Picture Perfect - Page 157

Chess’s body stiffens beneath me, his breath hitching. “What’s what?”

My heart is beginning to pound a rhythm of impending dread.

I can’t wait for answers; my hand darts out like a serpent striking, seizing the mouse and dragging the cursor to the window. Click—a silent explosion, fragments of my reality scattering as I absorb the contents of the screen.

“Addy, hold on—” Chess’s voice is distant, a fading echo as I plunge into the abyss.

But it’s too late. The world distorts, sounds warping into static as I uncover the extent of the betrayal. My conversations with Gen, laid bare in pixels and bytes. Every photo, every message I ever sent or received—all splayed out like a grotesque exhibition. The phone—the one they gave me, the one that was meant to be a lifeline—was just an easy way to spy. Though they clearly had no problem spying on my old phone either.

Every secret, every vulnerability, collected and cataloged by someone I trusted. The realization is a physical blow, leaving me winded and disoriented. My pulse screams in my ears, a rapid staccato that drowns out everything else.

“Addy, talk to me.” Chess’s voice finally pierces the fog of my shock, his concern evident even through the haze of my disbelief.

I can hear Saint and Dre’s voices in the background demanding my attention, demanding I listen.

“Everything,” I manage to gasp out, my voice barely audible. “You have everything.”

“Addy, it’s not—”

But no explanation can unring the bell. No words can unsee the truth. With each click, each revelation, the foundation of trust I had let them lay begins to crumble.

I can’t find words, just a silent scream building in my chest as I look at his hazel eyes, so often full of mischief, now clouded with concern. My mind races, trying to piece together a puzzle I never wanted to solve. My hands push against his chest, seeking freedom from the grip that’s not just physical but emotional, too.

“Listen to us, Addy,” Chess implores, the desperation in his voice slicing through my fog of betrayal. “There’s a reason for all this.”

His arm bands around my waist, keeping me in place. I can feel the panic building in my chest at being restrained against my will.

“Let me go!” The words finally burst from me, a raw and ragged plea as I struggle against the arms that once promised safety.

“Please, Addy…” Chess’s hold tightens for a moment, the plea in his voice almost breaking through my resolve. But it’s too late; the trust is shattered, scattered like shards of glass around us.

“Let me go!” This time my scream is primal, filled with the hurt of a thousand little cuts to my heart.

Instantly, Chess releases me, an abrupt surrender that sends me tumbling to the floor. My ass hits the ground hard, the impact jarring but nothing compared to the turmoil inside me.

“Snowflake!” Saint and Dre move as one, closing in to offer help I no longer want.

“Don’t touch me,” I spit out, venom lacing my voice as I scramble up, away from their outstretched hands. They freeze, their faces etched with shock and something else—fear? Guilt?

“Addy, we can explain,” Saint starts, but the words are empty, falling flat against the walls I’ve rebuilt in an instant.

“Save it.” My words cut through the tension, a clear signal that the girl they knew, the girl who trusted them, is gone. I’m on my feet now, standing on shaky legs but with a newfound resolve.

“Please,” Chess whispers, the single word heavy with unspoken apologies.

But apologies won’t rebuild trust. And right now, I don’t know if anything can.

Clutching my bag to my chest, I bolt from the computer lab, ignoring the stunned faces of classmates who blur into the periphery of my vision. My footsteps echo off the linoleum as I weave through hallways that suddenly feel like a labyrinth designed to trap me with my own thoughts. The school’s exit looms ahead and without hesitation, I push through the doors, out into the freedom of open space.

The air is cool against my skin, but I barely notice it; my mind races as aimlessly as my feet on the pavement. Saint, Dre, Chess—they’ll be coming after me, their footsteps a haunting rhythm in the back of my mind. But for now, I’m alone, and that’s all I need.

I wander, letting my instincts guide me until I find myself at the edge of a nearby park, empty save for a solitary bench that looks out over a small pond. It’s quiet here, the only sound is the distant hum of traffic and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. I make my way over to the bench and collapse onto it, the weight of everything crashing down onto my shoulders like a physical force.

“Get it together, Addy,” I mutter to myself, spinning the engagement ring around my finger—a glittering symbol of false promises and hidden agendas. My heart feels like it’s been hollowed out, yet I can’t afford to crumble. Not now.

They think they’re using me, but two can play this game. Let them believe I’m still the naive girl wrapped around their fingers, while I plot my next move.

I’ll continue this charade, endure their deceitful caresses and whispered lies because I need their resources, their connections. They’re my ticket out of this suffocating town, away from that nightmare of a fucking house.