Page 13 of Darkest Obsession

“That’s not something to brag about. Now what do you want? What the hell was so damned important that you had to interrupt my conversation.”

“Jude’s a monster.”

I know, I’m a bloody hypocrite. But I know my sister and her friend, Amina. They would both want me to look out for Sylvia. Who knows what Jude might plan for her if he gets too close anyway? I don’t want to let Violet down. Dad’s taken that job off my hands already.

“That’s your opinion. And he still goes to our school. I’m a friendly person. I don’t beef with people. I don’t care what Jude did.”

“Christ, Sylvia. Do you have a crush?”

“No! Ew! Thomas, I’m not talking to you about my crushes.”

“Right.”

“Now answer my question. What do you want?”

“Something happened.”

“Wow. Amazing, Thomas. Your incredible and very specific vocabulary strikes again.”

“I mean…”

“Spill! I have better things to do than stand around talking to you.”

“Would it help if I apologized?”

Sylvia rolls her eyes. I should have guessed that earlier. The one piece of advice my father always gave was, “Always apologize. Then buy her jewelry.” Then again, he was giving me advice for cheating, so I don’t know if the applications are universal.

“Yes, you idiot. Obviously.”

“Oh.”

“Well?” Her hands fly to her hips again. Christ. Maybe Sylvia could tame Jude Fox. She has this menacing demeanor when she chooses. Terrifying girl.

“Sorry.”

“Finally. Now what do you want?”

“I think… I want to… hurt someone.”

Sylvia’s hands fall away from her hips and she gives me a stern look.

“You promised you were done with this whole ‘dark urges’ thing.”

I don’t know what possessed me to confess my deepest secret to Sylvia this summer, but weed definitely had something to do with it.

“I know. I know.”

“Who was it?”

Well, I can’t fucking tell her that.

I won’t get the chance anyway. Clover emerges with two friends of hers that I don’t know. One is a mousy brunette with glasses and the other a tall and lean man standing far too fucking close to Clover for my liking. Who the hell is this cunt? He must be in the other dorm, because I haven’t met him yet and I immediately loathe him.

“Roger! Molly!” Sylvia squeaks excitedly, wrapping her arms around both people. At least I know their names now. Clover glances at me but she doesn’t keep my gaze.

“Someone attacked her,” Molly says to Sylvia. “We need to get her out of here. She’s basically traumatized.”

“I’m not traumatized,” Clover says. “Just a little shaken.”