Page 81 of Twisted Heathens
Phoenix and Kade chatter as I stare moodily at my plate, entirely uncomfortable with the dark presence at our table. Hudson’s gaze sears across my skin like Eli with his cigarette, but I continue to chew my lip and avoid his eyes. He went to the hole because of me. Willingly. Where does that leave us?
I can’t forgive him.
I’ll take my resentment to the grave.
Wrapped up in my thoughts, I don’t hear the footsteps running up behind me until it’s too late. Scolding hot liquid hits the back of my neck first, burning and running down my back. There’s no suppressing the cry of shock and pain that slips out, and I trip over in my reaction, landing flat on my ass.
A smirking, gaunt face grins down at me. “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry. Slipped on my shoelace,” Britt exclaims, hands flapping about dramatically as the room falls silent.
All three guys curse and jump into action while Britt stares down at me triumphantly, empty plastic cup in hand and piping hot tea scolding my skin. The cafeteria’s guards appear in an instant, swiftly yanking Britt far away from me.
“I’m sorry, it was an accident, I swear!”
They shove her against the wall, tightly restraining her arms. Phoenix sinks to his knees by my side as Britt makes exaggerated crying sounds, acting all fucking innocent but it’s so obviously fake.
“It was an accident, I swear,” she protests. “These floors can get so slippery! I would never hurt my friend here on purpose.” Her bottom lip juts out and she bats her lashes.
Phoenix mutters a scathing insult and wraps an arm around my shoulders, gently lifting me up. His hand tracks over my soaked shirt and I hiss, angrily shoving him away. “I’m fine, leave it.”
“She fucking attacked you, that is not fine.” He turns to the two exasperated guards. “We all saw it, that was deliberate!”
“No! Me and Brooklyn are great friends. It was just a little accident,” Britt defends.
Her eyes turn to the deliberately silent asshole across the table, watching the incident with a blank expression. “Hudson, tell them! Back me up!”
He just stares at her blankly. “Why?”
Britt gapes at him, furious eyes filling with tears. “What do you mean why? Because it’s me!” Her voice turns shrill. “I just slipped, okay? Accidents happen all the time!”
I know the minute she flashes me a deadly look of hatred, just how false that sentiment is. I don’t give a fuck what’s going on between her and Hudson, it ain’t got shit to do with me.
Rising to my feet and pushing Phoenix’s hands away, I face the bemused guards. “It’s fine, it was an accident.” I shoot Britt a cold smile. “No problem, friend. I’m all good.”
“What? Brooklyn, you can’t be serious,” Phoenix splutters.
I take my seat again, utterly calm as the guards release Britt, moaning about incident reports and reluctantly backing off. As soon as their backs are turned, I spin in my seat and face her. “You practice that wail all night? Because your acting is shit.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Britt replies sweetly.
Just as she turns to waltz away, my hand darts out and snatches her wrist. I glance at the retreating backs of the guards before roughly yanking her closer, getting up close and personal to ensure she hears my every word.
“I don’t know what your game is, but try that again and I’ll make you regret the day your skinny ass landed in this hellhole. Got that, whore? Or should I demonstrate?”
Her lips part as she frowns at me, eyes lifting to look at Hudson again. “Stop slutting around with my boyfriend and you’ll never have to look at me again,” she sneers at me. “If anyone’s a whore here… honey, it’s you.”
My fingers tighten around her wrist and I dig my ragged nails in, making her flinch. Satisfying droplets of blood begin to well up. “That’s what this is about? You are so far off the mark, you stupid cunt.” I jerk my head at Hudson, who’s watching the exchange with a frown. “He’s all fucking yours. Word of advice though?”
I turn and meet his eyes, ensuring he hears my next words. “Keep your damn eyes open, because he’ll stab you in the back the first chance he gets.” I offer Britt a fake smile, loving the uncertain look on her face. “He’ll break your fucking heart without batting an eye. Good luck.”
Then I release her and gather up my tray, ignoring everyone’s stunned silence as I stride away. Kade calls my name but I ignore him, not stopping until the tray is deposited and I’m out of the room. Only then do I dare to breathe again, fists clenched as I fight my rage.
That fucking idiotic bastard.
I march out into the freezing air of the quad, turning and punching the wall with a shout. The skin across my knuckles breaks, throbbing in time to the fresh burns across my back. I latch onto the pain, savouring the release. Public revenge isn’t my style. I’ll let her go running back to that asshole, and when the inevitable heartbreak comes, I’ll dance on her fucking grave. That’s what I call real revenge.
“Brooklyn?”
His broken voice calls out, rooting me to the spot. Indignation floods my body as I spin, facing the man that stole my heart before crushing it to pathetic pieces. Hudson hangs in the doorway, hand shakily running through his unruly hair.