Page 27 of Perfect Tragedy
“Don’t let her make you upset. She’s a ho bag.”
I laugh, “I know.” I sniff and lift my chin.
“Okay?”
“Okay.”
She nods and we leave the bathroom together, but I stop short when I see Blake standing down the hall arguing with Hailey. I can’t hear everything they’re saying but he looks angry. His head turns to mine and he says something to her again before walking away from her. She glares at me, hate burning in her gaze, before she walks away.
Blake looks at Vanessa and nods, before looking at me, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“I saw what she did. I’m sorry.”
Anger suddenly washes over me in a burning wave. I feel my cheeks flush and my fists clench, “Why are you even with her? For the life of me, I can’t understand it. I’m sorry, I tried,” I lie. I never tried, but whatever, that’s irrelevant. “I just don’t get it.”
“Well, clearly that’s been a mistake.”
“Wh-what?”
“I’m done with her. What she did isn’t okay. Can I give you a ride home?”
“How? We came here in a limo.”
He holds up car keys, “I borrowed a car,” he looks at Vanessa. “I can give you a ride too, if you’d like?”
She looks at me, then Blake, and back again. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay. I’ll get a ride home from someone or call my mom. A few people asked if you and I wanted to go grab a bite to eat after anyway. Maybe I’ll take them up on it. Unless you want to stay and go too?”
“I think I’d like to go home,” I confess, my good mood ruined.
She nods, “Okay. Go, then. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
She smiles, “Absolutely.” She gives me a hug, kisses me on the cheek and leaves.
Blake looks at me, lifting his brows and holds out his elbow to me. I put my hand in his arm and he walks me out of the hotel. When we’re outside, he clicks a button on the key fob and when a horn sounds, we begin moving in that direction.
“I borrowed Mitch’s car,” he says. “He said he’d catch a ride with Russell.”
I remain silent and watch as he opens the door for me and waits for me to get inside before closing it and moving around the front of the car.
Once he’s inside, he turns to me, “Are you hungry? Usually everyone eats after these things.”
“Starving,” I confess.
“Where do you want to go? Wren’s Cafe? Java Jitters? The Sweet Spot?” He starts naming a bunch of places in town. “It’s my treat.”
Sitting down and enjoying a meal, coffee, or sweet with Blake, his attention all on me sounds nice, but really, I don’t want any of those places. So instead I shake my head and say, “You know what? I’d really just like a cheeseburger,” and I tell him my favorite fast food place.
He laughs, “Yeah?”
“Yep,” I nod.
“Alright. One cheeseburger coming right up.”
When he starts driving, I turn the radio on and search until I find a song I like. He smiles his approval when I choose one and we drive in silence, listening to the song. We go through the drive thru and order, Blake telling me he has an idea.
