tension draining out of me when I see Maddox outside the car. The top hat is under his arm, and the rest of him is soaked. He slides inside when I unlock the doors and pulls his phone from his pocket. He sets it on the dashboard, then runs a hand through his wet hair, pushing it away from his scowling face.
“What the hell happened?”
“Scarlett happened.” I dig in the bag and pull out the painting. “She left me a gift in my locker.”
Maddox places his hat beside his phone before taking the painting from me. “The fuck is this?”
“A stunning replica of Rook’s masterpiece.”
“Sonofabitch,” he mutters as he examines the chilling artwork. “Thisis what he painted?”