Page 51 of Firefly
Now I know better.
Now I know he looks at me and sees betrayal. Even if neither of us fully understands why.
Brimstone High feels unbearable lately. Every hallway whispers with gossip. Every classroom suffocates me beneath fake smiles and rich-kid bullshit.
And somehow, Hayden’s street name keeps floating through conversations like a curse specifically designed to ruin me.
I keep my head down all morning.
Fake smile. Perfect posture. Good girl.
By lunch, I’m already exhausted from pretending I’m not unraveling internally.
So, I escape to the girls bathroom near the west wing hoping for five damn minutes of silence.
No such luck.
The second I step inside, I hear giggling near the mirrors.
“…I’m serious, he’s so hot.”
I freeze instantly.
Two junior girls stand near the sinks reapplying lip gloss while scrolling through pictures on one of their phones.
And there he is. Hayden.
A blurry photo from the Dungeon. Bloody knuckles. Bare tattooed chest. Green eyes sharp beneath bruises.
My chest tightens painfully.
“He’s dangerous in like… the hottest way possible,” the brunette gushes. “I heard he’s a drug kingpin. They call him Ghost. I bet he has a big dick.”
The blonde grins. “Mhm. Ryder said he’s basically psycho.” She giggles as my pulse pounds harder and harder.
“Honestly?” the brunette says while zooming in on Hayden’s face. “I’d let him ruin my life while Ryder’s blowing my back out.”
Something inside me snaps.
Completely.
Because they don’t know him.
Either of them for that matter.
They don’t know the boy who used to sneak me milkshakes at two in the morning because I was sad. They don’t know how gentle his hands could be. How he kissed my tears away like they physically hurt him too.
They don’t get to stand here turning him into some fantasy while my heart still bleeds for him.
Before I even realize I’m moving, I rip the phone out of the brunette’s hand, causing them both to jump.
“What the hell?” she shouts.
“Shut up,” I hiss, and the cunt scoffs at me.
“Excuse me, bitch?”
“You fucking heard me,” I growl as the blonde rolls her eyes.
