Page 60 of Shadows of Nightshade
No one left the room. And while there was an occasional question or a concerned comment, eventually, everyone settled and allowed Damen to take the lead. No one abandoned me during my ridiculous emotional display.
Wasthisfriendship? Was this how people usually acted? In the past, Finn would pet my shoulder and leave me alone to cry. He wasn’t always understanding, and I wasn’t used to this kind of affection.
My tears dissolved into hiccups. My eyes burned, and I wiped them with my fists before a navy handkerchief was thrust into my hands.
I looked at it—confused. Who carried a handkerchief? Then again, I shouldn’t have been surprised. These men used silver serving trays and fine china during their weekly club meetings.
“Use this,” Julian—the owner of said handkerchief—told me. He didn’t look at me, possibly sensing that I was not ready for it, but all of them had taken up positions closer than before.
I moved my hands to my face. My eyes had to be red and blotchy, and my nose was running. I must look awful.
As I accepted the cloth, Damen spoke. His voice was rough, and from my current position, I couldn’t see his expression. “We always sit in a huddle during our parties. It’s part of the bonding experience. You’ve just been initiated.”
16
Despite beingable to indulge in a full night’s sleep and being energized by Miles’s delicious breakfast, I was still tired the next morning. Still, school could not wait, and I had no choice but to drag myself to my classes.
Maybe I was just mentally exhausted? My thoughts constantly returned to my parents, Finn, and the unforgivable offenses done against me. Glorious visions of revenge were already taking root in my mind.
Mostly featuring my ex-best friend.
However, I had to fight the urge to wallow in pity. I could not allow my attention to dwell on such things. I had to focus—to be alert—for this was a vulnerable time. It was Monday morning, and Monday classes meant one thing:
Biology, and lab, with Bryce Dubois.
He was my archnemesis, and the bane of my existence—now ranking close to a certain blond-haired devil with silver eyes. Bryce had allowed the sovereignty bequeathed upon him by our true professor to get to his head, and I had no doubts that if Idisplayed anything less than ultimate perfection, he’d take great pleasure in ruining my academic career.
I could not allow my reputation to suffer, no matter my personal struggles.
But as classes droned on, and I squinted my eyes while trying my hardest to focus, I couldn’t help but find that Bryce’s lecture was particularly boring today. Despite my positive intentions, Bryce’s lackluster demonstration of proper microscope technique failed to capture my attention.
In fact, the conversation from the giggling group of girls in front of me was far more interesting. They weren’t even trying to be subtle—even I could understand them. And being forced to sit through detailed observations regarding Bryce’s supposed attractiveness was a new level of torture.
Why was it that nobody else could see just how incredibly annoying Bryce was?
At least I wasn’t alone in this rivalry—I’d feel silly if that were the case.
Bryce was just as guilty.
It was born the instant our eyes met, and he snubbed his nose at me. I might have given up in the midst of his first challenge, but, in the end, I would prevail. But since then—even though I avoided him at all costs—he’d done nothing but antagonize me. He watched me when he thought I wasn’t looking and singled me out in lectures with random, obscure questions meant to humiliate me.
Heck, he’d even assigned me extra homework.
Even Finn had thought the last one was a bit much.
But it didn’t matter. No matter what else might happen, I refused to lose to the likes of him. He might be the favorite for now, but change was inevitable.
I would dethrone him.
And I would never ask him for help.
Bryce’s stout voice continued to drone from the front of the room, and my classmates didn’t stop giggling at his clumsy antics. It was hard to stay on guard, and my exhaustion began to reach a critical point. Not even pure loathing could sustain me.
It was during my weakest moment when he struck.
“Miss Brosnan?”
I jerked awake as his voice sounded loud in my ear, and his overwhelming presence appeared beside my seat. My elbow slipped from the counter, and I fell from the stool and onto the laminate floor.
