The girl’s mouth flops for several moments, and then she works to swallow and takes a step back, glancing back and forth between the two of us, as if she isn’t sure what to make of Dread’s response.
Her chin trembles, and then she whips around and storms off without another word.
I deflate, but the tension doesn’t release from my muscles, even as Dread and I sit back down. I’m on edge, and slowly but surely, everyone goes back to their own conversations, though I’m sure there’s only one topic at hand.
For several long moments, I war with my body not to descend further into panic. I’m fully prepared to bolt, and truthfully, all I need is someone to cough or fart, and I’m fucking out of here.
My father has to be behind this, and that kind of makes me want to die.
I clear my throat, and quietly ask, “Why did you lie?”
He goes back to eating his cheese pizza.
“Because I know it wasn’t you,” he answers simply.
I wait for him to give any further explanation.
He doesn’t.
“But you think it could be Lionel,” I guess.
He looks up at me from his food, his eyes frosted.
“Or the copycat, if they’re working together.”
I close my eyes, trying really hard not to fucking cry.
“Or someone else who’s just as sick and wants to frame you.”
I’m definitely going to cry.
“Frame her for what?”
The sudden sound of a male voice behind me has me jumping out of my skin once again. I startle, and this time, a squeak makes it through my throat. I glimpse Severen sauntering up to our table, his lunch and a romance novel in hand, then cover my eyes with both hands, attempting to gather myself.
For several seconds, I just try to breathe and calm my abused heart. I drop my hands just as he takes a seat next to Dread while a beautiful woman with fiery red hair sits beside me. I vaguely recognize her but can’t place her name.
Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I stare at them, very uncomfortable by their presence. Mainly because Severen and Rogue are my secondary bullies, going along with whatever diabolical plan Dread cooked up. They’ve just as easily become objects of my hatred, and even more so now, I feel like I’m sitting in a den of wolves that haven’t eaten for days.
This day is getting worse and worse, my nerves are fucking fried, and I just want to go fucking home.
“Frame her for what?” Severen repeats.
“A girl has gone missing, and someone created a dating profile to make it look like Rev,” Dread answers casually, his tone bored.
Severen’s eyes jump up his forehead, and the girl beside me gasps.
They go on to ask questions about what just transpired, but I tune it all out, too focused on Severen’s body language. I’m on high alert, and truthfully, I’m wondering if that girl was just acting, they’re pretending to be none the wiser, and this is all another prank.
The more I settle with that idea, the more it makes more sense, and it needles beneath my skin, poking at my nerves. Now, the adrenaline is morphing from fright to anger.
“Reverie, relax,” Dread assures lightly, bringing me out of my spiraling thoughts.
I’m slow to pull my suspicious stare away from Severen, who returns it with one of amusement. When I land on frosted blue eyes, they don’t look quite as apathetic as they did before.
“Jesus, why the hell is she acting so scared of you two?” the woman pipes up, sounding both cautious and unimpressed.
I don’t exactly appreciate her calling me scared, but her comment does make me aware of how my shoulders have hiked to my ears, how my bones are solid steel. I’m leaning away from them, seconds from getting up and running.
