Replaceable I
Camila
The only perk to crying yourself to sleep is the blissful sleep that comes after you've drained your eyes of all the tears.
It's like your mind has finally given out, your thoughts all poured out leaving you to sleep peacefully.
Which was why when I woke the next morning with flushed cheeks, a puffy face, bloodshot eyes and a dry throat, I didn't complain for I had a delightful slumber.
I was effectively knocked the fuck out - in the best way possible.
I'd locked myself in my room after the screaming match I'd endured with Alejandro and refused to leave.
It'd been two days.
And I'd spent those two days locked in my bedroom, ignoring everyone's attempts at trying to get me to come out, eat, talk or anything.
Ethan had spent a good amount of time profusely apologising the night of - drunk I might add. But I wasn't ready to forgive him. I'd told him beforehand to make sure Alejandro was coming, only to have him brush me off, telling me that 'he's got it'.
Come to find out he left for the club not thirty minutes later, completely forgetting about what I wanted.
But even he eventually gave up trying, along with the other men.
Except for Alejandro.
I don't know how long he stayed outside my door, apologising and trying to get me to eat or come out. But I didn't listen and relished in the knowledge that I was making his life miserable, even if it was just a little.
I hadn't spoken to him, not once. Yet the man was adamant on standing on the other side of my door.
He was there in the mornings, taking his business calls, he was there at lunch trying to get me to eat and he was there in the evening, speaking lowly into what I presumed was his phone, only they were on the more explicitly dark side of business calls.
He'd only leave late at night, when he'd figure I was asleep and in that time, Marco would slip me a snack or a meal.
And by the second day, I start to feel guilty for taking up so much of his time, so guilty I'm scared I'm going to forgive him.
But I wouldn't.
I was annoyed with him and his mood swings. Sure I may have said some hurtful things that I might not have meant, but I was hurt and angry.
I wasn't dumb.
When he called me dumb, it hurt. It hurt more than I liked to admit. I wasn't dumb and even though he spent a good chuck of time these past forty eight hours, on the other side of my door trying to tell me he didn't mean it, I still didn't believe him.
Why was it so easy for him to bring up if it had never crossed his mind in the first place?
He had used something I've been insecure about against me, to spite me and I wasn't ready to forgive him for that.
Which was why when I finally decided to speak to him -for the first time in two days- this morning, I spoke one single sentence.
"I'm getting out and I don't want to see you when I do."
I was surprised he listened long enough for me to slip out of my room.
There was a part of me that wanted to stay in there for longer, I had it in me. But there was only so much I could occupy myself with and by the time Monday rolled around, I knew that in order to get out of the wretched place referred to as high school, I needed to attend.
I'm already held back a year, I don't need another.
The sound of forks against plates, chatter and the laughter greets my ears as I make my way down towards breakfast, only it all dies down into a tense silence the moment I walk into the room.
I can feel all their eyes follow me as I make my way into the room. But I ignore it. I wasn't going to look at them and I most certainly wasn't going to look towards the head of the table, where I could feel his eyes on me.
I hear a throat clearing and I know from the hoarse deep rumble it's Alejandro. "Morning." His voice speaks firmly, yet I can detect some weariness.
Ignoring him, I walk in the opposite direction of my usual seat and make my way towards the other end of the table. I was going to sit next to the only other person who liked sitting alone.
Marco.
Marco was the only person there for me, even if it was his job and he was as affectionate as a rock, we had formed this strange bond. I learned to take what little I got from him as enough.
He wasn't all that much... Well- all that much anything really, yet the little he gave me went a long way in my heart.
Marco's too busy scarfing down his food to notice me sliding into the seat next to him, but when he catches sight of me from the corner of his eye, he raises a brow, his mouth still full.
I send him a warm smile, the only sound in the room being my chair echoing as I push myself forward getting comfortable. "Morning." I chirp beaming at him.
He swallows and sits up just now noticing everyone's eyes on us. He glances towards the rest of the table, no doubt growing uncomfortable with the starring and I watch his gaze linger towards the head of the table. I cast Alejandro a brief glance to see him eyeing Marco, his jaw tight.
Not my problem.
I reach forward and scoop some eggs, sausage and fruit onto my plate, "You look nice today, Marco." My voice is light, and a small smile graces my lips as the tension - coming from one particular end of the room - solidifies.
"I'm surprised women aren't throwing themselves at your feet." I continue, bringing my glass of orange juice to my lips. Despite my teasing tone, I didn't mean that in a flirty way.
Marco was older, yes but he was handsome, in that rugged way, and beneath the scowling and rough exterior, he was probably more loving than half the male population.
With a glance behind my shoulder, Marco clears his throat. "Don't talk of my dating life."
"Got it, touchy subject." I observe, choosing to ignore everything around me.
The tension, the weary glances, but most of all, his drilling stare.
It's not my problem that Alejandro seems to be riling himself up so high that I can practically feel the heat steaming out of his ears.
In my attempt to brush him off, I begin to dig into my food. "So, what's the plan for today Marco Polo?" I ask, swallowing a large chunk of my food, barely having chewed it. The men had slowly resumed their eating, yet I could still feel them listening in, like they were waiting for another explosion.
I mentally roll my eyes.
Marco's dark eyes narrow. "Stop calling me that."
I chuckle and send him my sweetest smile before shaking my head.
And with a silent grumble, he turns back to his food."You need more hours of calculus. Extra practice means good test score." He speaks, his shoulders relaxing as the attention of most of the men dies down.
I finish chewing and swallow a piece of sausage, still not looking up at him as I speak. "Great. Wouldn't want people thinking I'm dumb, now would we." I say calmly cutting up the rest of my sausage.
Marco chokes on his water and I cast a curious glance up at him to see his eyes flickering right towards the head of the table, over my shoulder.
I turn my head and from the corner of my eye I glance towards Alejandro's end where he is sat starring ahead, his face tense and his hand gripping the now bent metal fork.
He's listening but I'd rather die than give him the satisfaction of showing him any real attention.
Maybe I was being petty, but being the bigger person was no fun.
The rest of my breakfast is devoured in silence as I preoccupy myself with scrolling through my socials, blatantly ignoring him, all the while his stare burns a hole through my head.
I knew I was being outright rude, but I didn't care.
The more I feel Alejandro's gaze harden along with everyone else's weary gaze, the more annoyed I grow. It's like they're all waiting for me to explode, throw a tantrum.
But I wouldn't. I was better than that.
"We should head out." I finally blurt.
With a nod, my bodyguard and only friend these days makes a move to stand up, but stops short when his eyes flicker towards the head of the table where I know Alejandro sits. Marco hesitantly sits back down.
"Uh- actually." Marco clears his throat, side glancing Alejandro. I finally cast him a glance to see the man staring at him expectantly. "I... must be excused for something... But Capo can take you." I narrow my eyes at Marco, not bothering to spare Alejandro a glance.
They're full of shit. But I don't want to put Marco between this feud any more than he already is.
Instead of throwing a fit I glance down at my phone one last time as I distractedly speak. "Oh, that won't be necessary. I can get a ride with Ethan." I say looking up towards Liam for the first time today.
Ethan's eyes widen, like he's surprised I'm taking to him. I roll my eyes. "You can drop me off on your way to the gym. That is where you go after breakfast, right?" I offer, knowing Ethan always visits the boxing gym on Monday's.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
