CHAPTER EIGHT
Today was Friday, and I was just heading into last period when Gretchen bounced up to me hand in hand with Andy in the hallway. She let go, giving him a quick kiss bye.
“Hey, Adde.”
“Hi, Andy.” He flicked his hand in a half wave as he walked off to his class.
“Sooo, we’re all going to Cult tonight; Butch is bartending again, and I think you and Sully should come too.”
Just the mention of Cult made me shudder. My last experience there wasn’t a good one. I didn’t know if I was ready to relive the nightmare of Xander’s fateful call from a few weeks ago.
“Oh, I think I’ll just stay home tonight Gretch; but thank you for the offer.”
“No, no I’m not accepting that.”
I laughed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean you need to get out there and do something. You have kind of been a recluse lately, Adelay. I think it would be good for you to have a few drinks and let loose, to just have some fun.” She was probably right but I still wasn’t convinced Cult was the place I needed to go to do that. “Pleassseee come with us tonight.”
It was true. I had been keeping to myself the past few weeks and had even been spending a lot of time in the kitchen with my mother -which I hated- helping her cook experimental dinners and baking enough sweets to give every tooth I had a cavity just to keep my mind free and clear of Davin.
When I allowed my attention to wander was when the smothering dark depression consumed my entire body, taking control of every possible thought and emotion I possessed, which permitted the dreadful sadness that constantly hung above my head to completely devour me.
My heart ached, and no matter how many days had gone by it wasn’t getting any easier than the first day when it hit me like a ton of bricks that we were done.
Staying busy with my mom wasn’t a cure all, but it at least helped a little. Sully had been great though, giving me my distance, and only showing up here and there to check on me; so, maybe he did deserve a night out with me. We both could use it.
“Who’s all coming?”
“Me, Andy, Sarah, Robbie, Davin…” She paused nervously. I raised an eyebrow at her. “And Bernadette.”
My stomach lurched into my throat. It had taken everything I had not to call in to school sick everyday these past few weeks, just so I didn’t have to see that snotty frizzy haired bitch rubbing it in my face that she was spending time with Davin. School was something I had to endure, but actually going out with them willingly was on a whole different level of emotional torture. Just then Bernadette pranced down the hall with Cricket close on her heels.
“Speak of the devil.” Gretchen muttered under her breath.
Bernadette stopped next to us, sloppily chewing on a piece of gum. “So, I talked Davin into going to Cult tonight. He really wanted to spend some alone time with me, but he can always do that afterwards. I mean unless that would hurt your feelings seeing him having fun with someone else Adelay, then we can totally stay home.” She blew a bubble then popped it, giving me a wicked smirk, knowing she had just dug the knife in deeper.
I bit down on my tongue to avoid attacking her right here. “No Bernadette, my parents always taught me to share my used toys with the less fortunate. Rumor has it you’re usually the used toy though. He’s all yours.” I flashed her my fakest smile, showing her all of my teeth, pissing her off instantly.
“You’re damn right he is. He always was.” She flipped her hair extra hard with her hand, spinning away from us and walking away. Gretchen burst into laughter, which she heard because her back stiffened like we had just shoved the stick farther up her ass.
“Screw it, I’ll go.”
Gretchen squealed with delight from my sudden change of heart. I was hurt, but I’d be damned if that bitch got one over on me. I just hoped I didn’t regret it.
Three forty-five finally rolled around once again with the classic ring of the bell, releasing us for the weekend. Just as I closed my locker, hurled my backpack over my shoulder and turned around, Sully walked up behind me.
“So, we’re going to Cult tonight I hear?”
I shrugged, still unsure if I had spoken too soon to Gretchen. “I said yes, but I really wanted to say no.”
He swung his arm around my shoulders walking with me to our cars. “Aw, I don’t think it will be that bad. What’s not fun about hanging out in a rank alley bar, encased in the secondhand smoke from Marlboros and marijuana that serves cheap shitty drinks to underage kids?”
“You have a point Sully. Infiltrating my lungs with the waste from others mouths sounds fantastic to me,” I said sarcastically. We stopped in front of my Expedition.
“I’ll pick you up around nine. It doesn’t even start to hop until dark anyways.”
I hugged him goodbye, glancing over his shoulder where Davin’s Range Rover was parked just as I saw Bernadette closing the passenger door. That son of a bitch. He was probably taking her to his mansion in the woods to curb his sexual appetite. Ugh, I had to stop thinking about him; the thought was making me sick.
Damn you Davin.
Steam covered my bathroom mirror after the hot shower I had just finished. Smile Princess showed through the haze. Sully must have written it when he was staying here, and I hadn’t noticed until now. I felt bad knowing that I
