Chapter 89: Annoying ex-girlfriend

ELIANA

TWO DAYS LATER

“Heavens, I want to kill him!” Zoe blows out a frustrated sigh, complaining about Marco not allowing her to go to the hockey party on Friday night because Nikolai wasn't around and she was under his guidance.

I have been listening to her complain about the whole situation since we left the parking lot. How she's pissed off with Marco and how of an asshole he is.

The corner of my lips curves into a smile, “What?” Zoe asks with creased eyebrows, “Are you sure you want him dead?” I tease and she rolls her eyes.

“Of course I want his annoying ass dead. Like dead-dead.” She gestures with her hand and the smile on the corner of my lips stretches an inch more, not believing her words.

“Okay…” I stretch the words, letting her know that I’m doubtful about it and she rolls her eyes again.

“Maybe…”

“He's trying to protect me so that it doesn't happen again? It's almost a year since the incident and…I’m eighteen now. And please don't tell me you’re siding with him.” Zoe cuts me off before I finish my statement.

Of course she knows what I was about to say. It's about the incident that happened during the sophomore homecoming party. She got drugged with some boy from another school. It's a good thing Marco stepped in before something happened to her because I would never have forgiven myself. I had gone to the bathroom when it happened and when I came back, it was chaos. Marco beating the hell out of the boy…

Even though I don't like the fact that Marco is being strict about the party, I know it's because he cares about Zoe more than she wants to admit it.

“He's just being an asshole about it.” Zoe complains, cutting through the memories.

“Come on, tell me about the party. I know it was fun. I stumbled upon some pictures on social media on those anonymous accounts.” Zoe asks eagerly.

“Did you…meet someone new? Someone I know?” She jokes and it's my turn to roll eyes.

“It wasn't bad.” I say with a shrug and she raises an eyebrow at me, “So you did enjoy it?” She asks, “Not really.” I respond truthfully, recalling the mixed feelings.

I fill her in about the party as we walk down the hallway, heading to the maths class. However, I cut off some unnecessary details like-what happened after Jackson and I left the party because I don't know how to explain it to her even if I badly want to, feeling guilty about it….

_______

A FEW HOURS LATER

I turn off the running water when I'm done washing my hands, then slowly raise my head to look at my reflection in the mirror before me, my breath catching in my throat when I lock eyes with the most unexpected person in the mirror.

Scarlett.

I raise an eyebrow at her, wondering what's wrong with her because she looks like she wants to kill someone…

I turn around so we're face to face. She has her blonde hair pulled into a messy ponytail, leaving two strands on each side of her face, light make-up and glossy lips which any boy would like to kiss. Yet, what I don't understand is why she's clinging onto Jackson.

“Good to see you too, Scar.” I say with a sickly sweet voice, pretending that we're good friends.

“You're not allowed to call me that! Only my friends and people close to me are allowed to call me that and we're not that close!” She says through gritted teeth, almost shouting and the students washing hands at the sink give us an awkward gaze.

“I thought…we're now friends since we have been crossing paths more often lately.” I say sarcastically and she rolls her eyes at me in disapproval.

“I would rather take a triple maths class than be friends with you!” She fires back and the corner of my lips tips up into a smile, finding her words a little exaggerated.

“Okay, what do you want?” I ask in a nonchalant voice, bored of beating around the bush.

“Stay away from him!” She says in an unnecessarily high voice and the girls passing by stare at us in confusion.

I should have known this would happen. I thought maybe she has something new, more creative to tell me but here we go again.

“And…who are you talking about if I may ask?” I question with creased eyebrows, pretending that I don't know what she's talking about.

“I mean, there are about seven billion people out there. It'll be easier if you're specific. Make it easier for the both of us because I have important things I should be doing right now.” I reason, playing innocent and clueless.

“Stop playing dumb! You know what I’m talking about! I see how you look at him!” She accuse and I let out a small chuckle in amusement.

“Oh, you see how I look at him?” I ask curiousily but she doesn't respond to my question. It's not like I was expecting her to anyway…

“What about how he looks at me? Haven't you seen it or-you're blind when it comes to that?” A nerve tickles on her jaw when she hears my words, dripping with sarcasm which I don't care enough to hide.

“I'm pretty sure I look at him the way someone is supposed to look at her brother. I don't know what impression you have about it and honestly, I don't care. Whatever happened between the two of you is none of my business and don't get me involved.” My voice is firm, letting her know that I don't care that much of what she says.

She has been telling me the same words over and over again and it's annoying.

“You're the reason why it happened!” She says and I raise an eyebrow, “Really? Accusing me over the broken deal?” I ask and she looks surprised. Perhaps trying to figure out how I found out about the stupid deal.

“It was not a deal!” She says in a whisper so that the girls passing by won't hear, trying to save face and I roll my eyes.

“What about we try this another way?” I suggest, tilting my head to the side and pretending to give the idea a deep thought. Scarlett frowns at my words, clearly not trusting me. However, I don't care enough to worry if she believes me or not as I go ahead and say what's on my mind.

“What about you asking him to stay away from me? Maybe…that might work. I swear to the heavens, I have tried to ask him to stay away.” My voice drips with irony as I play the victim. The corner of my lips twists into a smile and her jaw tightens when the words dawn on her.

“What's happening?” Zoe asks with a frown, darting her eyes between Scarlett and I as she tries to wrap her head around what's going on.

Scarlett looks furious. If looks could kill, I would be dead by now. However, I maintain a calm composure and pretend that it was a normal conversation. Well, it was normal to me because I have heard the same words too many times to count.

“Nothing important. Let's go,” I say with a shrug, my voice dismissive and a frown takes over Zoe's features. However, she doesn't argue as we turn around and walk away.

“This is not over!” Scarlett says behind me but I don't look back as we walk out of the bathroom…

A deep breath escapes my lips when we finally step out of the bathroom. Even though I don't want to admit it out loud, it felt suffocating in there because of the curious stares, hushed whispers and everything in between. Nonetheless, I’m proud of myself that I didn't let Scarlett walk over me.

“What just happened in there?” Zoe turns to look at me with confusion still on her face.

“Just the usual. She was asking me to stay away from…Jackson.” I bow a breath.

There's this part of me that wants to forget about him and everything because it feels exhausting confronting Scarlett every time we cross paths. However, there's this ridiculous part that doesn't want to. The silly part of me that wants to hold on a little longer even though I know damn well that it's not meant to last forever.

“Don't listen to her. She's just bitter because they broke up and the two of you have been pretty close because of the training and while taking care of him while he was injured, you know.” Zoe reasons out and I nod at her words because they make more sense than my messed up thoughts.

“It's a good thing that the deal is over and he has recovered from the injury. The two of you don't have a reason to be that close. Maybe at home because you can't avoid him since you're living under the same roof. I care about you and…I don't want you to get into unnecessary arguments with Scarlett. It's not worth it, Eli. Come on, you're smarter than that.” I swallow, my throat tightening upon hearing Zoe's words.

“Come on, don't stress about her. There's nothing to feel guilty about. You haven't done anything wrong. You're not the one who caused the breaking of their stupid deal. She's blaming the wrong person and for that, she's definitely going to hell because I know my bestie too well. She's a kind person.” Zoe jokes and a big smile forms on her lips, her voice soft and comforting.

How am I supposed to tell her about what happened after leaving the party? That I touched myself in Jackson's car? That I went knocking on his door? That I stripped for him and crawled to him in desperate need for his cock? That he fucked me all over his room and the next day I was limping.

And the funny part about it all was that…I didn't hate it that much the way I was supposed to. There's this tiny part of me that seemed to like it.

I swallow the knot down my throat when I give it a thought, looking away because I can't bring myself to look Zoe straight in the eyes.

“Tha-thank you.” I respond awkwardly, not sure if I’m worthy of her comforting words.

Zoe turns to look at me as we head to the cafeteria for lunch and I manage a smile, gulping back the guilt rising up in my throat, almost choking.

Damn, I feel horrible. Only if Zoe knew how guilty I feel right. Between Scarlett and me, I think I’m the one who should go to hell…