There are three fucking cops looking right at me, and now that I think about it, why the fuck are they here if we’re not discussing Harley’s death?
“He thought you might say that, which is why he already discussed it with the boys. He explained your situation, and after the tragic, distressing events that transpired in October, they agreed that it was probably your best option,” he says, not realizing just how wrong he is.
It is not my best option. My best option would be to continue to sleep on a mattress on the floor in Sarah’s dorm. It’s a single! The only person I’m annoying with my presence is her, and she said that it was okay.
Roman’s father has never done anything out of the kindness of his heart in his entire life.
The fact that he got my own mother to turn on me is proof of just how controlling he really is. He’s the most calculated, narcissistic man I have ever met, and I’ve met my fair share of assholes.
His blindsiding me with this is his way of keeping me close and under his watchful eye, because the gods know he doesn’t want someone out there disrupting his perfectly crafted image. Having a stepdaughter withpink hair who dresses like I’m nobody’s fucking business, because I’m not, he and my mother have put me in the‘voted most likely to be the one to act out’category.
Well, I’m not.
No, I couldn't care less about what people think of me, but I also have zero interest in involving myself where my family is concerned. Therefore, making a spectacle of myself isn’t on the horizon.
When Roman, Jace, and Colton stopped talking to me all those years ago, I felt alone. I felt like I was nothing more than a thorn in everyone’s side, especially at family dinners. I hadn’t noticed that before then, and part of me used to think that maybe things had always been that way. That maybe the guys were just the distraction I needed to keep my rose-colored glasses on.
Well, now the glasses are off, and I don’t have it in me to pretend to be part of the perfect family anymore, and that’s why I keep my distance. That way I’m free to be myself, which is a grown ass adult by the way, but also, I’m not around to disappoint anyone. It’s a win-win.
The fact that I’m not a frills and pearls kinda girl who likes to hang out at the local country club doesn’t work for my mother anymore, and while I don’t care too much about that, it’s the fact that she cares more about the family image and name than she cares about me.
Now that I’m older, part of me has made peace with it. As long as she’s happy and Keith treats her with respect, I don’t really care. But I won’t let them call the fucking shots where I am concerned. Especially when I am here on an art scholarship.
I sigh in defeat, because my scholarship doesn’t cover my boarding fees, and they’re a lot.
I inwardly curse my past self for relying on any sort of help from Mom and Keith, and slouch in defeat.
“Alright. I get it. It’s fine, Sir. Thank you for taking the time to arrange alternative boarding for me. I really appreciate it.” Sarah’s eyes are daggers at this point, because I can hear her thoughts from here.
“Wonderful. I’ll let him know that we have spoken, and I hope you both enjoy your winter break. Happy Holidays, I’m going to spend it with my sons here, waiting for me to finish work for the day,” he says, and we all stand. His sons. Oh, that makes sense, I think. Sarah, on the other hand, looks like she’s seen a ghost.
“Happy Holidays, Sir. Thank you again,” I say before spinning on my heels and hauling ass out of there.
“Care to explain what that was?” I question my best friend, throwing her belongings into her bag, which isout of character for her. She’s usually meticulous when it comes to her clothes, because for the most part, they’re usually designer. All the things I don’t really care about, but can appreciate because my best friend loves them.
“What do you mean?” she says, not bothering to look up.
“Sarah! Look at me!” I eventually say, and her head snaps up in surprise. “Talk to me, babe,” I say, and I can see the war swirling within her hazel eyes.
“I assure you, nothing is wrong. I was just worried the cops were here to interrogate you about Harley again, and the case has already closed, which would mean that there’s no fucking reason for them to talk to you about something that had nothing to do with you in the first place,” she says, then continues to pack her things. I don’t buy it. She’s hiding something, but I decide to let it go.
“Thank you for having my back, babe. It means a lot to me, you know that, right?”
“Of course, babe. Now, let’s talk about what’s really important.”
Conversation over.
Sarah walks over to me and sits on the opposite end of her bed where I’m currently sitting. I’ve already packed my things. Despite being an artist, I really am quite the minimalist. I can fit my entire life into onesingle suitcase, and there’s something so freeing about that.
God, I’m just stalling.
I just want to stay right here, and not move in with my stepbrother and his two best friends.
“What’s there to talk about?” I say, picking at the gaping hole in the knees of my frayed jeans that I refuse to throw away.
“You literally just accepted an offer to move in with the guys, and you don’t think that’s worthy of conversation?” she says, her perfectly tweezed brow rising as if to say that she calls bullshit.
“Okay, look. I was vulnerable that night. My ego was wounded when I caught Harley with Chloe, and I wasn’t thinking straight. Did I have feelings for them over the years?”The answer is yes. I was and still am head over heels in love with them. I think I always will be, and I am not happy about it.“Of course I did. But with everything that’s happened since then… Fright Night… Harley… The last thing on my mind is feelings, more so when I know that they’re not reciprocated.” That last part is true, only I know that whenever I’m near them, the only things that will be on my mindarethese feelings, and what I want them to do to me.
