"Why don't you ask her what happened? Ask her what happened at the party. She asked for it, Seb. She begged and begged. I only gave her what she wanted." His words halt me. He's lying.
Mary wouldn't...
I don't wait a second longer before I bring my fist to his face again, his cheekbone crunching under my knuckles. His body goes limp, and I drop him to the ground. I see his brother rushing over to help him up, and at the same time, I see the Dean—a look of annoyance crossing his face.
I turn around, my eyes locking with Mary. She heard every word. Her eyes are wide, skin pale as she covers her mouth with both hands. Silent tears stream down her face, and I can't move. I can't think. I can't fucking breathe.
"Is it true?" I ask, my eyes close for a brief second, hoping that if I don't see her, she can't admit it.
"Is it fucking true, Mary?" I yell, closing the distance between us and gripping her face in my hand—not hard enough to hurt her, but enough to make sure she understands I'm not fucking around. I tower over her short frame, crowding her. Her long blonde hair frames her face, and tears stream down her cheeks, making her eyes shine that beautiful blue I’ve gotten used to looking into everyday. Now, those same eyes hold nothing but pain and lies.
She can only manage a slight nod, her body shaking uncontrollably.
My heart completely stops. It's no longer beating, and everything in me shatters. Piece by piece, the broken shards inside me pierce my heart, and if I weren't breathing, I wouldn't know I was still alive. The words I want to say are stuck. I watch as she tries to hold her sobs in, and it almost makes me bring her into my chest—but I don't. I can't.
I nod my head and step back, needing to get the hell away from her to process any of this.
"Seb," she cries, trying to reach out to me, but I dodge her attempt. "Seb, please."
"Mary, don't. I can't. No. I won't do this. I'm—" I take a shaky breath, trying to keep myself from breaking down.
"Seb, please, just let me—" I cut her off, knowing people are starting to gather, and the last thing we need is a crowd. I turn and storm off, leaving the rest of my heart back on the ground with Mary.
I don't look back.
I walk away with my chest deflating and a need to disappear for a while.
Chapter 4
Mary
Iwatchhimcrumbleunder the weight of a truth that isn't real. His eyes turn hollow the moment I nod. It was as if I reached into his chest and ripped out something sacred. I want to take it back and shout that it's all a lie, that I would never dare hurt him.
But I didn't. I couldn't.
Because the truth is worse.
The truth will ruin everything.
Ruin him.
I do the only thing I can. I have to make him hate me. If he hates me, then he won't lose everything he's worked so hard for.
I let him walk away.
I don’t explain.
I don’t beg.
I let him believe I'm the villain. There is no other way around it.
I pick my pace up, racing down the long hallway and bursting through the doors. My shoulder knocks into a few students who are outside, but I don’t stop until the girls' bathroom comes into view.
Slamming the stall door open and rushing inside, I drop to my knees. Everything comes up, not easing up until I’m a heaving mess on the floor. My eyes are closed as I lean my head back against the stall door. Silent, inaudible tears stream down my face, my hands covering my mouth to hold in any noise that might escape.
This can’t be happening.
I’m being fucking blackmailed by the Dean when I didn’t do anything wrong.
