Page 28 of Dare To Break

After the third time of the door opening and an embarrassed face looking around, Mr. Gerard sighs and sets down his textbook.

“I think we might need to add orienteering to the Freshman timetable this year. What do you think, class?”

Everyone laughs. The kid at the door turns beetroot red. Across the room, I see Arabella toss the boy a sympathetic smile. It doesn’t help. He turns even redder from the attention of a senior. The laughter gets louder.

“You’re turning him on, Michigan.” Jace leans across to nudge her.

It’s her turn to flush. “Don’t be mean. I just know how it feels to be the new kid and not know anything.”

I roll my eyes. Always with the fake act of caring. I’ve met her mother. I know how little she gives a fuck. I’ve read the dark thoughts in her diary. The things she dreams about. The twisted thoughts she has. At some point, this act of hers is going to shatter … and I’m going to be the one to break it. Show everyone the ugliness that hides inside, just waiting to come out.

I ignore how the darkness she hides calls to mine. She wants things I didn’t expect. Things I want to give her. To punish her, of course. Not for any other reason. No matter how my dick feels about the things she shared on the pages.

I spin the pen between my fingers. If things follow the same pattern as every other year, the first dare should arrive in the next forty-eight hours. It always drops during the first week of school, usually a day or two before the weekend. I’m confident it’ll be her locker it ends up in. She’s the only new senior to join the school this year. I’ve yet to hear about any new kid in lower years receiving a dare. It’s always existing students or new seniors. My theory is that the people behind it will want to see what kind of person she is. If she’ll step up to the challenge or cower and go and report it to the principal.

I think she’ll take it. I’ve read her diary. She puts on a great act of being sweet, of being a rule-follower, but I’ve seen her innermost thoughts, and that’s all it is … an act.

My dick stirs, thinking of some of the things I’ve read. The things she thinks about when she’s alone in her room. I lean back on my seat, the end of the pen tapping against my lips, and it’s only when blue eyes meet mine, widen and dart away that I realize I’m still staring at her.

Her eyes snap back to mine and, instead of looking away, I let my gaze drift over her face, drop to her lips and my tongue comes out to sweep across mine, pausing to toy with my lip ring. Her lips part, eyes widening. I point my pen at her, then slide it across my throat. The threat is clear, and yet, she doesn’t lower her gaze from mine.

The classroom around the pair of us fades into a muted noise as we hold a silent battle of wills. One she loses when her lashes drop, shielding her eyes. I smirk and turn back to face the front of the class, just in time for the bell to signal the end of the class.

We don’t share any classes for the rest of the day, and I only catch a brief glimpse of her during lunch break before she’s surrounded by her new friends. Kellan drops onto the seat opposite me, effectively blocking my view.

He shoves a tray of food across the table to me. “One day you’ll line up for food like the rest of us mere mortals.” His tone is amused, and there’s a slight curl to his lips.

We both know I won’t.

“Do you think she’s received the dare yet?” He picks up a fry, swirls it in mayonnaise and pops it into his mouth.

I shake my head in disgust. “You’re such a fucking heathen. Eat your food like a human being.”

“I’m the heathen? I’ve seen your sketchbook, Eli. You’re more of a monster than I am.”

“A monster with table manners.”

He snorts a laugh.

“And no, I don’t think she has.” I address his original question. “I think they’ll time it for the weekend. That gives more access to everywhere without the teachers getting in the way.” I’ve studied the patterns of the dares. As much as I can anyway. People don’t always admit to receiving one. But for those who have … Thursdays and Fridays have been the most popular days, with the dares being carried out over the weekend.

“You know if she talks to anyone about it, she’ll realize it’s a once-and-done.”

“She won’t. You’ve read her diary. Once she knows the rules of the dare, she’ll keep it to herself.” My lip curls. “She’s a good girl.”

“Did we read the same diary?” Kellan arches an eyebrow.

My grin is all teeth. “I didn’t say what she was good at. Publicly, she wants people to see and acknowledge her as a good girl, someone who does as they’re told, and follows the rules. Privately, well, it’s clear that she wants to be a really good girl for other reasons.”

She thinks she knows what she wants. Her diary entries talk about dark desires, but I don’t think she’s strong enough. Not really. She’ll break. She’s weak. She proved that when she panicked during her run the other day.

I lick my lips. Stalking her through the woods has woken something up inside me. I want to do it again. I want to hear her frightened breaths. I want to see her chest moving rapidly with the frantic beat of her heart. I want to hunt her, and trap her, and …

No, you don’t. You want to drive her from the school. You already have the dares worked out. Scare her away. Send her back to her mother. Ruin their plans.

But I could have a little fun with her first … right?

Laughter reaches my ears, soft and feminine, and my eyes scan the room looking for its owner. Blonde hair shining beneath the artificial light, head thrown back as she laughs at something someone at her table has said, she looks gloriously carefree and happy.

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