Page 3 of Sweet Ruin

Noah had insisted there was nothing between them when he’d taken her to the White Ball instead of me at the start of the term. Had it all been a lie? Had I been so stupidly infatuated with Noah I hadn’t seen the truth? From the way he was looking at Veronica now, it certainly appeared so.

The hot anger I thought had cooled after my talk with Wes returned with a vengeance. I felt like a cornered alley cat, and it took everything in me not to bare my teeth and hiss at him. This boy had already caused me so much heartache, and now this?

I might have yelled at him, but shock stilled my tongue. I was so furious I was practically shaking, and I couldn’t get my thoughts in order quick enough to speak. It didn’t help that Veronica was still on his arm. I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing they were getting to me.

When Noah’s eyes met mine, he held my gaze and seemed to smirk. His arm tightened around Veronica’s shoulders, and he pulled her slightly closer. Veronica followed suit, and the corners of her lips kicked up in a pleased smile, which she flashed in my direction as she gladly snuggled closer to Noah. They were just rubbing it in my face now.

“Today was fun.” Veronica raised her voice slightly, and I knew she was talking for my benefit.

“It was,” Noah agreed. “I’ll call you later.”

He lowered his lips to brush a kiss against her cheek, and I felt the freezing rain against my skin once again. The cold crept down my spine, and my wet clothes clung to me. It all seemed to hit me at once, and I wrapped my arms around my body as I shivered.

Veronica untangled herself from Noah and returned inside the girls’ dorm while Noah pulled the hood of his jacket over his head and started toward the boys’ building. He walked right past me without acknowledging my presence at all. I’d foolishly thought Noah might apologize the next time he saw me. That maybe by now he would have come to his senses and realized he’d acted completely out of line. But apparently, he had instead gone out in search of the next best way to hurt me.

I’d been willing to consider Wes’s advice to take the high road and forget about Noah. But, right now, that didn’t seem possible. Seeing Noah with Veronica had reignited my anger. And the more I thought about Noah punching my dad, the more I trembled with rage. Was he really not going to apologize to me? Why was he being so vindictive?

I whirled to face him. He was nearly at the entrance to his dorm, and I stormed across the courtyard after him. He was just about to pull the door open, but as I caught up with him, I placed my hand against it and slammed it shut.

“What is wrong with you?” I yelled.

He stepped back from me and slowly lowered his hood, lifting one eyebrow as he stared down at me. His eyes filled with judgment as he looked upon my drenched hair and clothes. “Jealousy isn’t a good look on you, Isobel.”

“Jealousy? I’m talking about you punching my father.”

He folded his arms across his chest. “He insulted my dad.”

“So? Do you solve all your problems with your fists now?” I shook my head as I stared at him.

“If you’re waiting for an apology, you’re not going to get one,” he said.

“I’m not the one you need to apologize to. You owe my father an apology.”

“That’s certainly not going to happen.”

"And what about Veronica? You two are suddenly together now?

“Like I said, jealousy isn’t a good look on you.”

I was so mad I had to clench my hands into fists to control myself.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you Noah, but I’m done. I thought you were different. But clearly you take right after your grandfather.”

He flinched a little, and his eyes briefly disconnected from mine. I wondered if my words had made him see sense, but he soon regained his composure. His back became rigid, and his expression turned cruel.

“Maybe I am.” He leaned in closer, towering over me, but I held my ground as I glared up at him. He was only inches away from me, and our chests were heaving with emotion. I knew Noah’s anger matched my own as he scowled down at me.

“What? Are you planning on punching me too?” I asked.

“You think I’m capable of punching you?”

“I don’t know what you’re capable of anymore. I thought I knew who you were, but I can see now I was wrong.”

We were still standing so close, and the air was charged with fire. Even when I hated him, there was an undeniable connection between us. I wished I could burn it away, along with every other emotion I felt when Noah was near.

“You believed what you wanted to believe about me,” he replied. “It’s not my fault you made me into some fairy-tale prince.”

“How could I have ever thought you were a prince when you’re so clearly the villain?” I replied.

---