Page 14 of Love is Angry

She passes the Kung Pao box over to me, and I hand over what’s left of the spring rolls, cringing as I notice just how tight my grip is.

“Rhue, you’ve had nothing but pain and misery and suffering. Don’t you think it’s time to move on? It’s been a shitty year for all of us.”

“And you want me to move on with the very woman who broke up our family?”

Laura throws her head back with a cold cackle. “Oh, Big Brother, if you think Madison’s the one who destroyed our family, you’re an idiot. Dad broke his wedding vows. He cheated. If you can get over what he did, you kinda have to get over what Madison did, too.”

And so I am left staring at my sister. The girl who had once worshipped Julian Echeveria like some kind of god. Even when I would have liked nothing more than to break his fucking jaw, Laura held me back. Looking at our relationships now, I see it. The dysfunction. Our individual inability to pull away from the toxic elements within our family.

I thought Laura hated Madison too. But then again, I never knew her ambivalence towards our father was so acute. Perhaps this is the manifestation of some kind of emotionaloutcome. The years of crookedness and wrongfulness in our family, mainly caused by Dad’s shitty behavior… maybe now the chickens have finally come home to roost. If Laura is trying to defend Madison, then maybe that means she’s starting to see dad for who he truly is.

In that sense, she’s catching up with me. Despite what Laura says, I doubt I will ever pardon Madison for what she did. There’s a part of me that hopes Laura will understand that. Another part knows she probably never will. After all, my sister wasn’t the one on the verge of falling in love with Madison. No, that was me.

Chapter 7

Madison

So far, Rhue has kept a moderate distance.

I didn’t expect it, considering the promises of hell that he had made in previous days. He managed to scare Cameron away since that evening. What a prick. Not Rhue; no, I knew Rhue was bad news. I mean Cameron. Allowing Rhue to scare him off like that. Not standing his ground. Believing the things Rhue said without getting to know me himself.

I shake my head. That was just the anger talking. The Echeveria name has quite the reach, making it all the way into Ithaca and anyone, Kennedy or not, knew better than to imprint themselves on an Echeveria’s bad side. Cameron was here to learn and, whether I wanted to admit it or not, perhaps staying away from me was beneficial to his education.

I told myself it didn’t matter. That one scorned relationship wasn’t the end of the world. That much was true. In just my second week here, I’d managed to get acquainted enough with a few girls which meant meals weren’t spend alone and invitations to have a social life were extended. They were nice girls, too. Sweet imports from Georgia and North Carolina.

A smile stretches across my lips as I look up to see them waiting for me outside the auditorium. We’re about to start one of three ancient history modules, and my heart dances at the thought of being able to discuss the lecture with them afterwards.

“There she is!” Rita exclaims upon seeing me.

“Hey,” I greet them as I part from the deluge of students filling the hallways. It’s high traffic time as everyone is still trying to figure out which room is which, which auditorium holds which seminars, and so on. This orientation chaos will go on for another couple of weeks until we’re all accustomed to the building and its intricate maze of chambers, halls and corridors. “How was your weekend?”

“Oh, boring,” Rita replies with a scoff. “My fiancé was supposed to come over, but he canceled. Don’t know what issue he had back home that was more important than me.” She pauses, then gives me a dark, narrow-eyed smile. “Let’s just say this was strike one. There isn’t going to be a strike two.”

Lindsey laughs lightly. “I, on the other hand, had my share of fun settling into town. I tried like three different eateries and mapped out every liquor store in Ithaca. Let’s save the legalities for later, I don’t look under 21, and that is all the people behind the counter need to know when they ring me up.” She glances my way. “I was gonna throw a small get-together in my dorm room tomorrow night. You in?”

“It’s a weeknight,” I reply, smiling awkwardly as I pray they don’t lead me any deeper into temptation. My grades are more important than changing my social life, and I am really bad at turning people down. My stomach clenches as I remember Julian Echeveria for the umpteenth time. Had trouble saying no there, too. “But I think I can make it.”

“Exams are still a long way away,” Lindsey says. “You’ll be fine if you go through one day of school in the company of a head-splitting hangover.”

“Well, not if we teach Maddie here how to drink like a champion,” Rita chimes in, grinning like the very devil that turns saints into sinners.

I like them both. They’re spunky and outspoken and lacking most inhibitions, which is exactly what I need if I’m to let loose. They’re also quite brilliant and with above-average GPAs, so they must be doing something right.

“Okay, I’m in,” I tell them, and I get nods of approval. “But I’m gonna have to be careful. I don’t usually drink.”

“None of us do,” Rita replies. “It’s just us girls, some music, some junk food. That kind of stuff. You can order the pizza, and Lindsey here will take care of the drinks.”

“Sounds like a great plan,” I say, almost giddy, my emotions playing a soundtrack fit for a sunny California teen power movie. Then Rhue pops up from behind the girls like a fucking nightmare and the record scratches, announcing the death of a good moment.

He seems amused. “Hey, ladies. So, are you sure you want to be seen associating with Madison Willis, the whore of Rochester?”

“Excuse me?” Rita asks, scrunching her nose as she takes a few steps to the side and turns to face him. Like a mirror image, Lindsey does the same, and they both cross their arms while they glower at Rhue.

I’m virtually crapping my pants, blood running ice cold as I try to think of ways to salvage this budding friendship. I was a fool to let my guard down. I should have warned the girls about Rhue. Maybe a lie, something about him being deranged or something, I don’t know. Anything to turn them against him before he showed up to do something like this.

“I’m just saying, your reputations back home are pristine. Madison’s will stain everyone she comes into contact with. And if you’re looking to have some kind of political careers going forward, I recommend you leave this girl be,” Rhue says. His tone is calm, holding just the right tinge of concern to make it feel like he’s actually being genuine and not just a downright asshole. “I know her well enough to understand the kind of danger you’re exposing yourselves to, that’s all.”

Lindsey narrows her eyes. “You’re Rhue Echeveria, right?”

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