I know she was getting sick of my grumbling and sour attitude. When we were dating, I didn’t usually act like this. I had, from her words, a ‘golden retriever’ personality. But damn if being on bad terms with Cosette like this wasn’t getting to me.
After Andy cheated on me, everything in my life suddenly turned dark. I was easier to anger. I would hole up in my room, trying to escape my mom’s questioning of what had happened.
For a short while, I traded circuits with punching at a body bag because I had so much rage inside me building up. I was running on such a short fuse that when classes started senior year, I knew I had to fix things with Cosette and have her be my friend again because I needed her light.
I needed to be in her presence because even when Andy and I were together and we’d have our lovers’ spats, Cosette was our mediator.
She always calmed me down.
“I’m not lying to you. They did kill Eli. I know that for a fact,” she said again, her jealousy getting replaced with fear that she’s going to lose me on her side.
Taking a deep breath, I noticed the expression on her face that I knew all too well. I recalled that Andy had been physically abused by Eli, which meant I needed to be careful about how Iapproached her. I’m lucky that she doesn’t flinch when I would slip and accidentally raise my voice at her.
“Okay. I just… I still don’t know why Cosette would slap you, Andy.” My voice turned softer, dragging a hand down my face as a wave of frustration washed over me now that I’ve realized that I couldn’t control what was happening to C.
“I told you. Because I knew nothing, and she’s hellbent on the opposite,” she said, repeating the same words that she’s been telling me every time the topic came up.
“I swear on my life,” Andy continued to plead in her soft voice, and I felt as though I was left with no option other than to put my faith in her words.
Sometimes, the whole thing makes little sense to me.
But I did witness Cosette slapping Dex before they made up, so it would be a valid assumption that she was on a violent streak, right?
Teenage rebellion and all that.
Plus, I knew Siege and Dex really are dangerous. Andy doesn’t have to convince me much for me to believe that. Dex flashed his gun at us the first time we met, for crying out loud.
“Okay, okay. I believe you. I just worry, Dy. Even if she’s in the wrong, I still don’t want her to be in trouble.”
“How could she be in trouble when those two are her attack dogs?”
Every muscle in my body felt coiled, ready to spring, to lash out, to defend against the unseen threats that felt like they were surrounding me.
A sigh left my lips, the need to be alone to calm down filling my thoughts.
Andy might have been trying to help, but I can’t think straight. I needed to distance myself from her.
Thankfully, the door opened, and in came my mom, who made a quick trip to the store to get some ingredients for themeals she’s planning to cook for the week. She had a brown paper bag tucked in her arm, handing me her car keys as she passed me to head to the kitchen, eyeing me and Andy along the way.
I didn’t miss the hint of disappointment in her eyes. Of how I have Andy here and not Cosette, if I had to guess.
She has dropped countless hints in the past few days, and I know she’s just itching to ask me directly why Cosette has not been coming over lately.
Chasing the reprieve of space, I followed her to the kitchen while Andy stayed in the living room, and I set the keys down on the counter before I helped put away the few groceries into their rightful places. I was putting the carton of mango juice in the fridge—the particular brand that C told my mom in passing that she liked—when mom decided to drop yet another hint at what she thinks of Andy being here.
“I only bought enough chicken for a two-person dinner tonight.”
Before I could even tell her I could just heat one of the frozen pizzas in the freezer, Andy spoke up, apparently following me to the kitchen.
“That’s okay, Anita. I’ve recently decided to go vegan anyway,” she said. “Can you whip me up a salad, Nero?”
When my mom’s cheek began to twitch, it was obvious that she was not pleased. If I let Andy stay any longer, I’ll be the one to suffer. Even more than I’ve already had from her attitude today.
“Actually, I’m planning to do some schoolwork before dinner, so let me drive you home.”
“But—”
“Come on,” I said, effectively cutting off her protest, and I picked up the keys to the truck before heading towards the front door, leaving no space for more of her bullshit.
