Everyone assumed Claire was just playing hard to get.
Even Macy Wade's little clique was up in arms, defending Cyrus's honor.
"Can you believe she's still stringing Cyrus along?"
"If you ask me, Claire needs to quit while she's ahead. Cyrus is gorgeous and comes from old money. If she locks him down, her future in Cabinda is set." "Right? Cyrus is a total catch. I have no idea why she acts like he's beneath her."
"She acts like she's too good for him, but refuses to cut him loose. I heard she already has a boyfriend, plus some shady connections off-campus, and now she's reeling in Cyrus..."
"It's not just Cyrus, doesn't our class monitor have a massive crush on her too?"
"
The clique chattered away, completely oblivious to the fact that Claire and Priscilla
Hastings had quietly materialized right behind them.
Claire was holding a tray of food.
Naturally, they were in the cafeteria again!
Claire was starting to feel like this place was her personal battleground.
"Claire is gorgeous, so it's normal for guys to swarm her. But leading them on is just toxic."
"It makes me sick. Cyrus is way too naive. How did he ever fall for someone like..." Before Macy could finish her sentence, she let out a piercing shriek.
"Ah!"
Karma might have been delayed, but the lunch tray was right on time.
Macy assumed someone had tripped, spinning around furiously to chew them out, only to find Claire staring back at her with a chilling, predatory half-smile. "C-Claire?" As Macy gasped, a stray piece of meat slid right into her open mouth. She spat it out in disgust.
Her face flushed crimson with rage. "Claire, what the hell is your problem?"
Claire didn't say a word. She simply tapped her phone screen, blasting the video she had just recorded of their vicious gossip.
Every nasty word echoed clearly.
Macy's victim act crumbled instantly.
Tabitha Prince and Lily Lowell, however, immediately went on the defensive.
"We didn't say anything that wasn't true! Aren't you just keeping Cyrus on the hook so he'll buy you expensive stuff?"
Not wanting to be outdone, Lily chimed in. "Did we hit a nerve, Claire? Is that why you're throwing a tantrum?"
"Cyrus has already spent a fortune on you. It's cruel to keep playing games with his heart."
"Don't lash out just because we called you out on your behavior. Either date him or
jenet
him
properly, so things don't get
awkward in class." fo FindNovel.net
Macy frantically scrubbed at her face with napkins. The other two had only been splattered, but she had taken the direct hit.
Her patience finally snapped.
"Claire, if you have a problem with our opinion, use your words. Why resort to violence?"
"Cyrus is an incredible guy. He's
you
been pouring his heart our for and you obviously say yes eventually. Why drag it out?
"We didn't mean any harm! We just want to see you both happy."
"Don't you think attacking us is crossing the line?"
Whether Macy had malicious intentions was something only she knew.
But Claire had loathed her guts for a long time.
After Claire had ruthlessly destroyed Levi Charles's reputation, this trio had kept their heads down.
But clearly, they had already slipped back into their old toxic habits.
"I'm crossing the line? Is dumping food on you worse than you spreading malicious lies behind my back?"
"Who told you I was intentionally stringing Cyrus along and secretly planning to date him?"
"Who told you I accepted a single gift from him, or that he spent his money on me?" "Did you hide under my dorm bed and see it, or were you hiding under his?"
Every word from Claire hit like a whip.
Macy was rendered utterly
speechless. Her eyes welled with pathetic tears. I wasn't spreading. rumors... I just think Cyrus is a good person."