Page 80 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

She stared at it, confused for a moment. It looked like she couldn’t even comprehend what it was I just gave her. When she unclasped the top and peered inside, she shook her head.

“It’s the rings…” she muttered in disbelief. “Where did you⁠—”

“I had them the entire time,” I said, my body shaking, reaching a point where it felt like I’d shatter onto the floor. “I took them from the ditch the night I first found you… I held on to them in the hope of seeing you at the park again. That’s all I wanted. To spend time with you. Not to fuck you. Not to treat you like some one-night stand. But to get to know you… the beautiful girl who saw me for who I was.”

Ivy Jade grew quiet. She stared at the box with tears in her eyes. Our hearts were breaking, and I knew it wasn’t just her fault—not her parents’ or Antonio’s—it was a culmination of everything we did to each other.

“I’m a liar. I lied. I’m sorry, and I know it’s fucked up, and I know I strung you along, but… goddamn it, I love you, Ivy Jade!” I shouted, frustrated beyond control. I couldn’t keep it in any longer, the realest part of my truth seeping out like poison. “I love you…” I repeated slower. Softer.

Ivy Jade stared down at the tips of her shoes.

“You don’t even know me…” she finally said, and her bottom lip trembled.

I wiped the sting out of my eyes. This was wrong. It was all wrong and ruined, and there was no need to even admit who I was. Ivy Jade had made her choice.

"You're right," I muttered. "I don't."

I turned and began to storm away, my face fuming with anger, embarrassment, heartbreak, more anger. I felt like a fucking fool. How could I have ever believed Ivy Jade was any different than the spoiled little girl I once knew? Just because we had a few good nights together? Because she liked to read and was nice to me for a little bit?

I ran into the crowd, tears filling my eyes, more so with anger than anything. I growled and seethed at everyone I passed by, nearly knocking shoulders with a few people around me.

I ended up near the backstage where the crowd had dwindled, and I let out a furious shout into the darkened forest, then jumped and skidded down into a ditch where I could be alone.

And maybe that was for the best. Maybe now I could really disappear, and she would never know who High Jynx truly was.

And I hoped she’d regret that for the rest of her life.

CHAPTER 32

Ivy Jade

So I don't know about love, huh?

That clown had a lot of nerve to lecture me, and to top it off, he lied about the rings the whole time! How dare he! And what was I supposed to do with that whole love confession of his?

Forgive him immediately?

Roll over and toss my life away, just because his lie was for something sweet and endearing?

Besides, how would I even know if he were telling me the truth? How could anyone love someone after just one week? It was impossible. I had to ignore it.

I went to my safe space–the library, laying on one of the comfortable couches, knees up, legs crossed. I pulled out ‘Unmasking My Bright Knight,’ flipping it to where I left off, to a new chapter. It was a surefire way to calm my nervous system, but the more I tried to read, the more I realized I was skipping sentences or rereading them thrice.

I closed the book and stared at the ‘Little Women’ dust jacket I placed over the cover. I opened it back up to read, but then slammed it shut once more.

“So you think I’m afraid to be myself, huh? Just because I’ve been judged my entire existence?” I said down to the book, the mental image of High Jynx popping up in my head.

I pulled the dust jacket off and tossed it in the trash, proudly looking down at the bin like I had proved something to myself.

I opened the book back up to continue reading. After a few words, I stopped again.

I stared at the trash can, and my heart rate went up.

“Ugh! Damn it!” I groaned, bending over, rescuing the dust jacket from the garbage to place it back on my book.

I shouldn’t be this upset over a clown. I needed to take a deep breath.

I stood up, threw the ring box on the couch, and left my book in the corner of the armrest, and took a very deep breath. A few of them, actually, until I began to feel lighter.