Page 170 of Ruthless Chaos

I don’t think I want to stay here for much longer.

Her presence only brings back the memories I’ve buried, thehorriblethings she’s said to me, the cruel things she’s done.

I fucking hate her.

“Relax, I just came to find out how everyone was doing,” she says, her voice sickly sweet. “You can’t fault me for wanting to check in.”

“We’re doing fine. You can leave now,” Nya says.

Cassidy is hardened by the venom that swirls around in her blood. Nya’s words roll off her, and she doesn’t budge.

I find myself wanting to say some of my own.

“My date, Liam, is busy right now.” As if we needed any clarification on who brought her here. “I figured us girls could hang out together in the meantime. We could gossip like old times, T?”

She looks at Tara, who glares back at her.

“Gossip?” Tara laughs dryly. “I have nothing to share with you, Cassidy. That ship sailed in Freshman Year. As a matter of fact, it’sshipwrecked.”

I watch them curiously.

I didn’t know Cassidy and Tara had history.

“We could share secrets, then,” Cassidy’s voice drops, and she looks at me. “I’m sure we’ve all got some.”

The longer she stays, the sicker I feel.

I’m not buying her act. Someone like Cassidy doesn’t just change overnight. No, she wants us to believe that things are different now, for whatever reason.

This is all part of some bigger plan to hurt me or Alexander. More than likely both of us. The longer I endure her presence, the angrier I feel.

She’s encroaching on the small slice of peace I’ve found with my friends.

“I think I’m going to turn in early tonight,” I say.

Tara and Nya’s eyes snap to mine, their faces tinged with concern. Tara’s lips are twisted into a frown, and Nya looks like she wants to come with.

Cassidy smiles at me.

“Leaving so soon?”

I narrow my eyes at her. “I don’t want to be around you, Cassidy.” The levy of my restraint is breaking. I want to stand up for myself. “You and I both know why.”

She doesn’t seem affected by what I’ve said. Her smile only grows.

“Why, won’t you look at that? You’ve suddenly gained a voice.” The vitriol I’ve grown accustomed to from her starts to come out. “He’s made you feel special, huh?”

Of course.

This is still about Alexander. It always will be.

“I’ve felt this way about you from the moment you and your fucking friends called me a racist slur to my face,” I spit. “You’re a horrible person, Cassidy. You’re sick. Rotten all the way through. Your life must be really pathetic if you have to act like this to feel wanted.” I can’t hold myself back. “Alexander doesn’t want you and he never will, bitch.”

It feels good to tell her what’s on my mind.

My words hurt her the way I intended them too, for her smile shrinks. There’s a moment of pain in her eyes, but it’s not enough for me, I realize.

I want her to suffer the way I did.