Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) by Sarah Duncan (red seas under red skies txt) 📗

in a Hollywood high school movie, but she’s going to feel the sting of disappointment really soon.

“What’s wrong, Lexi? Got nothing to say now that you have been dethroned?” Yep. Tasha is delusional.

I don’t miss how Abbey takes a step back as Tasha addresses me. She keeps her brown eyes on me, though, which is a change from earlier when she couldn’t bring herself to look at me. As usual, her white-blonde hair is in a perfect braid, a style she has worn since we were in primary school.

Sophie, Allison and Amanda puff out their chests and mimic Tasha’s stance. It’s a struggle, but I manage not to laugh at the sight.

“What’s your problem?” I turn my eyes back to Tasha. For some reason, she is under the impression that I’m scared of her, but my tone causes the briefest shift in her confidence. Did she think I would just take her bullshit?

“You and your filth is my problem! I can’t believe they actually allowed you to come back to school here after the depravity you’ve done.” Tasha’s pale face turns red as she speaks, which is a telltale sign that she’s struggling with her emotions. She’s not the only one. Her words are meant to cut deep, and they succeed.

My eyes shoot to Abbey in question, and she looks away, staring at the back of Tasha’s dull brown frizzy-haired head. She looks guilty, and she knows I can tell. What has she been telling Tasha? Surely she didn’t tell these girls all the details of what happened to me. She knew that information was private. Shit, I even sent her pictures of what Mike did to me, of my battered body. Would she really break my trust like that? Betray our friendship? As much as I don’t want to believe it, I know it’s true. I can see the guilt in her eyes.

A knot forms in my throat, and I lose my ability to speak as I try to fight back my weak emotions. I don’t want Tasha or any of them to see how they are affecting me. It’s nearly impossible to hide my anguish. Biting the inside of my cheek, I push the sadness, the hurt, and the tears down and let the anger take over.

Red rims my vision. Rage boils inside me, and I know if I let it take over completely, then I’ll have no control over what I do. I’m yet to decide if that would be a bad thing or not.

“You must be confused, Tasha. I have done nothing wrong.” I am strangely calm as I direct my question to Tasha but look at Abbey when I speak. A small frown draws her blonde brows together before worry settles over her face.

Tasha scoffs, “You filthy whore! You allowed your brother…” Her words are cut off when my hand wraps around her throat and squeezes.

“Let’s get one thing straight, you fucking bitch! I did not allow my brother to do anything to me!” My face is so close to Tasha’s that I can feel her warm gasps of breath on my lips. It happens so quickly that I don’t even remember moving.

Rough hands grab at my arms and, much to my disappointment, pull me off Tasha. Twisting forcefully, I struggle free to see it was Allison and Sophie that came to their friend’s aid. I shove at the bitches needing to get distance from them before I move towards the sink at the far end of the bathroom so I can splash cold water on my face. I don’t make it that far.

A heavy weight shoves me to the ground before a fist slams into the back of my head. The impact makes my head swim for a moment, but the blow doesn’t hold the strength to do any real damage. Not like it did when Mike was behind the punch.

Trying to move my arms up to shield my head or potentially throw my own punches back, the weight on my back abruptly disappears, and Tasha screeches.

“Playing fair, as usual, I see Trashy Tashy. We all know if Lexi had the chance to fight you face to face, she would kick your arse.”

I jump up quickly from the grimy bathroom floor and turn to the new voice. It takes me a moment to focus my eyes. I guess the hit to my head rattled me more than I thought.

Tasha sneers from her position on the floor, where she landed on her arse after Rhys George pulled her off me. I bite back a laugh knowing how pissed Tasha must be right now, especially after the tripping incident a couple of weeks ago when Rhys, not so accidentally, tripped Tasha in front of a group of guys. I saw the video that went viral around the school, but man, I wish I had been there to see it in person.

Rhys George is as individual as they come in a catholic school. With hair as dark as night and lips to match, she is every catholic teacher’s nightmare. I have always admired her from a distance, wishing I could be as bold as her and show the world who I really am. Her hair is in two side buns which seems to be her signature style, and her eyes are painted with thick dark liner on the top and bottom with perfectly defined winged tips. To top off her look, and as much against the school dress code as the rest of her look, she has a septum piercing in her nose that I haven’t seen before. It must be new.

“This is none of your business Goth Girl.” Tasha hisses, shooting daggers that are more laughable than scary as she stands up off the floor. I notice her bitch brigade didn’t step in to help her this time.

“Oh, don’t mind me Trash, I was just making sure the playing field was even. Please continue.” Rhys gestures between us, and when she looks at me, she smirks.

“Fuck