Page 48 of I Despise You
Chapter 16
VANESSA POKES HER HEADthrough the door of her room the moment I walk out of mine.
“Hey, Lil,” she says. “Got a sec?”
“Yeah. What’s up?”
“Is it true you’re dating Chase?” Her brow is creased, her gaze hard.
“I... I don’t know.” I could tell her the truth about what I’m doing with Chase, but what if it turns out to actually be a lie? Even though I hate to admit it, I’m starting to like Chase, and if I find confirmation that he’s innocent, then maybe he and I can work through all the other issues. I don’t know how Vanessa will feel about that, and I don’t want to get her excited about my plan and then disappoint her if I decide to trust Chase.
“I know he’s hot and charming, but he’s always like that when he wants something. You should be careful. He’s never really dated anyone for real, but he still enjoys breaking naive girls’ hearts. He’ll make you think you’re special, but you’re not. You’re just like all the other girls to him. Once he uses you, he’ll leave. Or worse, he’ll kill you.”
“You don’t have to worry about me. I know what I’m doing.” Most of the time, anyway.
“I hope you do.” She sighs. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I know.” I smile, because I don’t know what else to do.
“Okay. See you in class.” She goes back to her room and closes the door.
I’m on my way to the classroom when I spot Brittany and Chase. She’s talking to him with a sly smile on her face, and my insides clench. What the fuck is she doing? Knowing her, it can’t be anything good.
“She’s only here because of my daddy’s generosity,” Brittany says in the sweetest voice ever as I approach. “Now all she has to do is marry someone rich to get herself out of the gutter.”
She laughs, and it looks like Chase is laughing with her. His eyes shift to me, and something’s different about them. Shit. Brittany has just ruined everything, hasn’t she?
“But you know what?” Brittany says to Chase, pretending she can’t see me. “It would be so nice if one of your girlfriends actually stayed alive.”
“Keep your mouth shut!” Chase growls, and his gaze flits to me.
I just stare back at him, and surprise flickers through his eyes. Did he think I don’t know about Kayla?
“Whatevs. See you later.” Brittany spins around, grins at me, and strides away.
It’s a surprise I don’t lunge at her and try to strangle her.
“We need to talk,” Chase says. “Let’s go to my room.”
My class starts in about ten minutes. I guess we’ll have to be quick.
“Yeah, sure.” I don’t know what Chase’s thinking. Maybe this is it for us. I have no clue if he knew that I wasn’t rich before Brittany told him.
Once we’re in his room, I sit down on the edge of the bed. Chase closes the door and remains standing.
“You know about the rumors,” he says. It’s a statement, not a question.
“Yeah. But they’re just rumors, right?” I eye him carefully, looking for any clues. “If you’d done it, you’d be in jail right now, not here.”
“That’s right.” His voice is perfectly calm.
Should I believe him or not?
“I don’t care about what she said.”
“What?” I blink at him.
“About you. I don’t care if your family isn’t rich. I wasn’t rich either until my father was forced to take me in and pretend he cares.”
