way.
Frankie’s Diner is packed. I squeeze past a few jocks and find Leah frowning as Mia explains the importance of colour coordinating with her date for prom.
Leah looks up when she realises I’m there. “Holy shit. Thank God. You know - talking to stupid people really makes you realise how clever you are.”
I laugh and look at a fuming Mia.
“You bitch,” Mia spits.
I feel Lucas approach before I see him. He comes to a standstill behind Mia.
“You’re the bitch. You’re trying to kill me with boredom,” Leah retaliates in her usual bored tone.
“There’s nothing boring about me. Isn’t that right, baby?” Mia asks, looking over her shoulder at Lucas. I nearly choke on my own tongue when she called him ‘baby.’ He doesn’t look impressed by my reaction.
“Being a slut still makes you boring, Mia. There are sluts like you everywhere.” Leah’s tone has grown agitated.
“You would know all about that. You’re the biggest slut of all, keeping Liam off the market but not committing to him so you can be a slut at parties.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Have you finally come full circle with every guy in the school and now Liam’s last on your list? Dream on, he wouldn’t touch you,” Leah jeers.
“Ha, we'll see about that, you fucking bitch. I’m going to make it my mission to sleep with him, just to spite you.”
The aggression is thick like a fog all around us.
“Wow, you really are a slut. You would sleep with someone just for fun?” I ask, feeling just as pissed off as Leah. She’s my best friend and Liam means a lot to me. To have Mia speak of him as a tool to use against Leah makes me angry. “What does your ‘baby’ think about that?” I ask, looking directly at Lucas.
“You’re such a frigid bitch, Simone. You really need a good fuck to bring you down from your pedestal.”
Shocked from her vile choice of words, only the sound of a loud clap breaks me from my momentary stunned state.
“You fucking whore,” Mia bellows, holding her face. She picks up her drink and throws it at Leah.
“You’re the whore,” Leah spits back.
Liam pushes his way toward us and grabs Leah, who’s trying to climb over the table to get to Mia. Mia reaches out and grabs Leah’s hair.
“Get off me, you bitch. And stay away from my fucking boyfriend. I will kick your ass,” Leah screams.
Liam tries to pull her free but Mia has her hair in an enclosed fist. Lucas smiles; the son of a bitch is actually enjoying this. Never in my life have I let anger win over my emotions, but it is like anger infects the air around us.
I lunge for Mia before I realise I’m doing it. I grab her head and bring it down on the table hard. She screams out in pain, releasing Leah and reaching to the injuries on her face.
“Oh my God, you broke my fucking nose.” Blood pours from her nose, painting the table in crimson puddle.
I step back, shocked by my own actions. Lucas beams like he’s proud of me. I slap him hard across his cheek; it stings my palm. He lets out a deep laugh then lunges forward, grabbing my face with both hands and crushing his lips to mine.
Everyone around us disappears. There is no sound, only our breathing. Heat rises from my toes and up my body, washing through me like a wildfire, singeing every nerve ending. Lust pulls in my stomach but my mind snaps me back with thoughts of Shamar. I only want him to kiss me.
I hear muffled voices then the smells of coffee and cinnamon attack my nose and the rush of everyone around us blurs into my vision. I shake my head and push Lucas away.
“You fucking bitch! You want everyone!” Mia screams at me. She throws me to the floor, her blood dripping all over me as her hands tug at my hair.
“Get the fuck off her,” I hear Liam shout. Suddenly, Mia is lifted from me like she’s a feather. She’s thrown across the room and lands against a table. As she crumples to the floor, everyone stares at Lucas.
Liam is beside me in an instant, checking my
C. J. Cherryh
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