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Seth holds out his hands. “Alright, wait, Rachel. Just take a deep breath. You-”
“You’re such a fucking asshole!” I shout while jabbing a finger in his direction. Tears prickle my eyes, threatening to fall, but I ignore them, not caring if he sees me act weak. “You know Alex has nothing to do with this. We were fine until you met with those men. Tell me what happened. Why are you so angry?”
Lucas looks away, which only angers me even more. “You won’t understand.”
I grind my teeth to keep from crying. Seth grabs my shoulders, trying to turn me around, but I hold my ground. “Is it because you don’t want me anymore? Are Samuel and your mom right? Are you just going to drop me in the next few days?”
“Rachel,” says Seth, stroking my hair away from my face. “I don’t think you need to worry about that.”
“How did my mom get dragged into this?” Lucas asks while staring at me as if I’ve completely lost my mind.
“When she was here in the kitchen with me,” I sob, unable to control my tears any longer. “She said the meanest things. That I am nothing. That she knows girls like me, and I’m worth nothing.”
“Rachel,” Seth whispers. “Why don’t I draw you a bath? You should relax and-”
“How are you not mad at her Seth?” Lucas asks darkly. “Wasn’t she hanging out with your arch rival? How does that make you feel?”
“Well, it feels like shit,” says Seth, sounding irritated. “But she’s her own person.”
“He’s your friend, Lucas!” I shout, my voice shrill. “You were the one who introduced him to me in the first place.”
Lucas smiles bitterly, leaning in close and in that moment I don’t recognize this man standing in front of me. It’s like Lucas has completely left, like he’s been replaced by this cruel person who doesn’t care about me at all.
“Still doesn’t mean I like you hanging around him.”
“Alright, enough!” Seth shouts. “Both of you to bed!”
Lucas and I don’t move.
“I wanted to go for a run, butnoooooooo!” Seth scowls while he looks between us. “Instead I have to act as middleman in your little battle or whatever you can call this.” He jerks towards Lucas. “I don’t care if Rachel hangs out with Alex. He’s an asshole, but he’s an asshole who got her home. Where the fuck were you man?”
Lucas lowers his gaze, his shoulders slumping, yet he doesn’t say one word.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Seth says bitterly. “And you.” He swivels towards me, his gaze softening. “Go to bed. You have work in the morning. We can resolve this tomorrow.”
I open my mouth, but Seth’s eyes darken and he says darkly, “To bed. Now.”
“Hey, guys.”
All three of us turn towards the sound, finding Hunter standing meekly behind us. “I was wondering if you could keep itdown?I’m trying to video chat with my dad and-”
Seth groans, smacking a hand to his forehead. “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he mutters while tugging me after him, pushing him into my room and closing my door. “Good night!” he shouts.
I stare at my room. Tears rush from my eyes once more and I cry while stripping the beautiful red dress from me, feeling so exhausted and weak from the events. I pad towards my bed, completely naked, not bothering to wash off my makeup while grabbing the blankets and pulling them towards me.
I close my eyes and will myself to sleep, trying to ignore the memories of the night resurfacing once more.
18
RACHEL
I blink while staring down at my lap on the metro, trying to ignore the pain swelling within my heart. I woke up late, not having much time to get ready let alone eat breakfast and make coffee. My stomach grumbles in response. I will have to buy something from the convenience store if I want to make it through this day.
Staring at my lap, I try to smooth out the wrinkles in my black skirt. I frown at the wrinkles in my white button down. This is my second time in the past week I’m wearing these clothes. I actually found them on the floor next to the laundry basket. I haven’t done laundry in too long. Hopefully, Lauren and Dr. Arnaud won’t say anything.
My face is barely wiped clean of all the makeup I slept in the night before. Bad move on my part. My flesh feels like it’s trying to crawl away from my face and find a new host. I should listen to my mother more often.
‘Always wash your face before going to bed.’
