Here at Southside, Hayden, the king as Colt is or was at Northside, made that vitriol disappear, allowing me to escape any rancor that could have followed me.
And with some peace, if a good dose of boredom, I settled in and focused on making Colt believe I left him and walked straight into Hayden’s arms. This was all Hayden’s idea, and I went along after a drunken night of self-pity, which left me grossly hungover the following day.
However, now that I’ve seen them hanging around outside, I wonder if I can include Hayden on the list of jerks who played me. Did they laugh together when he convinced me to kiss him? Or the times I attended parties on his arm all for the sake of riling Colt up?
It’s painfully harsh to wonder if you can trust anyone who’s been around from the beginning. Am I really that gullible? Or are they that cunning?
Truthfully, I’m unsure if Colt even cared about Hayden’s overtures and our fake dating. Although at times his responses could be construed as jealousy, he was still, by all accounts, back together with Sarah Bitch Fremont, who I firmly believe assisted in killing whatever humanity Colt was clinging to.
My head is so spun out from their games, and I have no notion of what is the truth, if any of it.
Scrolling through, I open a text from Teddy that’s just come across. Teddy is the only soul at North who hasn’t screwed me over. He’s a jolly fellow who’s quite observant, sharp, acerbic, and paralyzed from the waist down.
There are times I’ve questioned his loyalty, but so far, his biggest flaw, in my opinion, is his defense of Colt with the indefensible. Even so, it’s a hallmark of his true friendship, and I can’t fault him for that.
Since he’s also Ramie’s brother, this further muddies the waters in terms of trust, which is all a complete mindfuck, but in my darkest times, he was the only light, accepting me despite Colt’s decree I was public enemy number one.
So, it’s with a good dose of caution that I maintain our friendship, even as I worry about his motivations. Nothing is ever as it seems here.
Teddy: what the hell is going on? Word on the street is that Colt’s made an appearance at South? Are you there? Is it true?
Finn: I can confirm the sighting is true
Teddy: what! What the hell is going on now?
Finn: no clue
Finn: have you heard anything?
Teddy: not beyond the fiasco at prom, wish I could’ve seen that
Teddy: Was that you?
Finn: how is everyone reacting?
Teddy: so far, I think everyone is just trying to figure out what’s going on...you should see Sarah’s face
The bell rings overhead, and students begin shuffling in, their voices loud in the formerly quiet space. With a small smile, I close my phone and glance around.
Sarah’s been a thorn in my side since I learned of her existence. It's hard to regret anything that’s coming to her. She’s a snake, and she needs to be caged if you ask me.
I wonder how she’s feeling after she showed up to school and found her supposed boyfriend missing. It sucks to be used, hmm?
I can’t say I’m surprised when Colt strolls through the door with a lazy smile and proceeds to scare off the poor chick who typically sits beside me before casually taking her seat.
Ignoring him, as best I can, even if his proximity lights a fire in me that sends tingles down my spine and straight to the good stuff, I wait until he speaks to turn my head.
This is all a game for him, and how I play it is the only control I have, but I’m ready.
“Finn,” he says nonchalantly.
“Colt,” I greet him, noting the same heated stare from before.
Resisting the urge to squirm in my seat, I crook a brow instead. “Fancy seeing you here. What’s the matter? Get tired of Sarah already?”
“Indeed, I find my interests lie here after all,” he says with a smile, but it’s decidedly savage, and I suppress a shudder at the dreadful sight.
“Too bad, since Sarah made all that effort to be with you,” I say dryly.
He shrugs, and it’s so...him to casually disregard how a girl feels about him.
Frowning, I turn away, for this is a reminder to keep my shit together because for Colton Theroux, it’s easy come, easy go.
“Your jealousy is showing,” he mocks.
“Hardly,” I snort, “I was actually feeling sorry for her.”
“Is that so? And why would you feel sorry for her when she’s done nothing but try to bring you down?”
Shrugging, I glance his way, “Because Colt, mere mortals like us like to think we have meaning in other people’s eyes. I know this is a hard concept for you, but Sarah wanted you to want her. Unfortunately, you’re clearly incapable of feeling anything, except maybe hate.”
Raising a brow, he leans forward with a wicked grin, which does nothing to temper the liquid heat in my veins and murmurs, silkily, “On the contrary, I’m feeling another emotion this very second.”
“Oh?”
Nodding, he casually grabs his dick and stares at me, “Indeed, Baby, I’m hard as a fucking rock, and I’d like to fuck you against this chair right now.”
Swallowing to drum up some spit in my suddenly dry mouth, I cross my legs under my desk, cursing my traitorous body as everything south of my waist tingles.
With a surge of annoyance and a good dose of snark, I say, “Case in point, hate fuck, hate…”
He grins devilishly, his eyes tracing my form with heated intensity, as his mouth curls back in a cruel smirk, causing my chest to constrict painfully.
“You’re like the tin man under all that hate, with no heart. Jokes on you, Colt, you’re standing in the shadows, and you don’t even know you're missing the light,” I mutter, catching the volatile expression crossing his face.
Before he can respond, the teacher begins her lesson, and he’s forced to turn away while I stare into nothing,
