24
PERCIE
“Hailey, where have you been? I’m worried hell, and you didn’t even check your phone for my call. You
can’t just run away like you just wentpletely off the face of the earth.” I tried hard to calm my voice,
but that asshole’s smirking before me had pissed me off.
“Hey, man. Hailey was with me the whole time.”
Piercing Hailey with my gaze, I had to turn my attention to the asshole who answered me instead.
“What do you mean she was with you the whole time?”
Hailey cleared her throat. “He saw me at the ice cream parlor.” Wow! How convenient? ”We drove to
the nearest park and ate ice cream there.”
My nose red. My chest constricted. How could I be so fucking dumb? I couldn’t believe she spent
time with him instead.
“And you have no n texting me that you’re actually okay?” I faced Hailey again.
“Man, why are you angry with her? It’s not that you two are dating. She can go with anyone she likes.”
I clenched my jaw. My blood was boiling. Control your temper, Matthews. ”And let me guess that
anyone is you? Then what? You can use her like how you used and threw all the women you slept with
once you were over with them?”
“And what is your problem if I sleep around? It’s not that they are not aware of my rules before sleeping
with me. Everyone is aware that I don’t date.”
“My problem? Seriously, Larkin? I don’t give a fuck about your sexcapades. Why did I suddenly pique
your interest and pretend that we are friends? Why now? Because you want something from me? You
want to use Hailey to be your next girl toy?”
I just hit the nerve. His hands form into fists. He may be taller and bulkier than me, but I was not afraid
of him. I had nothing to lose.
“Watch your words, Matthews! You know who are you talking to!” he warned me.
“Oh, yeah? And I’m so terrified right now I can pee in my pants. Who isn’t aware of you and your father
anyway?”
“You watch your tone if I were you, Matthews! And Hailey is an adult, and she can decide whether she
wille with me or not. It’s her choice and not yours.”
“That’s enough! Both of you!” Hailey cut in. She faced Remy. “Thank you, Remy. Raincheck for your
party?”
“Hope you’lle, Hailey. You won’t regret it.” Remy smirked at me and smiled at Hailey.
I wanted to punch him in his fucking face my body vibrated.
Once Remy was gone, she red at me. “What is your problem?”
“You know what’s my problem,” I answer dryly. “d you’re okay, by the way, and you enjoyed your ice
cream.”
“No, Percie. I don’t know what’s your problem. Care to tell?”
“Unbelievable.” I shook my head and walked to the apartment building instead.
I heard footsteps behind my back. She was following me but held the urge to stop and turn to face her.
I still found it hard to believe that she had ice cream in the park with Remy Larkin of all the people. She
was aware of who he was, and yet she didn’t care. Did she like him?
I cursed in my breath. Hailey was so na?ve about what Remy was capable of doing.
The elevator slid open, and she got in before I could. She was still pouting. I stayed silent when she
didn’t say a word. She was stubborn, I gave her that, and I was stubborn, too. Let us see who would
crack first. I fished out my keys in my jeans pocket, but she already shoved her key in the keyhole of
our apartment door.
“You won’t talk to me anymore?” she asked harshly.
If I could ignore the pain in my chest and my knuckles, I could ignore her as well.
I kicked my shoes off andid down in my bed. I shut my eyes closed and tried to forget what had just
happened earlier. My door flew open. When I lifted my head, it was Hailey walking into my room.
“Can’t you at least knock? What if I’m butt naked?” I narrowed my eyes and sat on my bed.
“Want some pizza?” Well, that was random.
“And that’s the reason why you barged into my room to ask me if I want pizza?” I sneered.
“What else?” she sneered back.
I snorted. “You really have an attractive attitude, Hailey. Didn’t you eat ice cream already? Do you want
to be fat? Larkin likes his girls skinny.” It was way out of line, but I was beyond mad.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I rolled my eyes. “You know what I mean, and don’t be so naive. Is he the reason why you want to have
your own car? So that you can go out with him? Were you nning on going to a party before he came
to invite you?”
Her eyes widened. Her mouth gaped, then shut closed. She wanted to say something but hold her
thoughts back.
She took a huge breath before walking out of my room, closing the door behind her.
Iid back on my bed with my heart crushed in my chest.
***
I went to campus for two days alone without taking the breakfast she made for me every morning. I
stopped in the diner to eat like I always did before Hailey came into the picture. She was so stubborn. I
admired her tenacity.
After we encountered that night, she was avoiding me like a gue. I still checked on her every time I
finished my ss to make sure nobody bullied her. She seemed okay, though. She made friends with
girls name Megan and Victoria, and they looked decent.
I got in the diner, took my seat, and ordered my usual lunch.
“Hey, Percie.” I looked up at the girl smiling and standing beside my table.
“Hey,” I said and smiled back.
Lexie Heights was my ssmate in my anatomy ss. She was pretty with strawberry blonde hair,
piercing blue eyes, full lips, with a cheerleader body. She was around five foot four inches tall, and she
always wore a skirt just above her knees.
Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.
“Can I sit?” She pointed at the empty seat across mine.
“Sure. Have a seat. My treat.”
Her smile widened, then she shook her head. “No, Percie. I can buy my own.”
“No, really. My treat. And it’s rude to reject an offer, and I only offer once. So take it.”
Sheughed. “Fine. Why are you alone this time? Where is Hailey?”
I froze. How did she know about Hailey? I cleared my throat. “She’s probably with—”
Her eyes widened, gaze focusing on the door.