Addicted to the Billionaire

-25-

Song for this chapter: Don't want my heart

Whoever said that time heals all wounds needs to be stabbed. Repeatedly. Then left to be bitten by wild animals. We'll see if time heals his wounds. The news was all over the papers. I don't know how a reporter got to see Xavier and Beatrice kissing, but now everyone knows. Jordan was the one who showed me the paper, since I refused to leave the room. When I saw it, I screamed and threw things around, then sat down on the bed, blank, empty and emotionless. I stop feeling, I stop caring.

One week later

I send all the things Xavier gave me back to him – the iPhone, the dresses, ... everything. He has ceased to exist to me, and I don't want any reminders lulling around.

Linda tells me that he has stopped coming to work, and on the rare occasion that he does, he locks himself in his office. His name is sacrilege now. I can't even think of it because it hurts too bad. My things are now in Jordan's apartment. Jordan went over to his house to pick them up, and beat him up so badly. Jordan says that he didn't defend himself, just stayed there and allowed Jordan hit him. Jordan also got my things from my parents' house, so now I have all my books in the room, which is good – it distracts me. I read like my life depends on it, which it probably does since my last exams are coming up soon. My suspension is over, but I don't return to school – I can't risk it.

This is also the week that Asher starts coming around. I don't talk to him, but he still stays, still tries to lift my spirit. He doesn't look at me in disgust – and he has the full right to, considering that I look like a homeless bed-ridden sloth.

On the first day that Jordan lets him in, I tense, barely looking up from my reading as he enters. He sits on the bed, and I ignore him – if he mentions his name, I'll tell Jordan to kick him out.

"So, we're reading advanced literature?", he asks, gesturing to the book that I am holding in my hand, and I look up at him in surprise. We don't talk, but I listen, and he comes by every other day. Other than that, my life is monotonous. I read, I pick at the food that Jordan brings me, I try to sleep, only to wake up plagued by nightmares, so I read again.

Two weeks later

Linda and Jordan talk about how worried they are about me, about seeing a therapist. But they don't understand that I am not depresses. I am simply taking time out for myself. The good thing about going through a breakup, or whatever it is that I am going through is that I can think on my life. Looking back, this is my fault. I allowed myself to believe that I could change Xavier, allowed myself to be played, even though Asher had warned me. We weren't even dating, so I can't say that he cheated on me. It doesn't make it hurt any less, but it's the realization that counts right?

One month later

"Well, well, look who's alive. I reckoned you committed suicide after Xavier dumped you.", Audrey snickers as I put my books in my locker.

I try to ignore her, the same way I've been ignoring all the looks of pity and malicious comments all day. I did not come to school for chitchat. I came because my final exams started today.

I start to walk away, but she drags me back. "Don't turn away when I'm talking to you. how does it feel huh? Being used and played."

I grab her hair. "You obviously haven't forgotten what happened the last time you cornered me", I growl, slamming her head against a locker. "Don't mess with me. I do not mind getting expelled."

I turn away to the exam class without even looking at her. As I hurry on, I round a corner and bump into someone. Someone smelling strongly of vanilla. Someone with piercing green eyes. Someone who I never want to see again.