(Spin-off of Imaginary, more so specifically it's second book, Severity)
Cleo Vexer, a problematic teenage girl, is the sensation of your average pessimist and mediocre criminal. Still having to survive the rest of her senior year bitter and lonely...
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Looking back for a quick second, he's running too. And faster than my non-athletic self could run. My car is sitting pretty in sight and I hope my legs could sprint long enough to close the gap in time. I feel like I'm running for my life at this point, because he'll kill me if I come up short.
I reach my car but fumble with retrieving my keys from my bag. The clip slides it's way off the zipper, but before I can even identify the unlock button in my panic, two arms cinch around my waist.
"Caslon, hear me out!" I yell out instinctively with my eyes closed shut.
"Just get in the car, Cleo." He picks me up from the ground and carries me to the passengers seat of my car. I don't like his tone; he talked like I was in trouble.
Which I am.
Once I'm strapped in, he quickly jogs to the driver's seat using the key he snatched from my grasp. We start driving away from school; his eyes don't leave the road. It's scary and he knows I know it.
"Where are we going?" My voice whimpers.
"Back to your apartment," Caslon glances over at me to catch my reaction. I'd try to hide my wince, but the cat's already out of the bag. "Where Riley is."
"How'd you find out?" I whisper shamefully. My head is down with my hair covering it slightly and my hands start to feel clammy.
"I stopped by your apartment early this morning so we could get breakfast." He replied irritatedly. "I figured you could use a meal, and don't pretend like I haven't noticed."
Caslon glances disappointedly at me before continuing. "But instead I come to find your friend Winsley nursing her with a breakfast of her own. She said she stopped by as well and heard from her boyfriend that you were watching Riley for a friend."
If I wasn't already worried that Winsley's visit would come back to bite me, there was no escape now. My lips feel like there's a zipper stuck between them; glued.
"Why'd you lie?" Caslon asks, fairly calm but about to burst if I answer with something he doesn't want to hear.
"Because I thought it was the right thing to do." I whisper quietly.
"The right thing to do?" He repeats with a scoff. "In what world is that the right thing to do?"
Caught so sudden, I started crying; silently. There's not much reason, but everything came rushing back so soon. What I knew was coming finally came and yet, I still was so caught off guard that it's happening now.
Tears were pooling in my eyes, but at this point, I could care less if I cried. "I wanted to tell you; I really did."
"Then why didn't you?" He screams, his hands balling into fists as they bang the steering wheel.
"Because she's hurting, Caslon!" I screeched back. My voice scratched so high that I could feel the hiccups intertwine along with the break of tears in my eyes. My fingers lazily reach up to my checks so they can swipe my face clean. "Riley was being bullied, hidden in your shadow, ignored! Do you know how that feels? To leave but to never feel more abandoned."
By now, I'm aware that the car is already pulled over in front of the apartment. But we're still swallowed up inside; arguing.
"That doesn't give you the right to hide her!" Caslon narrows his eyes furiously, flames dancing in his gaze. "I was worried sick about her and you just watched.So is that really the right thing to do, Cleo? Please correct me if I'm wrong."
The sarcasm drips from his voice and his shoulders relax just slightly. I gulp, biting back another regrettable response, still guilty as charged.
"I didn't mean for it to get this far."
"Well it did." He laughs bitterly. "If you break a plate and say sorry that doesn't change the fact that the plate is still broken."
"I've warned and warned and warned you, Caslon." This time, I don't mind the tears that cascade my cheeks. There's not enough energy in my to wipe them a way. I want him to see me, that I am again sorry. "This the type of person I am. I don't like the person I am when I with you. Because I'm happy, and when everything falls apart, this is what happens. And people wonder why I can't keep a guy."
I reach over and pull the car keys out. Unlocking the door, I step outside of the car with my posture slagging.
"I'll get Riley and walk her down to you." My voice mumbles coherently enough. It's tired and defeated. "Lock the car and return my keys after when you're ready."
I toss the keys back to him and slam the door shut. It's over.
Like that; over.
And though it really is, I laugh to myself. In the elevator, tears still fresh on my cheeks, knowing that I'll probably never see Riley again.
