𝖛𝖎𝖈𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 ↠ sweet pea [2]

|| THIRTY-FIVE ||

*Trigger warning // SA, R*pe*

--

"So," Lauryn began, pretending to take a sip of the water Rich had given her, just in case, before placing it on the coffee table. "Fangs told me things are a little different around here."

"Yeah, I kind of, uh, stepped up," Rich began, pretending to feel any iota of shame in his overstep. "I'm sorry I didn't ask you first. I just figured you were dealing with enough."

"No, that's okay," she lied sweetly. "I'm sure you know what you're doing. Any word on the Ghoulies?"

"Zilch," Rich shook his head, pursing his lips together inward. "I expect them this week, though, if they know how to read a calendar. You want me to do the honours since you're..."

"No, Penny will want it from me," Lauryn insisted. "It's okay. Didn't Jared skip town, though?"

"Yeah, but I imagine he won't get far," Rich chuckled. "He ain't got shit. Well, he won't even have teeth if they find him. I guess that won't make much of a difference since all he talks is trash anyway."

Lauryn managed to let out a fake laugh. "I guess so."

"Anyways, how are you... with the whole Sweet Pea thing?" Rich asked, and Lauryn could feel his gaze intensifying. She almost didn't want to move an inch. "That jerk... God, I wish I smacked his head into the wall that day."

Lauryn's chest tightened, the anger starting to surface. She took a breath, disguising it as a sigh, and it kept some of it down. "Yeah, well, I hope him and Josie are happy."

"Dude, they've been all over each other at school," Rich fibbed, and she was glad she knew about the plan, since that would have really stirred the pot. She had to admit, he was good, but it was somewhat humorous seeing him caught up in his own delusions.

"It's like you never even existed to him," Rich continued. "Seriously, you deserve way better. Maybe we can get the Ghoulies to have a little fun with him. Or... better yet... shall we give his name instead?"

"What?!" Lauryn suddenly perked up, her eyes flashing wide open at him. "W-Why would we do that? We know he didn't do it, our best bet is Jared, right?"

"Yeah, but," Rich shrugged carelessly, his fingers trailing daintily over her knee. "He hurt you. I don't like that. Look at what he's done to you..."

Something snapped inside of Lauryn, the something that her friends feared would come out if they told her at the start. 

"Cut the shit..." she muttered, and Rich's hand froze in place. "I don't want to hurt him."

"Why not?" Rich frowned. "I thought you were mad at him."

"That doesn't mean I want him to die."

Rich's face was suddenly shadowed with an evil she had only ever seen once before. Lauryn felt her throat tighten up, and she tried to swallow the lump that was choking her. 

"But, you killed Skye."

Lauryn's face faded into horror, and she scrambled for words. "I... I..."

"Don't worry, it's okay," he soothed, shushing her with a finger on his lips before he staggered up. "You know why?"

"Why?" she asked, barely audble under her petrified breath.

"Because you and I are more alike than you think," he told her, watching as her eyes started to water at her loss for words. He let out a satisfied laugh, clenching his fists together and looking heavenward. "This is amazing. Lauryn, think how good we could be."