Page 7 of Distorted Obsession (The Distorted Trilogy #1)

eva

“Are you coming this weekend?” I ask, sitting on Farrah’s king-size bed. Her navy accent pillows take up nearly all the space.

“Of course I am,” she exclaims, rolling her eyes.

I’m still fighting the five million pillows when she continues.

“Like I would ever be anywhere else when you’re scouting potential Sweet Sixteen venues.”

“Who needs this many pillows, Fah? Like seriously.” I toss one after another at her head. “There are more of them than there is room on your bed.”

Sliding to the side, she dodges the onslaught, cackling each time I miss. One finally nails her in the face, and it’s my turn to laugh as she falls on her bed.

We’re giggling uncontrollably when her room door opens.

“Rah, have you seen my ? —”

I look up, and Colter is standing in her doorway. The Jacobi twins are a thing of legend in our town, only outranked by the Edgewood heirs. Glacial-blue eyes take in us, and my heartbeat doubles. Both of Farrah’s brothers, Cooper and Colter, scare and enthrall me.

Rising on her elbows, Farrah arches her perfectly sculpted brow.“Knock much?”

Before he can respond, Cooper walks in.

“Do any of you know the meaning of the word privacy?”

“Yes, Rah,” Colter begins. “We privately decided you don’t have any of that.”

Farrah snatches one of the discarded pillows and chucks it across the room. She misses by a mile, an athlete she is not, but five stars for the attempt.

Cooper’s and Colter’s identical gazes peer down at the spot where it lands.

Their mannerisms are like mirrored images, so in sync, it’s freaky.

Straight jet-black hair, arctic-blue eyes, and a facial structure rivaling any of the world’s best models.

Couple that with their athletic frames and unwavering love and protection for Farrah, and I’d be crazy not to have a cliché schoolgirl crush on my best friend’s brothers.

“Earth to Eva,” Farrah snickers, knowing exactly why I’m frozen in place.

Turning my face, I blink slowly, trying to hide the blooming redness I know is rising in my cheeks.

“We wanted to say bye before we head back to Groveton,” Cooper announces.

Farrah springs up, and I peer out the corner of my eye, watching as she approaches them. Colt scoops her up into his arms and whirls her around.

A giant smile grows on my face at the giggle that escapes my best friend.

Farrah’s gleeful laughter echoes like it’s coming from a tunnel underwater.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

My alarm. No—no, it’s a fucking jackhammer inside my skull.

I sit up too fast, instantly regretting it. The world tilts sideways. My throat is sandpaper. My eyes sting.

“Jesus,” someone mutters from the doorway. “I could hear that alarm from the hallway.”

“What is that noise?” I croak, instantly regretting it. My throat feels like it’s embedded with shards of glass.

“That would be your very loud alarm.”

I can’t make out who’s speaking. I’m too busy concentrating on finding my goddamn phone.

Slapping my hands around the mattress, I try to follow the sounds while ignoring the incessant pounding in my head, but I come up empty with every attempt.

Fuck! I feel like someone’s slamming a crowbar into the base of my cranium.

Groaning, I clutch my head, searching for the cause.

The dream . It clings to me—Farrah’s laugh, the ridiculous pillow fight, her bedroom just as it was before everything shattered.

Before I shattered.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” someone grumbles as they stomp across my room.

The shouty noise quiets. “I could kiss you for that, thanks,” I mumble.

“You did more than enough kissing last night.”

I open my eyes, testing to see if they also feel like shit. I sigh when I realize they’re fine. That’s when I notice a very annoyed Jade.

“Let’s not be judgy, hmmm,” I grumble. “Was it not you all that told me to have fun?”

“And fun you did have,” Camiel smirks, stepping into the room. “I saw our girl, Eva, disappear with two very delicious people last night, and she didn’t leave that room until dawn.”

Groaning, I rub my forehead and roll over to sit up. “How would you know when I left?”

Memories of the party run through my mind. Camiel isn’t lying. They were both equally impressive in more than one way.

“Were you that wasted? Jade questions, passing me a glass of water and two ibuprofen.

I try to think back. I know I had three jello shots and one cup of jungle juice.

“Shit,” I mutter. “I ate the fruit.”

“Yes, bitch. You ate the fruit, ” Paisley teases. “Luckily, not enough to need your stomach pumped, but just enough that you’ll need shades to walk around campus.

I flop back down on my bed and instantly regret it. My brain feels like it’s reverberating off my skull.

“Rise and grind, Eva. Didn’t you say you need to go to the Registar’s office to switch a class?” Camiel inquires, yanking my blinds open.

Hissing, I cover my face with my… her pillow. I have to fight my urge to cry. They don’t smell like her anymore.

I’m half tempted to call Mrs. Jacobi to see if there’s anything of Farrah’s left that I can have. Absentmindedly, I reach for the necklace hanging around my neck. Its rose gold metal is cool against my chest.

Inhale Eva Rose… inhale.

Of course, I can’t call her. I’m the last person she’d want to hear from. The girl who caused her precious daughter… my best friend … to kill herself.

Focus .

I listen to the sounds around me. The girls are talking. My heart is racing, and the woeful melody of a bird sounds outside my cracked window.

Lifting the pillow, I peer right and see a grayish-blue dove with black spots on its wings.

Is that you, Farrah? Have you come to see me?

Shaking my head, I sigh. It’s not her. I know this. Why would she visit me of all people? Unless maybe she’s here to haunt me… to make sure I endure endless sadness.

Just as you deserve .

“So, are you going to move your ass or stare off into space for the next millennia?” Jade quips, and I offer her an appreciative smile, grateful that her words pull me back into the present.

Huffing, I roll from my bed and stand, pausing to maintain my equilibrium.

“Fine. Give me fifteen minutes to shower and eat something, then we can go,” I state, skulking off to my bathroom.

Massaging the bridge of my nose, I try not to lose my patience with the woman behind the counter. I know it’s not her fault that my schedule was fucked with, but that doesn’t make me any less annoyed.

“I’m sorry, Miss Pierce. It says here,” she turns her monitor, “that you’ve changed your computer science course to American Society and Politics.”

She’s pointing to where my signature is, but I know I didn’t switch classes. I wanted to get the course out of the way during my first year so I could focus on my major-required classes.

“And you’re sure I can’t switch it back? We’re still well within the add/drop period.” I try, already knowing the answer.

“Unfortunately, the computer science course is already at capacity. However, if someone drops it before the end of the enrollment period, you’d be able to possibly switch.”

Shutting my eyes, I dig my nails into my palms until the blissful feel of pain settles me.

“Mason and Liam Bradley,” someone shouts, but I don’t look to see who it is or who they’ve called.

I could easily call my mother. I could even throw around the power that comes with being a Pierce, but I don’t want to be the cunty Karen that complains.

“Is there anyone I can talk to? Maybe I can swap to another one of my required courses.”

Her smile brightens. “Yes. If you have a seat over there.” She points behind me. “I will have one of the academic advisors call you back shortly.”

Nodding, I stride for the couch the furthest from the window.

My cell phone buzzes as soon as I drop onto the cushion, and I quickly rush to pull it out of the pocket of my acid-washed denim jacket.

Cal: Evie, you can’t keep ignoring me.

Me: Says who? I am perfectly able to keep you in limbo.

Cal: Purgatory is better than silence.

Cal: I miss talking to my sister. You didn’t even message me that you were settled in. Mom had to tell me.

Guilt gnaws at me, twisting my stomach in knots. I should’ve at least told him I was safe. My brother deserves better than the sister he unfortunately got.

Cal: Don’t you dare blame yourself.

Me: I’m not.

How the fuck did he know?

Who am I kidding? Cal always knows.

Cal: I didn’t tell you so you’d feel guilty, Evie.

Cal: I…

The chat bubble appears and disappears numerous times before stopping entirely.

Me: I know Cal. It’s why I’m struggling with all of this. I promise we’ll talk soon. I just…

I just need more time. Please give me that.

Cal: It’s not your fault, Eva Rose!

Oh, he’s shouty mad. That’s never good.

Me: How can I not?

I grit my teeth before I respond.

Me: Even if you didn’t say anything. I was her friend, and I was nowhere to be found the night she took her life.

Me: My best friend is gone, and I need to accept that.

He’s still responding when I hear, “Eva Rose Pierce.”

“That’s me,” I shout far louder than I intended.

Rising, I slide my phone back into my pocket. I can finish my conversation with him later, but right now, I need to clear my head and focus.

Groveton wasn’t my dream. It was the dream of a dear friend.

Reaching up to my collar, I rub my half of our friendship necklace as I approach the tall, burly man standing behind the desk.

I plaster on a smile, hoping it will soften him enough to let me make the switch. It’s important I do.

This is for you, Fah.