Page 48 of King

Willow is with Bella tonight. She was out the door before I could tell her my plan but I know she has my back too. Or she’d call me crazy.

God, this is crazy.

“Thanks, Allie.” More kids walk by the truck. With another swig, I straighten the straps on my outfit, enjoying the burn. “Time to take back the power.”

Allie follows when I get out and close the door. The minute my Docs hit the pavement, students stare. A gulp forces its way down my throat but when Allie appears by my side, linking my arm, there's a wave of confidence.

Tightening the plaid shirt I have tied at my waist, I remind myself I have Christian’s joggers in the car. But for now, along with my boots, Nancy’s strappy one-piece is the only thing I’m wearing.

“Woah!” A red-haired boy gawks as Allie and I walk by. Waving, I give him a wink as I toss my hair behind my back.

If these kids want to stare, laugh and giggle at my body, I'm going to give them something to look at. I’m not going to let Lea and her crew be in charge of who gets to see my body and when. And tonight, it’s on display. No virgin panties at all.

“Skank!” I recognize a girl from one of my classes. One of Damien’s wannabe concubines.

I give her a smile before flipping her the bird. “Don’t hate me cause you ain’t me.”

Her jaw drops as whispers get louder. We’re stopping students in their paths, eyes all turning to us.

Allie leans in, her voice low, “You okay?” Her outfit is much more conservative than mine. A long green sweater and dark leggings in beige boots.

“Damn Rowland!” I hear Luca’s voice from my left, he’s with another boy from the hockey team. Both have their jerseys on, hair already damp with sweat.

The dark-haired boy next to him flips open his phone, hunger on his face. The shutter goes off and Allie shoves her hand in front of it. “Dude, are you serious?"

That’s when I notice Damien standing right outside the door to the school. Christian and Isaac are to his left in their hockey gear. Both Christian and Isaac’s jaws are as dropped as the students around me, all trying to get a peek. Damien though, his eyes are narrow, like he’s seething.

“No, it’s fine.” I strike a pose, fluffing up my hair like the girls Willow watches in music videos. “A picture lasts longer right?”

Allie steps away so I can be in the spotlight and some of the guys around hoot and holler. There’s more chatter. Questions. Answers.

“Is that Medusa?”

“Isn’t she on the blacklist?”

“What a whore - but I like that outfit.”

“Stop looking at her!” I turn to see a girl smack what I assume is her boyfriend on the arm.

Smiling, I poke my ass out to more hoots, hollers and cheers. More cameras are going off and I relish in this moment. For the first time since I moved to Eden, I’m getting attention for something I did. Self-inflicted. Not from the likes of entitled assholes. And with one look at Damien, he’s hating every bit of it.

“What is going on? Why is no one inside?” Lea pushes through the crowd, appearing in front of me in a plaid mini skirt. “Medusa?”

She looks me up and down with disgust and she’s about to speak but I cut her off, approaching her, “No, let me start.” The crowd around us quiets and I glance at Damien to make sure he’s watching. “Since you wanted a good look at my body, here you go.” I pull the plaid shirt from my waist, dropping it to the floor for dramatic effect. “Sexual harassment and slut-shaming because you feel bad about yourself is pathetic, don't you think?”

Lea scoffs, “Oh, so now you’re harassing that outfit?”

Posing I give her a smirk. “You mad because you can’t pull this off?”

Glancing at Luca, he's looking at me like some sort of celebrity pornstar. I don’t know why, blame the whiskey, but I lean into whatever non-rehearsed show I’m performing. A few steps bring me closer to him and I smile. He smirks before I pull him by the shirt and give him a long kiss. He has chapped lips and his breath tastes like stale milk, but I give him the best fucking kiss of his life.

“Woah…” Luca wobbles when we part, a hazy look on his face, one eye closed.

When I pull back, Lea’s face is like ketchup. If I look close enough I can see the steam coming from her ears. It makes my smirk wider. “Or are you mad that you won’t ever be able to do that?”

She stamps her feet like a bratty five-year-old, fists clenched at each side. “Because I’m not a fucking skank!” Lea squeals like a mouse caught in a trap and it almost hurts my ears, but I get the picture. The skank card again.

Georgina and Beth emerge from the crowd on either side of Lea. Georgina looks at Lea who looks like she’s about to burst before she turns to glare at me. She brought reinforcements but I have backup too. And it’s juicy.

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