Page 47 of Toxic Kiss

Cyrus came in like a parasite, slowly taking over everything and destroying all in his path.

He single-handedly made me a pariah in my own school. Every one of the girls I thought were friends turned on me one at a time. There is nothing like the allure of being friends with someone who is going to be famous.

Then one day, I woke up, and the only person who would speak to me was Patrick.

But things between us have been strained for the last few months. It feels like Cyrus is finally getting what he has always wanted. I can see it in his eyes. Patrick is struggling to hang on to our friendship when Cyrus makes it so damn hard. He undermines everything.

Cyrus’s goal is to see me miserable and alone, and so far, he is succeeding.

But what Cyrus fails to understand is that I’m not weak. No matter what he does, I will keep fighting. So, I’ll make one last-ditch effort to get my best friend back.

So here I go. Keep your fingers crossed.

And if Patrick really doesn’t want to be my friend anymore, then he can look me in the eyes and say the words.

-H

I close the journal and then my eyes, not needing to read the next entry to know exactly what happened that night. It was the night that changed everything. It was the night that I finally went too far.

Silent tears slide down my face, burning like acid where they touch.

Haven was right. I ruined everything.

“Chug, chug, chug, chug,” everyone chants as Patrick and I chug the beers. I finish first to a roar of applause and hold my hands in the air like I’m the heavyweight champion of the world.

That’s when I see her. Haven is standing in the crowd, a gift in one hand and a red solo cup in the other. She looks…happy. She has a tiny smile on her full lips, and her green eyes are fixed on Patrick. Not on me where they should be—Patrick.

I march over. “What the hell are you doing here? I sure as fuck didn’t invite a loser like you.”

Those around us are quiet as Haven looks up at me. The smile falls from her face.

“This is my father’s beach house, and this is my friend’s birthday. I don’t need you to invite me.”

I glance at the drink and know immediately it’s root beer. I smack the cup from her hand. Haven gasps as the brownish liquid splashes on the floor and all over her new pink Converse. She jumps back and stares down as I laugh with everyone around us.

“Like I said, you’re too much of a nobody to be here.”

It comes out in a whisper, but I make it clear I want her fucking gone. The fucked-up thing is, I’m not sure if that’s true anymore. I quickly shut that thought down.

“Yeah, why are you here? Nobody wants you around.”

“Take a hint, loser, and get out.”

“You’re the definition of try-hard.”

“Oh, look, she’s going to cry.”

“God, I’m getting second-hand embarrassment.”

Haven’s eyes dart around to all those staring and tossing insults at her, but she doesn’t react and lifts her chin. That just annoys me more. Fucking break already.

“Stop it,” Patrick yells from beside me. He turns in a circle and glares until everyone quiets once more. “This is my party, and Haven is allowed to be here. If you have a problem with that, then get the fuck out.”

The group quickly shuts up and continues with whatever they were doing.

Patrick glares at me.

“That includes you.”