Page 68 of Love is Angry

Cameron gives her an amused sideways glance. He doesn’t seem to mind. There is love brewing in his eyes, flakes of gold swirling whenever he looks at Lindsey. She softens like molten honey, too, as soon as she’s near him. I like that about her, that she wears her emotions on her sleeve yet manages to take a logical approach toward her relationship. Lindsey doesn’t want to rush things, and Cameron seems very much okay with that.

“In your own time,” he mutters, offering a reassuring smile.

Rita rolls her eyes in response. “I was never into this secret affair crap. It’s not like either of you has anything to hide.”

“It’s not about that,” I tell her, knowing exactly why Lindsey prefers romantic privacy. “She just wants Cameron all to herself without anyone peeking into their bedroom, so to speak.”

“Exactly,” Lindsey replies. “When people know you’re in a relationship, they sort of have extra eyes on you. It’s like they’re waiting to see how long you’re going to last. I’m sure it’s different once we take another step deeper into adulthood, but college people are like that. Nosy. Curious. Judgmental as fuck. We don’t need that, do we?”

Cameron shakes his head, trying not to laugh. “No, ma’am, we do not.”

“Hello, spuds!” Mackenzie’s voice booms through the thinning stream of people.

I guess she’s adopted a Goth style now. It doesn’t look bad, but I admit I liked her better as the preppy and slightly spunky hot chick. Mackenzie’s black hair is combed into a single ponytail at the top of her head, with bright purple streaks glistening through, and she’s wearing perfectly straight bangs that cover her forehead. The iridescent violet contacts make it hard for me to focus on her pale and beautiful face, lips almost black and shimmering.

There’s a lot to take in, but Mackenzie is in no rush to leave, anyway. I haven’t seen her since the hazing weekend—she’s been away, and I’m starting to sense that this new look might’ve had something to do with it.

“Hey, Mack,” I say, smiling. “How’ve you been? We’ve missed you in class.”

“That’s bullshit, but nice of you to say so,” Mackenzie replies with a tired scoff. Damn, she’s adopted the Goth attitude, too. It’ll make conversations infinitely more awkward from now on,but what I’m seeing in her now is something I have noticed in myself before. Something happened. Something she’s working hard to hide behind this dramatic façade.

“I see you two are still banging,” she tells Cameron and gives Lindsey a wry smile. “I should’ve taken photos that night at the cabin, but the lighting was terrible. All I could see was a pair of white ass cheeks flexing.”

Lindsey’s face turns red, while Cameron exhales sharply.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Rita admonishes Mackenzie, then hooks her arm around Lindsey’s and drags her away. Cameron stays with them, giving me a quick glance before the three of them disappear inside the auditorium with the last of the students.

“A lot, but there’s no point since the bitch just walked away without waiting for an answer.” Mackenzie chuckles bitterly and shakes her head.

“Something on your mind, Mackenzie?” I ask hesitantly.

She gives me a cutting look up and down, then rolls her eyes. Effectively dismissing me, she saunters away.

I make a bit of an effort to catch up with my friends, but the crowd of people crushing through the doors makes my heart jump. I hang back. Rita turns around, looking for me, and I wave at her to go on ahead. I take a few steps back, out of the stream, and concentrate on breathing steadily. I might feel more whole—but the panic and claustrophobia are still there, barely hidden under the surface.

“Aren’t you going in?” Rhue’s voice crashes into me like a wave of ice water and I jump.

“Ack! I mean—hi.”

He tilts his head slightly. “You okay, Maddie?”

“I’m okay.”

He watches me intently for a moment. “Hey--I hear Farnsworth is an incomprehensible genius. Want to join me for dinner tonight and translate my notes for me?”

I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling. “I’m pretty sure you can keep up. You can’t play dumb with me, Rhue. I was your tutor.”

“My point exactly,” he says with a grin. “You already know how to teach me.” He leans forward, gazing into my eyes. My heart races, certain for a moment that he’s going to kiss me—but then he draws away with my phone in his hand, having slipped it out of my bookbag.

“Hey!”

“Hey, yourself,” he says as he fiddles with the screen for a moment. He hands the phone back, flashing the screen at me. He’s added himself to my contacts, complete with cheesy headshot. “Text me if you want to save a poor jock from academic probation.”

He flashes me a parting grin and disappears into the auditorium. I stand there for another moment, stunned. Is this his way of extending an olive branch, or does he have some kind of elaborate revenge waiting for me? I hate that I can’t tell anymore. I shove my phone back into my bag and file in after the last few straggling students, then make my way over to Cameron’s perfect seats.

“Took you a minute,” Rita says, giving me a suspicious look. “You good?”

“Yeah,” I tell her, putting the problem of Rhue aside for the moment. “Yeah, I’m good.”

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