Running from His Claim (Beauty and the Beast #2)

Chapter 46

Three days.

It had been three days since Victor told me he loved me.

Three days since I ripped his heart out.

Three days since I'd finally faced my rage against Warren's betrayal - and it had nearly killed me.

I was still alive. Barely. I ate. I slept. I took my exams.

And then repeat.

Everyone was worried about me, I knew that. But none of it could reach me. I understood what happened - the pain had been too much and after crying myself raw, I'd retreated into myself. I was like a wounded animal, curled up in a ball in the shadows until I recovered. It wasn't something I wanted but I couldn't help it. And at some point on this third day, I faced the possibility that I was always supposed to go through this if I was to move on from Warren.

Move on from him. Even the thought hurt.

Still, Victor was right. Everyone was right. I had to get over Warren, to leave what we had behind. I was in on the secret that Warren had loved Caitlin way before he met me, that their relationship was something I could never hope to compete with, so really I should have gotten to this point months ago.

But it was okay, I was here now. And everyone was freaking out, myself included. Dane was the one most affected by this, the one whose pain knifed through me the most. My friends simply stayed away from me after the first day when I completely ignored them, but Dane couldn't do that. He hovered over me quietly, always attempting to draw me out of myself.

This third day, Friday, I sat in my room and gazed out the window at the night sky. And I wondered where Victor was, what he was doing, if he'd even let me call him yet. I hadn't tried again since that night. I was sure I'd made a fool of myself with my voice messages, and I knew he needed space. Not to mention that I had to find a way to convince him that what he felt for me wasn't love. We worked as best friends - surely he could see that?

I fell asleep still completely confused about the situation and woke up the next morning to feel people in my bed. I sat up, alarmed, and found Anya and Amber flanking me on the bed.

"Morning," Anya grinned cheekily.

"Hey. What're you guys doing here?" I asked quietly.

"Did you know that the Spring Dance is in a couple of weeks?" Amber asked.

"We really need to shop for dresses and since today is Saturday we figured why not?" Anya declared, sitting up behind me. "So hurry up and get ready - we're making a full day of it."

"Sorry, guys," I said, pulling the covers back over my head. "I'm not in the mood."

"I'm making breakfast," Amber announced and I heard her leave the room.

I grunted - and then growled when the covers went flying off me. Anya stood with her arms crossed, daring me to complain.

"What the hell?!"

She grabbed my arm and yanked me viciously out of bed so I stood face to face with her. "Now you listen to me! You are a strong, beautiful girl who just so happens to be the prom queen. So whether you like it or not - whether you feel like it or not - you're going to get into that bathroom and shower and you're going to get all dolled up and come shopping with us for a stunning dress because you deserve it!"

"What I deserve is to be left alone!" I yelled right back. "I'm alone, I lost Warren months ago and I'm still not over him! I just lost Victor because I was clueless to his feelings for me, and now you want me to care about a stupid dress for some stupid dance?!"