Page 338 of Releasing 10
Weird lines of gold tracking their way over blue irises.
Fascinating.
My body was sore all over.
Wonderful.
My neck was peppered with love bites.
Glorious.
Dark circles under my eyes.
Ethereal.
Tearstains on my cheeks.
Whore.
Fragments and molecules of dust particles landed on my flesh—I could see them. It was as if time had slowed down just for me, so I could see everything in ultra vision.
Magical.
Drumming my fingertips against the porcelain rim, I tilted my head to one side, trying to make a connection with the stranger staring back at me.
I couldn’t recognize her, but I was touching her face.
How unusual.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding!” Claire growled, blowing in the bathroom door, eyes wild with fury. “What the hell are you playing at?”
“Hi,” I breathed, feeling both sated and suicidal. “What did I do now?”
“What did youdo?” She demanded, eyes bulging. “Liz, you kissed Pierce O’Neill at the lockers this morning. I saw you! And then you scampered off before I could confront you.” She narrowed her eyes. “You’re supposed to be with my brother, Liz. How could you do that to Hughie?”
“Oh.” Devastation hit me like a tidal wave when she said his name. “Yeah, we broke up.”
“Shut the front door!” Claire’s jaw fell open.“When?”
“Last weekend.”
“But you were together at his birthday party.”
“Yeah, the day after.”
“You guys really broke up?” Claire squealed, looking horrified. “Omigod, why?”
“What’s your problem?” I snapped, feeling cornered and wounded. “You didn’t want me with your brother to start with. Well, you got your wish.”
“Lizzie!” Her tone was laced with hurt. “Just because I was uncomfortable about it doesn’t mean I wanted this to happen.” Sadness filled her eyes. “It all makes sense now. He’s been locked in his room for days.” She looked at me with a lost expression. “He doesn’t come out unless it’s for school.”
“I need to go,” I mumbled, feeling too much in this moment. Emotions were thrashing around inside of me, rising higher and higher, as his face tormented me.
“Liz, hold up,” Claire begged. “Let’s talk about this.”
Ignoring her, I rushed for the door, only to fall over a rogue changing bag and collapse in a heap on the floor.
“Omigod!” Claire rushed to my side. “Are you okay?”
