Bad guy (REWRITTEN)

Chapter 18

I shoved the bathroom door open, my hands shaking as I peeled off the ruined, sauce-stained shirt and tossed it onto the counter.

"God, I really didn't think she had the guts to actually throw the plate" Sophie sighed, leaning against the sinks next to me.

"What is her problem?" I huffed, splashing cold water on my face to hide the fact that I wanted to cry. "Do I have a target on my back? Why me?"

Sophie laughed, reaching into her backpack and pulling out a spare oversized hoodie. "Because she's a psycho, Anna. Everyone knows Hannah has been obsessed with Billie since like, ninth grade. She thinks she owns her"

A sharp, cold pang of jealousy flared in my chest. "Obsessed? Please. That's embarrassing for her"

"It is" Sophie agreed, hopping up to sit on the counter. "She's been clawing at Billie for years trying to get a date. But Billie wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole. Apparently, Billie's taste has... shifted" She looked at me, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Maybe she likes quiet girls who roast her driving"

My heart did a panicked thud. "Stop playing around, Sophie"

"Anna, give it up. I know what happened at Jason's house"

I froze, my head halfway through the neck of the hoodie. I pulled it down and stared at her. "You know?"

"I'm not blind" Sophie rolled her eyes, her expression softening into a grin. "You and Billie. It's a thing, right?"

I scratched the back of my neck, looking at my shoes. "I mean... we aren't exactly dating, but..." I trailed off, the memory of the kiss hitting me all at once.

"She kissed me. And then... things happened''

I expected Sophie to be mad. I expected her to bring up Ricky or the drama. Instead, she squealed.

Then she got serious ''did you see Rick's face when Billie grabbed your hand?"

I froze, the hoodie halfway over my head. I pulled it down and looked at my reflection.

"It was that bad?"

"Anna, he looked like he wanted to commit a felony" Sophie said, her voice dropping. "Jason and Sarah aren't much better. They think Billie is the reason you've been acting weird. They're already talking about it in the group chat"

"They hate her" I whispered, my heart doing a panicked thud.

"And now they're going to hate me''

"Yeah. And honestly? I think you two are perfect together. You're the only person who can actually make her act like a human being" She jumped down and pulled me into a suffocating hug. "I'm on your side, Anna. Always. But the others... you're going to have to be careful. They feel betrayed"

"I have to go to class" I muttered, my face burning.

"Fine. But keep your head up" she shouted as I ducked out. "Let them be mad. They'll get over it. Or they won't, and that's their loss"

The walk to class was a gauntlet. I passed Jason in the hallway, and instead of his usual high-five, he looked straight through me like I was made of glass. Sarah was whispering with a group of girls near the lockers; they went silent the second I walked by.

It was official. I was being exiled.

By the time the final bell rang, I was emotionally drained. Billie's text was the only thing that kept me from going straight to bed and crying.

Billie: Be at home. Picking you up in twenty. ;)

The amusement park was a blur of neon and adrenaline, a temporary escape from the social suicide I'd just committed at school. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, we headed to my secret spot—the abandoned warehouse rooftop.

We sat on the edge, our legs swinging over the drop. Billie leaned her head on my shoulder, our fingers interlaced.

"You're quiet tonight" Billie murmured, her lips brushing my ear. "Is it the guys? Rick? I saw the way they were looking at you today."

"They're just... confused," I lied, looking out at the city lights.

"They're not confused, Anna. They're territorial" Billie said, her voice turning sharp.

"They think they own your loyalty. But you don't owe them anything"

I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe that losing my entire friend group was worth this feeling in my chest. But then I remembered Emma.

"He threatened you. Because of me"

My heart hammered against my ribs. "No, Emma, he didn't—"

"He invited me to the party at Nessa's" she interrupted, looking at me with eyes full of fear. "He said you told him I'd love it. He said you were the one who suggested it"

I looked at her, the juice glass in her hand shaking. I wanted to scream the truth that he'd punched me, that he'd threatened to ruin my life but the words were stuck.

"You're not going, right?" I whispered. "Please tell me you aren't going"

Emma didn't answer. She just stared at the kitchen table, the silence between us feeling like a goodbye.