Page 64 of Dare To Fall

Arabella

“What’s going on with you and Eli?”

I glance up from the book I have spread out on the table in front of me. Miles settles in the seat beside me.

“Nothing.”

Eli is poison. Not an antidote. I’m not going to swallow down his bullshit like a jagged little pill. If I do, it might just kill me quicker than my blackmailers.

“No, seriously. You haven’t made eye contact with him since Wednesday. It’s like he doesn’t exist for you anymore.” His voice drops to a whisper, joining the low buzz of conversation at the other tables around us in the library. “Kellan says—”

“Fuck what Kellan says. I don’t want to hear it.” The memory of the spanking leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. “It’s Saturday. Shouldn’t you be off seeing him or something?”

He ignores my question. “What about your blackmailers?”

I shrug. “They haven’t sent me any more messages. Maybe they’re finally done.”

Lies.

They’re just waiting for the right time to make me do something awful to Eli. The threat they gave hovers over my head every single night when I go to bed. I’ve resorted to sleeping pills, just to be able to rest because if I don’t, my mind won’t let me. No dreams are better than nightmares about monsters under my bed.

Miles frowns. “What did Principal Warren say to you yesterday?”

“That he’ll kick me out of school if my feud with Eli continues.”

“Maybe you should tell him the truth.”

My attention returns to the book in front of me. “I’ve tried that before, and it didn’t end well. At this point, I’d rather get kicked out.”

Not that my mother or Elliot would be happy, but I’m at the stage I really don’t care. My life is in danger, and my privacy is violated. Every second of every day, I’m waiting for something bad to happen.

“If you’re here to be their spy, you can leave.”

He fidgets with one of the pencils on the table, flipping it between his fingers. “What are you doing with Garrett? He’s been hovering over you since Thursday morning.”

“He’s kind of sweet.”

“He was bullying you only a few weeks ago.”

Lifting my chin, I meet his gaze. “He’s being the friend I needed.”

He flinches at my hard tone.

Garrett surprised me by staying with me all day Wednesday and playing hooky from classes. He fed me and talked about random things like books and movies, just to keep my mind off what happened. For someone who tormented me for so many weeks, he’s actually gone out of his way to make me feel safe. When Thursday morning rolled around, he was at my door, waiting to walk me to breakfast.

I snatch my pencil from his fingers and place it back in my case. “If you don’t mind, I’m trying to study.”

I might have been able to avoid Eli for the last few days, but it’s the weekend, which means I don’t know where he might be. I have no intention of walking into him. If I have to spend all my time in the safety of the library, I will.

He huffs. “I am your friend too, Bella.”

A shadow falls over us.

“Is he bothering you?” Garrett is glaring at Miles.

Miles straightens at his question. “I was just asking her a question about our English assignment. All done now.”

Garrett grunts and holds up a plastic bag. “I got us some lunch.”

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