Page 242 of Did They Break You

REMI

“You ruined my paper,”I tell him as I meet him at the bottom of the stairwell, my freshly printed paper in hand, still warm from Sloane’s printer. I had to run to the bathroom while I was up there, and I taste the mouthwash on my tongue now as I stare at him.

He smiles at me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and drawing me close. “I made it better, baby, don’t lie.”

We start to walk along the brick pathway to the pedestrian crossing. I’m already going to be late to class, but at least I’ve got my paper written.

And this time, at least it’s fucking done right.

I shove it against his chest and he instinctively claps one hand over it, catching the pages as we cross the street. He pulls it back, glancing at it when we get to the other side, and I see the slow smile curve his lips as he reads the new version.

Love feels like living.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a sickeningly familiar whirl of dark hair. When I turn my head, Cort still reading my paper, Maya is white as a ghost a few feet from me. Her eyes look red, like she’s been crying.

She meets my gaze and triumph flares in my chest. She hasn’t bothered me, she hasn’t bothered him that I know of, and right now, she scurries off as I smile at her and flash my tongue, showing off my piercing.

Yeah. Spite feels like living too, bitch.

Now if only we could get Dr. Ravi to come around so easily to us being together, but one thing at a time, I guess.

CHAPTER

SEVENTY-TWO

REMI

The stadium is packed.

I have to sit at the top of the bleachers, and it’s fucking freezing out here. I glance down at the orange painted end zone,TIGERSwritten in white letters.

I’m shivering, and my eyes catch sight of the cheerleaders in their black and orange uniforms with their matching pom poms.

I’m not envious of their plastered-on smiles and the streamers in their hair.

I wonder if he’ll see me, because the game is ending, and the Ely Tigers are up 31 to 17. Now, they’re just running down the clock.

I glance once more at the cheerleaders, and I don’t see Maya among them, but then again, I’m kind of far away.

I try not to think about it, a flutter in my stomach when I do.

Oh, well. She’ll stay away now.

Van and Sloane offered to come with me, but I thought Cortland might appreciate it if I came by myself. I told him I would help with dinner for tonight, and I could see it in his eyes. He wanted to ask me here.

But he knows how I feel about football.

And even now, nerves roll through me and I’m not so sure this was a good idea. Especially as I spot his dad and Tristan in the front row, easily recognizable by the jerseys they’re wearing even in the cold,Adlerprinted on the back.

But I run my fingers over my scars and take a breath.We only get one fucking life.Bad ideas, good ideas… what’s it matter when you can only do things once?

The timer runs down and the cheerleaders and coaches and fans rush the field, and I push all of that from my mind.

I stand, beaming down at the action, watching number four take off his helmet and rake his hand through his thick, brown hair. He’s engulfed by his teammates and his coach, but he looks up, his eyes darting around the bleachers.

My heart skips a beat.

And his eyes find mine.

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