Beautiful Creatures: 20 Years Later

Chapter 11: (Not) Sorry

Macon POV

Tonight has been great. I've been dancing with Samantha, drinking punch, and having an amazing time.

I wasn't surprised when LJ left, as she hates dances, though she did look a bit upset... oh well.

"So, Macon, tell me. Why doesn't your family have any Southern accent?" Samantha asked bluntly.

"Ah, my grandpa and great uncle would never let that happen."

“How are y’all related? Ah mean, yer so…. Oooohhhhh. They’re so…. Ugh. I’m sorry, that was rude.”

She clearly wasn't sorry, but, do you think I care? Hello, hot girl!

"Nah it's cool. My family's pretty... different."

"Yeah, I know what ya mean. I- UGH!"

"What?"

"Your freak twin sister just showed up with Anton Breed."

I turned to the door and saw that Lila Jane was, indeed, walking in on the arm of Anton Breed.

Not too shabby, LJ. Not too shabby.

Jezebel POV

My cousin and Anton walked up to me.

"Jez... I'm so sorry. Anton told me everything. I didn't know." Lila Jane wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me.

"You couldn't have. It's perfectly fine."

She pulled away and motioned toward Anton. "We kissed."

No way. No way did shy little Lila Jane Duchannes kiss him. No way.

"No kidding?"

"Nope."

"Wow. Congrats. I guess you've got a new boy toy, huh?"

She groaned. "Jez. Don't talk like that. You sound... Dark."

I smiled sheepishly, covering up the pang of sorrow I felt within.

Well, now that I know for sure that she's on the road to her first real relationship, I clearly can't let her become more of a flirt than me.

So, I turned to Liam, who had been waiting patiently beside Anton.

"So, Li. Do you... have a girlfriend."

He frowned, obviously confused. "Uh... no?"

"Do... you want a girlfriend?"

His eyes widened. I didn't look behind me at Anton or Lila Jane. I was only looking at Liam. "Yes."

"Good." I kissed him with such force, he staggered back. But then, slowly, he responded.

We were kissing.

And it felt good.

At some point, he worked his tongue into it, and, always up for more, I added mine to the mix as well. They battled for dominance and-

Lila Jane pulled us apart, eyes wide. "Jez... could I talk to you? Alone?"

I nodded.

We walked over to a corner.

"What was that?"

"We were kissing," I responded, confused.

"I know what it was. But... why?"

"Because I like him."

"Do you?"

"Yes! And I'm offended. When have I ever kissed someone I didn't like?"

She placed her hand on her hip. "Jason Miller in third grade."

"I was a kid!"

"Nate Hannibal."

"I was immature!"

"It was last week!"

"Exactly! I'm the immature one. I always have been, and I always will be! You're the mature one! I am supposed to do stuff like this, and you'll always be there to pick up the pieces!"

"What if I'm tired of picking up after you?!"

"Too bad! You're my sidekick!" I realized what I'd just said was wrong the minute I said it.

"Jez... I am not! You've always said we were a team! But you know, I don't know why I'd even bother trusting you. All you ever do is let me down."

Ashamed, I looked at my feet. "LJ-"

"Call me Lila Jane," she said, and stormed off.

Tears in my eyes, I ran for the door, knowing what I had to do. I couldn't hurt anyone else.

Turning around for one last look at my ex-best-friend, I saw that she, too, had tears in her eyes.

I also saw that she was angry and scared. But mostly scared.

It hurt to know that she was scared of me.

Maybe if I wasn't so distracted by that awful pained look on her face, I would have noticed the trio standing by the door, looking right at me.

Maybe I would have noticed their yellow cat eyes.