I looked down at our connected hands, trying to pull away, but Dorinda wouldn't let go.

As she stared into my eyes, I couldn't help but feel suspicious. It was like she was trying to send a message.

She squeezed lightly. 

"Dorinda," I whispered, "what is it?" 

I couldn't think about the horrid things she'd done to me. None of it mattered now. Not when she was in a great deal of pain. 

"I need you here." She begged under her breath. 

My eyes widened. 

"I can't... I'm not welcome here... even you must see that..." 

Before her daughter could say much more, Diedre interrupted, her expensive heels clicking on the floor. 

"Get your grubby hands off my daughter, you callous serpent!" She ordered. 

I expected Hero to come to my defense but in the end, I heard nothing. As I backed closer to the door, I now saw that I was nothing more than a stranger, impeding on this families moment. 

The doctor seemed uncomfortable, looking between me and Diedre. 

"Aren't you all family?" 

She pointed a perfectly manicured finger at me.  

"Not her! She's nothing more than my grandsons bootycall!" 

I gasped, taken aback by her choice of words. The doctor did as well though he spoke to me in an authoritative voice. 

"I'm sorry. You must leave. Family members only." 

As I turned, I felt Hero's cold touch, but I yanked away.

In the span of mere minutes, I had been scrutinized by these people and he said nothing. 

"No worries," I replied, "I have places to be." 

I didn't look back as I trudged my way though the empty halls of the hospital and out their automatic doors. Making it into my Kia was nothing more than a faraway dream. 

 I pressed my foot to the gas, wiping at my face. I was in shambles and felt entirely alone. I had no idea where I intended to go but I knew I wanted to be miles from where Hero was. 

When I stomped on the brakes, I had to pause and breath. There was so much adrenaline running through me, my body was recieving the aftershocks. I broke down crying for a long minute, observing my relationship. 

What wasn't he telling me? 

I hadn't even realized that I was parked in front of Whitney Hall until I looked up and saw the familiar building. 

What was I even doing here? 

You idiot. Of course you know what you're doing here. 

I wanted Hero to feel exactly how I felt. He was out with the one woman I despised and didn't protect me from what was thrown at me. I was hurting.
 
My heart beat in my chest as I passed several students through the lobby doors. I hoped that I didn't run into Kylie or even Annie for that matter. I didn't need that choas while facing what I was about to do. 

Upon entering, I saw Luke lounging on a chair next to a group of frat boys looking through some magazines.

Like any other time, he looked up catching my gaze. 

He rushed to me as if he wanted to say something but then his voice faltered. 

"No need to speak." I said. "I know what you're going to say. It's my turn to talk." 

Luke blinked. "Yes, of course. Please take a seat." 

He led me to a nearby table, where we sat across from each other. It didn't feel intimate like before. It was more intense;

He was the defendant and I was the jury. 

I suddenly became aware of all the eyes on me. It seemed the tape had made it around. 

"I know what you did." I began. "Hero told me. You took advantage of my beliefs and were part of the game too. You're not innocent in this." 

"I know, Kristina... I..."

I huffed. "You can stop with this... goody two shoes act." 

Luke raised an eyebrow. 

"What do you mean?" 

"Are you kidding me?" I demanded. "The soft voice you use? You're not any better than Annie. You both put on this act to make me think you were on my side. This isn't you." 

Luke sighed, closing his eyes. 

"This is me... I'm so sorry. I can't say that enough. Being surrounded with the type of friends I have... you lose your way. But I mean it when I say that I enjoyed our dates." 

I picked at the fabric on my jeans. 

"When you lent your dorm to me and Josephine, were you planning to do it even then? Hero said that you had the idea at the bonfire." 

Luke nodded. "Yeah. I just didn't expect you to be in my good graces so soon."

I sighed. "My life is so chaotic right now... I can't even..." I trailed off unable to finish my sentence. 

Luke eyed me curiously. 

"Not to be rude or anything but why did you come here? The last time you came to the frat you were a mess." 

I intertwined my fingers. 

"I won't deny that the sex tape messed with my life. It had gone around campus so fast that the cops heard word of it. I didn't trust Hero for a long time... in fact even now..."

Luke began teasing a strand of my hair, then yanked away when he noticed me staring.

"What is it? Something bothering you?"
 
I laughed, though it broke off painfully. I didn't want to spread Hero's private life around but there wasn't anyone I could really talk to at the moment. 

"Let's just say there's someone that has a history with Hero and he won't stop seeing her despite him knowing it upsets me." 

Luke's eyes widened. "Is it Kylie?" 

I rolled my eyes.

"No. He's definitely done with her. It's someone else. To be honest, I rushed here in the heat of the moment. I was mad... I'm still mad. I wanted... to make him jealous. Maybe ask you on a date." 

"You want me to take you out?" Luke asked incredulously. "Even after all I did to hurt you?"
 
I straightened awkwardly in my seat. 

"It's not like it'll mean anything. I'm just so mad at him. He needs to know what it's like on the other side."

Luke's face fell at my response. 

"Right. Well, where would you want to go?" 

I pondered on my choices for a moment. They were at the hospital and I wasn't sure how long that would last.

Perhaps I could choose a restaurant nearby.

Maybe I could make a post about my date or slip a notice to the paparazzi. 

Just as I'd made up my mind, my phone rang. Out of all people, it was Hero. With fury still running through my viens, I answered. 

"Hero," I said behind a hardened expression, "how nice of you to call." 

He dispelled a long breath before speaking in a softer voice than expected.

"Kristina. Baby. I can imagine how pissed you are at me. You have every right to be. I treated you like shit... I didn't mean what I said. You have every right to be a part of this family. I swear, what you saw between me and Diedre-" 

"You're right!" I seethed. "I am pissed! I don't care what you have to say. I know exactly what that woman was doing. Now that you've shown me you don't respect our relationship, I don't either!"
 
"What?" Hero breathed. "I do respect you as my girlfriend. What the hell-?" 

I narrowed my eyes. 

"I'm on a date." 

The phone remained silent for what felt like an eternity until he boomed through the receiver. 

"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU WITH?" 

I chuckled. "Not that it really concerns you but I'm with Luke. You know, one of the guys that wants to fuck me. If you don't mind, I have to get going now." 

"If he fucking puts a hand on you, I'll find him and bury him in a damn casket!" Hero exploded. 

"Good luck with that." I taunted. "I'll make sure you don't." 

"Don't forget there are ways to get around that." He spat. "I can track your phone." 

Freaking out a bit inside, I pressed end on the call. 

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