Page 18 of Distorted Obsession (The Distorted Trilogy #1)

eva

“Eva, where the hell did you learn to serve like that?” Jade questions. “You’re a fucking sharpshooter. You point to a spot on the court, and it’s landing there too fast for it to be stopped.”

Camiel nods and then adds, “You keep swinging like that, and you’ll probably be scouted for the U.S. Olympic team.”

My cheeks bloom red at the attention she’s drawing as we enter the food court and head toward the stations.

“How do you think this week’s game will go?” Ayana asks while picking up a salad bowl. Her jet-black hair is braided back into two, allowing you to see a peek at the Lion of Judah tattoo on her back.

“I’ve been watching Texas State games, and they have at least three girls with a mean jump float serve,” I mutter before taking my chopped salad from the person behind the counter and thanking them.

Ayana, Camiel, and Jade hum their agreement as we get in line to pay the cashier.

We wait until we’re seated before anyone speaks again.

“They also have a girl who likes to tip it over, making it damn near impossible to keep the ball in play,” I state.

“But we have an answer for that,” Jade replies after sipping her lemon water.

We went over at least a dozen plays during practice today, and I have the floor burn and bruises to prove it.

“That spike, Eva,” Jade exclaims. “That mother fucking spike, bitch!”

The tips of my ears heat as people stare at all the commotion. “Stop it. We all kicked ass out on the court today,” I say, trying to shift the attention off of me.

“Of course we did, but this isn’t about us. It’s about you,” Jade admonishes. “You need to own your wins the same way you own your losses, Pierce. Don’t make me break out my affirmations app on you.”

Jade and her goddamn affirmations. I’ve thought about hiding her phone at least once a day since she found me in my room.

I push my thoughts away from that day, trying to live in this moment while stealing some happiness for myself.

The guilt is a future Eva problem… current Eva can’t come to the phone right now.

“Have mercy on us,” Ayana begs. “We can’t survive another round of ‘ you have purpose… your worth isn’t in the things that you own but the lives you touch… think it, believe it, and become it.’”

We burst into laughter.

“Giggle while you can bitches. Remember, I know where you all sleep at night,” Jade threatens. “And if you think I won’t make these your alarm clocks, try me.” She tries to keep a straight face, but it lasts for less than a millisecond.

“Would you mind if Molly and I join you?” Paisley, our suitemate, asks, pointing to the two empty chairs between Ayana and me.

Ayana is too busy trying to catch her breath after mimicking more Jadeisms to speak, so she motions for Paisley to take a seat instead.

The tall, mousey brunette with the big doe cappuccino eyes smiles as she sits down next to Paisley.

“Molly, this is Jade, Cammy, Ayana, and Eva. They’re my teammates. I share a suite with everyone except Ayana, but she’s been kidnapped… I mean adopted,” Paisley jokes as she introduces us to her friend. “And ladies, this is Molly, my girlfriend.”

We each take turns welcoming her before changing topics. “How was everyone’s first week of classes?” Molly inquires.

I sigh, biting the inside of my cheek to remain calm as the scenes of the last week and a half replay in my mind at her question.

“It’s been an adjustment, to say the least,” I confess—the words truthful without leaving me vulnerable. There are definitely parts of my time here I’d love to throw into an incinerator.

“They always leave that part out of the brochures,” Molly jests.

The conversation is light. We talk about our classes, which professors we think we’ll like, and how busy our course loads will be. And for the first time since school began, I feel like a real college student.

“Oh, look.”

Huffing, I close my eyes, immediately recognizing that voice. I spoke too soon, and karma hit me with the okie doke, putting me back in my place.

You don’t get to be happy or normal. You lost that luxury.

“Does your probation officer know you broke out of prison?” Portia squawks.

Breathe . She caught me off guard last time, but I won’t give her the satisfaction of doing it again.

“I know you hear me speaking to you, murderer,” Portia shouts, and the entire room goes silent.

“Go away, Portia,” Ayana growls, and I slump in my chair, trying to take up as little space as possible.

Seeing blood in the water, Portia attacks, pulling out her phone and pressing play on something. Audio soon fills the room.

“Fah?” I hear myself croak… the sound closer to a dying animal.

My body freezes at the sound of my voice. How did she ? —

“How am I supposed to do this without you, Fah? How do I keep going when every fiber of my being wants to be wherever you are?”

Immovable, my eyes dart to the side in time to witness Jade jump up from her seat. “What the fuck is your problem? Have the fumes from your botched dye job fucked with your cognitive functioning?” she yells, storming past Portia toward the bathroom.

The fear in Portia’s eyes dissolves once she thinks I’m being abandoned. “Do your friends know what you do in your room when you think no one is watching?” she hisses.

Fighting to remain calm, I dig my nails into my wrists until the pain can ground me. I can’t get lost in my head. It’s too turbulent to be out in the open, exposed to the judgment of others. I can feel their eyes burrowing into my flesh, finding me repulsive for what I’ve done.

“Sometimes I wish pussyholes like ah yuh would chuck off,” Camiel spits.

“Why don’t you try speaking English, bitch. This is America,” Portia snaps.

The gasps around the cafeteria aren’t enough to move me. I’m even more ashamed that my friends have to defend me.

Where the fuck is your voice, Evie Rose? I hear Farrah’s demand in my head. She’d be so pissed that I’m frozen stupid, allowing anyone to talk about me or my friends this way.

“My girl, go suck out yuh maddah.” Camiel’s accent is heavy as the rage in her builds. “Mi promise, yuh nuh wan mi fi come out ah dah chair yah because is ah fuck lick yuh ah get if mi git up.”

Before Portia can utter another word, Jade slams into her shoulder, knocking her back into her seat.

Understanding that this is the beginning, I find my voice. “Let’s just go. We’re done anyway,” I murmur, once again too afraid to defend myself.

I don’t know what happened to the girl who would start wars for less. She must have died with Farrah.

They all try to argue, but I can’t. Mentally, I just can’t. I need out of my skin.

Standing, I pull my hood over my head, using it as a buffer as I stride for the door.

I hear Portia’s cackle as I exit the food court. “That’s right bitch, run, it’s what you’re good at. You ran from your best friend too, didn’t you? That’s why she’s dead.”

Pain… pain lancing my heart. That was a direct hit. I can’t even question how the fuck she’d have that information.

Clutching my chest, I push the door open and suck in a lung full of air, allowing it to wash over me before I wrap myself in a cocoon.

This shit has got to stop. I won’t make it past a month if I don’t find a way to at least tread water.

I knock into someone, but I don’t stop and look. I mumble my apologies. Even when a familiar scent hits my nose. I’m too focused on running to care or try to place it.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I shoot off a quick text. It’s time to make some changes.