Page 37 of Spite

Chapter Fifteen

“It’s sad that not everyone is a fan of assholes, huh?” My voice dripped sarcasm, the facetiousness laced with pure venom. I could not hide the fact that I wanted this boy to hurt, and I wanted him on his knees in front of me.

Christian froze, his posture rigid as he measuredly turned to face me. His expression was murderous. If looks could kill, I’d be a goner. It probably wasn’t best to rile the beast, but I’d been preparing myself to face this particular beast down for a while. It was officially now or never. Last call.

He glanced down the hallway, both ways, to see if anyone was around before approaching me near the emergency exit door. I wasn’t afraid of him. What was he going to do? Hit me? Attack me? One scream was all it would take—plus, after the whole breakup thing, I was sure Jessie would side me with over Christian any day.

No, this beast might have horns, but I was horn-proof. He wouldn’t be impaling me today.

“You bitch” was what he said. So colorful and imaginary. Like talking with a poet.

I leaned on the wall behind me, sighing. “I’ve been called worse things, most of them by you, but I’m sure you don’t care about that.”

Christian stood before me, radiating heat, his skin slick with sweat from the game even though it’d been at least ten minutes. Halftime was probably almost over, anyway. His blonde eyebrows were together, his sapphire eyes jewels of hatred. Even with the sneer on his face, he was gorgeous. Well-built, intimidating, and drop-dead gorgeous. Too bad looks weren’t everything. Personality-wise, he’d lose every competition.

“You had no right to say anything to Jessie,” he said, stepping closer to me. Less than a foot away, now. I could smell his sweat; it wasn’t a bad smell, sadly. I kind of liked it. “No fucking right.”

“Really? You think so? Because I think I had every right, considering it’s my past, too,” I said, pushing myself off the wall. If I was taller, I’d be right in his face. As it was, my head was angled up, and I was mere inches from his wide chest. “You don’t get to decide who I tell.”

Christian let out a chuckle. He had the balls to laugh in my face. “Why? You want to advertise around the school that you’re a suicide survivor? Go ahead. See how far that gets you.”

“So far, I’m finding everyone is actually pretty nice.” Mostly. “You’re the only asshole here, Christian, and soon you won’t have anyone to back you up.” God, why did he have to be so tall? Why did I have to stand so close to him? Why did I feel like…running my hands down his chest and along his abdomen and touch every single muscle on his body?

“Is that what this is about?” A slow smirk drew across his face, and I felt my stomach do a somersault or two. “You want me to pay for what I did?” Christian’s shoulders rose and fell as he chuckled, moving closer to me, pressing my back against the cold wall. He set his arms on the wall beside me, boxing me in.

Shit. I’d never felt so small. Physically small, not existential crisis small.

His head leaned down, though he kept it from touching mine. Beside me, his hands were fists on the wall, as if it took every ounce of self-restraint he had to keep himself from touching me. “Then hurt me.” His voice was low, deadly, and it washed over my body like velvet. Velvet that could cut you up, but still. “I’d like to see you try.”

I couldn’t believe it. This bastard was calling me out, like he thought I couldn’t hurt him. Like he thought he was invincible or something, untouchable by the masses. Newsflash: everyone could be embarrassed, even this prick, and I’d make him learn I was not here to play around. I meant what I said.

I met his eyes. Most of the lights were off in the hallway, for no one was supposed to be back here, but I could see the hue of his blue eyes. I’d drown in them if I wasn’t careful. “Buckle up, Buttercup,” I whispered, “because I’m going to take you for a ride.”

A sound that was a mixture of a growl and a sigh escaped him, and Christian was about to say something in response, but a sharp “What the fuck” from the main hall caused him to stop and slowly turn his head toward Alec, who had finally come to look for me. A little late to the party, but here. Christian did not move away from me; if anything, his arms enclosing me inched closer, and I felt his body press against mine.

A nice, warm, muscular body—one I shouldn’t be fantasizing about currently.

“Get away from her,” Alec warned, hands fisted at his sides. A part of him must’ve still viewed Christian as his friend, even if he’d been spending most of his time during school with me. During chemistry, their table was always silent. They hardly had been talking lately, all because of me.

“No one tells me what to do,” Christian muttered, sounding absolutely menacing. “Not you, not Jessie, and sure as shit not Elle.” His eyes flicked between Alec and me, coming to a conclusion only he could. “You want her back? Fine. Let me just finish up here.” As if he thought Alec was going to turn and walk away to give us privacy.

Wait, no. He knew Alec wasn’t going anywhere, and he knew Alec wasn’t going to take his eyes off me, not when Christian had me cornered against the wall, his body pressed against mine. Christian wanted him to watch.

Everything that happened next happened within a span of a few seconds.

Christian grabbed my face, tilting it up towards him. His lips met mine, instantly devouring me whole. Eager, hard, full of a desire no one could match. My legs practically turned to jelly when I realized I wasn’t fighting him. If anything, I was kissing him back. My body’s automatic reaction to being forcefully kissed by an attractive guy I had a strange history with.

Then, suddenly, his lips left mine and he pulled himself away, leaving me breathless against the wall. He left the exit hall, giving Alec a hard slap on the back as he said, “Have fun with her.” Before Alec could think to respond, he was joining his teammates, who were in the process of returning to the gym now that halftime was over.

Alec met my eyes, and I prayed with everything I had that I wasn’t standing there looking like a used-up doll. I kind of felt like one, after that unexpected and mostly unwelcomed kiss. Mostly being the opportune word there. Apparently I had a thing for the guys who’d made my childhood a living hell.

I was dumbstruck. How did that happen? Why didn’t I stop him? Why the fuck did I kiss Christian back? He just got dumped, because of my own doing, and the last thing I should’ve done was let his mouth stray anywhere near mine. We were enemies. We were so much worse than enemies.

Alec’s hand found mine, and while I was lost in my own head, replaying what just happened, flabbergasted at myself and my lack of action, he pulled me through the halls. We did not return to the gym, didn’t go back to watch the second half of the game. He led me out of the school’s front doors, out into the cool night air. It was that same cool air that snapped me back into my head.

I yanked my hand from his, stopping on the sidewalk. Alec was already on the blacktop, heading to his car, but he stopped when I began to put up a fight. “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. There would be no more random grabbing of me tonight, thanks. “You don’t get to control me, Alec.”

“I’m not—” Alec let out an annoyed sigh. “I’m not trying to control you. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to sit and watch the game when Christian was all over you.”

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