Chapter 2

2

Jake's bare foot was creeping up Sarah's leg.

And Sarah didn't even stop him.

She grabbed his foot, her voice husky. "Stop it."

Watching them flirt like I wasn't even there made my stomach churn.

"I'm not apologizing. I'm going to tell everyone Jake stole my designs..."

Before I could finish, Sarah exploded.

She jumped up, hand raised, ready to slap me.

Jake stopped her, all sweetness and concern. "Sarah, don't. Let me talk to Mark."

The irony.

Jake calls Sarah by her first name.

Only Sarah, blind and stupid, doesn't see what he's up to.

Or maybe she does, and it's just their twisted game.

I hurried upstairs to my room.

Jake followed, all innocent. "Mark, don't be mad―"

Then, when we were alone, he whispered, "What are you doing with Sarah with that cripple leg!"

"Sarah only need me, not you! You are going to lose everything, because you are a worthless garbage!"

He stared at me, pure malice in his eyes.

I took a step back, thinking he was going to hit me.

Instead, he grabbed my hand, pressed it to his chest, a sly look in his eyes, then threw himself backward down the stairs.

"Mark, why did you do that?!"

"Just because you lost a leg, do you want me to be disabled too?!"

Sarah jumped up and rushed to Jake.

Jake clutched her shirt. "Sarah, don't blame Mark. He... he loves you too much..."

Sarah turned on me, face like thunder. "Mark, apologize!"

I'd been swallowing my pride for years.

Not anymore.

I looked at Jake, raised my hand, and slapped him hard.

But Sarah grabbed my arm mid-swing.

She shoved me backward.

Next thing I knew, I was on the floor, my cheek burning.

I stared at her, disbelief warring with the pain.

"Mark, how could you be so cruel? Hitting Jake in front of me? I hate you!"

"You're spoiled, and you need to be taught a lesson."

Sarah waved her hand, and the security guards dragged me into the tiny bathroom.

"Think about what you've done. When you're ready to apologize, I'll let you out."

I curled up in the corner of the cold, damp bathroom, my stump throbbing.

But what really broke me was the sound of Sarah and Jake kissing outside the door.

I don't know how long I was there.

I huddled in the corner, shivering.

Maybe when you're dying, you remember the good old days.

I was back in high school, watching Sarah toss a donut on my desk, acting all cool.

"I bought the wrong kind. Here."

Back then, I was broke and grieving.

Sarah always found excuses to bring me food.

She even fought the guys who made fun of my limp.

Sarah was so good to me back then.

But when did it all change?

My eyelids felt heavy.

I wanted to sleep.

Just as I closed my eyes, the door burst open.