“You’re wrong.”
“I’m a guy in love. I know it when I see it.”
“Sebastian, stop with this nonsense.”
He laughs. “I think I’ve seen this film before. A couple of weeks ago, actually. Looks like you’re gonna keep denying until you finally agree.”
Before I can muster up a reply, I see Marie and Hope walking towards us.
Not wanting to wait any longer, I cross the distance between us and near them.
“…so butterflies are amazing. They transform into this beautiful thing after going through so much ugliness. I mean I don’t consider the six stages of larvae ugly but others do. I think those stages are beautiful in their own way—Heath!”
Rose turns and looks at me. What I see makes me stiffen.
Her eyes are red rimmed and her cheeks are flushed. Despite the smile on her face, it’s obvious that she’s cried.
My mood changes. “What happened?”
I fucking knew it.
Someone used their useless mouth to spew bullshit and it hurt her feelings.
When I get my hands on them I’ll make sure they suffer.
Hope glances at Marie and a quiet conversation goes on between them. Finally, after a long minute, she answers me. “People said some things.”
“What things?” I press the matter.
“About what happened on the weekend.”
Fucking hell. I spent a couple of hours there, not a life sentence. People were eating these rumors with sheer interest and delight. It wasn’t Hope who was getting the looks. I was in the spotlight. Since we were dating, people were eager to reach her to get to me.
I just hoped that they wouldn’t find out about Hope’s dad otherwise it would be a mess. People have a habit of enjoying other people’s misery and it would be a field day at school everyday with comments she doesn’t need to hear.
Especially when she is learning to come out of her comfort zone and take a step forward in my direction. She is telling me stuff now which is new.
I am proud of her. For trusting herself and me.
“What did they say?”
Rose chews on her bottom lip. “Stuff about you spending a night in cell and the reasons why you could’ve attacked my dad.”
I hate people.
“What did they say that madeyoucry?”
Rose looks at Marie who takes the lead. “It was Shian. She’s a girl from our grade. You must have seen her around. She’s bitter because she asked you out a while ago and you didn’t pay any attention to her so she’s spreading false rumors and targeting Hope.”
“It’s that girl from the morning?” I ask Rose.
She nods. “She wants to be your girlfriend.”
“Hah! As if Heath would ever date her. She’s evil,” Marie says. “Also, she doesn’t complement him at all.”
I arch an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
Rose and I both stare at Marie.
