My BFF Loved Him, I’ll Let Them Burn

Chapter 2

My past self had been shy and timid, too scared to stand out. I let opportunity after opportunity slip right through my fingers.

Four years of college, my grades barely scraped by. Almost didn't get my degree.

After graduation, I shot for the stars and applied to all these big-name companies. Got rejected by every single one.

Ended up settling for some tiny firm, making thirty-five hundred a month.

Meanwhile, Maya got knocked up by Miles more times than I could count. They broke up and made up like it was a hobby.

Whenever she got hurt, she'd call me and beg me to come pick her up.

Every time I tried to get through to her about Miles, it went in one ear and out the other.

One call from him saying sorry, and she'd come running back like a puppy.

Until that one night. I was heading home from work when I got a frantic call from Maya. Dropped everything and rushed over.

Soon as I walked through that door, bam. Something hit me right in the head. Then a knife buried itself in my gut. Blood everywhere.

Right before I blacked out, Miles spat out, "Finally. Been wanting to do this for ages. Always telling Maya to dump me, huh? Think you're slick?"

Maya stood there, hands over her mouth, squealing about how hot he looked.

Next thing I knew, I was floating above as a ghost.

Watched them cut me up. Watched them run me through a pressure cooker, a few pieces at a time.

Then down a storm drain that didn't have a bottom.

The universe was handing me a second run at this. I wasn't going to waste it.

I threw myself into clubs, signed up for every skills competition I could find. Spent every waking hour either in the practice room or the library. Time was never enough.

Meanwhile, Maya and Miles had made up again, and she was glued to her phone twenty-four seven, giggling like an i***t.

She'd replay one voice message from Miles like fifty times, and had the nerve to blast it out loud while everyone was trying to sleep.

"Baby, I miss you so much. Wanna meet up this weekend?"

His voice sounded like something was dying in his throat.

Then Maya would let out this squeal that made everybody in the room want to disappear.

Midterms were coming up fast and everybody was buried. The girl across from Maya banged on her bed frame.

Maya was already on edge, and that sharp noise sent her flying out of bed and across the room.

A loud smack, followed by a yelp.

"Maya, what the hell? Why'd you hit me?"

"You banged on my bed. What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're blasting some cringey dude's voice messages at midnight! I've been putting up with it for way too long!"

"Says you! You're all cringey as hell! You're just jealous I've got a boyfriend with such a sexy voice!"

They went at it. Hair pulling, face scratching, the whole deal.

Finally, the RA had to break it up.

"You two, the ones who didn't fight. Tell me who threw the first punch."

Me and my other roommate, Molly Shaw, stood there. The other two were against the wall, all banged up.

Maya's hair was a disaster, but she had this smug look on her face. Completely sure I'd take her side.

Molly shot me a quick side glance.

"Maya started it. She threw the first punch."

Everyone knew Maya and I were tight. That I always cleaned up her messes.

Maya leaned against the wall and let out a cold laugh.