Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Her little friends laugh in response to the vicious dig. I clench my hands and bite my tongue, refusing to cry over the insult, over Gage, over any of it. At least, that's the lie I tell myself until they slip out of the bathroom a minute later, still laughing.
I drop down onto the toilet, a miserable whimper climbing up my throat. He lied to me this morning. He does have a girlfriend. Victoria and her friends saw him with her last night.
God. Was he with her when he was texting me?
Does he send her the same kind of texts that he sent me?
Silent tears roll down my cheeks, and for the first time, I wish I could learn to hate him. It'd be easier than feeling like this—like I lost my best friend and the best part of my life. Was I ever that to him, or was Victoria right all along? Have I always just been someone he pitied?
The fact that I'm no longer sure hurts like hell.
I'm late for my next class. As soon as I walk in, Gage's eyes are on me, his expression full of worry. I pretend not to see him as I hurry by his desk, heading for the only empty one left in the room.
I keep my eyes focused straight ahead, pretending that I'm listening to Ms. Delby drone on about the American Revolution.
Halfway through class, a murmur of careful activity ripples through my classmates, drawing my attention. I watch as, one by one, they pass a note.
My heart climbs into my throat when Derek, the boy in front of me, turns like he's stretching and casually drops it on my desk.
I stare at the neatly folded paper, my eyes locked on Gage's distinctive scrawl, torn between ripping it in half unread and opening it to see what he wants.
Curiosity wins out.
I open it cautiously.
Butterfly,
Meet me at your spot in the library at lunch. I need to talk to you privately. Please?
Gage
I stare at the words on the paper for a long time, not sure if I want to hear what he has to say or not. They're probably just more lies. But then I make the mistake of glancing over at him.
"Please," he mouths, his eyes burning with an intensity that pins me in place. He looks…afraid, like his whole world hinges on my answer.
Apparently, even when he's lying, I'm as weak for him as ever.
I nod, giving in.
Chapter Seven
Gage
By the time lunch rolls around, I'm full of restless energy, desperate to set eyes on Troian, to make sure she's okay. Her eyes were red and puffy when she came to class, like she'd been crying again. I want to know why. I want to hold her. I want to fix everything I've messed up between us.
I just want her, dammit.
I slip between the stacks, heading for the alcove in the back corner where she likes to hide out when she wants to escape from our classmates and pretend this place isn't hell for her.
I hate myself for not realizing that I was the reason a long time ago. Now that my eyes are open, it's all I can think about. It's all I can see. All the barbs, all the bullying, everything she's tolerated and endured…it's all been because of me.
She deserves so much better.
I don't even know where to start making it right, but I have to try.
It takes her ten minutes to finally make it to the library. Ten minutes for me to pace a hole in the floor, driving myself crazy with anxiety.
By the time she appears, I'm ready to snap, so I'm not really surprised when I'm on her as soon as she steps into the alcove, pulling her into my arms.
"What are you doing?" she growls, shoving me away from her to glare at me.
"Sorry." I take a step back, raking my hands through my hair. "I just…" I inhale a deep breath, but it doesn't make me feel any calmer. I still want my hands on her. I still want her body against mine. I still want the same damn things I did two seconds ago. "I'm losing my mind, butterfly."
"Clearly," she snaps, dropping her bag to the floor before crossing her arms to scowl at me. "What do you want, Gage?"
"You were crying this morning."
She rolls her eyes at me.
"You were, butterfly. You can't lie to me."
"Oh. You mean like you lie to me?"
I gape at her, shocked. "When have I ever lied to you?"
"Hmm. This morning, maybe?" Her eyes flash, her cheeks flushing. "You told me that you don't have a girlfriend, but that's clearly not true since you were with her last night."
"What the fuck are you talking about? I was filming that damn soap commercial last night."
"Victoria just couldn't wait to make sure I knew all about you guys," she says. "About how beautiful she is and how she's so much better than 'the thing' with the sad, fat face that follows you around."