“No,” they both argue in unison, and I flinch.
“Colt is ours,” Justice barks.
“No, she fucking isn’t,” Mel bites back.
“Yes, she is, and we’ll be damned if you fuck up our happiness,” Prudence jabs.
She balks while I sit in silence, hiding my face in my knees. Justice puts a reassuring hand on my back, rubbing up and down while Pru holds my hand under the blanket. They’re too sweet, too kind. It’s throwing me off.
“This is fucking ridiculous. Come on, Colt. We’re going home.”
I want to protest, to fight, but she brought me here, and it isn’t fair to not be her friend first. I start to get up and remember my lack of clothes. Mel closes her eyes and turns to walk out the door. “Get dressed. Wheels up in an hour.”
With those parting words, she slams the door.
“Well, that went well,” I joke.
“You’re ours, Colt. Please, let’s try,” Pru begs, gripping my chin.
He pulls me in for a kiss, his mouth warming me from the inside out. Then Justice pulls me to him and takes my mouth right after, biting my lip for good measure.
“Can I think about it?” I ask, already knowing what I want but not wanting to decide yet.
“Anything for you, beautiful,” Pru murmurs.
“As long as you give us your number,” Justice adds.
I laugh.
Rising from the bed, I get a smack on each ass cheek from both twins. They smirk at each other and then me.
“Get dressed, and apparently, head out.”
They both jump up and ravage me, kissing and biting, and I’m so close to staying so they can pump several orgasms out of me for the road. They walk me to my room after I’ve dressed and plug their numbers into my phone. I can’t help the warm and fuzzy feeling that zips through me at the thought of being with them, even if only on occasion.
“Before you go,” I say, “can you make me a promise?”
They give me a skeptical look before they nod.
“No fucking that Ronnie chick.”
Neither laugh, which I appreciate, and then they both crowd me. “No fucking that Bridger dude,” Pru demands.
I never said his name.
That tingles a memory from the other night, but it’s too fuzzy to grasp on to.
“Deal.”
They both hold me—one to my back, one to my front.
“And, princess?”
I look at Pru.
“No fucking anyone. You’re ours. This pussy...” He reaches down to cup the inside of my sweats. “Is ours and only ours.”
I moan as he moves his fingers against my already swollen nub.
“And these,” Pru adds, grabbing my tits then touching my lips and then finally my ass. “All of this is ours too. We aren’t fond of sharing.”
I nod at them and feel so many things, but cared for is on the top of that list.
“Except with each other,” Justice adds.
“Hope you like swallowing your own words. You better do the same.” I mean it to sound like a joke, but it comes off a little possessive, and my face heats at it.
“We will,” they both say at once.
Then they’re kissing me one last time and heading out the door.
“Until next time,” Justice says as I’m waving.
It doesn’t take long to pack, and then I’m in search of Mel.
She doesn’t talk to me when I reach her, and really, I can’t blame her, but at the same time, I want to know how far she and Bridger went, and hate that any part of me cares.
We drive to their private air strip and are wheels up within an hour, like she said. While we’re in the air, I break the silence.
“Are you really going to not talk to me?”
She rubs the bridge of her nose and her forehead before peering at me. “I’m just annoyed. This isn’t the first time they coerced my friends into their bed.”
“They didn’t—”
“Either way, I just didn’t think you of all people would fall for their traps.”
“Wow,” I mutter, incredulous. “You think I’m just a toy for them?”
“That’s how they work. I’m not sure why you didn’t listen.”
“Maybe I felt sad and alone. Ever think of that?” I bite out.
She looks at me and nods. “Doesn’t change the fact that they’re my brothers. Not only do I want to protect them, I’m looking out for you.”
“I know you care, but you were too busy with Bridger to notice that being alone is fucking depressing.”
She lets out a noise. “I was.”
My interest isn’t in the details. It’s only stuck on one thing: did they fuck?
“Did you lose it?” I ask, knowing she’ll understand the innuendo.
She bites her lips, her face red and flamed like an unripe cherry.
“You fucked him?” I nearly cry but coat it enough to seem mildly upset.
I’m not upset with her, just the circumstance. If I’d told her that he was mine, this would be a non-issue. I would have, if I felt I had the right to. The problem with Bridger is, he was never and will never be mine.
“Does it matter? Why do you care?”
Bees flurry inside me, stabbing my insides as I roll over her non-answer. The need to punch her rises. I’m not always violent, but right now, I could push her off this jet and smile as her body splat on the concrete.
“I care because he’s mine,” I hiss, hating my mistake immediately.
Her mouth falls open. Clearly, I threw her off as her head tilts at the information. “Excuse me?” she asks hotly.
“Bridger is my fourth guy from that night where they all asked me to the dance.”
“The one you said didn’t matter?”
“I lied!”
She balks. “You... lied...” Anger overcomes her normally nice expression. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Colt? I told you I liked him. You let me be around him? When he’s part of whatever fucked up thing you have going on?”
“And I told you to stay away!’ I yell, hating her in this moment.
She touched him.
She fucked what’s mine.
I hate him.
I hate her because of him.
I hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.
My stomach is in knots and uncomfortable. They did this to me.
This shouldn’t matter.
“Fuck this!” she hisses and gets up, moving to a seat across the jet.
I try to hold in the jealousy and ridiculousness of it all. I don’t own them, and they don’t own me. We’re nothing.
A couple hours later, she finally looks at me and attempts to conversate. “I’m sorry I freaked out. Dad pissed me off so badly, saying I was being irresponsible and shit, and he made me want to leave. Even though my brothers and you did the dirty, he’s why we’re going home. He didn’t even fight me on it. But fuck you for not telling me.”
“I’m so sorry.”
She looks at me with disappointment, but it’s almost like she’s used to it.
“It’s okay. We will figure this out. At least now I won’t have to feel like shit when I’m not returning for winter and spring break.”
I nod, knowing I’ll be locking myself up in my room then. That’s the worst time for me. I shut down and have to keep the pain at bay, and when it isn’t there, I hurt myself and leave new marks to scar for later. Scars are meant to bleed, but they’ll always heal eventually, even if the residual pain stays.
“I’m just not stoked for the next semester. I’m not sure how I survived this one,” I surmise.
“Technically, you haven’t. Your grades aren’t the best.”
I scrunch at her words. “I know. My parents will either not give a shit, or they’ll set me up with a tutor.”
She cringes. “Let’s hope not. You don’t take the shit I take. It won’t be easy to help you out.”
I nod, hating that she’s right.
We chat about
our classes and how finals are in the next six weeks. Neither of us are excited, but we’re going to just go with the flow and hope we don’t drown. The worst part? We are both crushing on the same guy and it’s like the plane argument didn’t happen. We just drop the fact we had our first fight.
The jet lands, and we’re being shipped off to Arcadia.
“Think your driver will let us stop in town?” I ask.
“Maybe?”
He does, and I get a hair touch-dup while Mel cuts her hair in a shoulder-length bob. She’s so fucking beautiful it’s daunting. I want to be happy for her and Bridger. She deserves happiness, but thinking of her with him makes me want to commit murder, and it’s not his murder I’m envisioning.
If she dies, she dies.
My heart beats erratically at that. It’s irrational, isn’t it?
She and I stop at the market store and stack up on junk food. We’re set for the next couple weeks. Maybe then, her brothers—my new boyfriends?—will have sent us more.
By the time we’re back on campus, I’m ready to pass the fuck out. It’s not even five in the afternoon, but it feels like two days have passed, and I’m slowly dying.
She walks me to my room, and then we hug before she leaves.
When I open the door, I’m not prepared for who is on the other side.
“Fuck.”
“Fuck is right.”
Thirty-Five
“What are you doing here?” I hiss, glaring at Ross. Why is he in my room? I haven’t even been here in nearly five days!
“Wanted to warn you,” he responds, his shoulders tight, his face stiff.
“And? Out with it.”
He places his hands in his pockets, his body oozing nervousness, but he doesn’t say anything.
“I’m serious. If you’re not going to spill whatever you need to spill, I’m going to hurt you.”
“Don’t go to the Winter Assembly.”
I think of it. The staff usually splits it between doing a talent show and an award show type thing for the highest-ranking students. They’re smart and don’t tell you when the talent portion and when the reward portion is, so people are forced to sit it out or lose the chance. It’s not for another three weeks. He shouldn’t be worried.
“Why the hell not?” I ask.
Not that I care. Nothing there appeals to me except when someone decides to try out their stripper pole skills.
“Just don’t, Colton. Please.”
Not Greenie, Vamp, or Corpse. Simply, Colton. What the fuck is going on?
“If you’re not going to tell me why, I’m not going to avoid going to an assembly for you.” I wasn’t planning on going anyway, but he’s making me nervous as hell. I’ve just gotten back from my trip, and he’s sitting here warning me, but not telling me what’s wrong or giving me a valid reason.
“Fuck, Colt!” Ross grabs his hair that’s grown since school started. It’s darker now, his natural roots showing through. He runs his fingers through it. The stress apparent on his face worries me, but I’m not sure what to say about it. “I’m trying to save you.”
“You can’t,” I whisper. “I’m already dead.”
His eyes lock onto mine, those greens practically bleeding. He’s trying to level with me, tell me something, but unless those lips move, I can’t be sure what it is.
“Don’t go.”
“My parents will be here.” I’m telling the truth. They come every year. It’s an alumni thing. “If I don’t show, they’ll notice.”
His eyes widen. “A better reason to not show up.”
“Don’t say you guys are going Carrie on me,” I joke. I mean, come on. That was a weak attempt at being a dick, even back then.
His face darkens. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he hisses.
I’m struck stupid. Why is he being secretive, and why does it scare the shit out of me? I’ve been gone half of fall break. He shouldn’t be here, yet he is. Why?
“Why are you here?” I ask. “Fall break doesn’t end for another few days.”
“I never left,” he mentions, scratching his nose.
Never left? Something about those words scare me more than him pushing me to stay away.
“Why is that, Ross? Out of the five of you, you have the best home life.”
He scoffs, rolling his eyes. It’s such a boyish look for him that it throws me off.
“Yeah, a mom who drinks so much she doesn’t know how to live, and a father who fucks every whore in Arcadia. Just dandy.”
“I didn’t say perfect, Dare. I said best out of all of us.”
The sardonic laugh that leaves him gives me chills.
“You’re so fucking blind to everything, Colton. You show up to Arcadia this year and act like you’re supposed to be tough because Cass can’t protect you anymore. And guess what? You aren’t seeing the bigger picture, the things happening on the outside.”
“You’re being cryptic, and it isn’t cute,” I bite out, feeling my body’s turmoil. I spent an entire night with the twins. They didn’t let me sleep because they wanted to feel every inch of me. Now, I’m supposed to try to absorb all the bullshit Ross is spewing.
“Do you think the Emeralds are a secret for nothing?” he asks.
His question takes me back to the night of fake initiation, to the scare tactic, to Bridger being with Mel, to the weird Latin book that made zero sense, and to the way I left feeling like I tumbled down Alice's Wonderland hole and wondering what the fuck happened.
It wasn’t pretty.
This entire fucked up mess is confusing.
“Why did you fuck me?” I ask. “Why did you disappear and pretend it didn’t happen?” My tone shows the hurt, and I almost hate it.
Don’t fuck Bridger, I hear the twins’ voices in my head, telling me I’m theirs. Don’t fuck anyone.
Ross looks at me with a keen awareness, sadness filling each pore, and it’s unsettling.
“I can’t be here.” He shoves past me.
He can’t even have a heart to fucking heart? Are you joking?
“You’re dead to me, Dare. Don’t come back here.”
His eyes latch onto mine one more time before he grabs the door knob. “After the assembly, that’ll actually be true.”
He slams the door after he exits, and I’m shaking from head to toe. It’s not adrenaline or fear. It’s pure unbridled rage. Something in him sets me off.
I grab the thing closet to me, which so happens to be my Jack Skellington diffuser, and heave it at the wall. It splinters, cracking against sheetrock. The hiss of it when it lands makes me angrier. Nothing in my path is safe as I start throwing everything. The stuff off my TV stand, gone. The magazines, newspapers, and coasters on my coffee table, destroyed. My table aside the door, which holds all my pictures on the floor.
That’s when the tears come, and my body thrums with despair. On the ground, where it should never be, is the photo of Cass and me. He has his arm around my neck as he whoops. I’d just made an acrylic painting that made it to national galleries. It was my depiction of the world from an elite person’s view versus the view from someone who had nothing. It was separated by a metal grate, showing how the worlds could easily collide with each other even while worlds apart. The girls mirroring each other placed their palms against the border, their torture visible, silent, treacherous.
Cassidy’s smile is happy, his face alight with humor and excitement. He was my biggest supporter. He dreamed harder for me, pushed me, and didn’t let anything get in the way of my goals.
The tears come in heaps. They’re swallowing me, drowning me, pulling me under the weight of their sadness and despair, taking and taking, hoping I’ll suffocate.
“Why didn’t I listen to you, Cass?” I stare at the image and the light that is no longer in those eyes, and sob for what feels like hours.
I didn’t plan this, coming home and fucking breaking.
The plan was simple. Make it to winter break and see my boys a
gain. The twins are already distracting me. Thinking I could ever find a shred of happiness when this place is my own personal hell was a bit of a stretch.
It’s not where I want to be anymore.
Being in a loving environment for a steady few days changed me.
It’s insane how one single memory that could easily be swept under the rug is the driving force to making me want to leave here.
What if I ran?
Could I make it to Tennessee and survive?
Would the twins even want me?
I pull my phone out of my bra and unlock it. My eyes are met with a photo of the twins blowing me a kissy face. I laugh while tears still wet my face. They must have changed my screen saver when they put their numbers in.
Immediately, a wave of despair fills me. I miss them. Their warmth. Their love. The way they touched my heart without doing more than being nice.
It’s sad that they made me feel things so quickly and it unraveled just as fast.
I miss you guys, I send, creating a group chat for us three.
Immediately, two messages pop through.
God, I’ve been waiting for you to text. We didn’t get your number, princess.
I laugh at Pru’s message.
How much do you miss me?
Just’s makes me feel warm in every way that matters.
Enough that I haven’t packed or showered because I’d rather be talking to y’all.
Dots form and disappear and form and disappear. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Does this mean you’re going to sext us?
Of course, that’s where Pru’s head goes.
Not sure. Maybe you can convince me. I taunt, wondering if they’re together. They probably are. They’re attached at the hip.
If you two sext while I’m working, I’m going to be pissed. Justice’s anger is palpable even through words.
Warmth spreads through me.
You’re just jealous you can’t jerk while you’re with dad. I have no qualms at home. Alone. Lonely. Needing my girl.
Our girl, Justice corrects.
My dick is hard, Prudence sends back to the chat.
Mine too, asshole, Justice responds.
I’m sitting in a mess next to my room door, and all I can think about is how light my chest feels with these two consuming me completely.
Here Lives a Corpse: A Dark Bully Academy Romance (Here Lies Book 1) Page 26