Page 10 of Jerk

Tapping his name brings me back to those demon eyes, the first photo featuring him alone on a red carpet. The way he stares down the camera reminds me of the way his eyes pierced into me at Ember’s gallery. A shiver shoots up my spine. Then it hits me.

Did my posse ditch me for a party I wasn’t invited to?

The room spins as the realization becomes clearer. It’s worse, they ditched me for a partyRyungdidn’t invite me to.

How could they? They know he’s the enemy. I hit up the group chat with a screenshot of Marisol’s story and wait for a reply. Two minutes: nothing. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty. Still nothing.

Hannah: Guys? Pls don’t bail

Another fifteen minutes go by without a response, my muscles tenser than my mother's face after Botox.

Hannah: you’ll regret it

I wince when I press send, knowing my old threats won’t fly. But my panic doesn’t settle as my email lights up with more cancellations. Scrolling through my phone for Ember’s number, she’ll know what’s going on. I want answers, and I want them now.

“I’m guessing you heard?” Ember asks when she answers. Soul music plays in the background, the usual when she’s painting a new project.

“Did you know?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t know it would affect the Athena Affair. They’re so different.” Ember’s words don’t soothe me. Neither does chewing my nail. “I’ll still be there. I wouldn’t miss it.”

Looking at my inbox again, our guest list dwindles.

“This is not what it’s supposed to be.” If this event is already a failure, there’s no sense in having it. That’s embarrassing. And he’s embarrassed me enough. “We have to cancel."

“What? No,” Ember says, but she’s delusional. I’ll cut her some slack, she’s from The Valley. “You put so much work into thisandit’s for a good cause.”

“It’s not worth it if no one shows up.” This was more than a lavish moment with the perfect theme. Rewritten Feminist Fairytales. It was my moment to show everyone that while I still run campus, I can run it better than I ever have before. That’sby putting the women in this town first instead of bringing them down. “That’s social suicide and I need people to take me seriously."

“I’m sorry, Hannah.” Ember accepts my defeat as I tap to an old photo of the Crowns with the Posse, buried on Ryung’s feed. We’re by the fountain on campus. Our kingdom. We all look so happy. So confident. “At least I got you reading Virginia Woolf instead of socialite memoirs.”

“Socialites are revolutionary in paving the way for people like me.” Ember laughs and I smile as I can imagine her waving me off. “Hey, Em?” I don’t know if I want the answer to what I’m about to ask but I ask it anyway. “Areyougoing to this Crimson thing tonight?” Silence follows. The longer I wait, the wider my jaw drops. “Ember!”

“You cancelled!” Unbelievable. “Don’t be mad. I’ve been working hard on this eventandmy projects. I haven’t gotten to spend any time with Mac and he’s obviously going.”

“You’re my favourite plaything.”

His voice rolls through my head again. Smooth. Confident. Possessive. Like he truly believed I’d be his. “He did this on purpose.”

“Ryung?”

“No, don’tsay his name!” Those eyes pop in my head again.

“Why? Hannah, what did you do?” This isn’t the first time she’s asked.

“Nothing that deserves this.”

“Okay, well, it’s crazy thatI’mthe one to warn you about this but, don’t get more involved. I know I got with a Crown and had a happy ending, but it was rough. You’re turning over a new leaf. You’re going to land a kick-ass internship and you’re going to be self-sufficient.That’sthe goal. Don’t lose sight of it. Leave Ryung alone.”

Ember’s right. “Don’t worry.”

“I remember telling a friend that same thing.”

“I promise, Ember, Ryung is dead to me.” Ending the call, I stare right into those cold eyes on my screen, knowing what he’s capable of.

I’ll fix this despite him.

Muffled voices come from down the hall, my parents laughing. Then the inevitable happens. A moan, the squeaking of the bed, another slam and a squeal.