Page 88 of Dare To Break

“I want an answer. If you can’t give me a reason, then we’re done.”

“Because having you tell me what to do makes me feel good,” she whispers.

My spine snaps taut, and my fingers clench into fists at my sides. Kellan frowns at me.

“Go back to your room, Kitten.” I step backward, then turn to the path which would lead me to the tomb.

“Does that mean you’ll do it?” she calls out. “Wait? Are you there?”

I don’t answer her. Kellan looks at me. I shake my head and keep walking.

Chapter 57

Arabella

“Just the black?” Miles thumbs through the colored cardstock.

I glance up from the pile I’m sorting through. “I don’t think Lacy is visualizing pink bats decorating her spooky theme.”

“Her loss.” He pulls some of the sheets out to add to our collection.

The art room is empty. Not surprising for a Saturday afternoon. The whole week had dragged by with no response from my darer since Monday. He left me alone on the bench, and after the way he ghosted me again … I guess I have his answer.

Biting down on the inside of my cheek, I blink fast as my eyes blur with moisture.

I shouldn’t keep checking the phone every five minutes. I’m such a fucking idiot. What did I expect? I’ve humiliated myself all over again. I don’t know why I keep doing it.

If that wasn’t enough, I found a dead rabbit in my locker on Wednesday. The poor little thing with its snapped neck left me sick to my stomach. None of the teachers said anything, but I noticed Eli wasn’t in any classes that afternoon.

Brad told me at lunch that the faculty suspects Eli is the culprit, and they put him on temporary confinement. I’m not sad that he was restricted to his room to do classes over his computer for the rest of the week. When he needs to leave his room, a security guard accompanies him.

How long is that going to last? He’ll be back to picking on me soon enough.

The thought feeds my anxiety until my hands are shaking, and I almost drop the pieces of cardstock I’m holding.

“I think we have enough.”

Miles’ voice snaps me from my thoughts.

I hug the sheets to my chest. “I have scissors and some marker pens, so we can draw out a stencil.”

“Okay, let’s head to my room. We won’t have any interruptions there.”

I hold the door open for him, my shoulder aching so much I groan.

Miles cast’s a worried look in my direction. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“Lacy had me doing cartwheels, spins, and handstands. All while I had to smile, and remember a bunch of chants.” I pull a face.

“I thought you were fit with all that running.”

“It doesn’t make me a gymnast.”

We exit the building. The rain from earlier has eased, but wet drops are still coming down, so we hunch our shoulders to protect what we’re carrying, and dart toward the dorm building.

Miles shakes his head as we run inside, sprinkling water everywhere. “Do you want to stop by your room and dry off?”

“I’m not that wet, and my hoodie will dry.”

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