Page 174 of Dare To Break

Why doesn’t he want me? I’ve done everything he asked. Everything he wanted.

Everything is in chaos. Everyone is staring at me again and I hate it.

“Miss Gray, you look very pale. Are you feeling well?”

Startled to hear my name, I raise my chin to find the teacher is in the class. I hadn’t even noticed her entering.

“No, Miss. Winters. I feel sick.” My throat is thick with emotion and sounds funny to my own ears.

“Take yourself off to the nurse. You can catch up on someone else’s notes.”

I sway with the pain in my head and gather my things. I just want to get out of the room. Go somewhere I can be alone and breathe.

“Mr. Fraser, instead of playing with your phone, please escort Miss Gray. She looks ready to collapse.”

My shoulders stiffen at her words.

Kellan sighs. “Yes, Miss. Winters.”

I weave slowly past the desks and out into the hallway. Kellan appears from behind me and falls into step. His hands are shoved in his pockets. He doesn’t appear to be happy with the situation, and he doesn’t say a word as we walk. I feel just as uncomfortable having my nemesis’s henchman as my escort. If I didn’t feel so bad, I would have told him to go back to class.

At least Miss. Winters didn’t send Eli with me. That would have been dangerous, and I can’t deal with all his shit right now.

I wish Miles were here instead.

“I bet you’re annoyed she didn’t pick your boyfriend,” Kellan says, mirroring my thoughts. “I’m sure he’d be carrying your bag for you.”

The pulsing in the side of my head gets worse. I grit my teeth against the pain and ignore him.

“You really don’t look good.” Kellan’s eyebrows pinch together, and he stares at me intently. “Are you going to puke? Because we’ve just walked past the restrooms. I don’t want you vomiting over my new sneakers.”

My eyes tear up again, and I rip my gaze from his. “Migraine.”

“Do you get them a lot?”

“N–no.” The tears roll down my cheeks, and my bottom lip starts to tremble. “S–sorry. It hurts.”

Kellan swears under his breath, and he grabs my arm. Lost in my unhappiness, I follow docilely.

Arms wrap around me, and I’m hauled into a rock-hard chest. Face burrowed against it, I clutch at his t-shirt and sob. Everything I’ve been bottling up comes pouring out. I hold nothing back. For a small eternity, the warmth and comfort I’ve been longing for to keep me safe envelops me. I cling to it, letting my tears fall until my throat is raw and I feel empty.

A hand rubs my back. “It’s okay, Arabella.”

The quiet voice filters in, and the illusion shatters. I struggle free of his embrace and take a step back from him. My head throbs at my sudden move, and I wince.

Kellan gives me a wink. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Miles that you broke down in my arms. We wouldn’t want to make him jealous.”

I flip up my middle finger, and he laughs.

It’s only then I notice he’s taken me to one of the empty classrooms where no one can see us.

“You can g-go.”

He shakes his head. “Miss. Winters ordered me to get you to the nurse, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

“You don’t have to pretend to be nice to me. I know you hate me as much as Eli does.” I scrub my palms over my cheeks and brush away the wetness. I don’t trust the headspace I’m in right now. I’m frightened I’m going to say something that can be used against me.

Kellan crouches and picks up my bag. I don’t remember dropping it. Instead of handing it back to me, he loops the strap over his shoulder, while he watches me with serious gray eyes. “As much as I’m sure you think I’m enjoying this, you’d be wrong. But I think we should just focus on getting you a painkiller.”

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