Page 2 of Vicious Little Snakes

Not you, Cherry.God, I knew she’d draw on her inner bitch, the one buried deep down, for this moment. But I’d like to show Donovan how to do it properly. Fortunately for her, Grey’s already beat her to this plot twist. And my brother—he always gets my loyalty, as well as my acquiescence.

Only fools and masochists cross Grey McCallister. I’m neither, at least not for his brand of torture. I’ll play nice because it evens the score. After all, this is my penance for the trouble I concocted. I eat shit and let the Cherry stay on top.

Maybe then, he’ll forgive me. The other him, I mean—the only him.

Laura’s eyes nervously dart to my face. I’m trying my best to seem contrite and not think about Liam. I must be convincing because Donovan exhales a heavy breath, “This is the last time we have a conversation like this. Consider your ‘get out of jail free’ card used up. Next time, it’s all consequence. Okay, girls. You can go. We’re all done.”

I almost roll my eyes becauseboring. That was weak at best. Before Donovan can catch my callous regard for her, I turn around and begin walking away. Donovan’s done, now that her tongue lashing is complete, but Laura’s voice grabs my attention, and I look over my shoulder to see her open her mouth to speak. I’ll kill her.

“How can you love him when you know who he is?”

God, shut the fuck up, peasant. This is why you don’t get to be a real friend.

Donovan turns around, just as I do, locking eyes with me but answering Laura, “Because even a villain is someone else’s hero.”

“BITCH!” I’m screaming it, but only on the inside because it’s a perfect label for her and me.

Donovan, because she still holds the heart of the boy I love hostage, and me, because I got bested by an Upper East Side Kate Hudson. Now I’m the villain, and undoubtedly, I’ll never be Liam’s hero.

I swear to God, if I didn’t hate her so damn much, we’d be best friends. Almost were. Until she stole from me—twice. And like that saying, fool me once blah blah.

No. Always shame on you. Always.

“You and I—” She points at me, pulling me back from my memory, but I cut her off, unwilling to sit through another monologue where she flexes. It’s too fucking cliché and basic.

“We’re good, kitten. I see you.”

“Keep it that way.”

I know she thinks I call her “kitten” because of her nasty little claws, but it’s not. It’s because I’d like to put her in a pillowcase and throw her in the river. Donovan turns around, walking away as the sound of her boots echo off the walls until we’re alone.

My eyes cut to Laura’s, and I shove her shoulder. “You couldn’t keep your hayseed mouth shut? It’s bad enough you turned the cafeteria thing into a spectacle, but then you had to go and what, seek forgiveness? Look pathetic? Try to befriend her?Putain de perdant.”Fucking loser.

Laura winds a hand around her wild red hair as she straightens out her bunched sleeve.

“Jesus, Caroline. You don’t have to shove me. And that’s not fair. You told me to.”

My glare intensifies as my eyes widen.

“What? You did. I did all that stuff with Grey because I thought you wanted to stir up shit between them—”

My hand shoots up in front of her face. “Please. Shut. Up. Just go home. In fact, take a few days off. I could use the vacation from your stupidity.”

Laura lowers my hand and stares at me incredulously.

“I have a chem test today. And a partner in that class. I have to be here.”

My smile slides out over my lips as I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.

“I’m sure your partner won’t mind your D average gone missing. Sometimes it’s nice to let the dead weight sink. Try not to drown.”

Laura’s frown grows as I speak, but her mouth stays shut. Smart, because I’m feeling especially mean right now. She takes a step back, pulling on the strap of her backpack that’s slung over her shoulder.

“Fine. Okay, fine. See you in a few days.”

I turn away, not bothering to answer or look at her. I should feel bad. It’s not all her fault. I did tell Laura to play nice with Grey. I offered her Kardashian-sized ass up as a fake love interest. She was supposed to make Donovan mad with jealousy, so she’d leave and eventually man up to choose the only boy she’s ever really wanted—Grey.

But not before Liam watched her crumble over Grey. Her choice would’ve been out in the open, murdering whatever hope Liam was clinging to and shredding the connection between them. But instead, the debacle made Liam hate me, and Grey burn down a fucking tree.