Page 169 of Dare To Break

The second bell sounds, and I open the door to the restroom with a shaking hand. Everyone stares at me when I enter the classroom, a few of the other students breaking into whispers. Miles doesn’t even look up from his book. I pass the tables and sit down at my desk. Loneliness makes my throat ache.

Chapter 108

Eli

I watch the video of the catfight between Arabella and Tina more than once. It’s been posted all over the school’s social media app. Different versions from different angles. It’s hard to miss the malice on Tina’s face and it’s easy to see, to me at least, that the girl had marched over to Arabella with the intent to cause harm. If Arabella hadn’t made the first move, Tina would have. That fight was planned. It was going to happen, no matter what Arabella did.

When she walks into the classroom, shoulders hunched and her head ducked down, it takes every single ounce of willpower I own not to say something, but I force myself to stay relaxed in my seat and watch her out of the corner of my eye. This is the girl who first arrived at school, a target for my anger and hatred. It’s not the one who has slowly shown herself over the last couple of weeks. The butterfly who climbed out of the chrysalis has had her wings broken. Not one of her so-called friends has her back. It’s written all over her face. Not even her boyfriend. In fact, his complete disinterest is clear.

I shove to my feet.

“Mr. Travers?” Mr. Bellamy’s questioning tone breaks the silence.

“Bathroom,” I mutter and weave between the desks toward the door. He doesn’t stop me.

Once I’m in the hallway, I pull my cell out, log into the anonymous account Kellan set up for our use, and upload a video to the social media account, tagging the entire senior year. It’s a recording I’ve been saving for the perfect opportunity, and this feels right.

It’s a video of a party from a few months before senior year started. A party at the Country Club in the Hamptons where all the rich families mingle. Tina had been there, and I’d been taking a walk through the grounds to escape the noise and pointless conversations. I walked around a corner and found her in a lip lock with a local girl. She had one hand in the other girl’s blouse and another up her skirt.

I walk to the restroom, spend a couple of minutes inside, then return to the classroom … and walk into chaos.

Tina is screaming at Lacy and Lacy is waving her cell. The rest of the cheer squad, aside from Arabella, are crowding around, while the football and swim team all watch their phones with rapt expressions. I flop down into my seat.

“What did I miss?”

Kellan’s lip curls. “Seems someone caught Tina doing something wicked with a female Country Club staff member.”

“Huh … shocking.”

“The timing is more shocking than the video.” He smirks at me.

“What’s that phrase? People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones?” While everyone is focused on Tina, I pull out my second cell.

Me: Hold your fucking head up.

With everyone’s eyes on their phones, she’ll have no idea who sent it. And, sure enough, her head snaps up and she looks around the second she reads it.

Kitten: Did you post that video?

Me: Everyone has secrets they don’t want people to find out. The trick is knowing how to use them to your advantage. She is not better than you, stop acting like she is.

I slip the cell back into my bag and pull the textbook closer, propping my head on a hand and turning so that my back is to the room, while Mr. Bellamy shouts for everyone to put down their phones and focus on the class. Eventually, everyone settles back down, and the class continues.

“Do you want to grab takeout from the cafeteria and sit on the bleachers for dinner?” Kellan asks when the class is finally over, and we head down the hallway to grab food.

“You mean you want to follow Miles.”

“He gets squirmy. It’s fun to watch.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Fine. Whatever. How is your quest to fuck him going?”

Kellan gives a dramatic sigh. “He’s resistant. Apparently, sucking dick isn’t cheating on his girlfriend but having sex is crossing the line.” We move to the line, and he picks up a tray. “I mean, I can’t complain. He’s really good at sucking dick.”

“Are you going to see him over Thanksgiving?”

Kellan shook his head. “Doubt it. He’s going to Minnesota with family.”

“What are you doing?”

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