Elite (Empire High, #2)

by Ivy Smoak

I heard it in his voice. What he’d told me about the Pruitts was true. He hated them. And it felt like maybe he hated a tiny piece of me too now.

“I’ll never hurt your heart. You’re my forever, Brooklyn.” He smiled up at me.

Awww, Matthew

I started to cry harder. I cried for my uncle. I cried for my mother. And I cried for myself too. Because it was then that I realized that I had been wasting time.

And I broke. I leaned against the cold sink and let all the tears I’d been holding in all day come out. I cried and cried so hard that I was gasping for air.

This broke me...oh the tears fell.

I thought my heart couldn’t hurt anymore. But I was wrong. My life was a mess. Everything was a mess. And I was too worn out to fix anything right now.

“I lost my mom. And my uncle. I don’t have anyone anymore. I’m alone. I’m all alone.”

How had I let myself become this person? This wasn’t me. My mom had raised me better than this. I was a Sanders. And Sanders women were good at walking away from assholes.

Half my closet and a few of the dresser drawers were already filled with the most expensive clothes I had ever touched. I should have been grateful. But all I felt was…empty.

But running to Miller wasn’t the answer. He worked here. He wasn’t my friend. And I was sure he didn’t want to hang out with a high schooler on a Friday night. I knew all that. I knew it, and yet…I hurried after him.

Yeah, just another average guy! Brooklyn

“I’m not through it.” I couldn’t breathe. “My heart is still broken.”

My heart had broken when my mom died. It had shattered when my uncle died. And it got tossed into oncoming traffic when I broke up with Matt. I didn’t have a heart left for anyone.

“All you said is that it would hurt James, but don’t you see that I’m hurting? All I’ve been doing for the past few months is hurting. And you hurt me, Matt.”

Yes, he's been an asshole

I stared at the empty table. I’d been right all along. I didn’t belong in their world. I didn’t want to be an Untouchable. And I didn’t want to be with someone like Matt.

Yeah you do! We all do!

“I’ll make you feel less alone whenever you want. I’ll let you see your friends. I’ll stop checking every room you walk into if that’s what you want. I’ll let you eat my ice cream and borrow my phone. I’ll give you the code so you can sneak out whenever you want. But don’t ask me to let you spend the night when I know you’re in love with someone else.”

Yes, Miller! Don't do it!

“I think maybe I just miss the feeling of being loved by someone. Unconditionally. And I know that there’s conditions with all of them. But for a few seconds when Miller holds me, I feel like someone’s on my side. Like I’m not alone.”

I didn’t want their life. I wanted a little house in Delaware with a yellow kitchen. I didn’t want to be Untouchable.

Do it! You deserve so much better!

I loved Matt. I did. But he…God, I didn’t even know anymore. He didn’t love me enough.

It was him. He was the right choice. He was always there for me. He’d always stand up for me. He’d be my rock. Why was life so cruel?

Before I even realized what was happening, James had pulled me back into his arms. And his lips were on mine. Revenge tasted bitter even though his lips were sweet.

Ohhhh James Hunter! Makes me blush

But I never did any of it to intentionally hurt Matt. I did it because all he ever did was hurt me.

I was just so freaking tired. So for just a second, I wasn’t drowning alone. I was drowning with the saddest boy at Empire High. And maybe doing this favor for him would make him feel better. Even it was for just a few seconds.

“I want to take it all back,” I said. “I want to un-kiss James. And unlike Felix. And unlove Matt. I want to undo all of it.”

Awww. Life is frickin' hard