Perfectly Unseen

67: mask on/off... who cares?

The pain just kept getting worse with each breath.

"Ailie? Did you hear me?" Mr Sullivan stood in front of my desk, his arms crossed as he looked at me strangely.

I shook my head, sighing painfully. "No. Sorry. I'm just distract—"

"A whore." Someone coughed out anonymously, making me close my eyes and take it like I took Lucas' beating.

"It's coming up, isn't it?" He remembered making me clench my jaw. "Why don't you go down to the guidance office." He dismissed me with a concerned expression on his face. "You're excused for the rest of this class and if you want to talk feel free to stop by."

I nodded, feeling very numb as I gathered up my belongings. "Okay. Thanks." I passed Ashton's empty seat, the guilt washing over me.

Why did I have to hurt him to avoid hurting him? It was all so stupid.

"I hope you're happy, bitch." Jessica sneered quietly as I passed her. "Ashton doesn't let just anyone in and he let you. You went and hurt him—"

"I know what I did, Jessica!" I snapped, pulling my hand through my hair as she stared at me like I was scum on the bottom of her strappy heels. "Excuse me." I muttered, pushing my way out of the door before I could be stopped by someone else.

The only time I stopped was when I was in the safety of the library—the familiar scent of books calming my shot nerves as I rubbed my bruised wrists. My heart was beating fast in my ears, the sound like a pounding drum that just kept getting louder. I was at a lost.

What was I doing?

"You look like you could use a drink...or ten." An amused giggle sounded out, the voice so familiar yet different. I wanted to throw up and run to it at the same time.

Was it possible to love your nightmare?

My knees felt weak as I sunk down onto the ground, my world spinning fast around me as I tried to think rationally. Why now? "W-Why now? Why?"

She crouched down, her pose completely perfect as she adjusted her skirt over her olive skin with her manicured hand—sharp enough to gouge someone's eyes out. Her mischievous grey eyes watched me, rimmed in thick beautiful lashes. "Because, I could sense you needed me, A." Her razor fingers trickled down my bruised cheek, the feeling like ice slowly melting on my skin.

Cadi.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as she kept her cat-like eyes on me, her perfect stained blue lips tilted up into a dangerous smirk. "Still bringing boys to their knees I hear." She purred, standing up and reaching out for my hand. "Own it, A. You look pathetic worrying over them."

"I care for them." I shook my head, standing up by myself before backing away from my haunting past.

She laughed, flicking the grey blue mermaid hair out of her eyes. "Don't make my laugh, babe. You might have changed, but definitely not that much." She crossed her arms, as she took my state of dress. "God, you look horrible." She snorted cruelly before looping her arm around mine and pulling me from the safety of my books. "What you need is a makeover by yours truly."

I let her lead me away, my mind in a whirl as I tried to catch up with the situation. Was this really happening? Was I finally going to be outed as the biggest hypocrite ever?