There’s no more air in my lungs.
She grabs my shoulder, and suddenly I’m sitting on the ground.
“Breathe,” she says, rubbing my back. “It’s okay. It’s not even…”
“I can’t,” I choke out. “I can’t do this. I can’t go in there.”
How could Unknown do this to me? Especially since I did nothing to them. Nothing. And with a single email, my life just got ten times worse.
“Given the circumstances, I think they’d understand if we skipped… oh no.”
I lift my head.
Caleb storms toward us. His face is impossibly angry.
He doesn’t stop until he’s right in front of us. He pulls me to my feet by my wrists, although I’m not sure I can stay standing. My knees wobble.
“She’s hyperventilating,” Riley says.
He touches my cheek.
I can’t stop gasping. Something heavy has planted itself on my chest. I grab at his shirt, my eyes wide.
“Panic attack,” Riley says. “Honestly, I don’t even blame her. But it’s going to be okay, Margo. It’s just a picture.”
“Give us a minute,” Caleb growls, not tearing his attention away from my face.
I feel like a damn fish gaping for air.
“Margo.”
I shake my head. “I can’t—”
He slams his lips to mine, cutting off my words. My body automatically relaxes into him. His tongue forces my lips apart, taking ownership of my mouth.
I shudder against him, finally sucking in a deep breath through my nose. Then another. He’s not kissing me—he’s resuscitating me.
He finally takes a step back, and his eyes search mine.
He’s still holding my wrists.
“Wow,” Riley mutters, a few feet away. “That was hot.”
“I’ll find out who sent it,” he says. A mask slips over his features.
“Mr. Asher!” The principal comes toward us. “Mr. Asher you are suspended!”
He drops my wrists and faces her. “I know.”
“So what on earth are you doing here?”
He shrugs, keeping me mostly behind him. Maybe he thinks she’ll turn her wrath on me, next. Or maybe…
Oh my god. Did she get the picture, too?
“Don’t worry, I’m on my way out,” he says. “See you Wednesday.”
She sniffs, turning on her heel and marching into the school.
Caleb turns to me, tapping under my chin until I meet his gaze. “You’ll be fine. Ignore them.”
I nod. “Right.”
“I’ll see you later.”
He heads to his car, and I slowly rotate toward Riley.
“That bodes well,” she says.
“Why is he suspended?”
She heaves a sigh, linking her arm with mine. The bell rings, which means we’ve successfully avoided the courtyard.
We walk in, and she says in a low voice, “Ian’s parents complained. Threatened to sue if they didn’t do something to curb Caleb’s reaction.”
“He’s been getting in a lot of fights,” I mumble. “Did Ian—”
“He’s around here somewhere,” Riley pulls me closer.
All eyes are on me.
I try to do what Caleb says—to ignore them—but it’s hard when the hallway gets quiet again. Riley stays with me until we get to my homeroom, and she throws me a sympathetic look.
“I’ll be okay,” I tell her.
She nods once.
I slide into my seat and keep my head down.
Someone kicks my bookbag as they pass, the contents scattering across the floor.
A cheerleader stops, one foot hovering over my fallen phone. She looks around, then laughs. “I expected more condoms, slut. Opening your legs to anyone who gets you drunk at a party.”
I shake my head. “That’s not—”
“Why else would Caleb go for you? An easy target.”
My cheeks burn.
She scoffs, using her toe to send my phone skidding across the tile. Away from me. “Oops.”
It continues like that throughout the day, only growing in intensity. I try to focus on the good: Caleb will be back on Wednesday, and I’ll get to see Claire on Friday. Although, I need to figure out how I’m going to get to the mall… I’ll have to both escape Caleb’s clutches and get out of school for a few periods.
Should be interesting.
When I walk into my last class of the day, I’m defeated. Someone spilled chocolate milk on me after lunch, and my shirt smells sickly sweet. It sticks to my skin.
Robert takes one glance at me and motions me aside.
The teachers haven’t been acting any differently, which makes me believe it was just sent to the students. How that miracle happened, I’ll never know.
“Are you okay?” He leans down, careful not to touch me.
We’ve kept our school relationship professional. Although, I know if we were home, he’d be tempted to hug me. He was gruff this morning, but now only concern radiates off his body.
“I’m fine,” I say.
“You seem…”
I sigh. “It’s been a long day.”
He squints at me. “Are you being bullied?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
I wonder what would happen to a rat. The tormenting would increase, I’d imagine.
The cheerleaders were the driving force today. Amelie and Savannah watched while their minions pinched me, ruined my things. My locker had been filled with mud. The back of my arms are bruised from fingers biting my flesh.
I’ve never been so tense.
And it’s probably because Amelie and Savannah both want Caleb—and here’s the proof that he wants me.
He’s not even here to stop it. Won’t be until Wednesday.
“Okay, take your seat.” He does reach out now, putting his hand on my shoulder for a brief moment.
I manage to smile at him. I tuck myself away in a corner for the rest of class, letting my mind wander. I thought I saw someone familiar at the party. But I still can’t put my finger on who it was. Maybe they’re the culprit.
Or it could be… literally anyone who went to the party.
I need to figure out who Unknown is, and what their endgame is. If I can uncover their motive, maybe I can stop them or tell someone who can help me.
The bell rings, shattering my thoughts. Chairs scrape back, and my classmates perform a mass exodus.
I stay where I am, wondering if I can just wait everyone out.
Robert starts picking up, casting me a glance or two before setting down the canvases and approaching. “Something is wrong.”
“It was just a tough day.”
He sits on the stool next to me. The one Caleb usually takes. “Did something happen at the party?”
I flinch. “No. It’s fine. Please. I’ve got this.”
He exhales. “It hurts to see you like this, Margo. I just… if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thanks, Robert.”
He packs up his bag, and we head toward his car.
Unsurprisingly, Caleb is waiting for us.
The whole school emptied out fast. Besides cars belonging to students staying late for sports, the parking lot is deserted. He rises from where he was leaning against his car, parked next to Robert’s, and shoots us a smile.