Read Online Real Ugly by C. M. Stunich - Free Book Online

she has no idea how much worse this is. It's a scar that'll never heal, but one that I thought would at least scab over. Thanks a lot, Turner. You're ripping it off, piece by piece.
    “I need to stop at a store,” I say, and America's soft expression hardens.
    “No problem, lemme just stop the caravan and tell all five bands and their staff to wait while you run in for some tampons.” I flip her off and roll my eyes as I grab a plate and slap some food onto it. I'm not hungry and my stomach feels like it's full of lead, but I'm going to go through the motions, damn it.
    “Fuck you,” I tell her as I scoot in beside Hayden and try not to touch her skin. You never know where it's been. “You know what I meant. When we get to Phoenix, I need cigs. Jesus Christ, who put a stick up your ass this morning?”
    “You did,” Hayden says, leaning her elbows on the table and resting her cheek against her hands. She stares at me with her blue eyes and smiles an evil smile that makes my already aching belly feel like it's being pulled in two directions. God, I might throw up. “Turner's been calling all night and all day.” Hayden nods her chin at the counter, and I look up to see my phone resting there next to America's. Oops. Guess I forgot to drag it in my cave with me.
    “So?”
    “So, you know how I feel about him,” America says as she switches off the stove and dumps whatever it is she's cooking onto a plate. “And I don't want Amatory Riot too closely associated with Indecency. It's only a matter of time before somebody dies or fucks up, and they'll be screwed. We don't need to be attached to a sinking ship.” She punches the faucet on hard and starts to scrub, splattering her fancy suit with soap bubbles and droplets of dirty water.
    “I had no idea you two were so into each other,” Hayden continues, doing her damnedest to take my bad mood and bring it up to a whole new level. “Let's just hope he's better in bed than I remember.” Her smile remains stuck to her lips as she drags a bite of food up to her mouth and chews it slowly, like a fucking cow. My fingers clench around my fork, but I manage to resist the urge to stab her in the thigh with it.
    “Interesting,” I say, letting a smirk twitch on my lips. “That you remember fucking him at all. Glad you got your memory back though. Now you can owe me and Blair one for cleaning up your vomit and refraining from posting pictures of your puke covered ass online.”
    Hayden frowns, but before she can say anything else, Dax is sliding a box of cigarettes across the table at me.
    “I know they're not your favorite, but it's better than nothing, right?” I clamp my hand over the carton and drag it back, feeling Hayden's eyes boring into my cheek. Good. Let her think that Dax and I have something going on. I think he's the only guy she's ever truly had feelings for. Hmm. Maybe I should start dating him just to fuck with her? I consider it for a moment. Anything that hurts Hayden makes me happy. Call me cold, but it's true. Misery loves company.
    I light up and start smoking.
    Dax watches me with gray eyes and then slides a cig of his own into his mouth. Soon, the whole table is lit up, even Hayden. Hey, you know what they say – the band that smokes together, stays together. It's a scientific fact that cigarette smoking is a bonding exercise. Look it up.
    “You really into that stupid fuck?” Wren asks, grinning at me and nibbling on the end of his cigarette like it's a stick of gum. A pair of black studs wink at me from between his brows, bouncing light across the ceiling. I doubt he even really cares about the answer to that question. More than likely, he's just trying to stir shit up. That's Wren for ya.
    “I don't even know him,” I admit, figuring the truth is better than any lie. “I slapped him in the face, so he's into me now. I think he just wants his balls back.”
    Wren and Kash laugh, but Dax narrows his eyes, like he can smell a secret hidden