Chapter 6 SO GOING VIRAL

OWAIN LUTHER

The moment Karima said those words, I knew I had lit a fire in her. Exactly what I wanted. She was wild, she just didn't know it yet. But I did. And I was the only one who could unleash it. Let's see what you've got, Karima, I thought with a smirk. She led the way to the car. I followed behind her. The moment we hopped in, I hit the ignition and slammed the gas.

***

KARIMA HEART

The next day, I left class early. I did everything possible to avoid Ellie. Of course, she noticed, but I didn't care. Maybe avoiding conversations with her would make reality slip by... Just two days would be enough. No, maybe a week. Anything, enough to help me erase the whole nightmare I saw yesterday.

As soon as the lecture ended, and God helping me, Owain didn't show up today, I rushed to the cafeteria.

I spotted Tyla and dodged her. For the record, Tyla was the queen bee cheerleader for the TIGERS Team, the swim team Nathan was in. She was obsessed with him and, even now, she hated my guts since I dated him. She still does, actually.

In one swoop, I slipped into the cafeteria, unnoticed. I ordered some chips drowned in ketchup with a soft drink, scrolling through my phone like I had something meaningful going on in it. That was when I heard Ellie.

"So... this was where you were hiding after ghosting me? You think I won't find you?"

She said. I didn't say a word. I didn't look up. I just buried my face deeper in my phone.

"Hello?" she snapped her fingers in front of my face. "I'm not talking to a ghost, am I?"

On a normal day, I would've side-eyed her and pretended to be p*ss*d, just for fun. But this wasn't a normal day... This time, I couldn't. No matter how hard I tried to un-see what I saw that night, I couldn't. It was replayed over and over. And what killed me most? Ellie acted so d*mn normal... I almost doubted my own eyes.

I wanted to scream in her face. Instead, I held back the moment I locked eyes with her. And all I saw was Ellie... my best friend. The one who supported me the most.

"Cat got your tongue now?" she teased.

I chuckled softly. I didn't even realize when I fell for that.

She took that as her cue, pulled up a chair beside me, and tossed her Gucci bag on the table.

My eyes locked on the bag. My breath hitched.

No way.

It was the same designer bag I gifted Juliet, Nathan's sister. A one-of-a-kind graduation present. The same tag. The same custom design.

What the actual hell?

God! This isn't happening, is it?

"Why do you have this, Ellie?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.

She didn't flinch. Her eyes flicked to the bag, then back to me with that same sweet smile.

"Nathan gave it to me," she said casually. "Enough of the bag, Karry. Don't think this little hide-and-seek game you pulled on me will stop me from scolding you, definitely not the changing of topic either... Why on earth did you miss Jace's party?"

My blood bubbled, but I held it back. "I was out with Owain." I said that before I even thought about it.

"Owain?" she repeated with a flash of that look I know, then squealed, covering her mouth in mock shock.

"Are you freaking kidding me now, Karry?" She nudged my arm with excitement.

"What?"

"What do you mean? You're dating our professor."

"What? No! I'm not dating anyone. Stop saying that."

"But you just said you went out with him? What was that supposed to be? Private tutoring on the road? C'mon, Karry. This is hot gossip!"

I rolled my eyes, pulling her hand off my arm. "You're crazy, Ellie. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Well, I do. I knew something was up when I saw you two together yesterday."

"Wait, you did?" I snapped.

"Yes, I did." She rolled her eyes.

"Where?" I blurted out.

"At SWISS Hotel. I didn't think much of it at the time."

Was she seriously talking about the same hotel where I saw them screwing? Did she just say that casually? Was Ellie kidding me right now?

"Who were you with, Ellie?"

I asked, praying she'd just be honest, because I was holding back all the anger gnawing at me right now.

"Whoa. Chill, Karry. Why are you interrogating me? I'm the one doing the asking here, remember?"

"F*cking answer me, Ellie!" I snapped.

Her face changed, instantly. She sensed the seriousness in my tone.

"I was with Jace and the boys. We had a night out at SWISS HOTEL, wanted to tell you about it, but you nailed out. Happy?"

I sprung up, the anger in me clearly making me vibrate. My hands shook as I ran it through my hair.

"A night out?" I repeated.

"You okay, Karry?"

"Stop calling me that, okay? Just... tell me the truth, Ellie. Are you seriously lying to my face right now?"

Her brows scrunched. "What are you talking about for heaven's sake? Say something that makes sense?"

"Really? You seriously want me to say it? Okay then. Are you f*cking telling me I didn't see you screwing my boyfriend last night? Answer me!"

That was when her face froze. And the mask dropped. For a moment, I prayed-hoped she'd deny it... Maybe denying it would make the pain all go away.

But then Nathan's voice cut through the tension.

"And why does she have to answer that, Karima?"

I turned. Ellie shot him a look, silently begging him to stay out of it. But he didn't.

"Ask me. Leave her out of this. She clearly doesn't have the guts to tell you the truth."

"Ellie? Is he telling the truth?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Say something, you b*tch!"

Before I could think of what to say next, Nathan grabbed my wrist. I was already pushing Ellie- maybe too hard.

"Stop it, Karry."

I felt a sting. He sided with her. Right to my face. Seriously?

"Are you for real, Nate? You cheated on me with my best friend, and you're standing there defending her? Is this some kind of joke?"

My voice pitched. People were watching the drama unfold and whispering. But I didn't care.

I tried to charge at Ellie again, but Nathan held me back. Before I thought about it, I slapped him hard across his face.

Ellie immediately sprang to her feet, holding Nathan as if I was the villain. Her face snapped at mine.

Ellie jumped up to defend him, her eyes blazing. "What's wrong with you, Karry?! He said ask him! He literally said that in clear English! Are you deaf?"

"Really?" I hissed,

"Everyone's watching," she muttered. "Can't you take this somewhere else?"

She didn't look like the Ellie I knew... No, she wasn't even talking like Ellie. I am probably going crazy right now. As if I couldn't contain the demon anymore... Something snapped inside of me.

"You goddamn B*TCH," I mumbled before charging at her.

My fingers yanked her hair and slammed her right to the d*mn ground.

Nathan tried to pull me off, but I didn't let go. When he finally did, Ellie was already limp on the floor, un-moving.

My heart leaped from my chest as blood trickled from her nose.

And then... As if the universe wanted to make this worse, Tyla walked in.

She gasped, scrambled for her phone from her purse, and flicked on her camera, with a smirk on her face.

"Oh, Karima! This is so going viral. Say cheese to the camera."