Chapter 96: Ousted
I was so wrapped up in my head that I almost ran right into Pain at the front doors of the school. I glanced up at the last minute, jerking back from her as she scowled at me, arms crossed over her chest.
"Hi, Pain," I said. "What's up?"
"That's what I'd like to know." She sounded really pissed. Was her makeup not so thick? And where were all her piercings?
"Sorry?" I was so stunned by her missing hardware I didn't put anything together.
"I'm tired of how you're acting around Benjamin." Pain's booted foot tapped impatiently on the concrete step. "You're making him uncomfortable."
What? Bad enough she was so into him she treated Blood like crap, but she had the nerve to come after me?
"Maybe," I snapped before I could stop myself, "if someone I knew gave a crap for a second about other people's feelings, she'd see I'm not the bad person here."
Bad move. I spotted it the moment I started talking. Pain's eyes narrowed, her lips thinning out as her arms dropped, hands forming into fists. For a second I was sure she would hit me.
"Just leave my boyfriend alone if you can't be nice to him. Okay? And leave me alone for that matter, too."
Boyfriend? Oh no, she couldn't be serious! But before I could say anything more, try to wrangle my temper under control or talk her out of it, Pain spun on her heel and marched into the school.
I plodded my way after her, not sure what to do. Alison and company stood waiting for me.
"What did you say to Pain?" Alison looked nervous. "She's really pissed off."
I shrugged. "She just told me she and Benjamin are going out."
"So?" Alison crossed her arms over her chest. What was with my friends? "What's the problem?"
"Doesn't anyone care what Blood is feeling?" I decided to try the sympathy card rather than tearing her a new one.
She did look briefly guilty. Simon and Beth both ducked their heads. "Well," Alison said, "I guess. That was pretty harsh. But, you don't choose who you love, Syd."
Yeah, I'd heard that before. And it sounded just as crappy coming from her.
"She's right." That voice. It was so hard not to turn and punch Benjamin in the face. My demon was having a very bad influence on me now that she had some freedom.
At least I blamed it on her.
"I didn't ask you." That was it. I didn't like him, couldn't stand him, and I wasn't pussy footing around it any more. Time to draw my line in the sand. I spun to face him, keeping my violent impulses under control.
For now.
He smiled at me. Of course. "True. But Pain and I," he hooked his arm around her shoulders, "care about each other deeply. I know how it looks, but how was I supposed to let anything interfere with the way I feel about her?"
She gazed at him adoringly when she wasn't glaring at me like I'd killed her puppy.
I wanted to throw up. "Good for you two," I said. "I'm late for class."
I left, went to my locker. Made it all the way there before Beth stopped me. "Syd," she said, so earnest it hurt, "please, don't leave us."
I shrugged. "I'm not, Beth," I said. "Not by choice anyway."
"I don't understand." She had tears in her eyes. "You're my friend. Why are you hurting everyone?"
I stared at her, mouth gaping open. Me? Hurting them?
"Whatever," I snapped. "Why don't you go hang out with Benjamin if you don't like it."
Her cheeks flushed very red and she spun quickly, heading right for the bathroom. I kicked myself mentally, so hard my demon protested. Beth didn't deserve that. I moved to go after her and spotted Simon staring at me.
He shot me the most hurt look I'd ever seen on anyone's face, as though I'd torn out his little heart and stomped on it right in front of him. Simon turned away, light reflecting on his glasses, shoulders slumped even further than usual, and slowly walked away.
Like I needed more crap on my shoulders. I avoided the whole lot of them all day as best I could, switching seats with others, even, so I wouldn't have to sit next to Alison in second period. Lunch was spent huddled outside under a tree, torturing my food to bits of mush while I struggled with my breaking heart.
I just wanted to go home.
But I stuck it out. There was only one thing keeping me from leaving. Benjamin. There was no way I would let him see he'd won.
And he had. I could feel the defeat in the air. Somehow in a few short days I'd gone from happy with my dear friends to a loner all over again and it hurt like hell. I considered hanging with Blood, but he was so wrapped up in his own grief that the one time I tried to approach him I turned around and went the other way.
Of course, I could have gone and sat with Brad and his popular friends. I know he would have welcomed me even if the rest of the football team and cheer squad wouldn't. I caught him watching me, dodged him several times when he tried to talk to me.
I had enough on my plate without worrying about Brad Peters.
Prom. Right. Oh dear.
I barely remember leaving school when it was finally over for the day, slumping my way down the street for home. The rumble of a motorcycle engine brought my head around as Quaid pulled up beside me. He shut off the motor and slid his helmet free, chocolate eyes so dark they swallowed me up.
My demon automatically reached for him which naturally made me back off.
"Hi," I said to take the sting out of it. I know he felt my withdrawal.
"Syd." His voice traced a path of shivers down my back.
"What's up?" Wow, that was so lame. But I didn't have much more in me.
His eyebrow quirked. "Same question."
I shrugged. "Just some stuff I'm trying to work out." I wanted to tell him about my demon, the separation we found, about her taking me over, but instead, for some reason, I chose to whine. "Want to help me get rid of someone?"
"Let me guess," he said. "Benjamin."
He knew. And had to understand. This was awesome.
"Yeah," I said, mustering some enthusiasm. "Dude's a total jerk. Broke up Pain and Blood. Can you imagine?"
Quaid's expression never changed. "Imagine that," he said softly. "One girl, two guys. Wow. So rare."
He might as well have slapped me.
"How do you know they're not meant to be?" Quaid shifted his weight forward, looking off down the street. "What right do you have to get between them?"
I knew it. No matter what Quaid said, he would always be a jerk.
"Forget it," I snapped. "I knew you wouldn't understand. There's something wrong with that guy, Quaid, and I'm the only one who seems to see it."
He started the bike. "That's true, Syd," he said. "I forgot. You're right and everyone else is wrong. Thanks for clearing that up."
Quaid slammed on his helmet and peeled away before I could form a comeback.
Instead, I grumbled my whole way home.
Where I met bad news. Or, at least, no news, which was bad as far as I was concerned.
Nothing from Dad.
I went to bed in foul humor and was a long time falling asleep.
***
I jerked awake on a park bench in my pajamas, the first light of morning filtering through the trees and my demon snoring softly in her sleep.
Not again.
***
