Chapter 24 Chapter 24
Chapter 24 Chapter 24
Skylar
Leo took me to the quieter part of the house, and the way he was looking at me made me hopeful. If only he could apologize for everything and tell me he regretted it, then I could cancel the deal with Troy, and it could be us like I always painted it.
He wiped his face with his palm, making a fist that he nudged at his lips. He was keeping me in suspense, and I didn't like it.
What was the big deal in telling someone that you like them?
I saw myself frown, knew I was thinking, and was about to get pissed off.
“What the hell are you doing with Troy?” he yelled, and my heart kind of dropped; the silence had been there so that he could contain his mood before speaking.
I didn't talk back; I never did, but he was annoying, so I replied, “He is my boyfriend; we are both appl…..”
“Ohh, quit the act.”
“He is only using you since we are rivals. ”,
“And how would you know that?” I asked, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
“Because boys like him don't go for girls like you.” That was the most depressing thing I had heard all day.
I wanted to cry; my heart twisted. How could he be so mean?
For today I preferred to cry behind closed doors; Leo didn't deserve my tears. As though the words hadn't struck, I asked.
“What is wrong with girls like me?”
“I don't know, you are…..”
“I am not the kind of girl who dates hockey stars.”
“He is a player; he is just doing it to throw me off; he doesn't like you.”
“And now it is about you once more.”
“Skylar, I am trying to make sure you don't get hurt.”
“Tell me about it, because the way I am seeing it, I think you do not like the idea that your rival is dating your babysitter. ”,
“Wait, you think I am jealous,” he said, raising his hands in the air bewildered, “of what…you?”
“You are just an asshole.” I remarked, pushing him away from me and going in search of Troy.
He sat by the side of the pool and came to talk to me.
“I want to go home.” I said, clutching my kimono over my body; maybe, just maybe, it would make me feel better. At this junction, I didn't know what to think of Leo, and he had said the meanest thing I ever heard someone say to me, other than Tiffany, though.
Her mouth was poison, and she was set to kill.
For a minute I thought Leo liked me. How could I have been so gullible? I really felt bad for myself.
“You want to leave, just like that,” he said, but his tone was high and harsh.
“Yeah, Troy, I want to leave. ”,
“But the party just barely started,” he stated, but I didn't care.
“I don't care about your stupid party; if you are not ready to take me home, then I will find some other means.
“Suit yourself,” he concluded, turning his back and walking away. He didn't only sound annoying; he sounded angry.
Maybe I was too harsh, but it was too late, as Tiffany was walking towards me in rage.
“You little bitch,” she snapped, and I let out a sigh of frustration. Like, how bad could the day get?
I didn't say anything and just turned my back on her. I was thinking of a way to get out of there soonest. Nina was shopping, so she wouldn't be coming.
She shrieked and pulled my shawl away forcefully. I tried fighting against it, but she was stronger; my imbalance was working against me. “If you are so keen on being a slut, then I might as well help you with it,” then she pulled the scarf around my waistline.
I wrapped my hands around my shoulders; everyone was looking at me. They were going to see my marks, and I hated it. They made me vulnerable because I believed they were nasty. They were gasping, and one of the girls said, “Her body looks like that of a crocodile,” and to that the other started laughing.
I felt it, the embarrassment. Troy had left, and there was no one going to stand up for me anymore.
“Well, well, I guess you aren’t as beautiful as everyone thought, and not even a thousand makeups or eating disorder can make you appealing,” she taunted as the other looked at me in disbelief.
“Go to hell, Tiffany.” I yelled.
“Sure I will, but I'm dragging you with me. Let's see who your doting stepbrother is going to save, his nerdy stepsister or the hot cheerleader. ”,
I walked past her, clearly not in the mood to drown; she didn't need to tell me. I knew who Leo was going to choose.
It was better at knowing it than actually feeling it.
But Tiffany was a fucking bitch as she dragged me, and we both fell into the pool in a splash.
I didn't know how to swim; Tiffany knew that. Others kept watching; they didn't say anything.
Did they think we were in an opera, because we were clearly drowning?
I didn't know for Tiffany, but I was.
I had heard that when your head came up to the surface, the water started counting, and after the third time, it would pull you in so deep, you were going to collect so much water and drown.
In my case I tried to keep my head up; by that I meant I was drinking lots of water, and the chlorine was burning the back of my throat.
Tiffany was screaming at the top of her lungs, but deep down I had a feeling she wouldn't drown; she was athletic, and in high school she had won a sponsorship for fastest swimmer, so you see, she was a scam.
The knight in shining armor came running, and guess who he chose—Tiffany.
Minutes ago he was preaching to me on how he didn't want to see me get hurt.
And did people say one thing and really mean another?
I was pulled in by a stronger force, and this time I couldn't get my head back up.
It was terrible, the idea that I was actually going to die. I wish Troy was here. I wish I didn't say all those mean things. God, I wished a lot of things, but most of all I wished I wasn't going to die today.