Shit, I don’t know.
As expected, Colt corners me on the way out, plastering me against the wall with his typical lean and staring into his beautiful eyes - I despair, my heart clenching at the thought he could be in danger.
Yes, he’s an asshat, but he doesn’t deserve to be hurt because of some crazy psycho.
“What’s going on, Finn?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I lie, shrugging my shoulders for effect.
If I involve him, I run the risk of endangering him, not to mention he doesn’t deserve to be in my inner circle, not yet, maybe not ever.
“Really? Look, I-“
Hayden appears over his shoulder with a smirk, and I take the opportunity to slip away, ignoring Colt as he swears profusely behind me.
Trotting off to the next class, I avoid Colt once again, except he fucking corners me after the next class.
I’m tired, emotionally drained, and scared. I just need a fucking minute.
“Remember the good old days when you hated me and couldn’t stand the sight of me?” I ask dryly.
Colt’s eyes flash, his mouth curling into a devastating grin, “Oh, Princess, I’ve always liked the sight of you.”
“Is that right? I thought I was boring Colt? Remember? You dumped me in front of our whole class because I sucked in bed,” I mutter.
The quickest way to get Colt off my back is to rile him up, and I’m willing to do it for a few fucking minutes of peace. Besides, for all I know, the creeper is waiting in the wings and watching this play out in living color.
“Oh Princess, maybe I changed my mind,” he says, smiling, but I can see the darkness behind his eyes. He doesn’t want me to rehash this, why I don’t know.
“Hm, maybe you can’t resist me after all? You back for another hate fuck? I tell you what, meet me in the parking lot at lunch.”
His eyes darken, flashing fire as he runs his finger down my cheek and murmurs, “Is that what you need, Princess?”
Pulling away, I back slowly down the hall and arching my brow, I murmur, “No, Baby. I just thought I might get you off my back. Truthfully, I’m a little bored myself.”
I escape before he can respond, and I admit the evil part of me is pleased by the icy look of anger that flashed over his face. It hurts, doesn’t it? Dick.
*****
Saturday night, I find myself at another party, but on the hunt this time. I’m prepared for my little fan to text me, and I’ve gone over a list of people, no matter how farfetched.
They include everyone I’ve come in contact with since I started here, including Colt. I have my doubts based on the abuse toward him, but it would be foolish to count him out.
That means I need to dig deeper with Colt, my tempestuous lover/enemy. Dirk, his best friend. Sarah, his bitch. Tiffany, his ex-Bitch. George, his friend, and a football player, although I hope it’s not because I’ve come to like George.
And Buck, Colt’s half-brother, the dick who tried to rape me in the back of his car. Ben, the douche who watched and then blocked my way when I tried to escape, not to mention attempting violent revenge not once but twice since then.
Nate, who’s been trying to get me to date him since the beginning. Hayden, who’s pals with Colt to my dismay.
Melissa or Teddy, my only friends. Ugh.
And this doesn’t include the handful of others on the periphery or who could be complete strangers.
I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
Speaking of my list, Nate rounds the corner and graces me with a beaming smile, his cute dimples popping. At any other time, I might consider dating him, but my life’s too complicated, and after fucking Colt, he pales in comparison.
Since he’s on my list and I have to start somewhere, I give him a friendly grin in return. We’re back at Dirk’s house, which makes me wonder where his parents are because they’re never here on the weekends.
Bass music pumps through the house, sliding through my skull while students cover every available surface, many in various stages of undress as they make out or...yep, have sex. Gross.
Being here reminds me of the couple’s game I played with Colt when he was pretending to be my boyfriend, the sex we had after was explosive, and once again, I’m left with a sour taste in my mouth at the memory.
Was nothing real? Fuck.
“Hey, pretty girl. Want a drink?” Nate asks, beaming his baby blues my way.
“Hey, sure.”
We wander into the kitchen and help ourselves to the booze before exiting into the brisk air. As usual, there’s a fire out back, and we find a spot to sit and absorb the heat.
“So, what’s going on? I haven’t had much time to talk to you, what with Colt and all,” he ends, sourly.
Laughing to cover my discomfort, I glance around and ask, “What’s your problem with him anyway?”
“You mean besides that he has the prettiest girl?” he says with a wink.
I cover my shiver with a smile and take a small sip of my drink. I can’t drink heavily tonight because my plan to track down my fan is in full force, and Nate’s quasi-inference about being jealous is not helping his case, either.
“Besides that,” I murmur.
Nate chuffs and looks away, and I follow his gaze, meeting Colt’s cold stare. We lock eyes for several minutes before I turn away. If there’s a god, then Colt’s agonizing over whether I plan to make Nate my replacement fuck. Hey, I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve sunk that low. It’s not like he hasn’t paraded his bitches in front of me before.
When I turn back to Nate, I’m startled by the look of pure hate on his face as he too, stares at Colt before he covers his blunder with a silly smile. Wow.
“Nothing, we were friends once. You know?” he says, casually.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, Hayden, Colt, and I, but then it all went to shit. I see
