Page 82 of Dare To Break

When I reach the room I share with Kellan, I strip off, shower, and change into fresh jeans, a t-shirt, and my favorite Nine Inch Nails hoodie.

When I arrive at the cafeteria, Kellan is at our usual table, with food and coffee waiting for me. As I make my way toward him, my foot touches something. I glance down. A bag is in my path. I could walk around it. I could step over it. It’s not that big. I don’t do either.

My veins are still full of anger after the confrontation with Carmel and I need an outlet. My gaze moves from the bag to the table, to the girl staring at me out of wary blue eyes.

I lean down and pick up the bag, straighten, and dump it on Arabella’s plate.

“Keep your shit out of my way.”

I don’t wait for a response and keep moving toward Kellan and food.

Chapter 53

Arabella

I prod at the slice of lasagna on my plate, wondering how much longer Miles is going to be. He texted me to let me know that he was still helping Bret, and we planned to meet up for lunch. So far, I’ve been here at the table alone for ten minutes, and it’s starting to feel like he’s going to be a no-show. Miles said it was something to do with an art project …

Lunch trays clatter down around me, snapping me out of my daydream.

“You don’t mind us joining you, do you, Bella?” Evan grins, dropping into the seat on my right.

Jace takes the seat to my left. “You kind of look lonely all by yourself.”

Glancing around, I don’t see any sign of the others. “I thought you were with Brad and Lacy.”

Evan picks up his fork and scoops up a chunk of pasta off his plate. “Brad arranged a picnic for just the two of them. We weren’t invited.”

“Where’s Miles?” Jace asks before taking a sip of juice from his glass.

“He’s helping Bret with something.” I flick my attention to his face. “I’m sorry if I upset you by going out with Miles.”

The corners of his lips curve up as he places his hand over his heart. “It was a small hit to my pride, but we can still be friends, though, right?”

Smiling back, I return my gaze to my plate. “I’d like that.”

“What are you going as for the Halloween party?”

I shrug. “I don’t know yet.”

“You could always ask Lacy if you need to borrow a costume,” Evan suggests around a mouthful of food. “She has like a million of them.”

Jace chuckles. “She can never make up her mind what she wants to be, so ends up with a ton of them.”

“What are you two going to be?” I pop another forkful of lasagna into my mouth and chew.

“We haven’t decided yet, but I think I’d look good in a pair of fangs.”

My bag thuds down on the table in front of me, landing on the plate of food and splattering the creamy, white sauce all over my top.

“Keep your shit out of my way,” Eli snarls, but doesn’t stop walking.

People glance my way, whispers erupting throughout the cafeteria. I lower my head, humiliation coursing through me, I snatch up a paper napkin and dab at the mess that’s on my chest.

Jace lifts my bag. There’s a chunk of lasagna stuck to the bottom. “Shit, Arabella. Are you okay?”

“No.” The word comes out unevenly.

Evan uses his fork to dislodge the messy lump, letting it plop back onto my plate. “That’s inedible now.”

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