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)
"Gage knows." I shrug. "I guess I wanted to know what it was like not to be treated differently because of it for once, you know?" A soft laugh burbles from my lips. "I guess I got my wish. Victoria and her friends treat me like they hope I drop dead."
"Jesus," Corey mutters, his expression hard. "I hope those vicious bitches choke on their own misery."
I crack my eyes open, stealing a glance at him. "You're good people, Corey. Don't let them change that."
He eyes me seriously. "You're too good for all of them. One day, you'll realize that you've always been bigger than this shithole."
"I know." I give him a soft smile that wobbles on my face.
We sit in silence for a minute, staring out at the football field together, before my mind invariably drifts back to Gage.
"Can I ask you a question?" I finally ask.
"Shoot."
"Do you think…" I hesitate, licking my lips. "Victoria said…"
"I heard," Corey growls. "Marnie was laughing about it in PE. They were lying, Troian. They didn't see Gage with anyone last night. Victoria saw him alone, going through the drive-through at Snokey's. They just wanted to hurt you because he embarrassed Victoria this morning."
"Oh." I stare out at the field, not sure what to say to that. "It must be exhausting to hate someone as much as she hates me."
"Victoria doesn't like to lose, and she's been coming second to you for years."
I glance over at him, startled.
"Don't look at me like that, baby girl. You know it's true. That boy loses his shit if anyone even smiles at you." Corey smirks at me. "She's been trying to get his attention for years, but he never even looks in her direction. As far as she's concerned, you've got everything she thinks she deserves. That's why she hates you so much."
I wrap my arms around myself, afraid to let myself hope, afraid to let myself see what he does. "He said he's never been able to see past me," I whisper, my voice so quiet it barely carries. "He said…that there's never been anyone else for him."
"Well, it's about damn time he said it."
I bite my lip, staring at the dirty bleacher at my feet. Someone spit their gum onto the metal at some point, leaving it to seal into the grooves of the metal. It's little more than an ugly black blob now, worn smooth.
"I freaked out and ran off after he said it," I admit. "Some…stuff…happened, and I just…panicked."
"What kind of stuff?"
I shoot him a dirty look, my cheeks pink, which makes him chuckle.
"Well, okay then," he says, grinning at me. "Good to know one of us is getting laid."
"I didn't!" I squeak. "I mean, we didn't. I mean, it wasn't…" I bite my tongue, forcing myself to shut up as he cracks up beside me, his laughter booming across the empty field.
"You were definitely up to something, judging by the way you're squirming right now," he teases.
I just huff in response, refusing to even look at him.
"First time?" he guesses.
I shrug in response.
"You're allowed to panic." He hauls himself to his feet. "You're allowed to freak out, stress, and worry. That's natural, Troian. But do yourself a favor and don't shut him out. He's always the first one to put her in her place when she starts her bullshit because he loves you. And you only get so many chances with someone before things break in ways you can't fix."
I stare up at him, something in his tone making my heart clench. I see the same thing on his face—sadness. Grief, maybe. Like he lost something he can't ever get back. "Corey, did you…" I place my hand on his arm. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Nah," he says, shaking his head. "It wouldn't change anything. I ran a few too many times. Now, there's nothing to run back to. He moved on, said he couldn't wait around for me to decide if I wanted him more than I wanted to keep pretending I'm not what I am." A laugh rumbles from his lips, but there's no humor in it.
It makes my heart ache for him anyway.
I jump to my feet, wrapping my arms around him in a fierce hug. It catches him off guard, and he tenses for a minute before returning it.
"You're good people, Troian," he whispers, his voice rough. "You deserve happiness. If Gage is that person for you, reach for it. Fuck these bitches. They don't matter."
"You deserve happiness too," I whisper. "You deserve love and acceptance, no matter what. I hope you know that."
His lips curve into a tiny grin as he pulls back. "I'm finally figuring that out."
"Good."
"You going to be all right now?" he asks. "I can hang out if you need me."
"No, thank you. I think I'm good."