Page 35 of Mistaken Prejudice

“Hey, Fabian.” Miles chuckled as he flashed him a toothy smile.

Fabian bowed his head before he turned to look at us. “Will your friends need a ride home?”

“No need.” I was quick to answer before Miles could say a word. In response, he quickly turned to look at me. Brows pinched together with confusion.

“But how will you get home?”

I nudged him toward the car and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Don’t worry about us. You need to go home and rest.” Thankfully, he didn’t argue and entered the car with Fabian closing the door behind him. The car window quickly opened, and Miles popped his head out. His wavy hair looked curlier and messier than usual. “Will I see you tomorrow?”

His baby blues shone under the moonlight, and his pouty red lips were still swollen from tonight. The last thing I wanted was to part ways with him, but right now, I needed space, not from him but from tonight’s chaos.

“You bet, Zaychik.” His cheek flashed red as I winked at him, and his mouth opened and closed two times before he found the words he was looking for.

“We can go now, Fabian.” A small, shy smile was all I got before they drove off.

Miles’s fog faded as soon as the car was gone, and the euphoric way he made me feel was replaced by harsh reality and pure rage.

“Zaychik?” Diesel mimicked me as he took a swill from the vodka. “How sad.” He lowered the bottle, pouted his lips, and pressed the hand holding his cigarette to his heart. “Already missing your sweet little bunny.”

His words set my already boiling blood on fire, and before I knew any better and for the first time in my life, my fist collided with his face. A nasty snap sounded as I hit his jaw and sent him to the ground. The bottle wasn’t the only thing that shattered at this moment, and a lot more was spilled than just vodka.

“What the fuck, Chica?!” Diesel growled and spat some blood. “Mierda,” he grumbled as he rubbed his bruised jaw with his hand and pushed himself off the ground. Before he could straighten up, I charged at him, fisted my hand around his shirt, and brought him so close that our noses almost touched.

“His girlfriend?” I paused to breathe. “You had to go and fuck his girlfriend?” My tone grew stronger with each word.

“Ex-girlfriend, to be precise.” The grin on his face hinted he found the situation amusing, and I couldn’t stand the sight of him at the moment. I clenched my jaw before I pushed him out of my way and started walking.

“Are you for real, Chica?” he called after me. “The guy deserved it, and you know that.”

I stopped at once and turned to find Diesel following my steps.

“Are you for real?” I snapped. “Are you that stupid that you can’t see you’re falling right into his trap?” I pressed my fingers to my temples and shouted, not caring if I’d wake the whole street up.

A choked laugh came from him. “Are you fucking serious?” He bit back his smile and clenched his jaw. “I’ve faced a lot worse than all of you combined, Andrei.” His judging stare pierced me. “You know half the shit I’ve been through, so don’t patronize me. Spoiled, rich garbage like him don’t scare me.” His voice trembled with rage, and I knew where it was coming from. It pained me to continue poking him in the wounds I’d just opened, but I had to do it. I had to make him see what was right in front of him.

“That’s where you’re wrong.” I shook my head. “He’s not just a rich kid. All you need is one look in his eyes to tell.”

“To tell what?” Confusion peeked through his anger.

“That he’s more like you than you think.”

Diesel’s lips twisted in repulsion, his jaw tensed, and his brows drew together as the crease between them appeared.

“Are you high or something?” The hurt in his eyes was visible, but he had to understand. No, he must understand.

“I will only say it once.” My eyes focused on him and him alone. “Stay away from him.”

His dark glare took me in, and I hoped my words helped the hard reality sink in, though I was doubtful.

“Guys.” Levi’s voice came from beside us and was the lifesaver from the ocean of raw emotions we’d just dipped our feet into. We couldn’t go back from here and could no longer deny the situation we found ourselves in. The cruel reality of Bay High started to dig its claws into our lives whether we liked it or not.

“We’re good.” I broke our stare and rubbed my jaw. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?” Diesel scowled.

“Home.”

“How?”