Page 3 of Fallout

“Are you okay?” Will asks, taking a step closer.

I nod, but my head swims from the movement. I lean against the wall, trying to regain my equilibrium.

“Let’s head to class,” he suggests.

I step forward and Will puts his arm around me. I gladly let him take my weight, but our proximity has everybody talking even more.

I groan. “Don’t they have anything else to think about other than my love life?”

“I don’t know,” Will says. “I’m not sure what humans like to think about. You have a better grasp on their thoughts.”

“Half of the girls are jealous of me, the other half think I’m cheating on Parker with you.”

Will rolls his eyes. “As if you’re my type.”

I laugh. “Thanks for keeping me humble.”

To my surprise, Will actually laughs. I lean into his side, letting him take the bulk of my weight. I regret it as the move only makes the roar in my head louder. I groan at the throb in my skull.

“Vixen, you okay?” Blaine’s voice has me looking up. “You look a little pale.”

I know I must look as bad as I feel because Blaine isn’t smirking. Instead, his eyebrows are turned down in concern. He takes a step closer like he wants to do something, but he can’t. Nobody can help me except Parker and he’s off doing his alpha duties.

“Is it too late to ditch?” I put my head against Will, closing my eyes at the wave of dizziness.

How could she cheat on Parker like that?

What’s so special about her?

Henley looks kind of pale.

I wonder what Mom’s making for dinner tonight.

Why is everybody so obsessed with Henley? It’s not like…

Henley and Paker…

The nefarious three…

Henley…

Will…

Parker…

I feel something warm ooze from my nose. Before I can attempt to reach into my backpack for a tissue, something is pressed against my nose. I open my eyes and see Blaine standing in the middle of the hallway without his shirt on. His shirt is currently pressed against my face.

I grab the fabric and glare at him. “I have tissues. You didn’t have to ruin your shirt for me. Trust me, the blood is impossible to get out.”

He shrugs, flexing his muscles.

A couple of girls giggle as they walk by.

Blaine is so…

I close my eyes, trying to focus on something besides the thoughts of the hormonal teenage girls. It doesn’t help. I get to hear what they think of Blaine’s chest and arms in great detail. If I wasn’t feeling nauseated before, I certainly am now.

“Do you want to leave?” Will asks, his brown eyes scanning my face. He looks like he wants to throw me over his shoulder and bolt out of here. And I want to let him do exactly that, but I can’t. Parker can’t always be here and I need to learn how to deal with all the noise.

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