Total pages in book: 238
Estimated words: 231781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1159(@200wpm)___ 927(@250wpm)___ 773(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1159(@200wpm)___ 927(@250wpm)___ 773(@300wpm)
What was he doing with her last night on that motorcycle? We might’ve bonded in ways most people never did, but I wasn’t an idiot, either. Damon screwed, abused, used, and there was no one and nothing on which he didn’t prey. I didn’t know what his interest in her was, but I was pretty sure it would hurt her.
“Get down!” someone shouted.
I looked away from Winter and over to Will, seeing Kincaid bark at him as he stood on the table. The music over the loudspeakers died, and everyone laughed as he smiled and jumped down from another table.
The cloud that had been sitting in my head the last twelve hours started to fade a little, and for a moment, I missed him.
Wouldn’t he love it if I made the grand gesture next? Snuck into his room tonight? Hung out at the pool every afternoon, waiting for him to show up?
Called him?
Erika Fane led Winter Ashby out of the lunchroom, both of them dumping their trays before they exited and Damon watching them. I tore my eyes away from Will, putting my earbuds back in and trying to eat.
I barely heard the music as I nibbled on my food, ignoring the eyes I felt on me and the sounds of laughter coming from his table.
The room started to clear, students getting ready to move on to their next class, but just then, the fire alarm screeched in my ears and commotion filled the lunchroom.
I pulled out my earbuds, the blaring cry and flashing lights from the alarms on the wall deafening. I winced, rising from my seat.
“Single file, everyone!” a teacher called, and I looked around, seeing Will and some friends already heading out the door.
What the hell? A fire?
He looked back at me, meeting my eyes as he walked, but I looked away and headed around the table.
Leaving my tray, I hurried to the line, a teacher leading us out while more trailed behind to make sure we had everyone. The hall crowded with students, everyone trying to get out of the building as teachers shouted for us to be calm and quiet.
“Do not run!” one told us.
While another said, “Get back here. You’re not going to the bathroom.”
We filed outside, students drifting to the far edge of the parking lot and waiting as the siren inside continued to pierce the air over and over again.
I looked around, seeing Will sit on the bricks lining the tree and flower bed, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared up at me.
Victoria Radcliffe and Maisie Vos sat at each side, Tori draping an arm over his shoulder, showing off her hundred-dollar cuticles as she chatted to someone else.
Will just sat there, and I shifted on my feet, turning my back on him as I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Where’s Damon Torrance?” I heard someone ask.
I popped my head up, seeing the dean walk through the crowd.
“He was just in the cafeteria. Anyone see where he went?”
I scanned the crowd, looking for two heads of blonde hair and finally spotting Erika, alone and frantically talking to a teacher.
“Winter Ashby’s missing, too,” I called out.
Kincaid looked over at me, then surveyed the crowd. Pursing his lips, he charged back toward the school.
“Why ruin the good time she’s no doubt having, Emory?”
I looked over my shoulder, seeing Maisie wearing a smirk.
Everyone in their little group was staring at me.
“She’s fourteen,” I said.
I mean, duh.
But she just snickered. “Why don’t you just go away?”
My gaze dropped to Will, heat spreading all over my body. He just sat there and stared at me, a self-satisfied smile in his eyes that he didn’t let out. He didn’t blink once.
Their disdain felt like a kick, and in over two years at this school, I’d never felt so far on the outside, because while I didn’t care how I looked in their eyes, I cared how I looked in his.
Twisting back around, I walked away, the cloud in my head thickening again until the pain of wanting him turned into an addiction to the pain of rejecting him.
It grew and fed me every day from that point on.
Destroying myself and everything I loved and wanted for myself became the only thing I had any control over.
I could ignore him in class. Pass him in the halls without a look. Act like he didn’t exist.
Pretend I was above it all and they were nothing.
I did it all.
Time passed, seasons changed, he left for college, and a year later, so did I.
What I didn’t know then was that the damage we would do to each other was only just beginning.
Will
Present
Micah dropped her to her feet, took her hands, and twirled her around before pulling her in and holding her close. They danced and laughed, and my chest swelled, feeling too much all of a sudden, my arms weighing a ton.