Page 54 of Girl Like Me

A scream pulls my attention from Sebastian and I turn and it takes me a second to realise what’s happening. Chloe stands on the stage covered in feathers and something thick. Chev runs and jumps onto the stage, clearing it in one go. He kneels in front of her, slides her glasses off and takes her face in his hands. I scan the room and see Echo being held back by Mossy and Mercer.

“I can’t believe you!” I seethe at Sebastian and take off towards my guys. Levi is consoling Maximus as he puts on his headphones.

I run to him first and bend in front of him. “It’s okay, Levi is going to take you to the limo to wait for us, okay?” Maximus nods and Levi helps him up. Next I move to Echo, who is still being held back.

“Echo,” he ignores me. I follow his line of sight and it’s on Chloe, watching as Clarissa runs to her pushing Chev out of the way. Mac joins her as he glares at Chev.

“Echo,” I yell but still nothing. I slap his face hard and his attention finally moves to me.

“B, you need to move,” he warns.

“No, you need to calm down. You need to focus on Chloe, making sure she is okay. Screw those mean girls, they’re nothing. Go get her and take her to get cleaned up and we will meet you at the after party. You can get your revenge on whoever is responsible later.”

“You’re right...always bloody right,” he laughs and Mercer and Mossy let him go.

Mossy claps Echo’s back and they head towards the back of the room, teachers are trying to get everyone under control.

“I have to go and see Chloe quickly.” I say and the guys nod. We follow behind Echo and find her in the staff toilets where Clarissa is on the phone with someone. Chloe is crying and Chev is leaning against a wall while Mac is trying to console her. Echo and Mossy push past everyone in the room. Echo sits next to her and pulls Chloe into his lap. She protests that he’ll get covered in glue and feathers, but he doesn’t care.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Was it you?” She hoarsely whispers. I’m instantly thrown back by her comment but I can’t blame her, seeing as how it was something the old me would do.

“No.”

“Sure it wasn’t,” Chev snaps at me and Mercer steps forward.

“Be careful of what you’re accusing her of,” Mercer snaps.

“I wouldn’t do that. I understand why you would think it was me, but Sebastian cornered me after I left the toilets and I couldn’t get back to my seat.”

Clarissa hangs up the phone walking back closer to us. “It wasn’t Bristol, it was Lydia. I busted her nose, she was watching from the side of the stage.” Chloe starts to cry and apologize.

“Hey, don’t apologise. I have a lot to make up for.”

“Everything is going to be fine.” Clarissa says with a wave of her hand. “I have a stylist coming to help remove whatever that is from your hair. They are also bringing a change of clothes and he will meet us at the after party.”

“I can’t go to the party now,” Chloe cries. “Look at me.”

“Everyone is here for at least another hour, the party is at my house. There’s no way you are missing it. I dare Lydia to show her ugly face now, with how much blood was pouring from her nose. If I know her, she will be calling her daddy to get her to a plastic surgeon.”

“He’ll need to call the morgue to identify her dental records by the time I'm finished with her.” Echo snaps, rage burning heavily in his eyes.

“Damn that got dark quickly,” Rocky mutters.

Chloe places her hand on Echo’s arm. “She isn’t worth it, let’s just go.”

We all head out, not bothering to say goodbye to anyone and get into our cars. Oliver takes Clarissa, Chev’s V8 roars off in the background, Mac jumps in Echo’s car with Chloe and Mossy and I go and get into the limo. Maximus is sitting on the floor with Levi curled around him. The others take the seats but I sit down in front of Maximus, he looks up at me and mouths I’m sorry.

“Don’t ever be sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

He reaches for my hands and interlocks our fingers. “I have to go and make sure Chloe is okay. Did you want to come? No one else will be there for at least an hour and we can leave before they arrive if you need to.”

He let’s go of one of my hands and pulls out his phone, typing a message.

I want to go with you, I’ll be fine in an hour.

I nod, climbing to my feet and pull him up. He sits beside me and I rest my head on his shoulder as the limo heads towards Clarissa’s house. I’m so glad to be surrounded by my guys, they are so much better than my old so-called friends.

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