Page 111 of Dare To Break

Miles shudders. “That would give me nightmares.”

What does Eli mean about English?

Uneasiness niggles at my mind. The question nags at me, unleashing a whirlwind of anxious emotions that threatens to turn me inside out. There have been daggers in his eyes every time I’ve made eye contact with him this week. It seems like he’s gone out of his way to creep me out more than usual. I have no idea what triggered it.

What did I do to piss him off more than just being here?

My worries and doubts merge together, joining my concern over my new diary. I haven’t been able to find it all week, and I’m sure I left it under my mattress. I’ve even asked Lacy if she moved it when she was tidying the room, but she says she’s seen no sign of it.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that the impact of something hard slamming into my shoulder sends me stumbling forward down the steps. I can’t stop my momentum. My vision blurs, blood pounds in my ears, and I’m back in the woods in the dark.

Miles’ arm shoots out, preventing me from taking a nosedive down the bleacher.

“Watch where you’re fucking going,” Eli snaps as he passes us.

Kellan gives me a smirk as he follows after him.

“The bastard did that on purpose,” Miles growls. “Are you okay? You’ve lost all the color in your face.”

Hands trembling, light-headedness turns my knees to jelly. My friend swears under his breath, and the next thing I know, I’m sitting down.

Nausea rolls in my stomach, and I clench my hands so tightly that my nails dig into my palms.

“Deep breaths,” Miles encourages. “In and out slowly.”

I do as he says, breathing in through my nose and release it in one long exhale through my mouth, until the panic attack subsides.

“Do you want me to take you to the nurse?”

I force down the lump in my throat. “No, I’ll be okay. He just scared me.”

My gaze locks on Eli and Kellan who are skirting around the edge of the field. Neither of them looks back.

***

Thanking the lunch lady when she places a plate of mac and cheese on my tray, I file out of the line. I add a bottle of orange juice to it before heading for my table. Evan and Linda are already there. The others haven’t arrived yet.

My earlier panic attack has drained the energy out of me. I’ve had trouble concentrating in class all day. It’s poisoned my mood and left me feeling restless.

You could always check for messages. You know he might have left some.

I resist the temptation to look and see if my darer has been in contact. It’s been a week since I last responded to him. Seven whole days of me having the willpower to keep away from trouble. I just need to get back on track with my life. Keep to my twenty-year plan. If I funnel all this pent-up frustration into my designs, it will give them a new edge.

Sixth sense tingling with danger, I turn.

The tray in my hands is thrust upward and out of my grip. It hits the ground at my feet with a clatter, and I watch in horror as my food splatters in a mess all over my shoes. Hesitantly, I raise my eyes to the person responsible.

“Bitches eat their dinner off the floor, like the rest of the dogs,” Eli taunts.

He gives me one of those stares that make the hair on my arms stand on end.

My heart stops, and everything inside me turns cold. Tears threaten, but somehow, I manage to keep them at bay. I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

I clench my jaw instead. “Why can’t you just fuck off and leave me alone?”

Eli laughs, the sound harsh. “Where would the fun be in that, Princess.”

“Stop calling me that.”

---