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Not good, not bad, just numb.
“You really don’t see it, do you?” I tilt my head, chewing on my lips in confusion. “Beatrice, you survived. You did what you had to do to survive, and if Maverick can’t see and understand that, then he’s a fool.”
“I ruined his life, Mais.”
“What your dad said on the phone earlier?” I nod. “He’s right. Neither of you deserve what you’ve been through. None of it is your fault, Beatrice. You were just a child who was afraid, and the fact you’re still standing, that you’re still alive after everything, that’s a fucking miracle. If Maverick Brady can’t get his head out of his ass long enough to realize that, then you’re better off without him in your life anyway.”
Maverick
She hops out of an Uber, the door slamming behind her as the girl she was with in the hall earlier ambles around on unsteady feet, gripping her arm as giggles fall from their lips.
My hands clench at my sides, my muscles tensing as her head tips back, and she beams at something the other girl says. I’ve spent all day angry and confused. When I left the hall, a slither of guilt wormed its way inside me, coiling in the pit of my stomach, and for what?
She’s not upset . . . she’s happy.
She comes into my space, stealing my comfort, and still it doesn’t affect her.
“What’s your plan, Mav?” Nash asks, hopping up onto the bench beside me. His legs swing back and forth as he flips the ball between his hands. I swear the dude can’t sit still for longer than thirty seconds, he always has to be doing something.
“She needs to go.”
“Does she?” He cocks his head, his eyes following her as she meanders over the asphalt. She loses her footing as her friend tumbles into her, and my heart jolts as she stumbles to the ground, barely catching herself and saving her face when her hands slap across the concrete. “She’s not the same girl as back then. While I may have only caught the last of your little encounter in the hall, I saw enough. She’s stronger than she was.”
“Then I’ll find a way to weaken her.” She pushes off the ground, her hair blocking her face. The strands are loose now, falling to the middle of her stomach, and the urge to feel the softness of them in my fist is almost overwhelming. “She’s a headfuck, Nash. For two years I’ve pushed her to the back of my mind, along with what she did. What I did for her. I can’t do that with her here.”
“So what? You push her away, and then what, she leaves and goes back to whatever life led her here in the first place while you’re still barely a shell of the guy you were before it all went down. Is that really what you want? You’ve never been a revengeful guy, Maverick. Don’t become one now.”
“So I’m just supposed to just let her live her happy life when all I can do is live in the past? Maybe I’ve changed, maybe all I want is to be the revengeful guy. People can change, Nash.”
“Not that much.” He follows me, slamming his hand on my door before I can pull it open. His brow is raised and his lips straight as he stares at me. “I get it, you went through something I can’t begin to understand. But, fuck, dude, you’ve let people drill a bunch of bullshit so far into your head where that girl is concerned, and you need to wake up to the truth.”
“Nash, remove your hand,” I growl, shoving him off, but he doesn’t budge.
“Can you stop for a fucking second,” he shouts, pulling the attention of those around us . . . including the set of eyes I want nowhere near me. Beatrice watches, swaying on her feet as her friend’s eyes narrow on me and a scowl crosses her face. “Look at what you’re doing to yourself. I won’t follow you idly, Maverick.”
“Then don’t.” He steps back at the finality of my tone. “But Beatrice Fletcher is dust in this place. Nobody will talk to her, nobody will even fucking look at her. She was right when she said I wouldn’t hurt her. Ican’t.But I can make sure she’s alone, that she doesn’t find a place to belong here.”
“You think siccing the entire student body on her isn’t going to hurt?” Shrugging, I pull my door open, sliding into the seat before bringing the engine to life. Nash blocks the door with his hand.
“That’s not what I’m doing, I’m just going to ensure she doesn’t make friends or get too comfortable here.”
“No, you’re not,” he snaps, shaking his head at me. “You tell them you want her gone, and they’ll make it their mission to please you because of who you are. You can’t hurt her, but they might, and you’re really okay with risking that?”
“Like you said, Nash, she’s stronger now. She’s a big girl, she’ll manage.”
Chapter Seven
Beatrice
Slippingintothelecturehall, I find a row at the top of the stairs, slinking past the few people dotted in the seats. I drop down into the last one, grabbing my laptop and textbook from my bag before propping it between my feet.
A couple people glance at me, quickly turning away when I catch their eyes. Weird but whatever.
The coffee Maisie delivered in the hallway before class does wonders for the steady pounding in my head. A yawn breaks from my mouth, and my eyes grow foggy as I blink away the tiredness.
Skipping the first day of college and getting tipsy in a little bar was probably not my greatest idea, neither was pouring my heart out to my new friend who spent the night in my dorm with me, watching TV and eating snacks until our eyes could no longer stay open.
But in my defense, it wasn’t the day I planned when I rolled out of bed yesterday.
