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♚ J E S S E ♚
"She's a slut, and she deserves everything coming for her. Didn't think she'd stoop so low to beg me for sex," Allen boasts, slinging his arm around his new and shiny girlfriend. Kathryn - or something along the lines - smiles, but there's a bitter look on her face at the mention of Evelyn.
I ignore everything he's saying, about how she tore off her clothes and dragged him into bed, and accept the cigarette Nina hands me. I don't smoke often - I actually haven't until that night at Evelyn's place. There's only so much bragging from the others that I can take before I feel like shooting myself.
"He should just shut the fuck up," Nina mutters, blowing smoke from her nose as she taps away on her flashy phone. We're in the school gardens, skipping class because we don't feel like going, not that I'm complaining. Right now I have European History, and I'm not prepared to look Evelyn in the eyes.
I know I've hurt her. I've hurt myself, too. This wasn't how it was meant to go. After that night, the rules changed. I thought we were all going to leave Evelyn alone and let her recover by herself, but that's not how it's going to be.
They plan on messing with her until she has broken down to her lowest form. I don't think they know she's already broken. It kills me not to be able to do something. They don't trust me, after the many times I told them to stop and leave her alone. They took my phone and they're using it to send nasty texts to her. I know someone passed her phone number around, and no doubt she's receiving abusive texts.
I drag in a puff from the cigarette. Smoking doesn't help me calm down. I'm constantly on edge because of the whole situation, and I'm always fidgety and cranky afterward.
My phone buzzes and I switch it on to see a text from my dad. Remember: your mom's cancer treatment is tomorrow.
I always feel nauseous at the mention of the six-letter disease, and now is no exception. I quickly text back, Yeah, I won't forget. How is she?
She's good, just anxious about tomorrow. You shouldn't be; it'll all turn out fine. Oh, and tell Allen and the others I say thanks for their generosity. Generosity, I snort. They'd rather give out a million dollars to a friend they barely know than save a helpless girl.
Will do. Bye.
I toss the cigarette onto the ground and put it out with the heel of my trainers, shoving my phone into my pocket. It's only the seven of us - Allen, his chic pick, Nina, Cynthia - who's dipping her toes into a small lake -, Theo and his boyfriend Brandt off to the side, talking amongst themselves, and me.
