Stupid Girl(98)

“Stop it! Brax!” I yelled. But he wouldn’t stop. He kept hitting, and hitting hard. Punch to the ribs, to the head. Ash fought back, landing punches to Brax’s face, but Brax’s fury gave him an edge.

Finally, Cory’s big body stepped in and dragged Brax off of Ash. Tessa pulled on me. “Come on, girl. Let’s go while Cory has him.”

“Get the fuck off me, man!” Brax yelled at Cory. “Gracie, wait!”

Tessa pushed me into Kelly’s car and as we drove away, I stared out the window. Brax, still held by Cory, caught my gaze. God, he was mad, so angry. He swore, shoved Cory off of him, and before I saw anything more I turned and faced forward.

“Jesus God!” Tessa said. “What a beast! Are you okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.” But I wasn’t. Not at all.

“It’s a good thing you guys didn’t work out,” Marcie said, peering at me from the front passenger seat. “He’s crazy, Liv. A complete psycho. Did you see how he beat the hell out of that guy? He didn’t even know him! You don’t need that kind of crazy.”

While Tessa, Kelly and Marcie regaled the whole drama, I rested my head back and noticed how the moonlight bathed everything in silver as we passed. I sucked in a long breath, closed my eyes, and also noticed how, even though it probably shouldn’t, my heart ached for Brax. The sight of him, the sound of his familiar raspy voice, his presence close to me. The angst in his voice. I still loved him. And for some unexplained reason, I thought he loved me, too. Past the hurt and anger and alcohol making his ethereal eyes fiery, I saw it.

So why had he done this? Why had he shut me out? Only to step in between me and Ash? A guy I didn’t even know? A guy Brax didn’t know? It made no sense. Ash could press charges and Brax would be in so much trouble with the school. God, what was he thinking?

After Kelly dropped us off at our dorm, Tessa and I got ready for bed. In the dark, Tessa said, “You know he’s absolutely zero good for you. Right?”

The Brax I knew—or rather thought I knew—was good for me. I’d felt it clear to my bones. How could it have been fake? “I’m so confused, Tess. I just don’t get it. Or him.”

“I don’t know what’s going on with that boy, but two things I know for sure. One, he’s still crazy about you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered to jump poor Ash. Who, by the way, is fine as holy fuck. No kidding. And two, he’s loco. And chica, it don’t matter how much a guy loves you. If he’s crazy, it’ll only lead to more heartache. Or worse.”

I let out a long sigh. “I know. Thanks, Tessa. ’Night.”

“Goodnight, darling. Dream of Ash. Totally into you.”

Instead I thought of eyes so light they seemed silver, of scars and soul-searing tattoos and a crappy childhood and a perfect smile. Then, I cried myself to sleep.





“You’re going to that brainless Halloween Blitz? Tonight? Woman, if I’d known that’s why you wanted to cut out of here two hours early I’d have said no way. Then I would’ve driven you straight to the loony bin. You’ve gone kookoo. For Cocoa Puffs.”

I gave a light laugh. “You’re probably right.” Steven and I had just finished leading a group through the new Draconids exhibit. I sighed. “To be completely honest I was sort of pushed into it.”

“By your aggressive but extremely hot roommate?” Steven grinned. “Don’t tell her I said that. Wait, yeah, tell her. No, never mind. Don’t.”

I chuckled. “I won’t. But yes. She has a way with words.”

“Why are you kookoo? Exactly?”

We both turned, and Noah joined us. He looked at me. “What have you done, Olivia?”

“She’s going to that obnoxious Halloween Blitz put on by the Sigma Chis and Kappas,” Steven said. “The one they do together every year.”

I sighed. “Guilty.”

Noah’s gaze held mine, and I could see disappointment there. I knew he’d disapproved of Brax but just never said anything. Not that it was his place to. “You just be careful, Olivia. Those parties can get pretty rowdy.”

“No worries there,” I assured. “I’m the least rowdy person you’ll ever meet.”

“That’s why you had that black eye, right?” Steven said with a grin. “’Cause you’re so un-rowdy?”

I glared. “I was thrown from a horse, goof.”

He shrugged. “See? Who does that? Rowdy people.”

Noah laughed, but it was soft and half-hearted. “Seriously, Olivia.” He closed in on me then, sort of blocking Steven, and the look in his eyes was filled with sincerity and a little worry. “There’s usually a lot of drinking. A lot of pranks. Like,” he looked up, thinking. “Stephen King, Carrie pranks. Pig blood dumped on poor prom queen pranks. So please.” His large hand squeezed my shoulder. “Watch yourself.”