She shrugs. “Last I heard, Amelie and Ian were going together. Not sure about Savannah.”
Ian Fletcher. He’s been keeping his distance, but I feel his stare like a hot coal against my skin. Why he’s taken such an interest is anyone’s guess.
“We need to pick out dresses,” she says.
We walk into the library. It’s remained our safe haven. So far, Caleb and Eli haven’t come searching for us. A few times Caleb has shot me questioning glances as I slipped into the class right after lunch. But he never asked, and I never mentioned it.
It’s been three days since Caleb and I went to New York City. He kept his distance on Sunday—letting me sort my emotions, I guess—and on Monday we were back to normal. As normal as we can be, anyway. And unsurprisingly, people have stopped making so many remarks. The picture drew attention at first, but they’ve all but forgotten it now.
“Lenora wants to go shopping this weekend,” I tell her. “Want to come?”
Riley grins at me. “Absolutely.”
The door to the library creaks open. We can’t see it from where we sit in the back, so both of us automatically slink down. Students aren’t supposed to be in here—let alone with food. It’s only because of Riley’s familial relationship with Amy that this is even possible.
A few times, we’ve had to hide in the stacks because the principal came in to speak with Amy. But those are rare days.
Caleb appears with Eli right behind him.
I groan. “There goes our safe haven,” I mumble to Riley.
Caleb looks down at me. “Are you hiding?”
“No.”
“We just like the quiet,” Riley says.
Eli grunts. “You’re another matter entirely.”
Yikes.
“Let’s go,” Caleb says.
I shake my head. “The last time we went with you, bad things happened.”
He raises his eyebrow. “And if you don’t come with me now, worse things will happen.”
I lean back and cross my arms. “No.”
He sighs, but I can tell he’s enjoying this. My stomach flips.
Caleb exchanges a glance with Eli, and then he’s leaning down, hauling me over his shoulder. I squeal as he rises. I’m upside down, my ass in the air.
“Oh my god.” Riley laughs.
“Are you going to come quietly?” Eli asks her.
“Yep,” she mutters, rising. She touches my arm. “Sorry!”
Caleb moves. I grunt, holding on to his shirt. His arms are banded around my thighs, keeping me in place. The four of us pass Amy’s office. She glances up, but quickly buries her head back in her book.
Traitor.
Caleb walks right into the cafeteria with me over his shoulder. My face gets hot, but I know begging won’t stop him. Things have to be done his way. Always.
Without Amelie and Savannah here, the cheerleader table is quiet. No one wants to step up and own the bullying or their hatred of me. Still, they all whisper when Caleb and I pass. Eli and Riley follow us, and the whispers double.
Caleb pats my ass, then lowers me back to my feet.
I glare up at his grinning face. “Not cool,” I mutter.
He shrugs. “I gave you a choice.”
“Not really.” I shake my head. “It’s not a choice if the end result is the same.”
His grin turns sly. “You could’ve walked here on your own two feet. Instead… I enjoyed the view.”
Theo and Liam are already at the table. Eli and Riley sit next to Liam, and I slide onto the bench next to Theo. Caleb comes over with two trays of food, setting one next to me. He shoots a glare at Theo, then sits on my other side.
Theo grins at me. “Thanks for bringing my girlfriend out of hiding, Asher.”
I snort and grab Caleb’s arm before he can do anything crazy—like punch his best friend. Again.
“Watch it, Alistair,” Caleb growls.
“Calm down,” I snap. “He was joking. Right, Theo?”
Theo appraises me with dark eyes. “Right.”
“See?” I turn to Caleb, triumphant.
Caleb’s face is still shuttered. He puts his hand on the back of my neck and leaves it there for the rest of lunch. The others joke around. Eli and Riley share a few looks and smiles. It’s weird being part of their table—at the center of it, really—but so separate. Is it Caleb’s doing or mine? I’ve never fit in. And I suspect, even though Caleb could charm a snake, he doesn’t try it on his friends.
They accept him as the monster he is. And me, I guess I’m just the possession he’s been trying to acquire. They ignore it, or they’re comfortable in it. Comfortable with their own demons, with the thrones they sit on. The golden boys of Emery-Rose Elite are cherished from afar… because no one wants to get close to them.
The bell rings, and Caleb takes his time getting up. His hand is still on my neck, holding me to him. I like the feel of his fingers on my skin. The way his short nails bite.
My heart beats faster.
I have to skip going to my locker to make it to class on time—not that he cares. He leaves me with a smirk and a brush of his lips on my temple.
The afternoon is quiet. I stop at my locker before Robert’s art class, which is on the opposite side of the school. I’m halfway there when the hallway empties out and the bell rings.
It’s silent for a beat. Two.
My heart pounds, and I quicken my steps. I wonder if Robert will give me detention for being late, or if he’ll let it slide this time.
I just got ungrounded, after all. Who knows how far he can be pushed? His patience. His kindness.
Someone slams into me from behind.
I go flying forward, falling to my hands and knees. My backpack slides away from me.
Hands yank me up, pushing me face-first into the lockers. The cold metal kisses my cheek.
“Wrong place, wrong time, Sheep.”
The hands turn me around, keeping me pinned.
Ian Fletcher’s face is wild with excitement. He’s been waiting for this moment—I can tell. A moment where I’m alone, unguarded.
Caleb would be in Robert’s class by now. How long would he wait before coming to find me?
“What do you—”
My words are cut off when he pulls me forward and shoves me back again. My head cracks against the locker. I must’ve bit my tongue, because blood fills my mouth.
“No talking,” he whispers. “You and me are going for a little walk.”
His fingers dig into my arm. He drags me down the hall, through a side door that leads out toward the soccer fields.
I don’t make a sound. Fear stirs in my chest as we skirt the field, headed toward the woods. The path that the cross-country runners use. I ran into Theo out here once, but I doubt I’ll be that lucky a second time.
It’s darker in the forest. We’re ten steps in, and suddenly the world is a whole lot more sinister. Muted sunlight flickers through the trees. It’s cloudy today, so even the golden leaves of autumn don’t make it a happier—or warmer—place. We could be standing in a graveyard.
He releases me.
I don’t know why that surprises me more than anything. Maybe I thought he’d reveal a knife and slice me open. Or hurt me in some other way.
“You,” he says. “You’ve managed to ensnare Caleb Asher. How?”