Page 39 of King

There's no hesitation when I fire back, “What do you people know about my parents?”

His eyes drop to Christian’s joggers and I see his nose flair. “Nice addition.” Damien has already swapped the ERA uniform for one of his own. Black t-shirt under his leather jacket, matching jeans and boots. He looks good as usual but I'm too annoyed to care.

“Not only was I late to work, but I was completely drenched thanks to your stupid fucking antics.” I lean against the far end of the counter, arms across my chest. "What if I got lost? Or worse?"

He smirks and it makes my cheeks burn. “Wish I stuck around to see what that looks like.” He approaches me, eyes gazing up and down my body.

Ignoring the shivers shooting through me, I drop my arms. “What’s your deal? Why are you even here?” The closer he gets, the tighter the knot in my stomach feels. But I fight it. I need answers. “Better yet, tell me what you know.”

“I don’t know anything.”

“Bullshit," the word fires from my mouth. "You’re such a fucking liar. This isn’t a joke, Damien.”

“I’m not lying,” he growls through gritted teeth, moving towards me.

“You don’t scare me.” Fire burns in my chest. I’m frustrated and it shows in my shaky voice. I don’t realize I’m gripping onto the ledge of the counter until my nails scratch the marble. “And I don’t believe you. You said all those things about them. Horrible things." I'm exhausted, voice cracking as I remember his words. "How could you say all that and not know anything?”

His pace slows. “Geez Rowland, I was fucking with you.”

My nostrils burn, lump forming in my throat. There's a gentleness in his voice and it startles me but I’m fighting for the frustration not to show on my face. “No. Your dad is way too chummy with the Huangs. I saw what was on those papers.”

"You looked?"

"My name was on it."

“Yeah, you’re right.” Damien runs his tongue over his bottom teeth. “My dad and the Huangs are way too…chummy. But I don’t know anything about your parents.” He's in front of me before I register how far he's come and he only moves closer. His breath lands on my face, peppermint, the crassness coming back to his voice. “I do know one thing, Medusa.”

I try to push him away but he grips my wrist. His cold palm on my skin somehow sends fire through my veins and when I look up, his gaze makes my knees wobble. The memory of last night comes back to my head and I push the feeling away. The one that tells me to press my lips against his.

How can I still feel like this after his stupid games? His small acts of torture? But when his hand slides from my wrist to my shoulder, all the way to my throat, it's like I’m becoming putty in the devil’s grip. It’s a light hold, his face moving even closer, lips an inch from mine. It looks like he’s about to give me a piece of that sweet forbidden fruit. A craving I’ve been trying to bury.

My heart booms when he moves, but he doesn’t put his lips where I want. They land by my ear again, his voice a deadly whisper, “You need to get the fuck out of Eden for your own good, Joelle. I mean it.”

With one last squeeze, he lets me go, heading for the door. It's not windy inside but there's a cool breeze over me and it gives me a different kind of shiver. Remembering to breathe, I exhale as I speak, “You came all the way here to tell me that? And you wouldn't even give me a fucking ride?" I’m breathing like I ran a marathon and I hope he doesn’t notice.

“Oh, I’ll give you a ride if you want, Medusa,” he pauses, looking over his shoulder. “Right on my stiff—”

“You know what I mean!”

He pushes the glass door, his back to me. “Christian did what I thought he’d do. He’s a softie with a hardon for you."

“He’s ten times the man than you’ll ever be,” I call. “That’s why I made sure to thank him real good.”

I don’t know why I said that. Don’t know what I was hoping to get out of it. But when Damien slams the door, I’m both satisfied and nauseated.

The first couple of days set the tone for the week.

Lea doesn’t let up. Students avoid me like the plague. Outside of Nate, Allie and Carlos, students only acknowledge me to whisper or glare. That includes gawking or laughing at whatever prank Damien and his demon spawn throw my way.

Christian tells me to hang in there but I’m starting to get sick of his shit. He’s as guilty as his friends are. He stands by while they stick condoms to my locker, pour paint in my hair, or put dog poop in my locker. Yep. Actual shit sat in my locker for what smelt like a whole night before I begged one of the janitors to help me out.

Willow’s bummed I lost my phone but we won’t tell Holly. We’re not about to give the Archibalds’ another reason to hate us.

It’s Thursday afternoon and I’m almost through my week from hell. The first weeks are usually the worst but the kids at this school are on some other level.

Damien ignored me all homeroom for the second time in a row. He's the definition of “hot and cold” and I won't admit it's fucking with me. At least his silence in class means a bit of peace in the morning.

After hiding out during Independent Study, I stop at my locker before lunch. When I undo the combination, my eyes narrow at what’s inside. A white box greets me. One I’ve seen before. I glance over my shoulder before I get a better look. It's a brand new iPhone. It’s almost exactly like the one Nancy got for us except newer.

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