Chapter Eight

Matthias Delgado

Three months. It's been three whole fucking months that Kaelie has been tutoring me. This week is the worst. With finals looming around the corner, I get to have her in my space every single day.

It's always the same. She shows up, works through the materials for two hours, and then leaves. We don't talk about anything outside of classwork, and every time I try she shuts me down.

When we're done with our session, she walks three blocks over to the West Street bus stop, grabs three other buses until she gets close to the college, and then walks another four blocks to the dorm. I followed her. Sue me.

I'm losing my damn mind. Before she became my tutor, I thought of her every day, alone in my shower, where no one else could know about my obsession. Now, it's so much worse. I watch her constantly on campus, going so far as to seek her out. It's driving me insane. I hate her and still, she is the only woman I want.

"What are you staring at?" Amber asks with her hands on her hips.

We're standing in the parking lot beside my car while I wait for Ashe to finish his last class of the day. I'm staring at Kaelie like a psycho. She is talking to the running back for the college team and the moment he touches her it feels like my head might explode.

"Isn't that Calum Scott talking to the little mouse?" a blonde girl, one of Amber's little bitches asks sparing me from having to answer.

Amber whips her head around to glare at the pair talking beneath an old tree. Grabbing my hand, she tows me behind her until we reach them. I don't know why I'm allowing her to drag me into this, but I can say I'm honestly curious to see what is going to happen.

"Amber," Calum says nervously when he finally sees us approach.

Curious. I wonder what that's about. But Amber doesn't give me a moment to wonder, instead turning her venomous gaze on Kaelie.

"Little Mouse," she says, venom dripping from every word. "Why are you still here?"

I want to stop her because I know Amber is poisonous, vindictive, and certifiably insane, and this isn't going to go well for Kaelie. Even though I have called her Little Mouse as well, I hate that Amber uses the words to hurt her. But her words play on repeat in my mind. No one can know about our arrangement.

"Amber." Kaelie doesn't even glance in my direction. "How can I help you today?"

"You can fall off the face of the planet?"

"Do we have to go through this every single time you see me? What is it today? Are you going to push me down again? Put more gum in my hair?"

I stare at Amber when she laughs maliciously. The scrapes on Kaelie's palms, the new, shorter haircut, it all makes sense now. Is Amber the reason she doesn't want anyone to know about her tutoring me?

"Things are going to get so much worse for you, Keke."

"Don't fucking call me that." Kaelie's gaze turns hard. "We aren't those people anymore."

"I know. I figured that you were worthless trailer trash before you could infect my life. You should go back to the trailer park where you belong and whore yourself out just like your junkie mother."

Kaelie is faster than I ever could have predicted. The sound of the slap rings out and I catch Amber as she staggers back. That was probably the worst thing she could have ever done.

****

Kaelie Carter

I know I have made a mistake the moment my palm connects with her face. But it has been months of this shit and I just finally snapped. Matthias looks shocked and Amber is pissed.

"I'm going to fucking kill you!" Amber roars, lunging at me.

Matthias catches her just before her hands reach me and pulls her back. People have stopped walking to stare at what is happening. I feel myself blush at all the attention and I wish the earth would split open beneath my feet so I can fall into the fissure.

"You're going to regret doing that!" Amber continues to screech.

My gaze connects with Matthias's and I can see the question there. Should he do something? I shake my head before turning my attention back to Amber.

"You have made my life a living hell for almost a year!" I yell back at her. "You've known me since we were five years old. How long did you think I was just going to sit back and do nothing? You know me better that."

I see Amber's little blonde friend come from the side and turn my glare on her, stopping her in her tracks.

"You don't deserve to be here!" Amber yells.

"I worked my ass off to be here!"

"Your mother killed mine."

I see the hate in her gaze. The fact that she fully believes the words coming out of her mouth finally pushes me over the edge.

"It takes two, Amber." I'm calm as I step closer to her. "Your dad is just as guilty of fucking my mom as she is of fucking him. I'm sorry your mom killed herself, but it isn't my fault. And it isn't yours either."

The last words leave me softly. I used to love Amber, she was my best friend, and deep down I don't want to hurt her. I just want her to back the fuck off. Amber starts crying and turns into Matthias's embrace. He holds her as she shakes, his gaze glued to me. And I know, no matter what, this is going to get so much worse before it gets better.