Page 15 of SNOB

The guy from the Sun House interview leans against the wall, his hands in a pair of pink pants. They match his hair. And his dress shirt. And his tie.

When he smiles, it’s not like the rest of them. It seems genuine like he’s actually trying to help. There’s no time to thank him as I push through the red doors, a weight lifting off my chest when I see the golden sign for the bathroom.

“Woah.” The bathroom is as over-the-top as the rest of this place. Gold-framed mirrors hang side by side, little lamps between them giving the room a soft glow. White roses sit on each marble sink, the smell of them in the air.

Standing in front of the mirror, it’s as bad as I thought. Pulling a fresh towel off a golden rod, I try to soak up the water drenching my hair and outfit. A glance at my phone makes my shoulders drop. I'm so fucking late.

The door creaks open, my body tensing. I really hope that’s not Hannah or her friends.

Click.

Turning towards the door, the towel drops from my hand.

“You shouldn’t be in here.” It’s hard to keep my voice from trembling but I still sound like an idiot. Of course, he doesn’t care where he is.

He doesn’t say a word, those iron eyes wandering my body. Heat hits me wherever they land. Like bullets.

He takes a step forward, I step back. Those eyes pierce into mine and that night comes rushing back to me. If he was capable of ruining our lives with a gun back then, the fountain was the least of my worries.

Another step forward.

Another step back.

“You idiot,” he chuckles, that deep voice vibrating through me. Those jawbones sharpen as my back hits the bathroom wall. “You shouldn’t be here, Ember.” How the fuck does he know my name? Has he always known? And why does it make my stomach flip when he says it? “It’s not good for you.”

“It’s not good for me?” I ask. “Or you?” He’s the one who ruined my life. He’s the one who ruined Jake’s future. Why the fuck should I be afraid?

“Don’t stick around to find out,” he growls, his hands landing on each side of my head.

He traps me, and that only ignites that fire in my core. “Try me.”

His brows lower, a smirk coming across his face. “You think stepping to Hannah makes you hot shit?” In a quick move, he grabs my wrist, raising them above my head before pinning them to the wall.

His breath brushes against my mouth. Mint and tobacco. Then a sharp pain comes to my lip.

His teeth sink into my skin and he doesn’t stop until I hiss. I try to pull away but there’s nowhere for me to go and he doesn’t let up until a pained sound escapes me.

“You’re a butterfly,” he says. “Fragile. I will cage you. I will snap your wings. I. Will. Break you.”

“You already have.” My lip stings when I speak, the taste of copper filling my mouth.

His hand releases one wrist before it comes to my neck. “Don’t make it worse.” He squeezes so tight my free hand comes to his wrist, begging him to let go. “I will make you beg. I will make you plead. Starting now.” I can’t breathe, my eyes widening as I succumb to his force again. A choking noise escapes me and that only makes him chuckle. He’s enjoying my pain, his grip tightening. “Do it. Plead.” His voice lands in my ear, goosebumps forming on my hot skin. “I can’t hear you.”

I can’t if I wanted to, the room dimming.

Why are you so weak?

The sound of my chokes get louder and hell, I’m starting to panic. It sounds like I’m gurgling a glass of water and that makes his grin widen. “There it is.”

It’s not supposed to be like this, seeing him again. I shot him. I got revenge. But I let him get away, and now, he’s stronger than ever.

Is this it? Is this the moment of revenge he’s waited for?

Bang!

A loud knock on the door is the only thing that gets him to loosen his grip, his head whipping to it. I don’t miss the way that sound makes his shoulders rise to his ears. Something we have in common.

“Ember?” Greta’s voice comes through the door. “Are you in here? I heard what happened.”

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