"You're a disappointment! I wish I never had you as a daughter. A filthy dyke is all you are. God should punish you when you die!"

I blink from my stupor as the sound of the bell alerts me back into reality. My eyes land on the worried sight of Jasmine before she exits the room. I gather my things and follow behind her. Luckily, she doesn't get too far away, allowing me to grab her. "Hey, can we talk?" I question, hoping she'd say yes.

"There's nothing to talk about Casey. I've told you what needed to be said on Monday and I meant everything."

My grip on her wrist loosens but not enough to let her walk away from me. "Jasmine you can't be upset because I don't like you. You knew my intentions the moment we started that relationship, not to mention Duke tells you every time I'm not a relationship person. You had warnings and red flags and you decided to ignore them, do not place the blame on me."

The brunette turns towards me. She scoffs and rolls her eyes before speaking up. "You say you're not a relationship person and that you would never like anyone but I'm not stupid. I see the way you look at her, I see that spark in your eyes when you so much as talk to her. Why her of all people? Why not me?"

I shake my head in confusion. "Jasmine what the hell are you talking about?"

"I know you like Ms. Howard" she spits. Her eyes trail behind me and I watch a flash of jealousy in her eyes. I glance back spotting a very shocked Kathryn Howard. She eyes me before clearing her throat and walking away. Fuck, I think she heard that.

"I don't like Ms. Howard. Just because I enjoy her company doesn't mean I have any romantic feelings for her."

Jasmine finally snatches herself from my grip. She doesn't say another word as she leaves me in the hallway. I sigh and rub my forehead before turning on my heel and heading towards the restroom.

This just wasn't my week.

The vibrations from my phone, gathers my attention from my reflection in the mirror. I reach in my back pocket and answer the phone immediately after noticing the caller ID. "Shouldn't you be in class?" I question with a small smile.

"I could say the same thing about you" my sister replies. I turn away from the mirror and lean onto the sink for support. I had a feeling I knew what she had called for. It was the one thing that's been on my mind since Monday. "Mom's coming to visit. She told me she sent you a package Monday."

"Yeah, I got it. Uh, is dad okay with this? With her coming here?"

"Hell no. But you know mom's stubborn, she doesn't take no for an answer. I guess you already knew this call was coming, huh?"

I nod my head, knowing she couldn't see. I had been waiting since Monday night to receive a call either from her or my dad. I guess you could say my mom and I don't have a perfect relationship. I stare at the white tile wall across from me. "Cassie, I don't want to see her" I say with a shaky breath.

"I know. Dad and I already spoke, he said you could come stay with him for a few days until she leaves. Or he could hire you a bodyguard, your pick."

I feel my eyes water as I think about encountering my mother. "You would think that now that I'm eighteen and live more than 500 miles away from her, she wouldn't have such a strong affect on me. Here I am freaking out in school because my mom is coming to visit... I'm such a pussy."

Cassandra doesn't speak for a few seconds. And soon those seconds turn into a minute. Silence settles in around me. I let out yet another shaky breath, when a familiar figure enters the restroom. Quickly I wipe my eyes and stand up straight. "Hey, I'll call you back later, I need to get home."

I don't listen to anything else as I hang up and shove my phone into my pocket. I keep my head down as I try to walk past the woman who had just entered the restroom.

She stops me, her hand laying carefully over my arm. "I don't want to overstep any boundaries but if you would like someone to talk to, I'm available."

I glance over to Kathryn. My heart skips a beat at the statement. The same one I used when she was having doubts with her boyfriend. I nod my head with a small smile before leaving the building.

- - - - -

I pace around my apartment. The thought of having to face my mother, scaring me shitless. The sound of knocking on my door startles me. I eye the door for several seconds until a reassuring voice is heard on the other side. "Can you open the damn door? I've got to pee" Edwin hisses.

I smile and shake my head as I approach it. I open the door, spotting both Cassandra and Edwin. I let them in, Edwin immediately pushing past us and into the restroom. "You didn't have to come" I say to my sister.

She shakes her head and eyes me, "I know that you are freaking out on the inside, no matter how much you you try to deny it. That's why Eddie and I are here, to get you out of your head. Go get dressed we're going out."

"It's a school night."

"Like that's ever stopped you before. Alice and Juliet are meeting us in a few so dress to impress."

I shake my head, I always forget that Cassie knows almost every woman I've slept with. I guess it's her job to know, being that she is my big sister. It's almost her responsibility to watch over me. I nod my head in defeat and do as told.

Minutes later, both Edwin and I are exiting my room. "You look like you're about to go fuck a billionaire" Cassie jokes.

We all exit my apartment just in time to spot Kathryn and her boyfriend. I frown at the sight of him. She was still with this douchebag? I roll my eyes and lock my door. The two head towards the elevator with us following behind. Cassandra nudges me, "Who's the hottie?"

"Her name's Kathryn, totally off limits."

Cassandra rolls her eyes, "I was talking about the guy she's with. They dating? I remember seeing him when I introduced you to Professor Evans. How long they been together?"

"About 5 years, he's a total douche though. You're totally out of his league."

She smirks as we all head towards the elevator. I stop her before we have to ride on a tin can together with Kathryn and her boyfriend for an awkward 30 seconds. "We'll catch the next one" I smile my eyes meeting Kathryn's. The woman eyes me for a few seconds before the elevator doors close, cutting our sight of each other.

Edwin snorts beside me as Cassie tries to hold back her laughter as well. "What's so funny?" I question in annoyance.

"It's rare to see you act that way" Cassandra chuckles. Edwin eyes me, "Very rare."

What the hell were they getting at. Once we get on the elevator, we head to Cassie's car. "Alice and Juliet say they'll meet us there."

"Where are we going to anyways? A club?" I question as I fix my leather jacket and rub my hands on the black jeans. "An art gala actually, change of scenery and hotter richer women and men."

Great.

- - - - -

I guess you can assume my irritation the moment we stepped into the Art Gala and my eyes spot an annoying man we weren't supposed to see for the rest of the night. And right alongside of him, a beauty whose beauty reached further than Aphrodite's.

I keep my distance as I approach my friends who stood in the corner of the huge room. "I hope you know, I plan on leaving with someone new tonight." I eye the blonde and brunette, I hadn't spoken to in a while. Juliet shrugs as she links arms with blonde, "And I hope you know, I'm taking her home tonight."

Alice smirks and nods, the two leave me. I let out a breath as I glance around the facility. Several eyes were on me as well, I guess you could say my friend's and I weren't exactly dressed for an Art Gallery. I grab a glass of champagne from one of the servers and I lean against a table.

"I wasn't expecting to see you here tonight. By the way you're dressed I was assuming your outing would've been at a club" Kathryn's smooth and silky voice bounces on my ear drums. I can't help but to smile as I stand and glance her way.

My eyes take in the sight before me. A beauty clad in a tight backless and shoulder less gown. Her hair curled and placed to the side, exposing her creamy neck. How didn't I notice this at the apartments? Her makeup was absolutely flawless.

"Never judge a book by it's cover. As a history teacher, Kathryn, I'm sure you would know that."

The woman smiles as she approaches me. The closer she gets the faster my heart speeds up. I swallow the lump in my throat as she stops on side of me. "You look beautiful tonight" I find myself uttering.

"I could say the same about you, but I believe you already knew that. You know with all the women staring you down."

I glance around my eyes meeting with several hungry and lustful gazes, a smile forms on my lips. "I'm nor interested in any of those women."

"Then, who are you interested in?"

Unintentionally my eyes land on her as words fail to form on my tongue. I bite down on my lips as I take in her appearance for the nth time tonight. Kathryn is undeniably beautiful. I guess she could feel my eyes on her because she turns her head, her pretty brown eyes meeting my own.

"I could tell you but that would make me less of a mystery."

Our conversation is cut short by the irritable sight of Thomas, her boyfriend. He eyes me with anger and jealousy. "Kathryn, come with me sweetie. There's someone I would love for you to meet."

I glance back over to the brunette and offer a small smile. I sip on my champagne as she walks away from me. My eyes follow her hips until I spot Thomas' hand covering her ass from my sight. I'm really starting to hate that dude.