He could mess with me.
Aaron started following me to class, and then a week later, he blocked me against a wall, ever so casually, with his lacrosse player friends in tow. To everyone else, they probably looked like they stood there for a quick chat, but whenever I met Aaron’s eyes, I saw only hate.
The fourth time he cornered me, I was in the library, trying desperately to find a book on Renaissance Art. Secluded in the back, between two book cases, I picked out a red spine and was ready to hightail it to lunch. When I looked up, my exit had been obstructed by a six-foot guy with athletic muscles and hardened brows.
Hatred is an animal you feed, and I imagined that after four years, Aaron’s became plump and bloated. The seemingly nice guy who invited me to a party my freshman year of prep school had turned cold and mean. At least towards me.
His eyes were dark, and he stepped forward. My heart thudded against my chest as I stumbled back. He continued his stride and my back hit the wall.
“I have to get to lunch,” I said in a small voice. I didn’t know what he was going to do. He’d already laid a fist into Lo. （He got a week’s suspension and Lo got a Friday detention）， so I thought maybe he was preparing to hit me…or at least scare me.
Mission accomplished. I was terrified.
He came closer, not saying a word. I think that was the worst part, the unspeaking, unfeeling of it all.
He raised his arms, putting his hands on a Student Election poster beside my head, imprisoning me. His warm breath burned my neck, and it was then, at that moment, that I had the impulse. I wanted out. Away. Gone. I dipped down, small and quick enough to slip below his arm. I ran out of the library and then right out of school.
I didn’t want to tell Lo what had happened, but Aaron’s advances only became worse. One day when I was driving home, he tailed me with his lacrosse buddies. I drove straight to Lo’s and they sped off. I kept my mouth shut, but I spent most of the school day stuck to Lo’s side. No one harassed me when he was around.
I usually tried to skip when he skipped. But one abnormal day, I actually slept at my own house, and he didn’t tell me he was going to be late.
I tried to focus on the task at hand. Get your books. Go to class. Done. I tugged my World History book from the locker and the hardback spine tilted the mirror on the inside door.
And then I felt two hands on my waist.
I jumped: feet and heart. Then I spun around and Lo’s eyes were wide.
“Hey girlfriend,” he emphasized, seeing as how we were in our pretend relationship.
I wanted to smile, but I could barely catch my breath.
His face fell in a wave of concern, and he put his hands on my cheeks. “Heyheyhey,” he said quickly. “Take a breath, Lil.”
Tears pricked my eyes. I didn’t realize Aaron had unraveled me until that point. Game. Set. Match, I thought. He won.
But I had forgotten who my “fake” boyfriend was.
“Lil, what’s wrong?” His voice was heavy and serious.
I buried my head into his shirt and he held me there for a very long moment. We skipped class so I could tell him the truth, and it poured out of me like a flood.
“I’m going to fix this,” Lo said.
I believed it too. He called Aaron and threatened his college career if he didn’t stop harassing me. With the Hale name, Lo had plenty of contacts and one phone call from him or his father, and Aaron’s collegiate career would be over.
Aaron called his bluff. And then Lo called the college.
So Aaron Wells was reduced to his safety school, losing out the lacrosse stardom.
He stopped following me after that…
Well, until the Fizzle party pretty recently （where he tried to scare me again）。 And not soon after, we received those texts. Maybe only a couple months separating the two events.
Connor’s normal placid expression has been slightly overtaken by a wrinkled forehead and the hand that covers his mouth. I never thought I could shock Connor Cobalt—or that he’d let me see his surprise.
“In defense,” Lo says, “Aaron Wells and I have hated each other since ninth grade. That’s like an era of hate. None of the others are like that.”
“We can only hope,” Connor says.
“And our dad helped you tear up this kid’s future?” Ryke asks.
“What can I say,” Lo says with a bitter smile, “it’s how we bonded.”
{ 15 }
LOREN HALE
I couldn’t talk about Mason. Neither could Lily. I think that one was too fresh for us. I mentioned what happened in brief to Ryke over the phone one day—about the parking deck and a little bit about the past—so I told him to just fill in Connor and that was that.