Hate Me (Worthy Of Love series, #1) Read Free Page B

me you guys have known each other forever ?'
    I cautiously sat at their table. 'It's not a big deal.'
    Jennifer started acting strange. She held my hand. 'Yes, it is. We were best friends. And then you suddenly dropped out of school and nobody heard from you. Where did you go Mandy?'
    I flinched at the use of my childhood nickname. Jack's sister Lilly had called me that. And so had Jennifer. But that was a long time ago and things were different now.
    Jennifer pressed on. ' Did something happen?'
    She had me squirming in my seat and she knew it. I could tell Scott and Matt were very interested to hear what I had to say. I mumbled a feeble excuse under my breath about being in hospital, which wasn't exactly a lie. They didn't need to know it was not your average run of the mill hospital.
    'We'll see you in a bit,' Scott said, and Matt said his goodbye too.
    As soon as Scott and Matt were out of ear shot, Jenifer dropped the act.
'Don't think you can just start a new life,' she hissed. 'This city may have forgotten what you and your father did. I haven't forgotten. If you think I gave you a hard time, think again. I won't just chase you out of the school this time, I'll chase you out of the city.'
    I realised she meant it. Jennifer was deluded. Who did she think she was? Some kind of vigilante? I tried to appeal to her better nature. 'We were once friends,' I said. 'Lilly was my friend too.'
    Jennifer scoffed. 'Some friend you are. If all your friends end up that way, I'd hate to be one.'
    'Jen,' I said, using my childhood nickname for her.
    That made it worse. Jennifer glared at me. 'I am not Jen,' she said harshly. 'My name is Jennifer.'
    I was startled by the viciousness in her voice. I understood why she had been cruel to me years ago, and back then without realising it, I'd welcomed it. Now I wanted to start over and be a new person. I hadn't forgiven myself and I probably never would. The guilt of Lilly's death tormented during the day, but it was far worse at night. I didn't need Jennifer's hatred. Two people were enough. Jack and myself. My nightmares since that eventful day had never stopped, not even for a single night. She didn't know that though, and I doubted she'd care.
    Jennifer left me and ran to catch up with Scott and Matt. She already had her claws in them. Jennifer stood in between them and put her arm on each. She glanced back one last time and smiled in triumph. I knew then that Scott and Matt were lost to me forever. I sighed and picked up my homemade sandwich, not really tasting anything. What was the point in trying to make friends if Jennifer turned everyone against me?
    I threw my sandwich in the bin harder than was necessary. I didn't have any classes for the rest of the day as they were cancelled because the professor was ill. I didn't have anywhere to go except the gym on campus. I made a stop to my dorm room to change into suitable clothing. I made sure my shirts were long sleeved. I left just as Rene came in with a guy I hadn't seen before. I smiled at her and she gave me a thumbs up behind the guy's back. I snatched the keys off the window sill and then had second thoughts. It was better to knock. That way I could be rest assured I wouldn't accidentally walk in on anything. I loved Rene, but I had no desire to see her without her clothes on.

 
    ~
    The gym was opposite the cafe. It could have been an accident, or it could have been a strategic move on their part. I was always hungry after a good work out. I entered with my free membership card. It was warm inside the gym. I felt hot and stuffy within moments. I walked along the rows of gym equipments and stepped on a vacant treadmill. I adjusted the speed before I started. I ran on the treadmill until I was numb from everything. If I ran, I didn't have to think. I faced ahead and began running slowly at first, and then picked up speed as I went along. My legs ached, but I continued forcing one leg in front of the other. To my utter