Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

Sienna

" S o, how did you two meet?" I ask, turning toward the happy couple who can't seem to keep their hands off each other. Matt can't keep his hands off me either. His palm is on my butt right now, giving me a squeeze, and he's been stealing kisses every chance he gets. If he's not careful, we're going to be caught.

Ruby looks up at the guy who's draped around her back and smiles. "We actually met in the first grade but didn't start dating until the end of last year."

"Hold up? You guys knew each other all that time but never dated?" I'm shocked. Then again, I've probably known Matt just as long, but I never even looked his way.

"I was an idiot," Chase says, hugging his girlfriend tighter. "I couldn't see what was right in front of me." She turns back and gives him a kiss.

"So then how did you guys finally get together?" My curiosity is killing me.

Chase chuckles, and Ruby rolls her eyes. "This little beauty showed up at my party and some of the mean girls dared her to play a game of spin the bottle with us. When she took her turn, it landed on yours truly." He wiggles his brow. "And after I got a taste of her shy little tongue, I was a goner."

She turns around and gives him another kiss and I'm melting.

"Aw, I love that story." How cute is that? "So, was it love at first kiss for you too, Ruby?"

"I'd always had a crush on him. But I was terrifyingly shy back in school and a total book nerd."

Chase shifts from behind her. "But now you're my book nerd. And man, do I love your spicy books."

We all giggle at his remark.

"Hey, babe. I'm going to go use the restroom and will grab us something to drink on my way back. What would you like me to bring you?"

"No beer." She scrunches her nose. "And no shots. Actually, can you just bring me a bottle of water?"

"Okay, I'll be right back." He turns toward the guy who's braced at my back, trying to sneak his fingers between my legs. This Batgirl costume is like smooth leather, and he's been all over me. "Matty, you want to come with me and leave these ladies to brag about how amazing our cocks are?"

I bite down on my lip, trying not to give away just how amazing Matt's cock really is. And later, I'm going to be enjoying that cock while on my knees.

"Yeah, I'll go with you. Do you want something, my sexy little Batgirl?" His eyes run right to the zipper sitting on my chest, and I can see that he wants something.

"No thanks. I'm okay." Drinking has never been my thing. And I definitely need to keep my wits about me in this place.

He leans into my ear, and a shiver runs down my spine. "As soon as I get back, I'm sneaking you to my room. I need a fix of that pretty pussy."

He places a kiss on my cheek then heads off with Chase, and I turn back toward Ruby, trying to keep my body steady as the heat pools between my legs.

"You two are so cute together." She smiles.

"I was thinking the same about you guys," I say. "So, how is it being long distance?"

"It's okay when I'm busy, but I miss him so much. We'll text all day long and Facetime every night, so that helps."

"That's good." Though, I don't think I could do it. I'd miss Matt so much I wouldn't be able to focus on anything. And I definitely wouldn't be able to survive living in the Sorority house.

"So, what about you and Matt? How come you two never dated in high school?"

"Because I was a bitch."

She looks shocked by my comment, but she didn't know me back then. Back in school, I never would've been seen talking to a girl like her. My mom didn't want me to hang out with girls who are overweight. She thought their "fatness" would rub off on me. Ruby's absolutely stunning, and I envy her curvy body, but I wouldn't have been her friend. Though deep down, I would've wanted to be.

"I was always trying to live up to my mother's expectations," I tell her, feeling like I may need a drink after all. "She would have freaked if I dated a guy who drove a run-down truck, so I never paid attention to Matt. He wouldn't have met my mother's approval." There weren't too many who did. And the ones that made the cut were scumbags.

"So, then what changed?"

"I finally moved out from under her roof. And realized that there's so much more to life than money and status." My boyfriend also has had a big role in helping me heal.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I turn my head at the sound of Margot's bitchy voice. She, Cara, and Stella are standing in a semicircle, all giving me the stink eye. This is exactly the reaction I expected from them.

"Matt invited me." I smile. "By the way, this is Chase's girlfriend, Ruby. Ruby, this is the girl I was telling you about at dinner. The one who was supposed to be Chase's date tonight." I'd told them what happened, and man, was Chase pissed. It's too bad he's not here right now, because he was planning on calling Margot out on her bullshit right in front of Cara.

Ruby gives me a look, knowing exactly who these bitches are. She wasn't too happy to hear that her boyfriend was being dragged into drama, and she also didn't like all the stories Matt told her about how she'd treated me on our double date.

"If you're going to tell lies," Ruby says, "you should at least pick a guy who doesn't have a girlfriend. Chase bought my plane ticket to come to this thing weeks ago."

I'm hoping that maybe now Cara will realize she can't trust Margot.

"Girlfriend?" Stella asks. "But he just took me on a date a couple weeks ago. He never mentioned having a girlfriend at dinner."

It's not surprising that Stella's trying to cover for Margot and stir the pot. Those two girls are like two peas in a pod. It's obvious why they're best friends.

"I was there when he picked her up," Cara chimes in, not wanting to be left out of the pack. "So maybe your boyfriend is the one who's lying."

"Chase." Ruby's attention goes right over my shoulder, and I smile. He's back just in time. "We were just talking about you. This girl here claims that you took her on a date a couple weeks ago. I was about to tell her she's delusional, but now that you're back, I'll let you do the honors."

"Yes, please tell us." Stella crosses her arms. "I'd love to know why you failed to mention you had a girlfriend on our date."

I'm suddenly confused, turning toward Chase for clarity. And it looks like Ruby could use some too.

"I didn't tell you about Ruby because you spent the entire night talking about yourself."

Wait. He actually took her out? But why? He and Ruby are so perfect together. And Stella is almost as bad as Margot.

"Chase?" Ruby's whisper has my stomach dropping. Her eyes are filled with tears, face filled with pain. He betrayed her.

"It's not what you think, Ruby." Chase reaches for her, but she shrugs away. And then she shoves right past him and runs from the room. He turns and goes chasing after her, calling her name through the crowd, and my heart hurts for the sweet girl. I don't understand why Chase would do that to her. He's been looking at her with stars in his eyes all night. He's so in love with the girl.

An obnoxious giggle has my shoulders tensing. Margot's snickering like a hyena and it strikes my final nerve.

"I don't understand what you find so funny. You're a bitch who keeps lying to your friends."

"What did you just call me?" She steps forward, trying to intimidate me with her evil glare, but I'm not even phased. "You need to take your pathetic little ass and leave. You're not welcome at this party, Fright Girl."

Clever. Though she's wrong because I'm not frightened by her. She can run off and call my mom for all I care; I'm no longer afraid, and I'm no longer going to pretend like she's not a total bitch.

"She's my date, Margot." Matt's deep voice booms from behind me. "And she is welcome. Now, I suggest you apologize for what you just said; otherwise, I'm going to kick your ass out." Matt wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest. "You okay, baby?"

"Matt, what are you doing?" I whisper. He's giving away our secret. He's going to get into trouble.

"Are you fucking kidding?" Margot practically shrieks. "You're dating her ?"

"Don't," I whisper, as I see his nostrils flare. He's not thinking straight. He's going to regret this later.

"I'm not going to stand by and let someone call my girl names, babe." He turns to face her. "You're a royal bitch, Margot. And I suggest you leave now. Bullies aren't welcome at this party."

The anger practically fumes from her ears as he stares her down. "You're funny. But I think you're forgetting who my brother is. Just wait until Hunter hears what you called me. You're done, Matt. You can kiss this place goodbye."

He shakes his head, turning back toward me and ignoring her comment. "I'm sorry, babe. I'm sorry that I brought you to this place and subjected you to these toxic witches. Please forgive me, angel."

He doesn't have to apologize. I wanted to come. And as far as the girls are concerned, he's not to blame for their behavior.

"Do you want to come back to my place?" I ask. Now that our secret's out, I can finally invite him to my room.

"Sure, babe. I'd love to."

I turn toward Cara. "If you see a sock on the door, that means we're busy and you need to scram." A little quid pro quo for all the nights I've returned from the library, only to be locked out of my room and forced to sleep in my car. Now, she can know what that feels like.

I'm done playing the game. And I'm done trying to be nice to her. Unfortunately, she's just going to have to learn the hard way. And come Monday morning, I'm putting in my application for a student loan. I'm done with these bitches and living in such a toxic environment. My mom can take her expectations and shove them up her ass. She is going to have to deal with the fact that I'm not going to be the daughter she wanted. A fact that no longer brings me sadness.

Since starting therapy, I've realized that I don't need her approval. The only approval I need is my own. Loving myself is the most important thing. And I didn't love the person I was before. The person trying to win her mother's affection was cruel, and I never want to be her again. So, I'm going to start living my life for me. And whether she wants to be a part of it is up to her, but for now, I'm letting her go and I'm giving myself time to heal.