“That’s the point.” He snaps his fingers and points at me. “Who do you think started the rumour that you sucked off the biology teacher? That you’re a Teacher Slut? And the other about you having a contagious disease?” He counts on his fingers. “King and King and… oh, King.”
I’m too stunned to speak. My mouth opens then closes like a dying fish.
All these years, I thought Aiden just stayed in the background. I thought the bullying started only because he expressed hatred towards me in front of the whole school that day and therefore, they acted upon loyalty to him.
Turns out he staged it all and let his minions do the rest.
Minimum effort. Similar results.
The bastard.
My blood whooshes with a hot, red feeling.
“Why?” I don’t even recognise my haunted voice.
“It’s his way to eliminate competition.”
“Why would he want to eliminate competition?”
“Beats me.” He lifts a shoulder. “I’ve known King for his entire life, and I’ve never seen him as transfixed by someone as he is with you.”
Aiden said it, didn’t he? His care isn’t normal, labellable, or conventional.
But then again, why do I have to pay for his unconventional ways?
Anger sweeps over me like a black, bottomless ocean.
Somewhere in my brain, I realise that I shouldn’t make snap decisions while I’m angry, but I couldn’t care less.
“Deal,” I tell Xander. “I’ll be your pretend girlfriend.”
There’s no better way to have revenge on Aiden than to ‘date’ his best friend.
And I know why Xander approached me.
He likes the idea that Aiden has spent years successfully ‘eliminating’ all competition, just so I’d end up in Xander’s arms.
It’s such a dick move, but I like Xander a little bit for it.
I like anyone who rebels against the entitled, psycho king.
Xander’s lips stretch into a wolfish grin as he offers me his arm. “Let’s make our first appearance, love.”
I reluctantly slip my arm in his.
This isn’t my character.
Hell, I don’t even like to lie, let alone be someone’s pretend girlfriend.
But if Aiden’s using my best friend against me, the only way to strike him is to use his best friend back.
Eye for an eye.
Blood for blood.
He started the war. I’m just keeping up.
My feet falter in front of the cafeteria. There’s a reason I don’t eat here, and it’s not the food.