Chapter Two
Parker
After the biggest goddamn brat in the world denies me my rightful place, I storm the hallway that leads deeper into the heart of the theater department. No one is around to hear me grumbling to myself while I pull out my phone and text the guys in the group chat.
Within a few minutes, Soren and Tomas stroll into the costume storage area, appearing as frustrated and bothered as I am. I’m twirling a costume knife around in my right hand to keep myself from putting a hole in the wall. As much as I’m quick to lose my temper, I pride myself on being in control of when my outbursts occur.
I don’t think people give me enough credit for that.
“This is bad,” Soren says while plucking a feather boa from the shelf to the right. “Everything has gone to shit.”
“No fucking kidding,” Tomas comments while plucking a cigarette from a pack of Marlboro Reds. “I’ve switched to reds. Do you know how stressed I have to be to switch to fucking reds?”
“Wow, wow, are you fucking kidding me?” Soren snatches the Zippo from Tomas and says, “Do you know what material these costumes are made of? You’ll fucking set the whole goddamn school on fire, you pyro freak. And us, too.”
Tomas growls. “Don’t call me that, asshole.”
“Don’t act like a fucking pyro and then maybe I won’t.”
I toss the knife to the ground, where it bounces comically off the wood and slaps Tomas’s leg. “Would you two fucking zip it? Seriously, we have bigger fish to fucking fry here instead of tearing at each other’s throats.”
Soren reluctantly hands the Zippo back to Tomas, who places his cigarette behind his ear. After a quick staring match, they both turn to me.
I scrub my face. “I think Alex is spiraling.”
“Ya think?” Tomas snorts. “She’s completely shut us out since her mother died.”
Soren shakes his head. “It’s been bad for a while. She started well before Ophelia bit the big one.”
I nod in agreement. “She told me how she plans to take over her father’s empire and succeed where he failed.”
Tomas coughs nervously. “The fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly how it sounds, idiot.”
He shakes his head, grabs his cigarette, and then taps the filter to his lips. With a concentrated frown, he looks at Soren. “She’s been acting funny with you, too, huh?”
“She’s been weird for a while,” Soren admits. “Every time things go south, she gets handsy.”
“The wedding is off,” I state dryly. “I can’t fucking marry her. She’s driving me crazy.”
Tomas snorts. “I don’t think any of us can fucking marry her right now.”
“I knew better than to trust her, but I tried,” I add. “It’s just…so fucking stupid.”
Admitting that I’m upset will only weaken my appearance. I’m already fucking failing magnificently. Why add feelings to the mix?
“The whole thing is stupid, dude,” Tomas says with a sigh. “It’s like she’s gone off the deep end. And not in a cute way either.”
Soren nods. “The danger was hot for a minute.”
“But now she’s reckless,” Tomas points out. “And it’s like she has a death wish.”
“You’re telling me,” I agree. “The way she spoke to me just now was fucking weird.”
Soren hums. “So, she’s out of control.”
“What are we supposed to do about that?” Tomas runs his fingers through his black hair. “It’s a fucking nightmare. I’d rather she drink herself silly than do all this shit.”