He and Jurian were friends, really close friends, but he and I were closer.
A rock hits my window.
I ignore it.
Another hits, and another, and another.
For fucks sake.
I rip the covers off and pad over to the large bay window, annoyance rising up my throat. Nathan’s wide grin greets me, and even though I’m annoyed he’s here in the middle of the night, I grin back. I pull the window up and lean out, “is this Romeo and Juliet or something?”
He peers up from a foot and a half below. “Help me up,” he whisper yells, “I want to watch a movie.”
“It’s three in the fucking morning and you want to watch a movie?” I reach out a hand anyway, helping him in. He’s heavy,but we’ve done this enough times now, we know how to make it work.
“You can just use the front door, you know,” I yawn, “my parents don’t care.”
He shrugs in response, “it’s cooler this way.”
The front door slams shut, and I flinch.
I sit up straighter, swiping at my tears and pulling all the strength I have left into trying not to cry even more.
Fuck, I really wish Jurian was here right now.
Nathan stomps through the entryway and freezes when he sees me sitting on the worn leather couch we bought off marketplace.
The boys were so proud of themselves when they got it through the doorway, they didn’t even notice one of the legs snapped off in the process.
“You’re home.”
I force my face to stay neutral, “you say that like you expected I wouldn’t be.”
His brown hair is ruffled, messy from the fight that broke out earlier today. I wasn’t there to witness it for myself, but pictures and videos of it are everywhere. The black eye and bloody nose are enough to confirm what I already know.
His forest green eyes grow soft —sad— and he takes a step towards me.
I stop him before he can get too close, holding up a shaking hand, “I called our landlord today, terminated our lease.”
I want to puke right now.
“He was very understanding, considering the… circumstances.”
Nathan’s shoulders slump. He doesn’t need to ask, he knows I know. How long did he think he could keep it a secret? Was he going to let me walk around completely oblivious? Act like he didn’trapea girl?
Like he didn’t rape Claire Loyola? Or I guess her real name is Claire Taylor. That little secret got exposed in front of everyone when her brother showed face at the game and was seen leaving with her by his side.
Claire Taylor, the beautiful brown brown-haired figure skater who would never hurt a fly. Claire Taylor, the girl who smiles at parties and captures everyone’s attention because she’s a ray of sunshine.
Claire Taylor, the girl who lives with the guy I’m hopelessly in love with.
I always thought she was so lucky, she had everything anyone could ever want. She’s fucking perfect in every way, and all I ever felt when I looked at her was jealousy.
Now I feel horrible that I didn’t see the monster lurking under the surface of someone I considered my best friend.
“Where are you going to stay?” He asks— quiet, almost a whisper.
I swallow the lump forming in my throat, willing the tears in my eyes to retreat. “With my parents.”
