Crushed (Torn #7)(24)

I might get struck by lightning by admitting this to myself, but skanky Cece had more in common with them than I ever did. Speaking of which, or witch since both applied to her, my chances of seeing her tonight were going to be highly likely. I looked forward to partying, but not with her. She always had something snide to say. If it wasn’t about me, she would target any of my friends. To be honest, I would rather take hits when it came to myself, but when she decided to start with Emma, Lindsey, or Trista, I got really angry.

She was envious of Emma and Lindsey, and I got that. Those two were hard not to be jealous of because they had a lot of amazing things going for them. Seriously, though, shouldn’t she channel that jealousy into trying to achieve something of substance for herself instead of projecting bitterness at every turn?

Apart from being too skanky, she was actually a pretty girl. If she just learned to strip that toxic personality she had and have a personality makeover, she would be a million times salvageable. Then again, sometimes people were just wired the way God intended them, and it was up to the person to rise up to the challenge to change themselves. I was definitely ready for change. Anything was welcomed as long as it had a positive outcome. That was all I could ask and pray for.

I was all dolled up and set to rock and roll in my black, studded, gladiator heels; mini, light pink skirt; simple, black, fitted, strapless top; leather jacket with my messy hair in a tight bun, looking like a crown on my head, so I took my leave.

I didn’t even stop when Brody wanted to corner me from leaving. Thank goodness I made a quick escape. It was rude to shut him down the way I did, but I just couldn’t spar with him tonight. I was still jet-lagged and exhausted from the exchange we’d had that morning. I could only take him once a day in small intervals because his energy was just too much. It weighed too heavy on me, and if I wasn’t careful and let him in the way I used to back in the day, I would be in his shoes in no time.

Sometimes, a person needed to be selfish to become a better version of themselves. It was a tough choice, yet it worked for people who brought unhappiness to our lives.

Armed with my newfound, invigorating purpose in life, I was ready to face whatever was in store for me.





Chapter Thirteen





“The tan f*uking brings out those sexy eyes. I f*uking love it.” Rob immediately greeted me the second I walked into the home he had rented for the summer with his usual gang of buddies. He was always abundant with compliments. It was one of the things I liked about him.

“Thanks, Rob!” I gleefully exclaimed before he gave me a welcome hug then dragged me inside the house where the heavy, unmistakable odor of pot permeated the air.

After making sure I had a cold beer in hand, Rob was dragged away by some of his friends to do beer pong while I tried to find my way around the house. There were a few friendly faces around, but no one seemed to really stand out. The crowd was a mixture of everyone in the city, young and the ones who felt like they were still young. It was an interesting vibe; that was for sure.

I was just about to take my shoes off so I could go out and join the people who were on the beach when the screeching sound of a vile bitch halted me.

“Aw, look at you … partying alone. You’ve fallen far down the ladder, haven’t you, Amber? It’s sad. It really is.” Cece’s unremarkable, scathing self stopped before me, her face plastered with thick make-up that was meant for theatre and her boobs constricted within a small tank top that could barely hold them.

I hadn’t even found my groove, and she was already out for the attack. f*uk me sideways.

“You’re still hung up on me? God, Cece, you need to get over me. Find a different hobby or maybe join a convent. I heard they’re recruiting washed-up, skanky whores.”

Her confident, snarky stance turned dark and vindictive. “At least I’m not you—unwanted by parents and now unwanted by her friends because you’re not that interesting. You’re the outcast, alone with no man willing to commit to you other than to f*uk you. That’s all you’re going to be, Amber—a f*uk up, exactly how you were planted on this earth to begin with.”

I shook with mad anger, her words triggering something deep within me to the point that I bitched slap her hard across the face. She should know to stay away from topics that were too sensitive to even touch, especially my childhood.

“You better watch out, Cece. If you’re out for blood, I’m going to f*uking cut you and bleed you dry until all your dirty laundry is out in the open. I’m not Lindsey, Emma, or Trista; you don’t get to f*uk with me the way you did with them. You hit me, and I f*uking hit back. So back the f*uk off, or I’m going to f*uking run you over. Take your f*uking pick.”

I think she was too shocked that I hit her and wasn’t even sorry for it. Then she whimpered and slunk away from me, justifiably huffing with what little dignity she had intact.

My right hand stung and felt hot from its dramatic performance. It was worth it, though—to see her back away was worth everything. I had a lot bottled inside me, and she deposited herself in the line of fire, so she deserved it. Besides, she had done enough harm to all of us. That slap was for everyone she had hurt in my life. Not only that, but she also hit below the belt, and I was gob-smacked, shaking with anger as I tried to tell myself that Cece wasn’t worth shedding a single tear for. However, my emotions had a different agenda. I could feel the back of my eyes prickle as her words rang in my mind like a broken record, repeating over and over again until they drove me insane.