Toxic: A Sociopath Novel

Chapter 23

Even though Christopher and I wereprohibited from attending Prom, we werestill allowed to attend the walk-in. The walk-in is when people gatheroutside the cafeteria to watch the studentswalk into prom. There's a teacher whoannounces them and the school even paysfor a professional photographer. It's such ahuge deal that the whole town goes, eventhe couples without kids because theyliterally have nothing better to do. Some ofthe staff help in moving two sets ofbleachers from the soccer field, and whenthose fill up, people bring their own chairs,or sit on the ground. The strongest ofpeople stand. The whole concept iscompletely insane, but for one night,everyone is shown love.At around 6 p.m. the first few couplesstarted coming in and the crowd roared.After a while, I sort of stopped payingattention and received the biggest shock ofmy life."...and Lyn Griffin!" I looked straightup, completely missing the first name called,and it was really her, in a baby blue, long, flowy dress and she was walking in withCody! He was in a grey suit and turquoisetie."I thought she rejected him," Ithought. I couldn't take my eyes off them.Lyn was stunning. Her hair was in gorgeousspiral curls and she was wearing make upfor the first time. They posed for thephotographer and then Lyn spotted me. Sheshot me a devious grin and then pulledCody down to her, making out with him infront of everybody. The crowd went fromcheering to 'oohing.' My mouth droppedwide open and so did Cody's after shepulled away. She had a real smile on herface now and Cody chased after her as shedisappeared inside."Did you just see that?" I askedChristopher. He nodded nonchalantly. "Weneed to get in there!" I texted Taylor andasked if she could sneak us in. It took her alittle while to respond but she agreed andwe set up a plan, but Christopher opposed. "I'm already in enough trouble withthe school." He said."Don't be such a baby!" I yelled as wesnuck around to the front door of theschool. I waited anxiously for Taylor,bouncing up and down, ignoringChristopher as he rambled on about howjealous I am of his sister. Taylor rushed tothe door and I cringed, expecting an alarmto go off, but the door opened with ease; itwas unlocked."What took you so long?" I asked."I had to watch for Mr. Henry." Ohright, I forgot he practically lives here.Christopher tried calling after me andgripped my arm but I broke free, and hechased me as I darted down the hallway. Ibarged through the velvet curtain coveringthe doors to the hallway. Everybody wastoo busy jamming to the music to notice me,despite the fact that I was in spandex, acami, and a silk robe with fuzzy slippers onmy feet. I looked around the party and itdidn't take long to spot Lyn on the dancefloor. She was grinding with everybody;boys and girls; and even the students whoonce claimed to dislike her foundthemselves engaged with her presence. Idodged after her, and everybody froze asher and I had a staring contest. It was atthat moment that I realized I had nothing tosay. I just stood there staring at her until Mr.Henry came and dragged me away. I keptturning my head to watch her, ignoring Mr.Henry's comments towards me, untilsuddenly, I couldn't see her anymore.Mr. Henry tossed me out the frontdoor then locked it. I rubbed my arm fromwhere he had a tight grip on me and saw abright red mark in the dim outside schoollighting. I screamed, for no reason. I juststood there and screamed out all myfrustration."Are you okay?" A man's voice yelled.I stopped screaming long enough to glance at who it was. He was prancing towards melooking concerned. He approached me,placing both hands on my arms. I tried, but Icouldn't resist looking into his puppy dogchocolate eyes."William," I whispered. "What areyou doing here?""My Aunt was back at the hospital. Iwas driving through this town and saw abunch of people and got curious, but then Iheard somebody screaming and I just...areyou okay?""Yeah..." I hesitated. "Sometimes Ijust...need to be heard." William wrappedme into a hug and I found myselfcomfortably cuddling into him. Christophercame creeping around the corner."Get the fuck off her!" Christopherpushed William causing him to release me.William's hands went up in surrender."Who the fuck are you?" Christopher askedfacing William with a bloodshot face. "So, you must be Christopher."William replied, completely ignoringChristopher's question."Don't worry about who I am,"Christopher started. "I asked you aquestion.""Oh, me? If you don't treat this younglady right, I'll be Mister Steal your girl."Christopher swung his fist in the direction ofWilliam's face. William caught his fist withthe palm of his hand. Christopher's mouthdropped open both in shock andembarrassment. William held a sarcasticsmile. He went to twist Christopher's armbut I started screaming again. They bothrushed over to me but Christopher won meover this time. He gave William a dirty lookand then led me away to the pathfinder. Ileaned against the door and Christopherhovered over me, both hands on either sideof my head. He is still mad at me."Who the fuck was that LeighAnn?" Ididn't look at him when I answered. "William." I whispered."What?""William!" I yelled in his face thenburied my face in my hands. Christopherswore then moved back one of his fists. Ijumped as the glass from the passenger sidewindow shattered."Christopher!" I screamed, my voicecracked and achy."What?" He's still angry. I had nowords for him. I looked at his still balled upfist. It was bloody and little pieces of glassshimmered in the street light."Your knuckles," I started. He spokebefore I could finish."I'm fine." He insisted. I reached outfor him, begging him to let me help. Hepushed me away and walked to theopposite side of his car and jumped in thedriver's seat. He cranked it up and sped off,abandoning me in the muggy parking lot.William watched the scene from thecrosswalk and ran to me after Christopher was long gone. He pulled me into a hugimmediately before asking if I was okay."I'm okay, I guess.""He's so mean to you.""Glad somebody besides me seesthat." William shot a fake smile at me."What happened to you? Youdisappeared." William asked."I promised Christopher I wouldn'ttalk to you anymore.""Why? I can be the best thing to everhappen to you.""William-""What? What is it LeighAnn?""I can't just leave Christopher.""Why not? You dumped John, doChrisy boy the same way.""I can't, it's not that simple. There's alot to the story that you don't know.""Then tell me.""No.""Please LeighAnn. What is it?""William, I-" "Damn it! Just tell me! Does he hityou?" I thought about the way I shouldanswer this, then gathered some pieces andtried to sound convincing."Yeah. Yeah he does. He smacks mewhen I do something he doesn't like andwhen I'm sleeping if I accidently snore, It'sawful William. I can't leave, he might hurtme or you, I'm scared." I pointed to themark on my arm from Mr. Henry andpretended it was from Christopher,explaining that this is what he did to meafter he pulled me away."Oh, sweetie." He said, then kissedmy forehead.