Chapter 26
Max is standing there with his jaw hung open as he stares at me.
He walks over and looks at Dylan. “Dildo, why’re you back here with some random girl?”
Dylan bites his lip nervously. “She’s not some random girl.”
Max furrows his brows. “Okay, why’re you back here with a really, really pretty random girl?”
Dylan slaps his forehead, groaning.
I sigh. “Max…”
Max’s eyes widen before they travel down and look at my hoodie. “Wait…baby mama?”
I smile nervously. “Hey, baby daddy.”
He walks closer and pokes my dimples. “Woah, you have dimples.”
“I’m aware.” I chuckle slightly.
He smiles sheepishly and give me a shy look. “You’re really pretty.”
“Thanks.”
He grins before spinning around to face Dylan. “Do you have a thing with Nevaeh?!”
Dylan’s eyes widen. “Wha-”
“You know Noah likes her!”
“N-”
“Dude, the bro co-”
“MAX! Shut up!” Dylan exclaims, pinching the bridge of his nose. “After school, you, Noah and I need to have a talk.”
Max gives him a look of confusion. “Okay. Why?”
Dylan looks at me nervously and I give him an encouraging smile. “I need to tell you guys something.” Max opens his mouth. “I do not have a thing with Nevaeh!”
“Okay, okay, sheesh.” Max puts his arms up in surrender.
“Why’re you here, anyway?”
“Everyone was wondering where you guys were so I offered to come find you. Have you met the new girl, Hazel?”
Dylan and I share a look.
“Uh, kinda.” I start. “She’s in our History class. She seems nice-”
“I don’t like her!” Max cuts me off. “She’s been nothing but snobby and rude. You should’ve seen Megan’s face when she basically implied that she was prettier than her. She looked like she wanted to stab her in the neck with her own plastic fork.”
Dylan and I share a look.
Dylan raises his eyebrows. “Oh wow.”
“I know!” He throws his arms up. “And Noah doesn’t seem to realise how much of a bitch she is! He just keeps looking at her with these stupid goo–goo eyes! Like, I thought he liked Nevaeh, then some new girl from Snakesville starts our school and all of a sudden he’s whipped?!”
I look down.
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The Heiress’s Shadow
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Chapter 26
Looks like he’s moving on.
Dylan’s eyes flicker to me and immediately soften.
“Max, can you please leave?” Dylan sighs. “Nevaeh and I need to talk.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll see you later.” He turns around and starts walking away. “Bye, Vaeh!”
After he leaves, Dylan looks at me expectantly.
I take a breath and slowly let it out before looking up at him.
“You know how my sisters had cancer?” I question, watching him nod. “Well, I–I-”
“You have it, too.” His eyes widen in realisation. “How…how long…”
“How long do I have left?”
He nods.
“Two years.”
“Two years…?” He whispers to himself before wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me into a tight hug. “You have to tell Max, you know that right?”
I nod. “I know.”
“…and Noah.”
I take a deep breath. “I–I know. But I don’t want to.”
“You have to, Vaeh.” He strokes my hair while holding me tight. “That’s why you told him you didn’t like him. Be–Because you’re…”
His breath hitches.
“Because I’m dying.” I finish. “Yeah.”
“Megan knows, right?”
“Yeah.”
He pulls away and hastily wipes his eyes.
Was he crying?
“Let’s get back to the cafeteria.” He suggests.
I nod and we walk through the back doors, into the school.
Great, now I’m about to witness Noah and his stupid love at first sight.
Isn’t that what you wanted though? For him to move on?
…yeah. That’s exactly what I wanted, isn’t it?
“Nevaeh!” Megan exclaims as Dylan and I reach the table before sighing under her breath. “Thank god.”
“Oh, guys, this is Hazel.” Noah introduces her to us without looking away from her as she smiles at him. “Hazel, this is, Dylan and…uh…”
I see Dylan, Max and Megan look at me but I ignore them.
I clench my jaw. “Nevaeh.”
He quickly looks at me. “Carter-”
“Did you just forget my name?” I raise an eyebrow, trying not to show my annoyance,
The Univocete ShadowL
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Chapter 26
“No, Carter, I was just-”
I cut him off again. “Blinded by her beauty. Don’t worry. I get it.”
He sighs. “Carter…”
“I just remembered, I need to talk to my math teacher about something.” I make up some bullshit excuse before walking away.
“Carter, wait!” Noah calls and I hear the scrape of a chair.
“Noah, don’t.” Hazel stops him. “She’s just being a little bitch.”
I clench my first as I make my way towards the cafeteria doors.
Let me punch you in the face then we’ll see who’s being a little bitch.
“Don’t call her that.” I hear Noah growl. “You know nothing about her.”
Hazel scoffs. “I’m just speaking the truth.”
“I think you’ve got the truth mixed up with your jealousy.” Megan hisses before I hear her chair scrape. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go talk to Nevaeh.”
I wait outside the cafeteria door for Megan.
As soon as she gets there I start walking towards my locker with her by my side.
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