Natalya
Eva looks a little irritated as she sits on the edge of my bed, tapping her foot on the floor. “What’s so urgent that couldn’t wait?”
I raise a brow. “I apologize for interrupting your newlywed bliss, but I have something to come clean about to all of you.”
Azira gives me an encouraging smile.
“Since winter formal, I’ve been sleeping with Alexander.”
Adrianna gasps, eyes wide.
Eva, on the other hand, just looks at me like I told her it’s going to rain tomorrow. “About time,” she says.
Both Azira and Adrianna gawp at her.
“What do you mean, about time?” Azira asks, looking shocked at Eva’s flippant response.
She shakes her head. “No one could see it, but that boy is fucking head over heels for Nat.”
“He’s always treated her like trash,” Adrianna says.
Eva shrugs. “Haven’t you heard boys are always assholes to the girls they like?”
“Is that how Byrne roped you in?”
“It’s different,” Eva says flippantly. “They’ve known each other since they were teenagers.”
“How did it happen?” Adrianna asks, ignoring Eva’s opinion.
“At first it started with Alexander blackmailing me. I can’t tell you what with.”
Adrianna and Eva nod.
“Since then, I don’t know. I kind of find I’m enjoying it, which may sound fucked up.”
Adrianna nods. “Have you forgotten how much of a dick he’s been to you over the years?”
“No,” I say, looking down at my hands in shame.
“Don’t shame her for how she feels,” Eva says, coming to my rescue. “It’s clear there’s more to their relationship than meets the eye.”
I’m thankful that Eva managed to make it here, and I get she’s less shocked because she hasn’t witnessed the things Alexander has done to me over the years. He’s stabbed me, bruised me, tripped me countless times in front of people, as well as tormented me mentally. Not to mention, occasionally he’s locked me in classrooms in barely any clothes to be found by my teachers and students alike. He’s a dickhead. I know it more than anyone. So I shouldn’t even be entertaining the idea of forgiveness when it comes to him, and yet I can’t seem to shake the hold he has on me. As if his claws are in so deep now, they’ve become a permanent part of me.
How the hell do I explain that to the two friends here who have been by my side the longest?
I swallow hard, wondering what Giorgia would make of this. She also has seen what Alexander put me through. It’s about time I give her call and find out. “I’m going to call Giorgia, see what she thinks.”
Azira and Adrianna nod. “Good thinking! It’s been ages since we spoke to her,” Adrianna says.
Eva’s brow furrows. “Is that the girl who used to attend here?”
Azira smiles, but it’s wistful. “Yeah, she got pulled out of the academy last year.” We all miss her.
I video call her and screen it onto my television screen on the wall, knowing that it’s late there in Italy. In fact, they’re seven hours ahead, so it’s like three in the morning.
Finally, she picks up and groans. “Do you realize it’s the middle of the night?” Her sleepy face comes onto the screen.
“Sorry, I just had to get your opinion on something.”
“Right, and it couldn’t wait until a more suitable time.”
“Nope,” Azira says.
Giorgia perks up. “Is that you, Azira?”
“Yep, and Adrianna is here,” she says, and they both come into view of my phone camera.
“Okay, what is it?”
“Nat is sleeping with Alexander,” Adrianna says, taking the opportunity to break the news for me.
Giorgia’s eyes widen then. “Now that is pretty huge. Since when?”
“Winter formal,” I say, glancing at Azira. “Both Azira and Adrianna think I’m insane. Eva, our new friend, thinks it was inevitable.” I shrug. “We wanted your opinion.”
She draws in a deep breath and then says, “I always thought it might be the end game for the two of you.”
“What?” Azira and Adrianna say in unison.
She shrugs. “I mean, what boy goes that out of his way to torment a girl if he isn’t like obsessed with her?”
Azira and Adrianna fall silent, but Eva nods. “Exactly what I’ve been saying.”
“Is that Eva?” Giorgia asks.
“Yeah.” I point the camera in her direction. “Meet Eva Byrne. She got married to The Principal during winter break.”
Eva waves at her. “Nice to meet you.”
“What?” Giorgia says, sounding shocked. “Why is it I’m missing out on the best fucking year ever? What other crazy gossip haven’t I heard?” And then she pauses. “Nice to meet you too, Eva. Kudos on bagging such a hotty.” She sighs. “Principal Byrne is smoking.”
I turn the phone back around and shrug. “Not much else, other than Coach Daniels harassing Adrianna constantly.”
“So, you don’t think it’s insane that I kind of want to keep sleeping with him?”
Giorgia shakes her head. “It’s a little fucked up after everything he’s done, but I get why you’d be attracted to him.”
“Maybe we’re wrong, but I just don’t want to see Nat get hurt after all this, worse than she already has been by that prick,” Azira says.
“It’s a sound argument, but at the end of the day, Nat, it’s down to you.”
I know that’s the truth, but I too fear being destroyed by him. If this is all just another part of his games. A sick ploy to make me fall for him, only to break my heart and twist the knife deeper into my gut. I’ll never forgive myself.
That nagging doubt has been playing on my mind even more after Azira’s reaction.
I fear that the only way to find out is to continue on down the path we’re on. The question is, will I come out stronger or end up a fragment of the girl I used to be?