“But you were always a little crazy,” he continues. “It’s okay, your amazing body can distract me from the insanity. Seems Cameron and you are more alike than anyone thought. Both a little mentally unstable.”
My body shakes with a rage I didn’t know I could possess. He wants to pretend I made it all up, fine. I don’t care if all our friends play along, but bringing my brother up is a step too far. He knows that, which is why he said it.
“I saw you come in. Jason and I were just over there enjoying our coffee.” He moves closer, stepping into my line of sight. “It’s been a while since we last spoke. Too long.” The sight of him makes me ill. Tears fill my eyes again and I try to keep them from spilling out. “I have to admit, the whole turtlenecks and skirts are starting to grow on me. Maybe we can play teacher and student sometime.” He smirks. “Whenever you decide to stop being such a filthy little liar, that is.”
“We could play that game.” I nod, glaring at him. “But then I’d have to report you to the dean, and you’d get to rot in the jail cell you belong in.”
My words must be funny to him, because he throws his head back in a laugh. Something inside me is breaking because as his laugh echoes in my ears, all I can see is my hands around his throat, squeezing until his stupid, smug face turns blue.
He hasn’t spoken to me since the day I picked up my stuff from his place. I know he has been keeping tabs on me. I’ve felt his eyes on me often, but he’s kept his distance until now. I don’t know what changed, but I don’t like it. I want him to leave me alone.
I need him to understand he crossed a line. Because of what he did, I’m not going to be his again. The mean comments I could’ve taken. I could’ve played the role of pretty, dutiful lover, until the day I died, but I draw the line at violence.
I will not stay with someone who thinks they can put their hands on me. If I stay now, it will just keep happening. I know that. He thinks he is untouchable, and for the most part he is. The law probably would’ve done nothing but given him a slap on the wrist and a pat on the shoulder for taking up any of his time, but I can do more.
Show him not everyone in this fucked up world will bow to his wishes. Not everyone will obey his every command. He had that control on me before, but not anymore.
“I see you still want to stick to that story. I understand. Being cheated on must have stung. You feel the need to punish me, with this whole story about me hurting you. Don’t you think that’s going a little too far, though?”
“Story?” I scoff. “I have the fucking bruises too…”
“You are just dramatic enough to try to sell the story.” He cuts me off, shaking his head. “It’s your family’s name getting dragged through the mud, Prue, not mine. You should know the longer you keep this up, the harder it will be to come crawling back.”
“Go. To. Hell,” I whisper just loud enough for him to hear.
“Have a good day.” He smiles before leaning forward and planting a kiss on my cheek, just below the bruise under my eye.
I hear his feet walking away. Hear his voice speaking to someone else from the corner. My body shakes, too fired up from the exchange.
Turning around, I march out of the coffee shop. My sight is blurred as the tears I’ve been holding back threaten to break free. Biting the inside of my lip, I dart down the alley way nearby.
The air burns as my lungs seize up. Resting my head against the building, I slam my foot against the bottom part of the wall. If it hurts, I don’t feel it. I’m too high on anger. Too blinded by hatred.
“Jesus,” someone says. “What did the building do to you?”
My foot stops mid kick. I drop it to the ground, hoping whoever is standing there just walks away. It’s bad enough I have to go to school with these people, but if any of them witness me falling apart, I don’t think I’ll survive the rest of the semester.
“I know I said you were a bitch, but isn’t this taking it a little too far?” My head glances over to see light blond hair. Blinking out a few tears, I let Ben’s soft features come into focus. “Are you okay?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Go away,” I groan.
Ben isn’t the last person I want to see right now, but he isn’t high on the list either.
“Who was the guy?” His head jerks back toward the coffee shop. “Ex-boyfriend?”
“Please,” I mutter. “Just leave me alone.”
“I could kick his ass.” He steps closer to me. “Judging by your reaction to whatever he had to say, and the bruise under your eye, he probably deserves a good ass kicking.”
I sigh, taking a step back from the building. Wiping under my eyes, I study Ben.
Last night wasn’t the first time I’ve seen him. My brother toured with him and dragged me along to a few of the dates. He seems different compared to then. Maybe it was all the lights and rock and roll setting, but he looked tougher then. Now, in the light of day, I can see just how skinny he is.
His blond hair shags down in small waves. Not long, but in a tussle messed, nonetheless. His blue eyes are dark, like sapphires. Fair skin and a boyish face make him seem far younger than I know he is. Up close like this, when he is wearing dark jeans and a hoodie with some design on it, he doesn’t look like the famous guy I see in magazine or on TV. Or like the guy I saw backstage flirting with girls. He looks like your average young adult now. Just your standard guy, who is offering to defend me.
It's a tempting offer. One that no one else has made. Why would he? It makes no sense, but part of me considers letting him hurt Charles. Give Charles a taste of what he dished out on me. Only, I know Ben probably doesn’t mean it. Even if he does, I can’t let him get involved. That will only cause more problems for me down the road.
“I have no clue what you are talking about,” I counter after a moment. “What are you even doing here anyways? Dropping off some college girl you fucked?”
