My appetite vanishes completely. I fling my fork into the bowl and watch him retreat. He tries to connect with people he once called friends, but they treat him like a ghost. Some students shoulder past him, others pretend he’s invisible. A few offer sadsmiles, which he returns with a nod, but mostly, he just stares at the floor.
Keaton is nearing the front table. I already know I won't like what's about to happen. David and his best friend Alek are sitting in the middle. Jerica, David's twin sister, and her boyfriend Reggie are on David's left. Jason, Tatum, and Bryson are on Alek's right.
That table is the throne of the desperate. I’ve seen people grovel at David’s feet, some practically selling their souls for a seat. Rumor has it that a couple of girls have even gone so far as to pleasure him beneath the table.
What could possibly make someone crave money or the spotlight of the popular crowd enough to toss away their dignity?
"Keaton Carr," David's voice booms, stopping everyone, including Keaton, in their tracks. "Why are you in my mess hall?"
My gaze drifts over the table until Alek’s eyes snare mine. Goosebumps prick along my arms, and my heart stutters. His dark pink tongue flicks out, tracing his lips, and I can’t help but watch.
A jolt of horror snaps me out of it, and I wrench my eyes away, forcing myself to focus on the scene unraveling before me.
"Needed to speak to Charlie," Keaton says.
"Why the hell would you do that when it only causes her more pain?" Alek growls.
Keaton shakes his head, and a smirk lights his face. "You're never going to have her, man."
If the entire room hadn’t fallen silent at that exact second, his words would have slipped right past me.
What the hell is he talking about?
I start to get up to go over there, but Amelia grabs hold of my arm to keep me in place.
"Ah. But you have no say in that anymore, do you? You gave all that up when you fucked that nasty cunt at a party that every-fucking-body was at. So, not only did you cheat on a gem with a damn rock, you humiliated her in front of everybody that she has to see all day. You really are some kind of stupid, Keaton," Alek says with a laugh.
Keaton straightens his posture and steps closer to the table, his hands falling from his pockets to form fists.
David and Alek, along with the rest of the table, stand to face him. "You don't get to show your face here. You don't get to show it anywhere that Charlie is-"
"Stop!" I scream. I stand and climb onto the table. All eyes turn to me. My heart hammers, but I keep going. "Please, just stop. David, this isn't helping. I appreciate you all having my back, I really do, but this isn't your fight. What happened in that pool house happened to me. Hecheated onme. Hebrokemyheart. Heismineto deal with. This will only make things harder forme,nothim. This isn't me, and you all know it. I want him and her to suffer for what they did, trust me, but will that help? It'll feel good at first, but when that fades, the pain will still be mine to carry."
So much for keeping my cracks hidden.
I fight hard to keep the tears from falling. "I just want to move on. That's all. I want to move on and forget. I want to find peace and heal. None of that is going to happen if all of this continues. There are only a few weeks left until graduation, and then I won't have to see them every day. So, please. David, Alek, please, just stop and let me do this my way."
"Go," David orders gruffly.
Rianna waits by the mess hall doors, her smile brightening as Keaton approaches, but he looks straight through her and keeps walking. She calls after him, but he doesn’t even flinch. I hate toadmit it, but watching her get ignored gives me a twisted sense of satisfaction.
Why couldn’t he have just done that from the start?
Rianna shoots me a glare, her eyes practically spitting venom. The devil on my shoulder wins, and I wiggle my fingers at her before blowing a mocking kiss.
God, I can't fucking stand her.
Sometimes I wonder if my hatred for her burns hotter than what I feel for Keaton. She never owed me loyalty, but she knew we were together and still went after him, determined to claim what wasn’t hers. Girls like her are why we don’t trust each other with our partners. That’s the root of my anger. I could never chase after someone already taken. I’d never want to inflict that kind of pain.
I drag my eyes away from her when someone knocks on the table at my feet. Alek is standing below me, holding his hand out, and with reluctance, I take it. A small gasp escapes when tingles run across my skin, and my gaze clashes with his as he helps me down from the table.
"Well, hello there, beautiful. Where have you been all my life?"
I wrinkle my nose at his cheesy line, snatch my hand back, and step away. "Hiding from you."
He smirks. "Huh. Guess you're not very good at it then, are you?"
Alek saunters off, leaving me gaping, while Amelia snickers at my side.
