One of the guys sitting beside him passes something I recognize as a joint to him, and I wait for him to pass it, only he doesn’t.
I stand invisible in the crowd of people watching as my best friend smokes a joint and touches Sadie, who is still sitting on his lap. Is there not anywhere else she can sit?
Maybe on the floor after I punch her.
Balling my hands into fists at my side, I inhale deeply and push my way through the crowd toward Dean. His bloodshot eyes meet mine, and a stupid grin forms on his lips.
“Hey, Cam.”Hey, Cam? Really?That’s all he has to say to me?
Sadie’s eyes snap to mine, and she glares at me. “Hey, Cambria.” She smirks a nasty smirk.
“It’s Camille, not Cambria.” She waves her hand as if to say she doesn’t care.
“That’s a stupid name,” she says to a girl sitting on the arm of the couch with a giggle. The brat isn’t even trying to be quiet.
“You want to talk about stupid names, Mercedes? At least my parents didn’t name me after a car.” She gasps, crossing her arms over her chest.
Yeah, that’s right, I went there.
Not many people know that Sadie is short for Mercedes. But thanks to my internet skills, I found her parents online and learned her full name. I also learned that she hates her name because she was teased in elementary school about being named after a car, so she's been going by Sadie ever since.
“What are you even doing here, little girl? It’s past your bedtime.” I mimic her stance, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at her.
“I’m here for Dean’s birthday. But you can feel free to leave, and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
She looks at Dean and wiggles on his lap. “Are you going to let this child talk to me like that?” He doesn't respond; he's too busy laughing, as are his friends.
“What? Are you so afraid of this child that you need someone to protect you?” I challenge, standing my ground. I'm not about to be intimated by the blonde-haired, big-boobed she-devil. If she wants to go at it, I'm ready.
“You’re just a stupid little girl who follows Dean around like a lost puppy. You can’t take the hint that he doesn’t like you. He's even told me himself. You’re only embarrassing yourself, and you look ridiculous being here in that dress that's clearly too small for you and wearing makeup that makes you look like a clown. Just go home, little girl, and leave Dean the hell alone!” she yells loud enough for everyone to hear. She stands, so I have to tilt my head back slightly to look at her since she's several inches taller than me in the ungodly high heels she's wearing. At some point, the music paused, and everyone in the room has stopped what they were doing and circled around us, giving us their complete attention.
All eyes are on Sadie and me.
My cheeks heat with embarrassment, but I refuse to let her see how much she's affecting me, so I fight back. “The only one here who’s embarrassing themself is you. Dean doesn’t want you, yet here you are, sitting your boney ass on his lap, trying to make him pay attention to you. You’re pathetic,” I hiss. My parents didn't raise me to take shit from anyone.
Out of nowhere, Sadie raises her hand and strikes me across the face. My head snaps to the side toward Dean, who I see is now standing, his fists balled at his sides and his face fuming with anger. Judging by the way he's looking at me, I'm unsure if he's angry at Sadie, or me, for potentially ruining his party.
I’ve never been slapped before, and holy crap, it hurts! Refusing to give stupid Sadie the satisfaction of seeing how much she hurt me, I blink rapidly, praying that the tears stinging my eyes don't fall. If I cry in front of this room filled of high schoolers, I'll never live it down.
Instead of showing pain, I smile, ball my hand into a fist, cock it back, and punch Sadie right in her stupid little face. The crowd roars with laughter. I'm positive that my hand is broken, so I use my unbroken hand to flip the bird to Dean before I turn and run out of his stupid party.
I was right all along.
Parties do suck.
High schoolers suck.
And stupid Sadie can go straight to hell along with Dean who did nothing to stand up for me.
TEN
NOW
Dean
For the second time, I fucked my wife while I had another woman on my mind.
I'm a piece of shit. A real fucking piece of shit.