CHAPTER 43

Genesis's POV

I should have given it back a while ago. I should have returned it way before now. The necklace. But then, I didn't. I guess I was just scared. Scared of what it may mean or too frightened there would be nothing of our memory to hold on to. Giving it back would only mean we were completely done but isn't that what we are? It didn't matter if he wanted me back or not. It didn't matter if he wanted to try us again. The Lord knew I would have given us another shot if it was just him but it wasn't. I would be lying if I said I am more concerned about myself than anyone else because I am not. One thing I am so sure will be ruined is the fierce brotherhood he shares with his friend and the deep connection they have. That will no doubt be up in flames the instant he finds out and I don't want to ever see that happen.

I unclasped the silver chain from my neck and scooped it into my pocket. The water gushed out brutely. I twisted the head and immediately it ceased. I eased my index finger under the tap head and caught the last drop of water that dripped into the sink. I smiled and smeared it around the skin. Suddenly, the door whooshed open and my heart skipped.

"Well, if it isn't Genny-gen-gen." Erika burst into the bathroom with two unfamiliar girls who looked like her in dressing and mannerisms hot on her heels. I started to clear my things from the counter top in a rush. My purse fell and I dropped down to pick it up. My fingers were so close to being severely squashed as she shot out her feet and pressed down hard on my purse before I could grab it. I looked up at her. She gave me a sardonic smile. Her disciples were grinning grimly at me with mocking expressions plastered on their faces. I instantly realized I wasn't getting out easily from this without a scratch.

I chose to abandon the purse. I rose up and tipped my chin, "What do you want?"

She gasped, "Oh my God! It speaks!" She turned to her goons, grinning like a clown. "It speaks!"

"It looks like she went into Claire's Boutique, fell on a sale rock and said, 'I'll take it!'" One of them mocked.

"Where do you get your outfits, girl, American Apparently Not?"

They bent and slapped their exposed thighs in mocking laughter, guffawing like a bunch of loony bins and I stood, wondering what really was amusing.

I slitted my eyes to look at her. She turned around again and this time without a grin attached to her features. Raking her eyes from top to bottom in the most condescending way possible, she stopped at my face and glowered.

I believe in subtle makeup. Bombarding your face with almost all the cosmetic products isn't at all necessary or aggressive foundation, thick and caked-on. It makes me remember those mean girls back in high school and I always think of a cadaver.

"I don't like you in the slightest bit." She scowled at me.

I smiled sweetly at her, hoping she'd take the hint and leave me alone. "That's no news. I already knew that."

But of course, "Seriously, how - how exactly did Keegan fall for this?" She swatted at me and cringed, then looked over at her friends. They grimaced. "When he had all of these?" She gestured to herself.

"He's sure blind."

"You are obviously hotter than her."

"I know right?"

"You're cute. Like my dog." I shrugged nonchalantly. "I mean he always chases his tail for entertainment."

They all gasped in shock and I grinned and mentally fist-pumped the air.

Erika and friends 0 - 10 Genesis

"You should disappear." She spat. "You are not wanted here."

I ducked down to grab my purse. "That sounds like a you problem." And tried to leave the restroom but she blocked my way.

I shut my eyes in exasperation and huffed in frustration and called for some bits of tolerance.

She taunted. "I should be a seer, you know? Remember when I told you you two weren't gonna last?"

"What do you want Erika? Is it Keegan?"

"Yes." She yelled, eyes wild. "Oh fucking yes. He was mine till you creeped in and stole him from me."

"Well you can have him. We are not even together anymore so I don't get what this really is all about."

"For even having shit to do with him, him tongue-fucking your mouth all over campus and holding your hand when it should have been my mouth he should have been fucking and my hands he should have been holding, bitch, I hate you for it."

"His tongue and hands are free now. Go for it."

"You don't get it, do you?" She jeered in disbelief. "You are plastic and he is fucking gold. Plastic and Gold don't mix, bitch. They don't fucking relate. How much were you able to make off him before he dumped your sorry ass?"

"I'm not going to listen to this." I made to leave. She obstructed me once again.

I warned. "Get out of my way Erika."

"Fucking answer me. Whore!"

"Get out of my way!" I screamed in anger, about to explode.

"Or what?" She ridiculed, reproaching me contemptuously.

Dark impulses and thoughts peeped out and then my good nature swept them back into the dustpan. I closed my eyes and sought for some level of control.

"I..." I breathed out and swallowed. "...never forced Keegan or manipulated him into falling in love with me." She scoffed and glared, pursing her lips scornfully while her eyes held so much disdain and contempt. "..we started out as any other individual who met and became really good friends and decided to try out the dating thingy and Viola!..." I paused. "...it worked till he decided it was best to call it quits..."

"Till he dumped you, you mean?"

"Yeah that, thanks for the correction."

She dubiously smiled, "Honey, you're welcome."

"As I was saying maybe there wasn't really anything intriguing about you to fall in love with in the first place and I guess..."

Before I could blink, my hair was yanked hard and a small cry left my mouth. One of her friends had tugged at my hair painfully, pulling it so hard my neck twisted cruelly to the side.

Erika forcefully clamped her thumb and index on my cheek and leaned in so close. Her fragnance brutally attacked my nostrils and I felt the urgent need to sneeze. She squeezed my cheeks and it hurt so much. Girls come into the restroom and go almost every second. Why haven't anyone showed up yet?

"How dare you insult me? Do you have an inkling of an idea who my father is?"

"Oh, you don't like being treated the way you treat me? Who your father is is of no importance to me. I've got a dad too and as very much alive and content as he is, I don't need his last name to get me by."

"You speak like an idiot."

"Of course, I speak like an idiot. How else could you understand me?"

She yanked my hair harder. "You're just a cheap slut. Even if you wanted to be one, be at least expensive about it."

My neck began to hurt in response to the awkward position it was forced into. I breathed out and gritted my teeth in pain while fighting off the tears that threatened to spill.

"That's funny coming from you."

Her long nails dug deep into my cheekbones, causing the insides of my cheeks to kiss each other in torment and my mouth to form an 'o' shape.

"I'll advise you stay clear off Keegan. He is mine now. You had your chance with him and you fucking blew it. If I see you even an inch close to him, I'll kill you. No questions asked." She shoved me with such brute force that I landed flat on my butt after scraping my arm harshly on a sharp edge.

"I guess the feeling isn't mutual." I forced myself up, ignoring the pain shooting from my arm. "I just saw him the other day with some girl pleasuring him."

She gasped in shock but then quickly recovered. "That's a lie."

I grabbed my purse which laid on the floor. "I don't care what you believe really." Then shrugged past her and her followers and quickly shut the door before they could stop me again.

I rushed through the hallway, breathing hard. For a second, I obliged the tears and they fell like rain. My phone dinged in my purse. I unzipped it and quickly took a peep at the screen. It was a text message from Jace. I smiled at what it said. I used to be the one who had knew a tiny little bit of what life was all about. Between us, I used to be the one who had her wits together but right now, I don't have the tiniest idea what I was doing. It seemed like Jace had that position right now. Apparently, he was doing pretty well in the life he had chosen for himself and had already met some very established painters who had seen and loved his work and wanted to work with him. Surprisingly, dad was finally coming around. I grinned at the part which said he loves a girl.

At least, he was okay. They were okay. That was all that mattered to me. I responded to his message and slipped my phone back into my purse.

As I glanced up, I saw Amelia marching towards me. We hadn't talked in quite a long while. I beamed at her and waved. She scowled and brushed past, bumping my shoulder on the way. I frowned in confusion. Michael came along, trotting in her direction. He had his head hung low.

"What's wrong with...."

"Don't ask me."

He mimicked her.

I jerked back, stunned at their reaction. Had I done anything wrong?

***

My room seemed like the best place to be at the moment. Lectures didn't feel like they were worth attending. My mind was unsettled and all I wanted to do was just lay in my bed and hide under the covers till the sun went down. It seemed like no one wanted to speak to me today. Oh well.

I fell flat on the bed and stretched, releasing an exhausted yawn. My bones cracked and I sprawled around the bed tiredly. My phone beeped again. It was Jace. He just replied to my last text. Mum was planning on visiting soon.

I shot up to relief myself of my shoes when my arm shoved my pillow and a star-shaped paper card came into view. It wasn't there before I left for class and Lana didn't show up at all last night. Confused, I picked it up and I immediately noticed a note in the front written in beautiful cursive.

Canaan Land. 6:00pm.

Keep the jacket.

I smiled at the note. At least, one person wanted to speak to me.

***

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