Page 52 of Drifting

He doesn’t even try to pull away from her. I watch them as they talk. She touches him softly and smiles sweetly at him. He seems to be softer toward her, not so rugged.

Then, it hits me that Dom’s the boyfriend she warned me about and she’s the one who destroyed him. I’m such a fool. He still has feelings for her. Anyone can see that. I thought, when he said I was his dream girl and with Nick saying how Dom never acted like this before, that Dom felt something toward me. Guess I was wrong.

“Can you believe it? She almost fell right on top of me, stupid whore,” Maddie says, rubbing her tits up against Mav, who doesn’t seem to mind one bit as his hand wraps around her waist.

What the hell do I expect? I told him yesterday to mind his own business. Now, today, I’m upset when he doesn’t come to my defense? I know I can’t trust anyone other than myself.

Cam being Cam flirts with the other two girls, not even glancing my way.

Luke heads toward me, but Hannah stops him by placing her hand on his chest. “Um, Luke… I wanted to check to make sure we’re still going to the Black and White ball together?”

“Yeah, sure,” Luke mumbles, his eyes not leaving me.

I suck in a breath. Well, that proves my point about what I said the other day. It hurts more than it should. Get your head on straight, Shelby. These boys will cause you nothing but trouble. You need to stay away from them no matter what you might feel.

When I take one last glance over to Dom, I find his arms around that bitch as she lays her head on his chest and grins at me.

Nick comes out of nowhere, putting his hand out. “Are you all right? Did she hurt you?”

“I’m fine, Nick. I lost my balance and fell, that’s all.” I make sure I can stand, then push him away.

I’m hurting and want to be left alone to lick my wounds. He’s their friend, not mine.

I bend and pick up my bag before limping to my class before I’m late again.

Nick trails behind me. “Wait, Shelby, let me help.”

Spinning, I yell, “Back off, Nick, I don’t need you! Go pretend I don’t exist like everyone else. Your friends are that way.” I point to the entrance.

Quickly, I turn away, not wanting to see his response. I need to stop by the nurse to get something for this pain after first class, because there’s no way I’m going to be late for first period.

When I step into the classroom, a few people are already there. I need to find a seat where the twins can’t sit around me. I get lucky and find a spot against the wall in a corner with the two desks around it already occupied.

Paige comes in and sadly smiles at me as she takes the desk two seats in front of me and faces the front.

Mav and Dom stroll in right before the bell rings. I keep my head down, staring at my desk, and when they stop beside me, I don’t glance up.

Eventually, they leave and take the seats beside Paige.

I don’t look their way the rest of the class.

When the bell rings to signal the end of class, I jump up and limp toward the door. I don’t make it too far, though, before a strong hand pulls me to the side.

“Let me go!” I yank my arm away.

“Calm down, Shelby, it’s us. Why didn’t you sit with us? You’re not still mad about yesterday, are you?” Mav tilts his head, giving me one of his smiles.

I glare at him. “I don’t want to be anywhere near you.”

His head jerks back like I slap him, and his brows pop up. “Damn, what got you in a mood?”

My mouth falls open. “Are you kidding me? Do you have short term memory loss or something? How can you already have forgotten what happened an hour ago? But, then again, it doesn’t surprise me since I seemed to be invisible to you.”

He rubs the back of his neck. “What are you talking about?”

My anger burns brighter, and I clench my fist. “Gee, I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with the queen bitch pushing me down and stomping on my bad leg this morning? Or maybe it’s her warning me to stay the hell away from all of you?” My voice grows louder as I speak. “Wait, no, it’s how concerned you all were when you saw me on the ground, and no one tried to help me up!”

“I went to help you,” Dom says, “but I…”

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