I make quick work of taking a shower and getting ready for school, being able to enjoy the clean house for a change. Once I’m done, I hear Brady pull up and head out the door.
“Hey. I need you to take me to the hospital first, my dad will be getting discharged s—” My words are cut off as I take in my best friend, who looks like he got hit by a truck. “What the fuck happened to you?”
He has a cut above his eyebrow, his lip is split open, his nose is clearly broken, and he’s covered in bruises. I reach over to run my hand across his cheekbone but pull away when he winces.
“It’s nothing.”
My eyes narrow. “It sure as shit isn’t nothing. Who the fuck did this to you?”
He shakes his head. “Don’t worry about it, Rocky. I’m fine.”
“No,” I stop him, hand in the air. “What the fuck happened, Brady?”
Looking down at the steering wheel, he finally sighs. “Grayson came to find me last night, and we got into it.”
“Grayson did this?!” The outrage coursing through my veins is enough to take down an entire army. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Don’t. I’m telling you, I’ll be fine. So, hospital? What did your idiot dad get himself into this time?”
I glare at him. “Stop trying to change the subject. Take me to school.”
“But what about your dad?”
“He’s a grown man, in a hospital with a ton of doctors and an excuse for pain meds. I’m sure he’s perfectly fine. School, now.”
Not trying to fight me on it anymore, he puts the car in drive and heads toward Haven Grace Prep.
BY THE TIME WE pull up to our destination, I’m so mad that I’m shaking. I go to hop out of the car when Brady grabs my wrist.
“Don’t get yourself hurt, Sav.”
I give him a reassuring smile. “Oh, trust me, I won’t be the one hurting today.”
Turning around, I march up the steps and into the school. The second I turn down the hallway, I see Grayson standing with the rest of the guys and Kinsley. The girl is like a bad infection that won’t fucking go away, but she’s not my problem right now.
“I need to talk to you, right fucking now,” I tell him, not taking no for an answer.
Carter’s eyes widen as he looks at Grayson. “Damn. What the fuck did you do?”
Pulling him to the nearest empty class room, I shut the door behind us. As soon as I turn around, my fist goes flying and punches him right in the mouth. He recoils slightly, clearly surprised that I hit him, and covers the lip I’ve now split to match Brady’s.
“You wanted my attention. Well, congratulations—now you fucking have it,” I all but shout. “Who the fuck do you think you are, attacking Brady like that?”
He laughs in a way that sends a chill down my spine. “Who do I think I am? That’s a good question coming from a fake like you.” My heart stops, and I can tell by the look in his eyes, he knows. “That’s right. I figured out your little secret.” He steps closer. “Is there anything about you that’s real? Because all I’ve found is fake. Fake boyfriend. Fake wealth. Fake life.” His thumb pulls my bottom lip out from between my teeth. “Just fake.”
“You should talk, being as your relationship with Kinsley is so real. I may not like the little slut, but even I think she deserves better than being your pawn in some sick attempt to get to me.”
He stands before me like a king who holds all the power. “You know, it’s funny how you still act like you’re in control. You’re done. I’ve been looking for the one thing I could use to tear you down, and now, I’ve found it.” Coming even closer, he whispers into my ear. “And I’m going to love to watch you crumble.”
I can’t hear any more of this. I’m already on the verge of a panic attack as I go to leave, but Grayson grabs my wrist and pulls me back into him.
“Don’t fucking walk away from me.”
Without a second thought, I lift my knee quickly and slam it as hard as I can into his groin. He releases his hold immediately and bends over, trying to catch his breath.
“You bitch!” he screams, but I’m already out the door and running down the hallway.
There are a lot of things I can handle. My mother dying at five years old. My father turning into a raging alcoholic. Even losing my best friend, only for him to come back hating me eight years later. But having my most harmful secret in the hands of someone whose only mission in life is to destroy me? That’s not one of them.
I make my way to the janitor’s closet and shut the door behind me, sliding my back against it until I’m sitting on the floor. My breathing becomes shallow and rapid as tears pour from my eyes. How did everything get like this? What have I done to make him hate me so much? How the hell did he even find out?
Taking my phone out, I send a text to Brady.
Savannah: What happened after you and Grayson fought?
Thankfully, he responds almost instantly.
Brady: He was arrested. Jake wanted to press charges but I declined. Why? Are you okay?
I don’t need to ask to know that Brady didn’t tell him. He must have somehow gotten one of the officers at the precinct to give him information on me. I try to get a handle on my breathing, but it’s pointless.
Savannah: Not even a little.
TODAY IS DEFINITELY ONE I could have gone my whole life without living. I keep to myself, not in the mood to partake in the usual obnoxious conversations Carter starts. Brady had offered to come back and pick me up, but that’s only giving Grayson a silent message that he wins—that I’m running away scared. I may be a lot of things, liar included, but I’m not a coward.
Throughout the day, he watches me with a smug look on his face, as if mentally telling me he could ruin my life with the snap of his fingers. I do my best to ignore it, but I can’t. My reputation is the only good thing in my life other than dance, and it rests in the palm of his hands. I can only imagine what the kids in this school would do to me if they knew the truth.
“So, remember. Party tonight. My place. Starts around ten,” Jace reminds everyone, then looks at me. “Sav, you coming?”
I want to say no, not really in the mood to party with a bunch of people who are bound to hate me soon, but for some reason my eyes drift over to Grayson. He raises his eyebrows, as if challenging me to say yes. I know if I back down now, I don’t stand a chance in hell.
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”
Jace smiles triumphantly. “Sweet. You can bring your boyfriend with you if you want.”
Grayson snorts, but quickly covers it with a cough. I glare at him before answering. “W-we broke up.”
“Damn, really?!” Carter looks shocked. “You two have been together since freshman year.”
I shrug. “Nothing lasts forever.”
Emma places a supportive hand on my back, and I smile sweetly at her before my attention is pulled back to Jace.
“Well, remember what I said,” he winks. “Just say the word and I’ll pick you up.”
I can’t help but laugh, though the smile falls of my face as I notice Grayson’s murderous eyes on him. I don’t know what the fuck his deal is, but he doesn’t get to torment me and get jealous over me, too. He laid his cards on the table and chose where we stand. He can’t take that back now.