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

off then.” Allison finally speaks up for Tasha. It took her long enough.

Rhys laughs, “As if I’m going to miss Lexi messing up Trashy Tashy’s ugly face. Who knows, she may be able to rearrange it so Trashy actually looks pretty.”

I think I love this girl!

“Stop calling me that!” Tasha hisses, turning her focus on Rhys.

“I’d like to know something.” I interrupt, gaining everyone’s attention.

“What?” Tasha practically spits, throwing her hands on her hips to look at me again. Her usually well put together facade is a mess. Her navy uniform is twisted a little, and I'm sure mine is the same.

“What makes you think I care about whatever your problem is with me? What are you trying to achieve?” I look at each of my ex-friends as I speak, wanting them to know that I’m talking to each of them.

“I just think people should know about your depravity. They should know how sick you are. That you like it rough, and with your brother nevertheless.” My nostrils flare at Tasha’s words. “Tell me, Lexi, how long have you been getting off on fucking your brother?”

Her words are harsh, but because they are so wrong, it just confuses me, and I automatically look at Abbey. Like a coward, she looks away again.

“Don’t look at Abbey. She was traumatised after you told her what happened. After you sent her those pictures of the bruises you so sickly boasted about to her. What was she meant to do? Just sit back and accept that her best friend has lied to her about being in an incestuous relationship?”

I almost laugh at the lies she is spewing, but my eyes are drawn to Abbey because part of what Tasha just said is true.

“You showed them the pictures?” I ask Abbey, but she won’t look at me. “Abbey!”

At my roar, Abbey looks up to meet my eyes. She doesn’t need to speak; her eyes tell me the truth. Why would she do that to me? A pesky tear slips free, revealing my weakness, and I hate myself for it.

Something cold and wet slaps hard against my face right before Tasha lunges for me. I quickly reach up and grab the wet wad of toilet paper off my cheek before I throw myself towards Tasha meeting her face with my fist as her own fist meets the side of my head. With the wet toilet paper still in my hand, I shove it into her open screaming mouth and stuff the wad down her throat. Leaping back from me, Tasha grabs her own throat before she sticks her fingers in her mouth, trying to dislodge the paper. She starts gagging and Allison and Sophie rush to her aid, moving her into a stall right before she starts to vomit.

Amanda wraps her arm around Abbey, comforting her as if she hasn’t done a thing wrong. I feel the overwhelming need to cry clawing at me, so I do everything I can to push it down and replace it with anger.

“That was brilliant! Best fucking movie I’ve ever seen.” Rhys gains my attention, and I see that she is holding her phone up. Did she record that?

Fuck my life! I need to get out of here, now!

As I storm toward the door, I stop abruptly, causing Amanda and Abbey to jump before I get all up in Abbey’s face.

“I don’t know what’s going on, Abbey, but what you have done is irreversible. There’s nothing you can ever do to make this right. I hope it’s worth it. I really do.” I step back, laughing in disbelief and shaking my head. “I’ve had some pretty vile things done to me, Abbey, but this by far is the worst. You make me sick.”

I let Abbey see all of my anger and all of my pain before I hold my head up high and walk out of the girl’s bathrooms. While I look calm and unfazed on the outside, I am anything but. On the inside, I’m screaming, crying, and dying slowly.

“This is the best day I’ve had at school ever.” Rhys’s voice gets louder as she catches up with me, still holding her phone up recording.

“Stop fucking recording me, or you’ll join that bitch in the toilets.”

Rhys laughs, throwing her head back before putting her phone away. I don’t know why she’s still walking with me.

“Girl you are the best. I always knew there was more to you than good grades and popularity.”

I scoff, “My grades are shit, and I’ve never had an interest in popularity.”

“Why be someone you’re not then if not for a social status?” Rhys matches my strides. Doesn’t she have somewhere to be?

I stop walking and turn to her, “Why do you think?”

She considers my questions and nods, “Okay, I get it. Secrets to hide and shit?”

“Exactly,” I walk again, and so does she, “What are you doing?”

“Walking.”

Smart arse!

“Shouldn’t you be in class or something?”

“Shouldn’t you?” Rhys is quick to come back. She kind of reminds me of Valarie, just not as innocent.

“Touché.”

That makes her giggle.

“Look, I get that your life is on a fast train to fuck town right now, but if you need somewhere to hang out besides the girl's toilets, you’re welcome to come chill with me and mine. You can find us behind the stadium hall at the back of the school.”

“Ah, okay, thanks.” I stop outside my English class and turn to Rhys, who looks over my shoulder at something.

“Your pack looks pissed.”

Frowning, I turn to see what she is referring to. Through the window of the classroom door, Marcus and Jared are glaring at me from the back of the room. Rhys is right, they do look pissed. Great!

“My pack?” I ask, turning away from their glares and back to Rhys.

She waggles her eyebrows, “You know, your shadow pack. They walked into school with you and followed you around all morning.”

“Right.” I cringe.

“Good luck. Oh, and you might need to get someone to look at your head.” Rhys walks away