“I’m not sure if you’re stupid, or just plain needy.”
My head snapped to the left to look at him. “I’m not either of those things.”
He smirked, his fingers still moving along the hem of my dress, taunting me with challenge.
“Sure you are, Scar,” he said with a carefree tone as he turned down another road. “Stupid because you don’t know when to quit. Needy because you won’t quit, even though we’ve made it clear that you’re out.”
I crossed my arms, refusing to let him get to me. “And yet you show up at my house every week with your parents, ready to sit across the table from me and pretend to like me.”
He rolled his eyes and adjusted the expensive watch on his wrist. His outfit probably cost at least a few thousand dollars. “That’s our parents,” he answered, putting his hand back on my leg, this time, even higher. “Gotta keep up appearances, right? Those sorry shits still think I’m willing to marry you someday. They don’t realize that you’re yesterday’s garbage.”
His words, combined with the too-intimate touch trailing across my thigh made me want to reach across the seat and punch him. But then, that’s exactly why he said it.
I turned back to him, letting a mocking smile cross over my face. “Well, I for one can’t wait to go off to boarding school. I’ve seen the photos. The uniforms there are even better than the one’s at Smith’s. I’m looking forward to branching out, if you know what I mean. Guys just...don’t do it for me anymore,” I said tauntingly, looking him up and down with disdain as I shoved his hand off my leg.
His blue eyes cut across to me. “Fuck off. You’ve never been attracted to chicks.”
He said it like a statement, but I could hear the question lingering there. He didn’t know for sure, and it was killing him. As much as he liked to keep people guessing, Godfrey Taylor was obsessed about always having everyone else figured out.
I shrugged nonchalantly, and my non-answer infuriated him even more. My luck worked out for me, too, because Godfrey pulled the car to a stop, arriving at our destination. I took a deep breath, and then flung the car door open, ignoring Godfrey when he called my name. He didn’t follow after me, though. He probably didn’t want the others to know he brought me here. Coward.
But that was alright. After tonight, it wouldn’t just be the guys who were done with me. I would be done with them, too.
My stilettos sunk into the manicured lawns of Rogue Kelly’s family estate as I marched towards the front door. People were littered across the front yard, leaning against the tall fountain and stripping their clothes off to go for a dip, even though the air was chilled. The fountain was bigger than most people’s swimming pools, and I’d spent a lot of time in my childhood sitting on the edge and putting my feet in the cool water during the hot Savannah summers.
The front door to his house was propped open, and the moment I went inside, my chest started pounding in time to the loud music. The beat was energetic and hard hitting, and I immediately knew that Luis was in charge of the music. Guys and girls dressed in their sweaty best were sandwiched in, grinding against one another and clutching red cups as they moved. Rogue’s parents weren’t home, of course. They never were.
His home felt familiar, and it hadn’t changed much. An old family portrait was still hanging in the entryway. I remembered the day Rogue and his parents took that photo. It was taken in their garden outside, and we’d played hide and seek the moment they were done. There was a new ivory couch in the living room, but I recognized the Victorian rug on the floor. The guys and I had often sat there to play poker.
I made my way to the living room, trying to keep my emotions in check as memories kept punching me in the gut. I kept an eye out for any of the guys, while also trying to stay inconspicuous. I knew it would only be a matter of seconds before they found out I was here. Word traveled fast, and the people of Smith Academy liked to watch me bleed. People were already on their phones, texting frantically, shocked that I’d show my face here.
“I almost didn’t recognize you. You look like a little slut, Scar,” a voice said. Smooth lips hovered over my earlobe as warm breath traveled down my neck. I could smell his musky cologne, warm and spicy.
Luis Salvador. I’d recognize those dirty words anywhere.
Luis was the only son of Maria Salvador, real estate tycoon and owner of some of the most successful hotels and bars in the city. They were what my mama liked to call “new money,” but Maria Salvador earned every damn penny that she had. Luis once told me that she sold her soul for it.
I spun around, biting my lip when I saw him. Luis was a snob, always wearing an expensive suit. Always looking down on the world. He prided himself on looking good. You couldn’t even fault it for him, either. His confidence was infectious and addicting.
He had dark hair, cut short and styled. His tan skin and chocolate eyes always managed to pull me in. He was the fun Heir. The life of the party. The good looking boy you shouldn’t take home to Mama ‘cause she’d fall in love with him too. And when he spoke Spanish? Good Lord, he made girls swoon.
“Thought I’d switch things up,” I replied, not really sure that he could hear me over the loud music.
“You’re actually wearing something that shows you have boobs. Is this some last ditch effort to get us back? Because you should know,” he leaned in closer, as if to accentuate his point. “It won’t work.”
I swallowed. Luis knew exactly why I usually wore baggy clothes. It was a sore spot with me. Mom’s weekly weigh-ins would always leave me hating myself for days after. He used to buy me cheeseburgers and make moaning sounds as I ate, promising to fuck my perfect body if I wiped that frown off my face.
“I’m assuming the others don’t know you’re here, seeing as you’re alive still,” he said before leaning forward. I watched him take a lazy draw of his beer, hugging the neck of the bottle with his thumb and index finger as he stared at me.
“I came here with Godfrey,” I replied, not really knowing why I felt the need to explain myself. At that, Luis's eyes widened while pulling the beer bottle from his plush lips.
“Godfrey, huh? Well, he shouldn’t have done that.” Luis then took the bottle and poured it’s contents down my shirt, laughing as people stared at us. I could feel the entire school at my back, watching the boy who was once my best friend cover me in beer. “Get the fuck out of here, Scar. You’re not welcome.”
Everyone was laughing now, but I couldn’t hear their drunk cackling. I was too busy listening to that stupid voice in my head that wanted her best friends back. She was clinging to the way Luis said my nickname, the shortened version of Scarlett reserved only for them. Certainly there was still hope in that familiarity.
“Didn’t you hear him? Get the fuck out of here,” a shrill voice said before freezing, wet slush was poured down my back. It was so cold it bit at my skin, and I turned around to see Stephanie Palmisano holding an empty cup and smiling ruefully at me.
Well, I guess if I was being sent away for fighting her, I might as well do it.
I turned slowly, a crazed grin spread across my face. I almost laughed when I saw Stephanie’s cocky expression falter, her perfectly waxed brows pulling together in confusion.
“You really shouldn’t have done that.”
“Shut up, freak. Didn’t you hear him? No one wanted you to come.”
“You know all about coming, don’t you, Steph?” I taunted her. “You’ll suck off just about anybody. Be careful. Wouldn’t want you to get lockjaw.”
With fury burning in her eyes, she raised a hand to slap me. But this time, instead of just taking the hit, I caught her by the wrist. It was almost too easy. I could hear Bonham’s words whispering in my ear. Jab. Cover your face. Don’t tuck your thumb, Scar. It all came rushing back to me.
Then, I punched the bitch.
My blow landed against her cheekbone and eye with a satisfying crack, causing her to go stumbling back on her stilettos. Before she could recover,
I punched her again, and then I slapped her for good measure. There was nothing quite like a good bitch slap. I had to teach myself the technique because any respectable Heir wouldn’t be caught dead slapping their opponent, but I used it on occasion. It was practically a requirement for any good girl fight.
I was on her again before she could land on her ass. Straddling her hips, I used my weight and my superior strength to pin her down, and then I fisted her hair in my hand. She shrieked in pain, her manicured nails trying to claw at my grip, but the adrenaline was pumping into me too much to even phase me. When I saw the blood tinting her professionally whitened teeth, my grin widened.
With a nice grip on her hair, I grabbed her by the jaw, my fingers digging into her cheeks painfully. Her blue eyes went wide, tears dripped down the corners and ruined her makeup that she probably spend two hours doing. I leaned down, my face right up against hers. “This is what happens when you push someone with nothing else to lose,” I said against her lips.
Her lips wobbled as her hips kept moving, trying to throw me off, but I had her right where I wanted her, and I wasn’t about to give that up. Months of her tormenting me led up to this. As soon as my guys tossed me away, she swooped right in to claim them. She liked to write “Trash Whore” on my locker, and constantly tagged me in pictures of trash on social media.
Just when I was about to land a nice nipple punch and claw her contoured face with my nails, someone wrenched me up and threw me backwards. I landed hard against the wall, but I was up and on my feet in a second, sans heels.
When I whirled around to see who’d touched me, I saw all four of the guys standing in front of the huddled crowd, with Rogue Kelly right in the forefront. One look in his eyes, and I saw nothing but pure hatred.
No one helped Stephanie up, so she scrambled to her feet on her own and stumbled over to Godfrey and Bonham. Her whimpers were like music to my ears. Of course, Godfrey slung an arm over her shoulder, letting her face be buried into his chest. When my eyes flashed with fury, he just smirked. Typical.
Fuck. That.
I lunged for the first asshole I could get my hands on.
Rogue.
I pounded my fists on his chest, shocking everyone around us. Some kids in the crowd laughed at my display, but I was too lost in my anger to give them the satisfaction of stopping now. I kicked, scratched, and clawed my way out of the pain in my chest. I wanted to hurt Rogue Kelly as much as he’d hurt me. My direction had no aim, no purpose. My anger was a living breathing thing, and it wanted to break the man at the end of my fist.
Arms wrapped around me, yanking me off his body, but still I fought. I didn’t care anymore. I had nothing to lose. “Hold her still!” Rogue yelled, while wiping the corner of his mouth. Was that blood on his lip? A thrill of pride went through me. I had made him bleed. I wanted more.
I looked down at the arms covering me and noticed Bonham’s rolex. So he was who swooped in to save poor Rogue? Perfect. Lifting my knee up, I slammed my foot back, kicking him in the shin with a satisfying crunch, and damn it felt good. He let go of me with a sharp grunt, and I pulled myself away with one last manic jolt, putting distance between us.
Nobody moved. Even the music was cut off. I stared there, a wild flare licking at my senses as I steadied my breathing. Bonham was hunched over and rubbing his leg. Rogue was staring at me like I had two heads. Oh shit. What have I done?
For a moment, everyone waited to see what Rogue and the others would do to me. I stood in the center of the circle, chest heaving with breath as the adrenaline from our fight started to fade. And even though I somewhat feared the repercussions, the urge to do more destruction coursed through me. It wasn’t enough. I wanted them all to bleed. Rogue watched me in silent disbelief, likely debating on what to do with me. “Oh, you’re dead now,” Godfrey, who had watched the entire spectacle in amusement, said with a chuckle as Stephanie nuzzled closer between him and Bonham.
In a flash, Rogue’s face neutralized, the only evidence of our fight displayed in the redness of his jaw. His cold, hard brown eyes travelled up my body with boredom and his signature sneer. He used to only use that sneer on others. Never me. But now, it was the only look I ever got. I wanted to hate him. I’d never wanted anything so badly in my entire life. The fact that Bonham, Rogue, Luis, and Godfrey had ruined me so much that I couldn’t even hate them said something about the kind of fucked up I was.
Rogue stood tall and proud, hands in the pockets of his dark designer jeans like he didn’t have a care in the world—like I didn’t just flail my body at him like a mad woman. He was wearing a short-sleeved plain gray V-neck tee, dipping just enough to give a peek at the intricate, black tattoos that travelled from his chest to his arms. His hair was disheveled like always, falling to the side with that effortless perfection he always managed, but the blood on his lip? That was managed by me.
I kept my bare feet rooted to the spot as adrenaline pulsed through my limbs, making my knees shake. I wanted to lunge at him again. As if Rogue could sense what I was thinking, he was suddenly on me, gripping my arm so hard that I was certain it would bruise.
“Scarlett,” he growled it like my name was a curse, before yanking me through the parting crowd. “Nobody fucks with the Heirs.”
I still was clinging to that anger, although regret was waiting at the ready, prepared to drown me in anxiety about all the consequences of what I’d just done. “Looks like I just did,” I replied with a sneer, hoping my voice didn’t sound as crazed as it felt. I pressed my bare feet into the ground, struggling to keep upright as he stormed through his house. I didn’t have to look behind us to know that the rest of the guys were following. Luis, Bonham, and Godfrey were hot on his heels, and he didn’t stop until I was stumbling up the stairs and thrown onto the floor of his bedroom.
I smiled when I realized the slush Stephanie threw on me was bright red. It was staining the white carpet covering his floor, looking like blood in his crisp, pristine room. I was glad I’d stain his carpet. It meant he’d have to remember this.
Rogue surged forward and grabbed the fabric of my black dress, yanking me up until our faces were just inches apart. His knuckles grazed the bare skin at my chest.
“You have two options, Scar,” Rogue said while cracking his knuckles. “You can apologize and run home like the coward I know you want to be. Or we can throw you out like the garbage you are.”
“You don’t scare me anymore,” I said, though my voice wavered. Why was I doing this to myself? Was I so starved for them that I’d willingly accept the worst versions of themselves?
“You always were an idiot,” Godfrey said with a laugh. “Smart people know when to fear, Scar. It’s what keeps them alive.”
Didn’t he know? I didn’t want to just be alive. I wanted to have my old life back.
“Why are you here?” Rogue’s demand interrupted.
My eyes flashed to Godfrey’s, and his part in my being here was at the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t bring myself to throw him under Rogue’s bus. “I wanted to be here,” I said.
“Why do you keep wanting things that don’t want you back?” Rogue asked.
I closed my eyes, forcing my eyes not to fill with moisture. They got the last of my tears months ago. All that was left of me was anger. So instead of getting sad, I breathed in his minty breath.
His eyes traveled lower, kissing my skin with his angry gaze. Rogue and I had always stood toe-to-toe. We’d always challenged one another, always fought, but it used to be innocent. This was a different level entirely.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” he asked as his eyes grew dark. I felt the familiar fight coming on, and my heart raced at the possibility of his anger. A girl had to take what she could get, I suppose.
“A dress,” I snapped back.
I breathed in deeply, brushing my pebbled peaks against his chest. They were still cold from the beer Luis poured down my shirt.
“You think I want you here? What part of stay
away don’t you fucking understand?” Rogue asked.
I could feel the anger rolling off of him, see the rage in his eyes. I could feel the way his hands were shaking. We were one white-hot moment away from him wrapping his fingers around my neck and squeezing.
And I liked it.
“I came here to let you know that I’m leaving. You probably don’t care, but I’m done wondering what I did wrong. I’m leaving Monday, and I’m never looking back.”
My voice was calm, despite the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. And the worst part of all of it? I watched for a sliver of emotion, any hint that Rogue cared that I was leaving. I was still clinging to the idea that there was still some part of him that cared about me.
But there was nothing. No expression on his face. No reaction to the idea of me being gone for good. At first I was disappointed, but then I realized that he was too calm, too prepared.
Rogue Motherfucking Kelly already knew I was leaving. Figures. He made it his business to know everything in this town. Oh well, it didn’t change anything. This was it. This was my goodbye. “Is that all?”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Yeah. That’s all, asshole. Just wanted to tell you to choke on the stick you’ve got shoved up your ass. I don’t know why you hate me. I don’t know why you woke up one day and decided to be cruel to me, but it ends now. You have no power over me anymore. You’re nothing. No one.” My speech was dulled by my rapid breathing at having Rogue so close. I pressed my thighs together to ease some of the thudding tension swirling within me.
“Well, Scar,” Rogue finally said, smirking at my little speech like it amused him. “It’s cute how you think you can escape this.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“She almost looks pretty,” Luis interrupted while stepping forward. I glanced a look over Rogue’s shoulder and stared at him and Bonham, avoiding Godfrey’s bored gaze. I detected a hint of doubt in Bonham’s eyes, but the look was gone the moment he caught me staring at him. Luis moved beside Rogue. “Think we should give her the goodbye that everyone’s waiting for?”
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