Page 51 of Fueled Fury

The main thought—Can I ever step foot back on campus knowing that everyone has seen the video?

“It’ll be okay.” Eli reaches over, but when his fingers touch the back of my hand, I jerk away from his touch. I don’t want anyone to touch me. I feel violated, dirty, used, worthless.

“I have to go.” Sliding off the barstool, I move to leave the kitchen but Eli follows.

“Just call me later. I mean it, Lainey. We can transfer schools, move to any city. You’re my best friend. I’ll be here for you, and you won’t find a roommate better than me. You don’t even have to tell me to wear pants.” He gives me a half smile.

Nodding, I swiftly turn away from his painfully bruised face, then halt as his words ring in my head. “I’ve never asked you to put on pants.”

“What?” he asks as he sits on the barstool next to Hannah.

“I asked Austin to put on pants. How could you know that unless you heard—”

“I’m sure you’ve told me at some point.” He nonchalantly shrugs his shoulders before bringing his fingers to carefully rub beneath his swollen eye as he winces, reminding me of the sound he made several times the night he was in the kitchen, cleaning up the mess he said Austin made.

“You did it,” I whisper, not believing the words coming out of my mouth, but finally trusting them. “It was you. You sent it.”

How much else was a lie?

“Lainey, I wouldn’t do that to you. You’re my best friend.”

“Shut up!” I scream. Hannah flinches, her eyes darting between us. “It was you all along. The manipulative, lying monster who wore the mask so well.”

Backing away, I keep my eyes on Eli as Austin’s question strums through my mind. “Who’s more dangerous … the monster masquerading as the hero or the creature who’s never worn a mask?”

The mask is slowly slipping away from Eli as I hear Austin’s words over and over. Always questioning Austin’s intentions while trusting Eli. Holding back when I should’ve been running straight to the one who’s never worn a mask.

Sprinting out of the house, I can’t ignore the heavy weight on my shoulders, holding me back yet lifting me up at the same time. I no longer question who’s more dangerous. Now I know firsthand.