CHAPTER 60: FOREVER A MEAN GIRL

Catherine’s POV

I got to the library and spotted Tessa.

For a moment, I almost couldn’t believe it. She was sitting by the far window, her head bent over a notebook.

A genuine smile broke across my face before I even realized it. I’d missed her energy, her sarcasm, and her dirty talk. Maybe now that I was closer to Sasha’s group, she’d stopped avoiding me and things could go back to normal.

With excitement bubbling in my chest, I made my way to her table.

"Hey," I said softly, placing my notebook on the edge of her desk. "Nice to find you here."

She didn’t look up, her gaze didn’t break from her book to even acknowledge I hadn’t spoken at all.

I waited in hesitation. Maybe she didn’t hear me.

"Um... it’s been a while," I tried again, my voice a little more unsure this time. "Saw you and came to say hi."

She remained silent.

She flipped the next page of her book, calmly and deliberately, and I felt a small wave of embarrassment crawl up my neck.

"Okay," I breathed, forcing a chuckle. "So you’re still ignoring me?"

No answer.

I frowned. "Tessa, seriously, what’s wrong with you?"

She finally paused her eyes, even though she avoided looking into my eyes. "Nothing," she said quietly.

"Then why are you acting like I have some kind of disease?" I asked, irritation leaking into my voice. "I just came to say hi, that’s all."

Her hand froze over the page, and for a second, it felt like she wanted to explain it all to me but then she sighed, closed her notebook, and started stacking her books.

"Wait- where are you going?" I asked, staring at her with my brows knotted together.

"I have somewhere to be."

"Tessa," I said, stepping in front of her, blocking the path between the chairs. "If this is about Sasha, you don’t have to worry because we are friends now...."

"I know," she interrupted flatly, finally meeting my gaze. "Congratulations on being friends with her."

I blinked, surprised. Her voice sounded like she was mad at me, her last sentence was like she hated the fact that I became friends with Sasha. Why?

But I shoved the thoughts aside.

"Yeah... so you don’t have to ignore me anymore. See? We’re all on the same side now."

Her jaw tightened. She shoved the last of her things into her bag and stood up. "Being friends with Sasha doesn’t mean you and I can be friends."

That stung more than I expected.

"What? What does that even mean?"

She didn’t answer, just swung her bag over her shoulder and walked toward the exit. For a second, I stood frozen, not sure what to do, then I grabbed my books and ran after her.

"Tessa, wait!" I called out as we stepped into the hallway. "You can’t just walk away like that!"

She ignored me again, her pace quickening. My patience snapped. I reached forward and caught her wrist.

"Stop," I said firmly. "Can you please just tell me what is going on?"

Her eyes flashed with coldness. "Mothing is wrong. Do not meddle in my life," she said, pulling her hand away.

"What?"

Before she could answer, Sasha rounded the corner and her body went still at first.

She was scrolling through her phone, barely looking where she was going. Tessa tried to step aside, but her shoulder brushed Sasha’s.

"Oh, sorry," Tessa apologized quickly.

Sasha’s head snapped up, and her lips curled. "Keep your apology to yourself, blind bat."

The words she used on Tessa were casual and cruel.

My stomach dropped. "Why did you call her a blind bat?" I asked, turning to her. "Why are you talking to her like that?"

Sasha blinked, feigning confusion. "Excuse me?"

"She apologized," my voice was now rising. "There’s no need to be rude."

Sasha looked at me with that amused, condescending smile she wore so well. "Catherine, please. Don’t tell me you’re defending her."

"I’m asking why you’re being mean."

Her smile widened. "Because she’s not on my level."

"What?" I scoffed. "She’s your friend."

Sasha actually laughed humorlessly. "Sweetheart, you really don’t get it, do you? Tessa being my friend doesn’t mean she has the same privileges as you and me."

I stared at her, disbelief tightening in my chest. "Privileges?"

"Yes, privileges," she said, tossing her hair. "There’s a difference between people like us and people like her."

I shook my head slowly. "You can’t be serious right now."

Tessa stood silently beside me, her face turning pale. She took a step back, like she wanted to vanish into the wall.

"Tessa," I said softly, holding her hand. "Don’t listen to her. She’s not—"

"Leave me alone, Catherine!" Tessa suddenly shouted, her voice cracking with frustration.

The outburst shocked both of us. My mouth fell open, and before I could respond, Sasha’s voice sliced in cold.

"How dare you yell at her?" her tone was full of mock outrage.

Tessa froze, looking between us. "I—"

"Give me your bag," Sasha said, stretching her hand out.

Tessa hesitated, uncertain of what Sasha wanted to do with her bag.

"I said, give me your bag."

Tessa slowly handed them over. Without another word, Sasha took it, pushed the zip open and immediately poured the contents of the bag to the floor.

A dumbfounded me stared in horror.

"Sasha!" I yelled, stepping forward. "What was that for?!"

She raised an eyebrow, looking calm. "What? She yelled at you. I was just putting her in her place."

"She doesn’t need to be put anywhere!" I snapped. "And I don’t remember asking you to fight my battles for me!"

Her fake smile faltered, just for a second. "Catherine, she needs to be disciplined," she said sweetly. "I am only looking out for you and making sure no one messes with you."

"Oh, please," I said bitterly. "You disrespect everyone all the time, and no one’s ever tried to ’discipline’ you."

Her smile froze.

I crouched down and started gathering Tessa’s things. "Come on," I said quietly, handing them to her. "Let me walk you wherever you’re going."

But Tessa shook her head, stepping back. "Don’t," she whispered. "Just... don’t."

Then she turned and walked away, hugging her books tightly to her chest.

I stood there, watching her go. When I looked back at Sasha, she was already scrolling through her phone like nothing had happened.

"What?" she asked lazily when she caught me staring.

I didn’t answer. I just shook my head, with nothing left to say.