The love of watching the city pass through her bus window and as she walked to work was now gone. Elle had felt like a mushy mess; her eyes were stained red, her hair was unkempt, and her clothes were mismatched. She had actually thanked God for her uniform this weekend.
Elle went through varied emotions. She went from happy that it was over so soon between them to sadness it was over and all the way to straight-up ax murderer that he had done this to her, and everything else in between.
Elle promised herself she was going to get over him by Monday. There is no way Nero is seeing me like this.
Elle was determined Nero wasn’t going to think he had gotten the best of her. She was going to move on, and he was going to see it Monday morning.
When Monday morning rolled around and Elle’s alarm clock went off, she thought of a new way to destroy it when school was finally over. She woke up groggy. More like I feel like shit.
Turning on the bathroom light, she saw the horror in the mirror. She didn’t exactly know if this was even fixable. She wished Chloe was there to help. Wait, Chloe can help.
Elle ran back to her bedroom and hit Chloe’s number. It rang several times. Elle knew it was pretty early and thought she should hang up, but then it was answered.
“Hello?”
Chloe sounded wide awake to her. She knew she’d hardly slept, but damn it was early.
“Chloe, I need your help. I look like shit.”
Chloe’s voice sounded almost cheerful. “Be right there. Bye.”
Chloe was definitely the one for the job. She had to look like a million dollars a lot of the time, due to her dad’s work. She had to go to many occasions with her parents and look like the part of the perfect, beautiful daughter. Unfortunately, with her scars, her father made sure she looked like two million dollars, so it would distract from the slashes down her face.
Elle knew if any other girl had Chloe’s markings, they wouldn’t pull it off, but since Chloe was beyond gorgeous naturally, she made them look beautiful. Chloe can pull anything off.
Elle brushed her teeth and washed her face before Chloe got there. When she did arrive, she immediately got to work. Elle kept her hands locked in her lap and didn’t move while Chloe was working on her. She thought Chloe would wear gloves before she even started working. She didn’t, and Chloe made sure to use all the tools.
“Okay, what are you going to wear?” Chloe asked as she put away her hair tools.
Elle shrugged. “I don’t know. Just a t-shirt and jeans, I guess.”
“I did not do your makeup and fix your matted hair for a t-shirt and jeans.” Chloe walked into Elle’s closet and came out. “Where is the green sweater?”
Elle looked at the floor. “I don’t want to wear that.”
“Why not?” Chloe asked, sitting on her bed.
Elle knew it was stupid, but the only reason she had liked it instantly was because it had reminded her of Nero’s eyes; as such, she didn’t want to wear it. Elle didn’t want to tell Chloe that, though; therefore, she simply shrugged.
“Elle, do you want to make him regret ever cheating on you and shove it in his freaking face?”
Elle thought for a second. Yes, I fucking do.
Elle got up and went into her closet, shutting the door. She dressed in the small space, putting on her black leggings and getting the sweater down from the top shelf. Then she put on some high, black boots.
She came out and Chloe’s mouth went into a smile. “He is going to cry himself to sleep tonight.”
*
Nero leaned up against his car in the student parking lot. Amo and Vincent had joined him a few minutes earlier. His car was just a few feet away from Chloe’s parking spot. Nero knew he and his crew were still going to have to provide some protection; if anyone got wind of him and Elle breaking up, she would be done for.
Nero rubbed his eyes. He hadn’t gotten much sleep the past few nights. He wanted to believe it was going to be easy winning her back, but honestly, Nero had no idea where to start. He had no women expertise outside of the bedroom.
He had spent the weekend following Elle to and from work, again. Moreover, Nero found it even more miserable than the first time he had done it. Watching her so close and not talking to her was torture. Then not going into the diner while she worked was the worst kind of torture.
He had noticed she didn’t look like herself and was clearly in pain. He figured that was why he didn’t talk to her or pop up in the diner; he didn’t want to cause her more damage. She’s had enough of that.
“How are you, man?” Vincent asked, breaking through his thoughts.
“Fine,” Nero answered quickly, not wanting them to think he was torn up over a girl.
“And how’s she?” Amo asked.
“She looked pretty rough last night,” Nero confessed.
Vincent laughed. “You’re going to have to come up with something good, man. Thank God, I’m not you.”
“Yeah, I know. Listen, we need to be on them. I think Cassandra comes back today.” Nero knew he wasn’t going to be able to get too close without making up with Elle yet, but he needed to get as close as he could.