“It belongs to me now.” His expression is grim.
“What?” Okay, he’s really making no sense. “It’s mine, Crew. It belongs to my family. My father gave me that ring.”
“And I’m taking it. Because I took you.” He glances down, sliding his finger through the ring, though it barely fits. “This is mine, just like you are.”
I blink at him, startled by his declaration. The tiniest bit thrilled by it too. “Crew…”
“Don’t argue with me, Birdy. You’re mine.” He kisses me fiercely. “You don’t belong to him anymore.”
The him he’s referring to is my father.
Crew slips his fingers beneath my chin, his thumb rubbing. “You belong to me,” he whispers.
After we kiss for far too long in the darkened classroom, we slip back into the hall, me leaving the room first and Crew waiting a few minutes before he followed after me. I’m already in English by the time he appears, his smile smug as he struts in and slips into the desk directly behind mine.
Fig is nowhere to be found, which is extremely unusual.
Maybe he finally got in trouble and that’s why he isn’t here.
I turn in my seat to talk to Crew. “Did you turn in your paper by midnight?”
It was due online by the end of the day yesterday.
“Yep.” He nods. “I even wrote it last night.”
“Crew!” I can’t help but chastise him for waiting so long.
He shrugs. “At least it’s done.”
“Are you ready for the final?” His casual attitude about grades and assignments is mind-blowing to me, especially because of how well he does.
“Do you think we’re actually going to have one?” He nods his head toward Fig’s empty desk.
“I don’t know. Even if he’s not here, I’d think they would still give us the final.”
“Maybe.” He shrugs again, like it’s no big deal.
I want to ask him about the possible arrest. What his suspicions might be on where Fig is. But I don’t want to say anything he told me in private that someone else might hear, so I keep my mouth shut.
It’s easier that way.
Mr. Figueroa finally shows up right as the final bell rings, seemingly frazzled. He drops his book bag on top of his desk, scanning the room, his gaze settling on me for a beat too long.
Then I realize he’s actually looking at Crew sitting directly behind me.
Fig clears his throat. “Sorry I’m late. Give me a few and then we’ll start the final.”
The class erupts in whispered conversation, and I can feel a prickle between my shoulder blades. Crew is watching me.
I slowly turn toward him, once again, the weight of someone else’s stare heavy upon me. I barely flicker my gaze in his direction, correct in my assumption.
Fig is watching us, his lip curled into a faint sneer. He glances down at his desk when I catch him, but it’s too late. I saw the disgust on his face. He really can’t stand the idea of me with Crew.
“He doesn’t like seeing me talk to you,” I whisper.
“Well, that’s too fucking bad.” Crew puts a possessive hand on my arm, claiming me in front of Fig.
“Crew…”
“No, don’t tell me to stop. And don’t make excuses for him either.” Crew lowers his voice, his intense gaze meeting mine. “If we’re lucky, his ass is about to get arrested. Maybe even today. I thought they were going to do it over the weekend. He needs to know he can’t come around you anymore. He even looks in your direction and I don’t like it? I’m kicking his ass.”
I’m gaping at him, shocked by the words he’s saying. “Are you serious?”
“I protect what’s mine,” he says through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with anger.
Everything inside me melts at the way he said that. The look on his face, how he’s touching me. The fact that he’s wearing my ring around his neck. His behavior is so archaic and sexist, yet a part of me loves it.
That he believes I belong to him.
There’s a rapid-fire knock on the closed classroom door, and just as Figueroa stands to answer it, Headmaster Matthews strides inside, his gaze frantic when he scans the classroom before he says, “We need you in the office, Mr. Figueroa. Right away.”
Fig stands, swallowing visibly. I pull away from Crew’s grip, facing the front of the classroom, my gaze going to the empty seat beside me.
Maggie isn’t in class. That’s probably a good thing.