We both turn toward a commotion at the end of the hall, and she misses my quick step away. It’s not safe standing next to a viper—never has been, never will be. Anger and self-loathing mix in my stomach. I either believe her or I trust my gut.
But what happens if they’re telling me the same thing?
Caleb strides toward me, ignoring the teacher who’s following him. I expect him to go for Amelie. After all, they’re dating. Maybe he’ll shove her up against the lockers and kiss her right in front of me, just to drive the knife in deeper.
He touched me. He’s done wicked things to my body. To my mind.
And yet, he’s not mine.
He didn’t fight for you. Remember that.
I watch Amelie as he gets closer. She doesn’t look afraid… just resigned.
And then he puts his arm around my waist and pulls me along with him. I squeak, suddenly moving, but he just snarls under his breath.
I cast a glance behind me. Amelie leans on the lockers, her head tipped back.
Then it’s too late. We’re out the side door, heading too fast toward the cars. He unlocks his and yanks the door open, shoving me inside. I start to scramble out—this is kidnapping—but he blocks my way and leans in.
Ooh, he’s furious.
“Stay.”
I roll my eyes but fold myself back in the car. He slams the door and circles it as another teacher comes out, the principal behind her.
“She’s not feeling well,” he calls. “I’m taking her home.”
The principal has a blank expression. I get the urge to leap out of the car, but it’s too late: he climbs in and locks us in, and in a matter of seconds we’re flying out of the parking lot.
We stay silent. His anger takes up most of the oxygen, but the longer it remains, the madder I get.
He finally turns off the road at an overlook, and I leap out. He follows me, watching like a lion waiting to fucking pounce. I have electricity in my veins, energy that has to come out.
“Not cool.” I rub my arms.
“Not cool?” He scowls at me. “What the fuck, Margo?”
I stare at him. “What the fuck? Like I’m supposed to just sit on the sidelines and watch you date my ex-friend? I have a life.”
“Not with fucking Theo, you don’t.” He stops short, pacing in front of me. “I can’t do this. I can’t—”
“Oh, fuck you, Caleb.” Can’t do it. He’s getting on my ever-loving last nerve. I kick at the ground, gravel scattering ahead of me. “Can’t do what?”
He stalks toward me. “How did you crawl under my skin so easily?”
I back away, but he keeps coming.
“I’ll kill whoever touches you. I don’t give a flying fuck if they’re a friend, because all that matters is me. My touch. My words.”
I shove him away from me, my temper flaring. The jerk barely moves.
“That’s nice, Caleb. Be the big, bad control freak while you kiss your girlfriend a-and cheat on her!” I shriek. I’m so glad we’re alone, because I can’t lower my voice. “I’m not a puppet whose strings you can jerk around.”
His face is dark. “I don’t want to pull your strings, love. I want to cut them.”
He goes back to the car, the conversation apparently over. The slight fear of him leaving me here, like he left me at his house, gnaws at me. I get in the car before he can bark at me, and we’re once again entombed in silence.
Finally, I glance over at him. “You can’t just…” I stop, frustrated with myself. With him. What is he trying to do, isolate me?
Yes, that’s probably exactly what he wants.
“I’m not an island that you can fortify,” I murmur. “I’m a person.”
He glowers at me. “You might think so, love, but you’re mine. Stop fucking testing me.”
I don’t have anything to say to that.
Stop fucking testing me. Sure—as soon as he loses the girlfriend. Eh, even then… maybe not. Still, he might throw me out of the car if I argue, and weariness tugs at my bones. He drives me back to school, parking and escorting me to my class like a hulking bodyguard.
I slip into the classroom and into my seat, and no one says a damn word.
17
After school on Friday, my phone buzzes.
Caleb: Come to the game with me.
I grimace. No way. I’d get crucified. It would be worse than the time he carried me out of the party. At least then, people were able to wave it off as a one-time thing.
I’ve been ignoring him. He’s been ignoring Amelie. It’s only been two days, but…
Rumors have been swirling that she’s been duped—and dumped. She sulks behind a wall of cheerleaders, who all send hateful glares in my direction. They’ve extended the same courtesy to Riley, even though Riley walks around like a shadow half of the time.
The girl’s got some serious talent staying under the radar, that’s for sure.
And Caleb? Theo? They’ve all been acting like nothing is wrong. Theo sends an occasional wink my way, and Caleb snarls at him under his breath.
He’s worse than a feral dog.
Caleb: Answer me.
Caleb: I know you’re reading this. You won’t like the alternative.
Me: You’re with Amelie.
I think. Honestly, maybe he did dump her.
Caleb: That didn’t stop us the other night.
He has no boundaries.
Did I make him that way?
I bite my lip as I type out a reply. Sure, this could absolutely backfire on me. He could become worse than he already is. How, I don’t know, but I’m sure he would think of something.
He’s managed to get under my skin, and as much as I try to scrub him free, he isn’t leaving. Hell, I don’t think he ever left.
And he accused me of the same thing.
Me: I’ll go with you if I can see my old home.
There’s a long pause. My heart is pounding, so loud it’s the only thing I can hear. I’m surprised at my body’s violent reaction. My stomach twists, cramping, and I jump up. I think I’m going to be sick. I run to the bathroom and lean over the toilet, closing my eyes. I puke, and my whole body lurches. I gag, spitting, and wipe my mouth.
Full of shame, I brush my teeth and creep back to my room. I take a deep breath before I check my phone. He replied just a minute ago.
Caleb: Deal.
Caleb: Get ready. I’ll be there in ten minutes.
I wince, then run down the stairs. I slide into the kitchen, where Lenora is making dinner. “Um, is it okay if I go to the football game?”
She glances up at me. “Are you going in your uniform?”
I glance down at my skirt and white shirt. Oops. “No, I didn’t have time to change yet…”
“Are you going with Riley?”
I’ve been in a bad mood for almost a week and a half, and Caleb has been nowhere to be found. I’d probably leap to the same conclusion.
The doorbell rings, and I curse under my breath.
“I got it,” Robert calls. A minute later, he says, “Ah, Caleb. Good to see you.”
Lenora raises her eyebrows at me.
I shrug, helpless. Caleb comes into the kitchen behind Robert.
“Found your friend,” Robert says to me. “Were you expecting him?”
“No,” I say, at the same time that Caleb answers, “Yes.”