Bloodlust (The Blood Series #1)

Chapter 9

Troy avoids looking at me. "I don't know what you mean", he mumbles. Could he look any more guilty? 

"Yes, you do. You've been acting weird all week long and I guess here's why. Troy, did we break up because you cheated?" I ask, my voice calm and my heart ready to break. This whole situation is so messed up, only couple minutes ago I was struggling with my own regrets but now it appears that I have nothing to feel guilty about. 

He shakes his head violently. "No." 

"Somehow it's getting harder and harder to believe anything you say", I tell him, suspicion audible in my voice. "And what the hell did Nathan Blood mean when he said that you made me forget?"

"He doesn't know what he's talking about. You know how the Bloods are, always picking up a fight. Haley, I love you. Don't let one little mistake wash away all that we have together!" Troy begs me and my heart skips a beat. So it's true, it's all true. 

 

"Mistake? So you did cheat on me?" I exclaim as a pit opens in my stomach. This just can't be real, I must be dreaming. Lately my dreams have been so nightmarish that this one would fit right in. I pinch my arm and almost scream out loud when it hurts and Troy stays right there in front of me, eyes big and apologetic. So it's not a dream... 

"Haley, you don't understand..." he starts to say but I'm done listening to his excuses. He has allowed me to be ridiculed in front of everyone I know because he didn't have the courage to tell me the truth. I don't even know who he is anymore. The boy I've known for half of my life would never have hurt me like this. 

"You're right. I don't understand", I say in a low voice before walking off. I have a lot of questions that I need answered but right now I just have to get away from Troy before I completely break down. As I walk across the school area, I can feel everyone's eyes on me and hear them whisper as I pass them. 

"So she finally came to her senses... I did wonder what the heck she was thinking, going back to him after all that." 

"I feel bad for her but seriously, what did she except? Once a cheater..." 

"Why does that Blood guy keep interfering with all this? He's got no fucking business meddling in other people relationships. Troy is a good dude, who can blame him for wanting to both eat the cake and have it too?" 

"Poor Haley..." 

I can't stay here. I can't have them stare at me and pity me for being so incredibly stupid. But how was I supposed to know that the boy I had trusted for so long was lying to my face? I have been so consumed by my own shame and guilt that I had missed the obvious signs. He had stuck to my side because he didn't want anyone getting me up to speed, not because there was something wrong with him. It was unbelievable that it had taken Nathan freaking Blood to get me to wake up and smell the bullshit. 

I walk right off the campus and ignore the scolding voice in my head. No matter if my academic career is sort of on the rocks already, I need to get the hell away from here.