Page 75 of Dare To Take

Eli is here?

I want to bolt back to my room, and it takes everything in me not to.

What would Elliot say if he sees that video? Will he be disgusted with me? Will he think I’ve seduced his son?

After the other video of me he’s seen, it’s possible. Elliot Travers has been nothing but kind to me, I don’t want him to think badly of me.

Me: Why are you doing this to me?

Unknown number: We thought you liked to play games. They get you hot. Make you horny.

Another photo appears. This time of me kissing Eli under the mistletoe in the department store in the Americana Mall just before Christmas.

Has someone been following me?

Everything inside me withers with shock.

Me: Have you been stalking me?

Unknown number: We’re always watching. Tick tock time’s ticking. Don’t ignore us, Arabella. You won’t like the consequences if you do.

I search the faces of the students clustered nearby uneasily. Lacy, Brad, Miles, Kevin, Garrett, Jace, Evan, Bret, Tina, Maggie and Linda are standing with the other cheerleaders and jocks. All eyes are focused on the driveway which circles past the main buildings and out to the parking lot.

Word has gotten out of Eli’s return, and many have gathered to see the Monster of Churchill Bradley Academy return to school.

“Here he comes.”

The whispered words are to my left, and I turn to look in the direction everyone else is focused. Eli and Kellan are making their way toward the dorms. A dark lock of hair is tumbling over Eli’s forehead, and his expression is closed-off and broody.

Don’t ignore us, Arabella. You won’t like the consequences if you do.

I push off the wall I’ve been leaning against and shove my phone into a pocket. The grip on the Styrofoam cup I’m holding tightens.

Eli sees me first and the whole world stops when he meets my gaze. For one heartbeat, I’m lost in the heat I see flashing in their depths. Kellan is talking to him, and he doesn’t notice me until I’m right on top of the pair of them.

I move without thinking. If I stop to think about it, I won’t do it. The contents of my cup hits Eli in the face. Orange juice douses his hair and drips off his eyelashes. Shock covers his and Kellan’s faces, quickly concealed behind blank masks.

Remorse fills me but I push it down. I can’t afford to feel guilty.

You won’t like the consequences …

“I don’t know how you wormed your way back here, but I hope to hell it doesn’t last.” I spit the words at him.

Eli wipes a hand over his face. “What the fuck—”

“You disgust me.”

“Ari—”

“Don’t fucking call me that,” I scream. “I hate you, Eli Travers. You’re nothing but the monster everyone says you are.”

I spin away from him, take off across the grass away from the gathered crowd, and aim for the trees. The phone vibrates in my pocket, but I ignore it. I don’t stop running until I reach the safety of the bench near the cemetery. I heave in breath after breath as I sink down onto it. The flicker of confusion, followed by anger on Eli’s face is burned into my mind. Fishing the phone out of my pocket, I unlock the screen.

Unknown number: You didn’t put much effort into that. You could have done so much better.

My heart feels like it’s going to explode, it’s beating so fast.

Me: I did what you wanted. Now leave me alone.

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