Page 105 of Dare To Take

The question twists my lips.

Because I don’t have anyone else.

I climb unsteadily to my feet, push open the door and cross to the sink to rinse my mouth out. Washing my hands, I dry them and leave the restroom.

It’s lunchtime. My appetite has been non-existent for weeks, but I still head toward the cafeteria. I crave human contact around me, just to feel a little bit normal. I’m almost there when a shoulder smashes into mine.

“Watch where you’re going, freak.” Tina spits, pushing past me.

Off-balance, I tumble sideways, landing in the snow.

“Did you hurt yourself?” Linda laughs, and kicks my bag along the path, out of my reach.

I keep my head down and wait for them to walk away. Hate seethes through me, but I don’t act on it. Once they’re out of view, I get back to my feet, dust the white powder off my coat and jeans, then collect my bag.

Miles is standing there, my bag in his hand.

“What’s going on with you?” His voice is low. “Are you on drugs?”

I snatch my bag out of his grip and check to make sure all the contents are inside. “No.”

“You don’t smile anymore.”

“I have no reason to.” I resume my walk toward the cafeteria.

Miles falls into step beside me. “You watch everything like something is about to jump out and kill you.”

“I just see this place for what it is now.”

“And what’s that?”

“Hell.”

He hesitates, and I know he’s waiting for me to go first, so we don’t enter together. I shake my head a bitter laugh bubbling up, but don’t comment. I’ve given up trying. What’s the point? We’re from different worlds, and there’s an invisible wall between us. I’m an idiot for not realizing it’s been there the whole time I’ve been at school. He’s one of the popular kids, captain of the swim team, and I’m nothing. An unwanted nobody who doesn’t belong here.

A few students look up as I pass, the cruel comments muttered my way making me flinch. I don’t bother with food and go straight for the coffee instead, then pick an empty table in a corner away from everybody else.

The jocks all watch me, Evan, Jace, and Garrett make suggestive gestures at me. Lacy, Tina, Maggie, and Linda are sitting with their heads together, giggling as they shoot me malicious smiles. Whatever they are plotting, I’m sure it’s just more torment to heap on top of me.

A familiar jolt goes through me, electricity dancing under my skin. I sense Eli before I see him. He’s standing in the cafeteria doorway with Kellan, his narrowed-eyed gaze zeroing in on me. The cold rage I see just beneath the surface of his expression fills my veins with terror.

Chapter 65

Eli

“Get three coffees to go.” I don’t take my eyes off Arabella.

“Eli—”

“Two then, if you want to stay here.”

He sighs and veers off toward the food counter. The cafeteria is silent as everyone watches me take a slow walk across the room. Instead of taking a seat at my usual table, where I can watch everyone, I turn right and go to the table Arabella is seated at.

The sound of me dragging the chair out is loud in the silence of the room. I sit and lean back, one leg crossed over the other and fold my arms. Her eyes are a shock of color in her white face as she stares at me.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. Kellan will join us in a minute, and you are going to leave the room with us.” My voice is casual, with no hint of the anger burning me up from the inside.

“Eli, I—” Her voice, on the other hand, trembles.

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