Page 36 of Under the Influence

I sigh, “Why did Jovie do it? I mean... what happened? Why did she release the tape?”

Madden shrugs, “That’s the mystery. Nash completely shut down after his dad walked out, and I think the only person who really knows what set Jovie off is Carson and maybe Avery.”

Lainey adds, “But the rumor is that Jovie saw Nash kissing someone else at her fourteenth birthday party and went psycho.”

I feel the air escape my lungs as if it’s stolen and place my hand on my chest to keep my heart from beating out of it. I force the car door open for air, on the brink of passing out. Madden and Lainey quickly follow suit. My eyes rest on Nash. His empty blue eyes unapologetically focused on me.

I sling my backpack over my shoulder and begin to retreat into the building, Lainey’s voice muffled by the thumping in my ears, “You ok?”

“Yeah,” I nod, getting a reasonable distance away from them. “I’ll see you at lunch.”

As I walk by Jovie’s car, Nash swats her hand away, walking very close to my heels. I brace myself for what he might say as I have to slow my pace at the doors of the building where the crowd is thicker.

A million thoughts race through my head, what he said lingering at the forefront of my mind.

That day ruined everything. You ruined everything.

He kissed me, and Jovie ripped his family apart.

He blames me.

I feel the heat of his aggravated glare on my back as I turn down the hallway, hoping he goes another way.

“I don’t want you here,” his voice booms, basically echoing off of the lockers.

“I don’t want to be here,” I agree.

He corners me, “Why are you here? Did Jovie set this up?”

I look him straight in the eye, so he knows he doesn’t scare me. “Trust me, I did this all by myself. I’m here because I had no choice.”

“Stay out of my way,” he demands, his stance unwavering.

“You are the one standing in my way,” I sass back. “My class is that way.”

I point behind him, and he moves to the side, allowing me to pass. “Oh and Corinne, make good choices.”

His condescending tone infuriates me, making me clench my fists at my side.

Make good choices?

He sounds like my father, but I know it isn’t meant protectively. No, it’s intended as a threat. Make good choices or else.

I snap back at him, “Make good choices or make the right choices? Are you threatening me?”

He doesn’t turn back, letting my mind swirl with confusion and my heart lay on the floor.

Everything is clicking into place, the whole reason for his outburst on my first day here. The way he keeps Jovie within an arm’s length and the reason he’s so awful to me. It all makes sense now, because the boy I met that day is gone, replaced by a broken soul and a black heart.

I knew that the kiss we shared was more than a couple of kids testing the waters. It was a revelation for him and a fresh start. For me, it was dreams of the blond boy I left behind as I went back to work, tirelessly gripping at a dream that I thought I needed to be successful.

I guess my presence isn’t wanted at Legacy any more than it was back home at Brooks. My mind floats back to the first day back at school after what happened with Aspen. It was just three weeks ago, but it feels like a lifetime. The minutes went by slower, and each second lingered what seemed like just a little bit longer. Every head turned in my direction, Corinne Clark the subject of every whisper but not because of a fantastic dance routine or a great outfit like usual, but because my best friend was dead and it was my fault.

I betrayed her.

The last words I spoke to her haunt my memories, and I’ll never be able to go back.

I’ll never be able to take them back.