Page 34 of Unhinged Kallie

Chapter Thirteen

CARTER

TWO MONTHS LATER

“I can’t take this anymore,” June cried. She wiped at the tears running down her cheeks while I stood staring at her like a deer in headlights. Actually, a deer would’ve looked less shocked by the semi coming for it.

“She is a terror, Carter, and you won’t stick up for me.”

“I do stick up for you, but what do you want me to do, spank her,” I asked, then wished I hadn’t just put that visual in my head.

“She should be locked up.” June’s face was turning an unhealthy shade of red as she fumed.

“Locked up? For putting a sticky note on your back that said, ‘Whistle at me like a dog. I love it.’” I had to give it to Kallie. It was creative.

“What about when I sat on that pile of gum?”

“You don’t know that was her,” I argued, even though I was pretty sure she had done it.

“Fine, what about when my locker got filled with the balloons shaped like dicks and my face? It was mortifying to watch the guys pretending to be fucking my face.” I bit my lip. That also was hysterical, but I held back the laugh.

“Again, no one could find proof it was her.” I still had no idea how she got those balloons or snuck into June’s locker.

“See, this is what I mean. You won’t stick up for me, and it’s not fair. I’m your girlfriend. I’m the one you’re supposed to love and protect.” June was reaching eruption status, and I could see people passing the ends of the bleachers we were standing under, staring as they walked past.

“I’m only stating facts. I asked Kallie, and she said it wasn’t her.” That wasn’t entirely true, I asked her why she did it, and she just shrugged and looked out the window on the way home from school. She’d been acting strange ever since the first day.

I offered to sit with her at lunch, but if June came to sit with us, she left, or the two would end up in a fight that Kallie won more times than not.

Placing my hands on June’s shoulders, I tried to calm her. I liked her well enough, she was my girlfriend, and she was pretty and nice and all the things I should want. “Tell me what you want.”

“I want you to stop speaking to her, and I want you to embarrass her like she has me,” June said, and my hands dropped from her shoulders.

“I can’t do that.”

“You can, or we’re done.”

No one would make me choose between Kallie and them. Kallie would win every time, and not just because I was terrified of Cain. She was special to me, and even though it was wrong, my feelings for her stretched beyond brotherly.

“Then I guess we’re done.”

“You’re such an asshole!” June yelled as she whipped off my jacket that was over her shoulders to help keep her warm. She slammed it into the middle of my chest and stomped off.

Kallie picked that moment to show up at the end of the bleachers and leaned against them with her arms crossed.

“Aww, did I interrupt a lover’s quarrel?”

“This is all your fault,” June said, her voice breaking as she shook her finger at Kallie. June had better watch out. With the way Kallie was staring at her finger, there was a good chance it would get bitten off. “I know it was you, all of it. I hope you’re happy, you heathen.”

“Heathen? Wow I’m wounded,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I’m not going to say I’m sad you broke up. You were never good enough for Carter,” Kallie said, and I groaned.

“How dare you!”

Why did she always have to egg people on? Marching for the two women, I grabbed Kallie’s arm and dragged her away before a fight could break out. She was hysterically laughing as I stormed for the car.

“Why Trouble? Why did you want to ruin my relationship? And don’t bother with all the denial. I know it was you bullying June.”

“Oh please, it’s not like the two of you were engaged. Besides, I meant what I said. She was never good enough for you. She was a user and would’ve cheated on you with the next guy that came along who seemed like a better catch.”