The Chemistry Test

32. traitors and tears

Day Thirteen

I blinked up at the giant, dumfounded.  Had Mark's name really just come out of his mouth?

"What are you--" I shook my head, scoffing.  "What are you talking about, Damon?  Since when do you care about Mark?"

"Listen, I didn't give two shits about Lisp when this all started."  Damon scratched the back of his head, not meeting my eyes.  "Guy's a freaking pain in the ass.  But he didn't deserve what you did to him--what all of you--did to him." 

Hunter chuckled, shaking his head.  "Okay, let's not forget who's at fault here.  You're the one who posted the video."

Damon licked his teeth.  "Didn't wanna do it, but I had no choice."

I shook my head in complete disbelief that even a shred of Damon cared about Mark.  This whole time, the boys had been at each other's throats, so it didn't make sense why the giant was defending Mark's case after everything that had happened.

"So, what are you trying to say, then?"  I squinted up at him.  "All of the sudden, you don't hate his guts?"

Damon threw his head back, letting out a groan.  "I told you.  I never hated him."  He looked away, sucking in his lower lip.  "I hate what you did to him."

"But why do you care?"  I frowned.

"Because I--"  he sighed, shifting his weight between his feet.  "Listen, it's complicated, okay?"

"Spit it out, man."  Hunter said, exasperated.  "It's not like you have anywhere to go.  You might as well just tell us."

Damon laughed, leaning his elbows against the cart railing.  "Because you guys are assholes.  Every single one of you."  His dark eyes flickered between us, locking onto mine in a chilly gaze.  "You're the worst, though, Zoe.  You call him your best friend, but you couldn't give a flying fuck about anyone but yourself."

I scoffed.  "Um, excuse me--"

"You know it's true," he said, eyes narrowed.  "As soon as your popular douchebag costar showed a teensy bit of interest, you dropped Mark like a freaking bomb.  And that's what happened, he exploded.  Because of you."

"It's not her fault."  Zak piped up, blue eyes flickering over to mine.  "We never asked for any of this to happen.  We didn't ask for the chemistry test."  He scowled up at Damon.  "If anything, you're the one who made it worse by filming us.  None of this would have happened if it weren't for you."

"Oh, look who's talking."  Damon laughed, scrunching his nose.  "The master manipulator, himself.  You know, it must be exhausting keeping up your web of lies, Riley.  Somehow you manage, cause, clearly, you've captured Zoe in it."

Zak swallowed, his jaw clenched.  Wisps of dark hair fell across his forehead as his eyes fell to the ground, my heart thudding loud amidst his silence. 

"Well, now's your chance."  Damon smiled, his eyes glinting with sadistic satisfaction.  "Come on.  Own it."

I took a deep breath, my body filling with dread as Zak's eyes trailed up to meet mine.  He opened his mouth to speak, but another voice filled his place.

"Yeah, Zak."

I whipped around.  The curtain peeled away to reveal my busted, bruised, and bloodshot-eyed best friend. 

"Tell her.  Tell her what you did." 

I gawked at Mark, completely taken off-guard by his sudden appearance.  I wasn't sure whether I was relieved or scared he'd shown up, but judging by the way his chocolate eyes were narrowed at Zak, it probably was only going to heighten the situation.