Page 53 of Dare To Break

I breathe through a sudden burst of anger, counting to ten in my head. “I think I’m going to go.”

Lacy frowns. “But we’ve just got here.”

I rise, only to be stopped when someone calls my name.

“Hey, Arabella, where are you going?”

I look at Brad. Evan and Jace are behind him. “I have some things to do. Enjoy your practice.”

What would they think of me if they knew I was standing here with no panties on?

Instead of feeling a jolt of arousal, the thought makes me uncomfortable.

“Come on. Stay.”

I move along the seats. “No thanks.”

“Enough flirting with your girlfriends.” Coach Braun’s voice booms out across the field. “Get back to work.”

“Where’s your team spirit?” Jace calls as the boys jog beside the stands to keep up with me. “I’m sure you have a little cock inside you!”

Evan gives me a wink. “If not, do you want one?”

“Dude, you just admitted to having a tiny dick.” Jace laughs, clutching his middle.

“You know that’s not what I meant,” the other jock protests.

Ignoring them, I set off away from the field toward the main school building. When I check my locker, there’s nothing waiting for me, and the disappointment only sours my mood further.

Chapter 34

Eli

I don’t leave any dares for Arabella for the rest of the week. Between classes, and the art project Mr. McIntyre has set, which means each of us in the art group has to plan out and then design a piece for our final grade, I don’t have a lot of free time. The first couple of weeks at school are always busy as everyone settles into a routine and falls back into the academic mindset that we’ve lost over the summer. I also want to take a few days to see how she reacts to not having any further communication, especially after her ‘punishment’ for trying to tease me.

I spend Thursday evening charging and setting up the two new cell phones I purchased. Both are basic models. No smart features, no touch screen. Just the ability to call and text. Even the picture quality is poor. But I don’t need any of the usual features that come with a cell phone, just the ability to send a text whenever I wish.

Once that’s done, I put one in a small black box with a little note folded on top of it, and put it at the bottom of the closet, ready for when I need it. The other I put into my nightstand and lock the drawer. Once I’m satisfied both are safe, I head out of the dorm building and over to the room Mr. McIntyre has said I can use for my art project. It’s situated on the same floor as the gymnasium, but on the opposite side of the building. I skirt around the outside, even though I could take a shortcut through the gym and walk along the empty hallway to the room at the end and push open the door.

A slab of black marble stands in the center. It stands taller than I am and is cool to the touch as I smooth my hand over it. I can already envision what it will become, but first, I need to spend time with it, and learn its flaws so I can use them to sculpt the perfect piece. I’ve spent three days sourcing this particular stone. It needed to be black, which is the rarest marble, and as flawless as possible for me to work with.

One of the positive points of being in a school focused solely on rich families is that the price tag of ten thousand dollars meant nothing and the stone was bought and shipped within twenty-four hours.

“Only the best for our students,” I murmur, mockery rich in my tone as I walk around the stone. I wonder if they’ll feel the same way when they see what I do with it. I have six months to turn it into what I envision in my mind. It’ll be a challenge, but one I’m looking forward to.

The room I’ve been allocated has floor-to-ceiling windows, with venetian blinds. They’re closed currently but it means when I finally start work, I have lots of natural light to work with, if I decide to use it. I’m not sure I want people to be able to see what I’m doing. I also have a key, so I can keep the room locked and my work away from prying eyes.

The room itself is bare, other than the marble in the center. I need to bring in the tools I’ll need, as well as a workbench and maybe a chair. All things I can access easily. Another upside of being from a family with money. Nothing is unavailable.

But those are concerns for another day. I take the key from my pocket and step out of the room, locking the door behind me. Kellan should be finishing up his computer science class and we’ve agreed to go to the gym before dinner.

***

When I arrive for the Social Studies class the next morning, I walk into chaos. Jace and Brad have cornered Lewis, our resident shy computer nerd. I don’t know what’s triggered them into baiting him, but his head is down, his cheeks are as red as his hair, while Jace holds onto his laptop bag and shakes it above his head. Brad is quieter, his head close to Lewis’s and I can see his lips moving as he speaks in the other boy’s ear.

A quick glance around tells me the teacher hasn’t arrived yet, nor has half the class. It’s just Lewis, Jace, Brad, and their friends, plus me and Kellan.

I should ignore them and go to my seat. Lewis means nothing to me. We’ve barely traded words since joining the school. And yet I find myself veering left instead of right to my desk until I’m standing behind Jace.

---