Knowing what Jake did to Mia was hard to stomach, but there’s a big difference between knowing about it and having to watch it with my own two eyes.
The video Jake recorded while assaulting Mia was leaked. Watching her fear-stricken, tear-stained face, hearing the malicious delight in Jake’s voice as he preyed on her...
It hit so close to home I couldn’t sleep for days.
No woman should ever go through that. No man should ever abuse the power he holds.
After seeing the video, I understood there was no hope for me if I couldn’t let go of the hurt ripping me apart.
That’s when I took that long, hard look at myself. I didn’t like what I saw. I still don’t. Maybe I never will.
People blamed Brandon on par with Jake and me. After all, it was his stupid prize Jake wanted to win. But no one blamed Brandon more than he blamed himself. It took months before he composed himself enough to look in the mirror without smashing it to pieces. Months before he crawled out of the ditch he’d dug himself that night.
I’ve never seen a man fall from grace so fast. From the very top of the college hierarchy to the very bottom. From a king-of-the-world attitude to a complete wreck. Until then, he lived his lavish life in the fast lane without a care, then crashed into a brick wall that appeared out of nowhere.
That’s what love and an ocean of blame do, I guess. Brandon hadn’t realized what he wanted from Mia was more than physical. It was emotional, deep...real. He didn’t realize he was in love with her until it was too late.
He crumbled under the weight of regret, shame, and self-loathing. Therapy and countless hours crying in my arms saved him. Once he regained his footing, earning Mia’s forgiveness became his new mission.
Not an easy task when she’s dating the most ruthless man in town. Maybe the entire county. The man Newport looks up to. The man everyone respects.
But he managed to pull it off. With persistence and sheer fucking stubbornness, Brandon earned himself a second chance. He got his friends back and shed a portion of his pompous attitude along the way.
A bittersweet victory. No matter what he does, he’ll never get to play his cards right with Mia.
That girl is taken. Claimed by none other than my new neighbor’s older brother—Nico Hayes.
And he is obsessed with his girl.
Come to think of it, all the Hayes brothers go a bit Looney Tunes when they find the love of their life.
“I should start unpacking,” I tell Brandon, perfectly aware I’ve been silent for at least a minute.
He’s used to my long pauses. I’ve been zoning out, lost in my thoughts, for months.
The initial shock that rocked me when I saw Cody bought the condo across the hall has gradually eased off.
That’s not to say I’m looking forward to enduring his hateful stares for however long we’ll be neighbors.
A long time, I bet.
“Oh, and... it might be better if I skip your graduation party. I’ll have enough of Cody’s attitude on a daily basis now.”
“No, you’re not missing the party,” Brandon says, and the bed creaks on the other side of the line as if he snapped upright. “This is my last ever college party, babe. I’ve planned a bunch of fun games. Don’t stand me up. You’re coming. I’ve already ordered your favorite wine. Besides, it’s still two weeks away. Maybe you’ll work shit out with Cody by then.”
A sweet, sarcastic chuckle falls from my lips. “And maybe hell will freeze over.”
“You never know but, if nothing changes, dress to impress and fuck the haters.”
Easy for him to say. He salvaged his reputation. Mine’s still trashed. I may be on speaking terms with most people, but not the way I was. And no matter how many friends I win back, I’m ostracized wherever the triplets are present.
Brandon nagged me into crashing their Halloween party and I got booted the moment Cody saw me talking to Justin. The most humiliating night of my college career.
There’ve been many more humiliating and degrading situations in my life, but none this public. None caused by my peers.
I won’t be kicked out from the seniors’ last college hurrah, since Brandon’s organizing it, but it doesn’t make things any easier...
My old friends, the girls on the cheerleading squad, barely acknowledge me beyond a quickheywhenever we cross paths. I’ll likely be glued to Brandon’s side, hanging out with him, Finn, and Justin—the two guys who had Brandon’s back last year.
