I glance over right as his brow tenses. “They threatened to kick you out?”
I laugh despite the tears streaming down my face.
“West, don’t you dare pretend that’s a surprise,” I scoff. “What’d you think would happen? They’ve only ever seen me as a poor kid from the south side, which means I’m expendable.”
I look him up and down and decide it’s disgust that’s ruling my feelings for him, but anger is still a close second.
“I didn’t realize they’d take things that far.”
“Hm. Well, now you know. So, congratulations. This is what you’ve wanted since I first walked through the school’s doors, right?”
His gaze lowers and he dishes out more of that false humility.
“I won’t make excuses for the shit I’ve done, but I can’t let you think what happened Saturday was intentional. I wouldn’t have done something like that.”
Another angry laugh leaves me. “Oh, yeah? So, you kicking me out wasn’t intentional?”
His jaw flexes like before and he winces hearing my question. “I wasn’t myself and—"
“Fuck you, West,” I say through gritted teeth. “I’m done with you and I’m done with your bullshit.”
With one hard yank, I’m free from his grasp. Now that I’ve finally broken away, I can only guess he realizes the one good thing that’s come of all this for me.
I’m no longer weak for him.
I take a few steps away, but hearing Scarlet’s ringtone in my pocket, I halt. Mostly because it’s the middle of the day and she never calls during school.
Not unless something’s wrong.
“What happened?” I answer, already sounding frantic.
“I locked myself in, but I think they’re still out there.” Those words send my heart racing.
“Who? Where are you? You’re not making any sense.”
“Girl’s bathroom. Second floor, near the east staircase,” she answers.
I know exactly where she is now—a restroom at my old high school.
“I fought back,” she continues, “but there were too many of them. I had to hide.” The statement is almost unintelligible through her whispered sobs, but I hear enough to know my sister needs me.
“Don’t move, Scar. I’m on my way. Just stay wherever you are and wait for me.”
“Okay, just hurry.”
Before I can tell her to stay on the line, it goes dead. For fear of whoever she’s hiding from finding her, I don’t call back.
“Shit.”
“Is Scarlett okay? I can give you a ride if—”
“Don’t ever ask about her. Don’t even say her name,” I snap. “And no. I don’t need anything from you.”
I fish my keys from my pocket as I trudge toward the nearest exit, attempting to text Jules the moment I step foot outside. She usually keeps her phone off during school, so the chances of her seeing it and going to Scar’s rescue are slim, but I have to try.
With the length of West’s legs, he’s keeping my pace with ease. There’s a chance I’ll get caught leaving and end up in even more trouble, but I can’t leave Scar hanging.
“I know you hate me right now but be reasonable. How the hell are you gonna drive shaking like that?”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” I say dismissively, but I know his ‘concern’ is warranted. Even without looking down at my hands, I’m fully aware of how they’re trembling.
I don’t have time to explain all the reasons I have for turning down his offer, so when I get to my car, I simply unlock the door and slip inside, slamming it hard and fast to shut him out.
When I start the engine, he’s still standing beside my window and doesn’t move even when I back out. He just stares, hands in the pockets of his jeans, frustration looming in his eyes. But I’m not moved by whatever this act is he’s putting on, pretending to care about me. About Scar.
I meant what I said in that hallway. Fuck West and whatever horse his sorry ass rode in on. Right now, I have to get to South Cypress High to rescue my sister.
@QweenPandora: Do my eyes deceive me? Pics flooding in seem to show a standoff between KingMidas and a teammate. And what caused this clash of titans, you ask?
NewGirl.
Yup, you read that right. From what I gather, KingMidas stepped in when said teammate got a tad too close to our favorite southsider. Does this sound like the behavior of a guy who just willingly shared a sex tape that most likely spelled the end of his relationship? You be the judge.
We’ll all be watching as the saga unfolds.
Later, Peeps.
—P
Chapter 5
BLUE
Bloody nose.
Torn shirt.
And I’m seeing red as I watch Scarlett nurse a busted lip with a bag of ice.
By the time I got to her, the kids who chased her into hiding were long gone. That’s probably a good thing, because with the mood I’m in, I might’ve done serious bodily harm.
We sit in silence, waiting across from Principal Carpenter’s assistant’s desk. Every now and then, she peers up over the top of the counter that separates her desk from the reception area, but she says nothing.
I remember when I got into it with Loren Pete last school year, this same woman sat in that same seat, giving me the exact same judgmental stare.
Her line trills and she answers on the first ring. Then, after hanging up, Scar and I have her full attention again.
“He’ll see you both now,” she announces, eyeing us as we walk past.
I thought I was done with this place, but apparently it isn’t done with me.
I close the door after we enter the large office, decked out with floor-to-ceiling paneling, straight out of the sixties. Place hasn’t gotten many upgrades since then and it shows.
Principal Carpenter peers up from the sheet of paper he’s filling out, but only long enough to gesture for Scar and I to take the two seats across from his desk. Then, without a word, he finishes what he was doing before Scar and I walked in. So, we sit here, staring at the top of his balding dome, and also the huge mustard stain on his tie from lunch. Eventually, he deems us important enough to meet our gazes and I breathe deep.
“Ladies,” he says in greeting.
“Afternoon, sir,” I answer for both me and Scar. She hasn’t said a word to me since I showed up. Not even to tell me who did this to her or why.
Principal Carpenter levels a disapproving glare on me. “Well, imagine my surprise when I got the call from security that they spotted an intruder walking my halls.”
I can’t help but feel confused that this is his concern. “Where was security when my sister was getting chased through the halls and jumped, sir? Isn’t that what we ought to be discussing here?”
He’s clearly unmoved by my question. I can tell as much when he casually grabs a piece of chocolate from his candy jar and pops it into his mouth.
“We’ll deal with that in a moment, but I’d first like to know what possessed you to saunter through the front doors of my building without permission, Riley. In this—”