"What were you thinkin', Bronagh?"
I clenched my school bag and ignored her again.
Branna twisted around in her seat and looked at me, her eyes narrowed. "Answer me!"
I swallowed, looked at her then calmly said, "I was thinkin' that I'm sick and tired of people walkin' all over me like I'm a doormat just because I'm quiet; I was stickin' up for meself!"
Branna shook her head. "By fuckin' fightin'?"
I lost it.
"I didn't fight her! She got in me face and tried to humiliate me by braggin' that she shagged that STD carryin' prick over there and then she said I was jealous of her! Plus, she was the one who came at me; I pushed her away from me in an attempt to defend meself unless you wanted me to let her beat me up like Micah did?"
Her eyes flashed; she only recently learned that Micah was the one who beat me up a couple of weeks ago, and that I had lied when I said I didn't know who hurt me. She understood my reasons, but she was still upset about that.
"You know I never want that to happen to you again, your fuckin' stomach is still only healin' from what that Micah girl done to you!"
I felt his eyes on me.
"What did she do to your stomach?" he asked me.
I ignored him.
I wasn't talking to him, because once again what happened was because of him; Destiny tried to rub having sex with him in my face.
"It was black and blue from that girl kickin' her when she was on the ground. The bruises are nearly faded but it's takin' a long time for them to heal."
I growled at Branna. "It's none of his business because that was his fault, this is his fault, everything is his fault."
I couldn't believe my voice cracked at the end of my sentence. I was going to cry; I knew it and so did everyone else. I looked out the window as Ryder began to pull out of the space he had parked in the school car park. I bit down on my lip and prayed that my tears would dry up, but they didn't.
When I blinked, they fell onto my cheeks and then a little sniffle came from my nose.
Damien sighed next to me and put his arm around my shoulder. He didn't say a word or pull me into a side hug, he just left his arm around me for comfort. I usually didn't like anything like this. I could tell he didn't either but I was glad of it because it made me feel a little bit better.
The car journey wasn't long so I wiped my face as discreetly as I could when Ryder pulled up to mine and Branna's house.
"Later, Bee," Damien said.
I glanced at him and gave him a little smile then flicked my surely red and puffy eyes to Dominic and narrowed then. "I hate you," I growled before turning and getting out of the car, closing the door and stalking up the garden.
"Bye, sweetie," I heard Branna say, and it made me scoff.
Ryder was bigger than both Branna and me put together. There was no way in hell a man his size could be called sweetie, it was just wrong. I thought this over while I rooted through my bag for my keys. When I found them I unlocked the door and headed straight for my room. I heard Branna follow me, and it made me inwardly groan. I needed to lie down and just be on my own for a while, but apparently she wasn't going to let that happen.
When I got into my room, I kicked off my shoes and began to take off my uniform. I pulled on some pyjama trousers under my school skirt then took off the shirt once the trousers were up. I settled on my bed once I had a tank top on and gestured for Branna - who was leaning against my door - into the room.
"Please, continue to belittle and shout at me, I didn't get enough of that at school or in the car."
Branna's eyes narrowed as she walked into my room and sat down on my bed. "I'm not belittlin' you. Shoutin' at you was just from the shock at being called from class to come to your school because you were in a fight!"
I sighed. "It wasn't a fight, I don't know how many times I have to say that for you to believe me!"
"You shoved Destiny to the ground. That has means for a fight, Bronagh."
I grunted. "She deserved it. She got in my face and tried to upset me by throwin' her shaggin' Dominic in me face, the slut!"
Branna sighed and muttered, "That lad does nothin' but 'cause trouble."
"I know! I've been sayin' that for weeks!" I exclaimed.
Branna settled me with a wave of her hand. "I understand how much he gets to you and the trouble he is causin' you. Ryder is talkin' to him about it tonight. It won't magically fix things, but if you both can at least say hello to one another, and be around each other without war eruptin', myself, and everyone else, will be forever grateful."
I grumbled, "I can't stand him though, he thinks he is God's gift or somethin'. I mean, he practically begged me to get with him, and when I say no, he goes and shags Destiny not a day later then tries to act like nothin' happened. Who does that?"
Branna shrugged her shoulders. "His ego took a hit at your rejection. He was obviously tryin' to make himself feel better by bein' with Destiny."
I grunted. "What about me? It didn't make me feel better for him to be with Destiny-"
I cut myself off once I realised what I was rambling on about.
"Wait," Branna gasped. "Are you upset that Nico had sex with Destiny?"
No.
Heavens no.
Heavens and Hell no!
"You are!" Branna gasped again. "You like him!"
"I do not, I hate him, I can't stand the sight of him-"