Page 119 of Dare To Take

Mr. Drake is already at the whiteboard, wiping it clean when I enter the room. I don’t miss my name scribbled over it in bold black and a drawing of a dick. A few of the other students are already in their seats. Kellan is in his, but there’s no sign of Eli.

I don’t want to see him, but it’s something I’m not going to be able to avoid.

The steel bands squeezing my chest don’t lessen, and it’s hard to breathe. I’m so tired. I’m not even sure how I’m going to get through today. Everything is raw and messy. My emotions are an open wound bleeding out all over the place.

“I can’t believe you trashed Travers’s room,” Brad mutters as I pass him. “Do you have a death wish or something?”

“From the look on your face, I figure he found you earlier,” Tina smirks.

Trashed Eli’s room? That’s why he came looking for me in the chapel? Denial rises in my throat, but it fades into nothing.

What’s the point? No one is going to believe I didn’t do it. Everything that happens is heaped on me. They’ve already judged and condemned me.

Ignoring her, I reach my desk and sit.

My phone buzzes in my bag. I fumble for it.

Unknown number: Make sure you’re where Eli can see you during lunch and dinner. We want to see you smiling at him.

I glance around fretfully, my attention skimming over all the students playing with their cells. Others are flowing in, ready to start the class.

Who is doing this to me?

I just want them to stop. I’ll beg if I have to.

They are throwing me into his orbit again, and he’ll just perceive this as a taunt or challenge. I don’t want to provoke him because it will only end with me in more pain.

Me: Please don’t make me do this.

Unknown number: Do it, or we’ll pay a little visit to Miles again. It would be a shame if he had complications from his head injury.

I fight to stop the sickness in my stomach from rising up my throat. Miles is caught up in this because of me. He tried to help me and paid the price.

Another piece of me shatters, and I do the only thing that I can.

Me: Ok, I’ll do it. Please don’t hurt him.

Chapter 73

Eli

After the clash with Arabella, I go back to my dorm and help maintenance clean up the room. Kellan takes one look through the door at the chaos and decides to go to class. I can’t blame him. I don’t want to be here, either, but one of us needs to oversee what’s happening in case something gets thrown out that we need. At least, that’s what I tell myself.

The spray paint has gone from the wall, the television and mattresses replaced, and eight trash bags full of destroyed books and clothes taken to the dumpsters before lunchtime rolls around. Eying the open closet, I take stock of what remains.

I have two hoodies, not including the one I’m wearing, that haven’t been destroyed. Four t-shirts, another pair of sweats and one pair of jeans. Principal Warren has already given me permission to go into town and buy clothes, so that’s the plan for this afternoon. First, I need to meet Kellan for lunch and give him his new key to our room.

I lock the door and head down to the cafeteria, where Kellan’s already sitting at our usual table. He looks as tired as I feel, head resting on one hand, eyes closed, and the fingers of his other hand curled around a steaming mug of coffee.

I slip into the seat opposite him. “How’s Miles?”

“I haven’t spoken to him since this morning. His friends are there. How’s our room?”

“Tidier than it was this morning. I need more clothes.”

Kellan scratches his jaw. “I don’t get it. What was the point?”

I blow out a breath. “I don’t know. Maybe she’s on drugs.”

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