The Deal

Chapter 22 - Mercy

{I didn't mean to ~ I wasn't drinking ~ but I talked to your ex ~ they said that you'd been affectionate}

Fxxk It - Jessie Reyez}

*Warning - Course language

Chapter 22 – Mercy

I thought my brain was going to explode. Did he really just say that?

"Excuse me?"

"You heard," he said, no doubt reading the pain on my face and deciding to push the blade in even deeper. "I should have known better than to trust you around him. I could barely look at you without being accused of trying to get into your pants; and yet the second I turn my back, you're down on your fucking knees in front of him."

"Enough," Damon snapped, taking a threatening step towards Warren. "Say another word and I'll shatter your jaw."

Warren laughed.

"Why? – I'm only stating the truth."

Humiliation coursed through me, and I wanted nothing more than to keel over and die right there. The sun was blazing down on us, and the heat was excruciating; not helped by the confrontation happening right in front of me.

I could feel Damon's eyes on my face, but I couldn't look at him - at either of them.

"I think you should leave," I muttered quietly, my hands hanging limp by my sides. Warren scoffed, squaring his shoulders.

"It's a free country; I have as much right to be here as you."

Damon regarded him for a moment before nodding.

"You're right," he said, moving to put his hands on my back. "We'll be going now."

I still couldn't meet Warren's gaze as we brushed past him, going through the same motions of hurt and betrayal that no doubt clouded his mind when he'd found out about my helping Damon.

I looked up as we neared the oval, feeling myself shrivel under the watchful eyes of everyone who had attended the match, all of whom stepped aside to let us through as Damon guided me towards the exit.

I swear I aged about twenty years in the time it took us to reach the school gates, never being so relieved to see Damon's 4WD as I was in that moment.

As Damon moved around me to unlock it, I heard the sound of running footsteps behind me, and turned just in time to see Lucy skid to a stop in front of me.

"Hey," she said, looking concerned. "Are you okay?"

I opened my mouth to respond, to tell her than I was fine and not to worry – but the words got caught in my throat and the only reply I could muster was to nod.

"Don't let him get to you," she says softly, putting a comforting hand on my arm as I try to suck in a shaky breath. "He's not worth it."

"I need to go," I stated flatly, using the last of my waning strength to collect myself enough to convince Luce that I wasn't on the verge of having a mental breakdown. I turn around and clamber into the car, leaving her standing outside on the ashfelt.

Damon had been stood by the driver's side door, watching us, and when I met his eyes briefly I couldn't decipher what he was thinking. I took deep breath before turning back to face Lucy.

"I'll text you," I mumbled, giving her what I hoped was a convincing smile before closing the door.

As Damon swung the car out onto the road, I could feel my composure crumbling, and the panic I'd been struggling to suppress reared its ugly head.