Page 29 of Shadowface

“This is absolute bullshit,” I mutter, a deep tightness forming in my belly. I’m used to Dani excelling at everything, but the fact that Misty managed to outperform me just infuriates me. Failing would mean losing my scholarship, which is the only reason I’m even able to attend this school. I’m well-aware I lack the smarts to be here on my own, but this isn’t right.

Misty gives me a flat look and twists her hair. “I’m sure you can make it up on the next assignment. How bad did you do?”

My lip curls. “Bad.”

Dani’s eyes sparkle. “Well, I guess you have a good excuse to go talk to Lincoln now,” Dani jokes. “Tell me how he is in person.”

I give Dani a half smile as blood shoots to my face. Misty just stares at me inquisitively, and Grant freezes beside me, clearly listening to our conversation.

Misty’s eyes draw over to Lincoln, and my stomach burns at her looking at him that way. She’s gone to see him nearly every office hour.

I slam my laptop shut and shove it into my bag. “Yeah, I suppose I have to. I’ll meet up with you girls later.” I strut out of the lecture hall without looking back. I guess I’ll spend most of my night studying and prepare myself to face Lincoln on Monday.

I’m in a mood.

Not a good one, nor a bad one, but definitely a vibe.

Dani came barging into my room around three PM and forced me to stop studying. I peeled myself away from my computer after slaving away on my first real paper most of the day, taking advantage of the fact it’s now the weekend.

We are about to study psychobiology. Basically, it’s the argument that people are the way they are from birth, instead of attributing brain development and personality solely to early life experiences.

Real fascinating stuff, and considering I have a real-life psycho messaging me, I can’t help but reflect on what made him the way he is.

What childhood trauma did you go through, SF, or were you born this way?

The campus was still buzzing all week about the rumors that Shadowface was back. The media is hanging around, interviewing students about what they think is really going on.

“Summer, drink up.” Dani shoves a shot in front of me. I stare at it, my vision already blurred from the two afternoon cocktails we had while listening to music, dancing around our living room, and doing our hair and makeup.

It’s the first time I’ve had a little fun since being here, and I have to admit, it’s nice, amidst my reluctance to have any since my father died.

Now I’m dressed in all black. High-waisted leggings and a tiny black lace top that shows my mid-section. My hair is curled in pretty waves, the blonde a stark contrast to the inky dark fabric.

Yup. Definitely a vibe.

I feel sexy, probably for the first time in a while.

“Everybody cheers.” Dani raises her shot glass in a toast, and I mirror her movement. Swigging down the dark liquid and clinking it on the granite island in front of me, I slide it over to her in triumph.

My triumph only lasts for a second as that dark liquid burns and stays in my stomach for all of a second before rising back into my throat. My eyes water and I force myself to swallow it back down.

The smell. Ugh, the smell. “What the hell was that?”

“Something to set your insides on fire,” Dani jokes.

I wipe my watering eyes as black mascara smudges onto my hand.

Dani frowns as she leans over the counter across from me. “Girl, don’t. You’ll ruin your makeup.” Dani took charge of applying my makeup, using an excessive amount of black eyeliner and eyeshadow—far more than I typically wear. I kind of like it instead of resorting to pink blush and natural makeup like I usually do. Not that anyone will see me under the mask I’m being forced to wear. It gives me a sense of satisfaction knowing if I’m going to get slashed up tonight, I will look damn good doing it.

“It doesn’t matter, anyway,” I say, grabbing a glass of red wine as Misty slips in beside me. “We have to wear those disgusting potato sacks all night.”

“The slutty makeup is not for the party, silly girl. It’s for whoever we end up coming home with after.” Dani throws me a wink.

The party’s tonight, and my stomach has been laced with butterflies all day at the thought of finally seeing SF.

My limbs grow heavy, and my fingers drift to my thigh as my pussy clenches at that thought. This longing I have for him is cracking away my innocence, piece by piece, and it makes me nauseous.

I grab my red wine and take a sip. If I’m going to this party tonight, I’m not doing it sober.